[Interview] Styles of Beyond: Uncrowned Kings
RubyHornet: Does going through the release of this LP, does it bring you two closer together and make Styles of Beyond a stronger unit? Is it bringing back any of the fun? Do you guys feel like you have another big push? I think there are fans that you already have like myself, that found 2000 Fold, and I think that a younger generation of kids are kind of open to your sound and a lot of the kids that are 18, 19, 20 are making this kind of music and sampling music from the late 90′s and early 2000′s. I’m wondering if you see that and feel any of that energy as well?
Ryu: Yeah, the Joey Badass record, he sampled us. Did you hear that one? There’s definitely a resurgence of this type of music and we’re aware of that. To go back to your original question, you know, I think putting this album out does make me and Tak closer. Not that we were ever not close, it’s just the last situation we went through was sort of taxing on everybody, so everyone kind of went and did their own thing. We never broke up or anything, but Tak was living abroad, he moved out of the country. He just came back and we reconnected, ‘let’s put this album out.’ And we’re working. Me, Tak, Divine Styler, Sandman, our whole original family still works. We’re recording records right now.
Tak: Yeah, yeah, overall I feel it’s a positive thing. As long as people are happy about it, excited about it. I mean, it’s been years and people are still anticipating and always asking me and Ryu, ‘when’s the record dropping?’ Just the fact that it has a positive impact on so many people, I think Styles of Beyond kind of like bridges that gap between that old 90′s Hip Hop and some of what’s current now with our own unique twist on it. I think it bridges the gap, so people can still appreciate our music to this day. I think there’s something out there for them, that they’re not necessarily getting from a lot of music out today.
Ryu: I don’t think either of us are comfortable being like, ‘let’s be 90′s rap musicians.’ When we were in the 90′s, me and Tak were already in the 2000′s and shit. We always try to stay current and do what we feel is the cutting edge of music and we also have a good sensibility to make shit digestible for people too, and have fun with records. We like making good records, that’s it. We don’t try to be the most lyrical, spiritual dudes on the planet, we just like making good records. If that just comes out as a crazy, grimy, street jam, cool. If it’s a pop record, cool. Whatever. That’s our personality and we can do all that.
RubyHornet: What are you looking forward to most as October 23rd approaches and this album finally drops?
Ryu: Man, that’s basically it. I’m just happy to see the album come out. I don’t have any expectations whatsoever. I don’t expect this to be the hottest record on the planet, all over Billbaord. I don’t expect any of that. What I hope for most is that the people that have been bugging the shit out of me on Twitter for the past seven years, shit or get off the pot. Go get the record, if not, don’t ever ask me to put out shit again.
Tak: It would be nice to see the record fill a slot. If there’s room for it, cool. We’re satisfied that we got a release date, it’s going to get released. Whatever happens after…
Ryu: Yeah. We’re doing it for fun.
