We catch up with NYC Group Revenge of the Truence to build ahead of their new EP release H1N1, check out the 1st single after the interview!
- Peace guys how are you doing across the pond in this current climate ?
Tay: Doing as good as can be staying in with the family and keeping productive.
MuGGz: We chillin, keeping out the madness right now.
- You have a new release H1N1 coming up, tell us about the project?
Tay: H1N1 is based around the idea of “sickness” and “disorder”. We thought about how in a lot of inner city neighborhoods (like the one we were raised in) it’s the same thing occurring; little to no opportunities, systemized racism, the decay of building structures and mental states. This dilapidation causes “sickness” and “disorder”. We wanted to find a way to describe these issues and the idea of it breeding sickness. The name H1N1 came to mind. This was last year right before Covid was what it is currently. It just so happens that it is even more relevant now
- Who were your influences coming up?
MuGGz:. Big pun in my opinion is the best to have ever done it and that’s a bold statement I know. In general all 90s Hip Hop in general influenced me.
Tay: Hip Hop influences for me are Biggie, Pun, Smif N Wessun, M.O.P, Guru, CNN, Nas, Method Man (and the rest of Wu Tang), Mos Def, The Roots, a lot more. Have to include James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Willie Hutch (Soul & Funk Music)
- Tell the readers about growing up in Harlem and what its now like 2020?
MuGGz: I’’m from Yorkville like 10-12 blocks from where east harlem starts I’ve been around the uptown area my whole life in the late 90’s early 2000’s shit was wild and live don’t get me wrong it still is but because of gentrification the police presence is more oppressive then before things really started to change after 9/11.
Tay: I’m from Harlem born and raised. I can tell you it’s different from the Mid 90s-Early 2000s. Harlem and New York in general have always had a different energy than any other place. With the growth of gentrification tho we’ve seen a shift in the overall tone of Harlem, in my opinion. There’s nothing wrong with putting money into a place to make it better, but when you bring money in and it pushes the long time residence out now there’s a problem. You see a lot of that in NYC. Neighborhoods are getting rebuilt and the price is driving up. A lot of people can’t afford to live in the “New Harlem” they want to create smh. That’s another kind of “sickness” plaguing us, rich vs poor. Have vs have not.
- I see Endemic Emerald produced the project, how did that hook up come about?
MuGGz: We met Endemic like 3-4 years ago at a showcase in Queens we exchanged info but nothing ever came of it. One day I was going through our gmail and saw that he was offering a deal on a Ep’s worth of beats so we linked back up the rest is history. H1N1. Go get that.
- You seem to have worked with a lot of UK producers, that’s dope! How does our production sound compare to those across the pond?
Tay: Yeah we have Salute to Quincy (Soul Agents Music) produced our International Waters album got us on the track of international endeavors, Jack Diggs who produced our Midnight Run album in Feb, Also our G Yellow Balaclava, a lot of work with him as well. We like what we’ve heard from out there from a few producers mainly because it still has that sound and tone that New York had in the 90s. It’s like the UK and a few other places worldwide took what NY dropped and kept it running. Respect for that!
- What’s currently in your playlist? Any other new artists we should know about?
Tay: Right now we fully focused on giving the world 20 projects in 202! But there’s a list of emcees featured on MuGGz & Yellow Balaclava album “Masked Escapades” from Josiah The Gift, Showrock, Whatamess, Intel Selektah, Indigo Phoenyx, Lupus Dei, and More. Check out any of them and that album.
- Where can our readers find you guys online?
MuGGz: Follow us on IG: @ROT4Ever and @LivethruYours to support our merch. Our solo IG’s are @MuGGzOnDruGz @GurumorahLTY. Also on bandcamp for exclusive music https://ltymusicgroup.bandcamp.com/ . Or hit your favorite streaming platform and search “Revenge of the Truence” and add us to your playlist.
- Thanks for the time, anything else you want to add?
Tay: Make sure you get that H1N1 Vinyl at https://nocurerecords.bandcamp.com/album/h1n1 or through Fat Beats June 5th.
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