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GlenBurnie MD 07/30/04
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
WITH THE R.O.C....
I was recently fortunate enough to interview a Detroit
horror-rap originator. That's right, THE Muthafuckin
R.O.C.! If you frequent this site, than the chances
are you're more than upto date on THE R.O.C..
However, if you're not familiar with this Detroit rap
icon...lemme school you real quick. THE R.O.C. aka
SOL46 has been spitting wicked lyrics since around
1990 when he and EVOL combined for an album(with some
production from ESHAM). Shortly after that project
THE R.O.C. linked up with longtime friends- TWIZTID,
LAVEL, KILL JOY, ABK, and others to form the KRAZY
KLAN(og version). That shit was more for fun than
anything else. TWIZTID and THE R.O.C. decided to do
some songs together as a trio.
The black magic was
obvious and the 3 decided to name the group the HOUSE
OF KRAZEES. The music they made together was like
nothing anyone had ever heard before. This shit was
extremely dark and wicked! Through the years the
H.O.K. gained a cult following throughout all of
Detroit and MI. The original H.O.K. released a
handful of albums in about as many years. The third
album "Season Of The Pumpkin" will forever be
considered a classic and a pionering album in growing
Horror music genre. Although MR. BONES(JAMIE MADROX)
and THE R.O.C. released solo albums during the HOK
era, nobody expected the HOUSE OF KRAZEES to ever come
to an end. But shortly after the H.O.K. released a
"Best Of" type album in 97, the original group parted
ways. MADROX & MONOXIDE formed TWIZTID and signed to
Psychopathic Records.
THE R.O.C. made a H.O.K.
spinoff album called THE HOWSE. Shortly after the
release of THE HOWSE, THE R.O.C. linked up with
longtime friend SKRAPZ and formed a new 2 man version
of the HOUSE OF KRAZEES. For whaterver reason THE
R.O.C. & SKRAPZ decided to change the groups name to
HALFBREED. HALFBREED released a series of impressive
albums before adding detroit rapper FREEZE(and
occasionally Y.U.G.) to the lineup and once again
switched the groups name to LEVEL JUMPERS.
However,
the LEVEL JUMPERS were no longer on that wicked vibe.
Just hip hop. Somewhere during all the recordings of
the LEVEL JUMPERS albums, THE R.O.C. found the time to
drop a new solo EP titled "WORMHOLES". This album
seemed to be heading back in the direction of THE
R.O.C's more wicked roots. And surely enough, THE
R.O.C. and TWIZTID eventually patched things up and
started recording music and touring together again in
2003. Okay, now you know the basics about this
Detroit Icon. Check out the interview below for an
indepth look at THE R.O.C's past, present and future
efforts.
HODGE- It's an honor to finally conduct this interview
with you man. I've been listening to your music since
the HOUSE OF KRAZEES released the Season Of The
Pumpkin way back in the day. I was glad to hear you
making that magic with TWIZTID again in 2003! Anyways,
lets get down to the questions man.
R.O.C.- Thank you for being interested in a mufucka to
do this shit.
HODGE- Weren't you an original member of Detroit's
KRAZY KLAN? Who were the other members?
R.O.C.- Yeah that was a while ago. It was actually
ME, TWIZTID, LAVEL my brother KILL JOY and a bunch of
other mufuckas man. It was a lot of cats in it
though.
HODGE- Do you still hear from your cousin EVOL
anymore? Why did he hate ICP and ESHAM so much?
R.O.C.- Yeah I still talk to him from time to time. I
really ain't sure, that's just the way he was man.
That nigga even dissed H.O.K. and a lot of other
people to. That is just the way he get down, that
dude is cool...but flat out crazy. No bullshit.
HODGE- Why the recent name change from SOL46 back to
The R.O.C.? What exactly does R.O.C. stand for?
R.O.C.- Well I went with SOL46 when me and SKRAPZ
formed HALFBREED. Right before we went solo I decided
I was going to go back to The R.O.C.. I had that name
since 1987 or 1988 so I said "I'm takin it back
there". The R.O.C. stands for Raps On Contact,
because the shit I spit connects to yo soul. So it
was simple for me to change my shit back. I will
always be The R.O.C. aka SOL46 or just plain Bryan.
Whatever I am on that day, just know that I will
always spit some shit.
HODGE- Are you still gonna be making music with your
former Virus Independent Label mates- SKRAPZ, FREEZE,
and Y.U.G.? If so, will you go by SOL46 for those
collabs?
R.O.C.- Well, with me I don't even know who my ass
might collaborate with or which one of my multiple
alias's I might transform into. Just know that
whatever it is, the shit is goin down man.
HODGE- In the summer of 2002 I purchased a HOUSE OF
KRAZEES album called Evolution. It was put out by
Latnem Records, but barely anyone knows of it. Was
this an Un-authorized cd? I did receive a flier back
in 1999 for a HOK "Evolution" double album. However,
this was not a double album at all.
R.O.C.- Well, yeah because I never even heard of it.
The Evolution was goin to be a double cd but that's
when TWIZTID and I parted ways so we never got into
recording it.
HODGE- How many tracks did you produce on the female
rapper HYSTERIA's newest- Based On A True Story album?
Did she rap as BLACK WIDOW on your old X-Posed solo
album?
R.O.C.- I produced her whole project. When I did
X-Posed I didn't know her then, that was my cousin
SPICE D.
HODGE- You did a collaboration song and some
production on the KRAZY KLAN's(ABK & LAVEL)
Developmental album in 1999. Do you still do any
production for LAVEL? You also did work on ABK's old
Native Funk solo album around the same time. Any
chance of producing for him again.
R.O.C.- Well I don't think Lavel is workin on anything
right now, but don't quote me. If he needed me I
would be there. As far as ABK, I produced the track
"Hey Yall" on his new album Dirty History.
HODGE- I heard that ESHAM produced one of your first
tracks way back when you were with BIG FATHER HIGHTOP
aka EVOL. Any truth to this? If so, what was the
song called?
R.O.C.- Yeah me and EVOL were doin our thang back in
90 and ESHAM just droped some shit. Him and EVOL were
cool, so EVOL hooked it up. The track was called
"Rollin With Strength".
HODGE- Are you a member of the SAM HEIN WITCH KILLAZ
group with TWIZTID? Is the album still gonna drop?
R.O.C.- No I'm not a part of SWK, although I would
like to be and truthfully who better than TWIZTID and
The muthafuckin R.O.C.. Truthfully, I don't know who
it will be or when it will actually drop.
HODGE- I've heard rumors that Detroit rapper Y.U.G. is
your lil brother? Didn't he recently change his rap
name? Is he ever gonna drop an album?
R.O.C.- Yeah that'a my lil brother still called
Y.U.G., and he just brought some shit out recently.
HODGE- I recently downloaded an amazing new track
"Who's This" on your website www.iamtheroc.com . Is
that song gonna appear on any album? Do you have a
new album in the works right now?
R.O.C.- Thanks, man I'm glad you dug it, but no that's
just something I wanted to give to launch the new
site. I am workin on my new Album entitled "Oh Hell
No" it will drop sometime next year.
HODGE- You've made music with- TWIZTID, BLAZE, ABK,
LAVEL, ESHAM, PROZAK(of PROJECT DEADMAN), WOLFPAC,
HYSTERIA, SKRAPZ, FREEZE, Y.U.G., etc. Who else do
you wanna one day link up with?
R.O.C.- Wow, their is a lot of cats I would like to
get together with and make some things happen. I
don't want to collab to just collab ya know. I want
to make the shit worth collaborating.
HODGE- Out of all the HOUSE OF KRAZEES albums you made
with TWIZTID, which one do you consider your favorite?
R.O.C.- I don't really have a favorite album out of
them, but their are some tracks that I dig out of it
all.
HODGE- Are their still any old unreleased HOK tracks
out there?
R.O.C.- No, we don't have anything else we recorded
together.
HODGE- It's been rumored that you made a surprise
appearence at the 2003 Gathering of the Juggalos.
What was it like performing alongside TWIZTID in front
of a sea of Juggalos that year?
R.O.C.- I keep hearing that, but it wasn't me...it was
an imposter damn it. This year was my first Gathering
and it was off the hook man. SHAGGY is off the hook-
ramming golf carts head on. That shit was really fun.
HODGE- Was the track "Mic Torture" on LAVEL's- I'm A
Mennace cd-single an old unreleased track, or a new
release made exclusively for his single?
R.O.C.- No, it wasn't old. It was done for his shit
only.
HODGE- How did it feel recording music with TWIZTID
again for the Frightfest EP and the X-mas song?
R.O.C.- It was cool man. It felt good not only
recording, but just being around my dogs again was the
best part.
HODGE- What was the most memorable city you performed
in during TWIZTID's Greenbook tour?
R.O.C.- Really It was all a blur. I took in every
city and it was fresh because when I got out there no
one new who the fuck I was. There were a few, but the
majority didn't. I found that to be fresh, cause I
was brand new and I still am brand new. I got a lot
to show and prove out here still. Much love to every
city we touched down in cause they showed love every
place I set foot in.
HODGE- Are you still a big pro wrestling fan?
R.O.C.- Yeah, I still follow wrestling from time to
time, but not as much as I used to.
HODGE- The HOUSE OF KRAZEES albums had a lot of Horror
movie samples in them. What's your favorite horror
film?
R.O.C.- Man...I'm a Halloween fan dog.
HODGE- Many HOK fans aren't aware of this, but the
classic TWIZTID song "Murder Murder Murder" featured a
verse by The R.O.C.. Although your verse isn't on
TWIZTID's cd, it was later featured on the HOK album-
The Night They Came Home. Are their any other TWIZTID
songs that your lyrics were removed from when you guys
weren't on good terms?
R.O.C.- I think "Nosferatu" and I think "Homebound",
but don't quote me cause I really ain't sure.
HODGE- I hear that you and PROZAK(of PROJECT DEADMAN)
go back a long way. Didn't he even used to do
security for your shows?
R.O.C.- Yeah, he used to do security for me and SKRAPZ
back in the day. He's a cool dude.
HODGE- Speaking of PROJECT DEADMAN, have you ever
worked with Legendary Detroit Producer MIKE E.CLARK?
R.O.C.- No I have never had the chance to, but the
shit would be legendary in it's self wouldn't it.
HODGE- Alright, lets do a lil bit of word association.
I'll say a musicians name and you just say the first
thought that comes to mind.
TECH N9NE- Holy shit
DAYTON FAMILY- Hood
ICP- against all odds
MASTAMIND- Deadly mc
MYZERY- Puerto Rican Brigade
MC BREED- The grinder
LAVEL- Non stop
ABK- Represent
BLAZE- My dead homie
SKRAPZ- Underrated
FREEZE- Free spirit
ESHAM- Legend
PROJECT DEADMAN- Look out
MARZ- Warrior
PARADIME- A real MC
HODGE- Well, that's about all the questions for now
man. I really wanna thank you for taking this time
out to do the interview with me. Anything else you
wanna tell your fans reading this?
R.O.C.- Keep on doin what you doin cause ya'll make
this shit run, and for one second never think I don't
appreciate the shit cause I do. Wus up to all my
nation wide people representing The R.O.C.. I ain't
for got about ya'll dog.
Be Safe Cause The World Is An Ugly Place IamTheROC
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