| Giant Panda - 90's - [clean edit] mp3 www.tresrecords.com |
Lee: Introduce yourselves, where you're
originally from and take us back to an
album or moment from the 90's that
really stands out in your mind.
Newman: I was born in Anchorage,
Alaska. I moved to Seattle Washington
during the 4th grade, and that’s where I
met Maanumental (Madrona Elementary
stand up!). As far as the 90’s go…there
are so many moments and memories
tied into albums of that era. I recently
saw the video for “They Want EFX” and it
reminded me of how EVERY one in
Seattle was feeling that. The Hip-Hop
cats, the thugs, the preps, even the
rocker dudes. I guess that was what
was so special about that era for me.
Things were so undeniably dope.
Certain albums (Ice Cube, Pharcyde,
Digable Planets, Das, Common, Tribe,
etc. etc.) had everyone open. Artists
seemed more interested in being
unique and fans seemed more
interested in cats who had individuality.
Good times!
Chikaramanga: I am originally from
Tokyo, Japan. In 94, 95, and 96, I was
djing out a lot in Tokyo. So, at that time I
used to buy a lot of Hip Hop 12”s and
LPs. I used to go to Manhattan Records
in Shibuya to check out new releases
every Tuesday, which was the day they
get new stuff in store. I remember their
shelves were filled with great records. It
was a great era. I liked the stuff
Newman mentioned, too. Also, I
remember I was really into Black Moon
and all the Boot Camp Click stuff.
Maanumental: Seattle, WA, born and
raised, spent summers in L.A..There
are sooo many moments to recall,
albums I jocked as soon as I got them,
others that I appreciated after more
listens. Shoot, when Leaders' first
album came out, UMC's, Grand Daddy I.
U., Black Moon, Freshco & Miz's single,
Diamond Shell, any EPMD album,
Redman's first album, Das, anything
and everything fresh. Yo! MTV raps was
indispensable to a briz. I used to record
any video that I hadn't seen yet (I still
have volumes of tapes), and remember
not being able to contain myself until my
brother and his friend Damian came
home so i could show them EPMD's So
What'cha Sayin video. Sharing
something new was IT, the end all, be
all. I also remember damn near wearing
out a tape rewinding it while us 3
mastered MC Hammer's dances off his
"Turn it Up" video, I think. Really,
Newman and Chic got it right.
Lee: Newman, what's the background
on the production of "90's" and who was
the first to respond w/ feedback after you
put the finishing touches down on the
beat...Who else was involved (if
anybody) in creating this instrumental?
Newman: I found the break used on that
song one day when I was out digging
with Chikara and Thes. Thes had never
heard the break before and was really
into it. I offered him the record (he has
hit me off with a life time worth of good
records), but he told me I found it so I
needed to flip it. I made the beat the
night Ron Artest went bananas in
Detriot. Chikara was feeling it, Maanu
heard it and helped me flip it up for the
hook.
originally from and take us back to an
album or moment from the 90's that
really stands out in your mind.
Newman: I was born in Anchorage,
Alaska. I moved to Seattle Washington
during the 4th grade, and that’s where I
met Maanumental (Madrona Elementary
stand up!). As far as the 90’s go…there
are so many moments and memories
tied into albums of that era. I recently
saw the video for “They Want EFX” and it
reminded me of how EVERY one in
Seattle was feeling that. The Hip-Hop
cats, the thugs, the preps, even the
rocker dudes. I guess that was what
was so special about that era for me.
Things were so undeniably dope.
Certain albums (Ice Cube, Pharcyde,
Digable Planets, Das, Common, Tribe,
etc. etc.) had everyone open. Artists
seemed more interested in being
unique and fans seemed more
interested in cats who had individuality.
Good times!
Chikaramanga: I am originally from
Tokyo, Japan. In 94, 95, and 96, I was
djing out a lot in Tokyo. So, at that time I
used to buy a lot of Hip Hop 12”s and
LPs. I used to go to Manhattan Records
in Shibuya to check out new releases
every Tuesday, which was the day they
get new stuff in store. I remember their
shelves were filled with great records. It
was a great era. I liked the stuff
Newman mentioned, too. Also, I
remember I was really into Black Moon
and all the Boot Camp Click stuff.
Maanumental: Seattle, WA, born and
raised, spent summers in L.A..There
are sooo many moments to recall,
albums I jocked as soon as I got them,
others that I appreciated after more
listens. Shoot, when Leaders' first
album came out, UMC's, Grand Daddy I.
U., Black Moon, Freshco & Miz's single,
Diamond Shell, any EPMD album,
Redman's first album, Das, anything
and everything fresh. Yo! MTV raps was
indispensable to a briz. I used to record
any video that I hadn't seen yet (I still
have volumes of tapes), and remember
not being able to contain myself until my
brother and his friend Damian came
home so i could show them EPMD's So
What'cha Sayin video. Sharing
something new was IT, the end all, be
all. I also remember damn near wearing
out a tape rewinding it while us 3
mastered MC Hammer's dances off his
"Turn it Up" video, I think. Really,
Newman and Chic got it right.
Lee: Newman, what's the background
on the production of "90's" and who was
the first to respond w/ feedback after you
put the finishing touches down on the
beat...Who else was involved (if
anybody) in creating this instrumental?
Newman: I found the break used on that
song one day when I was out digging
with Chikara and Thes. Thes had never
heard the break before and was really
into it. I offered him the record (he has
hit me off with a life time worth of good
records), but he told me I found it so I
needed to flip it. I made the beat the
night Ron Artest went bananas in
Detriot. Chikara was feeling it, Maanu
heard it and helped me flip it up for the
hook.
| Lee: Chikaramanga,what's your definition of integrity when it refers to the music. Chikaramanga: To make something original and to make what you like. Lee: Maanumental, how did you feel about "90's" being the first single to get things goin' for Fly School Reunion? As far as the positive feedback go, what was one of the things you heard in person that made you proud of what was created with the "90's" single and Fly School Reunion as a whole. Maanumental: I love the whole album, but I knew for sure heads that know Tribe's stuff would be intrigued by that one. So, although not the obvious dance track, definitely lead twelve material. While vibing to the beat, playing with ideas, the hook came out of my mouth and I knew where I had to take it from there. After performing it live, when Thes told me he wished he wrote it and wished he made the beat, my pride was cemented. The first time I felt proud of the album was when I first heard it in it's final form and track order. I thought, hey, this album is us, represented correctly, and it's good. Now it's stuck in my cd player, just ask Sir Kado, he'll tell ya. Lee: Thes One is involved on some production work for the outro of "90's", what was his response or involvement with the single? As far as experience goes, what does a person like Thes One bring to the table for a group like Giant Panda? "Thes was feeling it from jump. He dug the whole concept and feel of the “90’s” and had the idea of doing the outro based on the Tribe interlude from Midnight Marauders. He also mixed that beat to make it sound as nice as it does. I almost started crying when I heard how lush he made it sound. Dude is dumb nice on the mix. I feel like Thes is an unofficial member of Giant Panda. If we were a 70’s basketball team, he would be our player/coach." Lee: Aight, fill in the blank with what the project means to you, or what you feel it means for Hip Hop: Fly School Reunion is... Newman:…the return of good hip-hop music. We get the “old school” and “throw back” label all the time, and that’s fine. But to me, that’s missing the point. We are just trying to make quality hip-hop that cats can pick and be excited about. I'm trying to please cats like me, and I happen to like hip-hop based on sampling. I like rappers who ride beats and have some character. I think it is really lazy for people to refer to us as “old school”-sounding, but its fine. Bottom line: Hip-Hop is missing some crucial fly ish at the moment, and we would like to see it return. Maanumental: ...exactly how Newman put it. I think we're also getting back to the acceptability of new stuff, cause there are a lot of different beats/vibes/feel and tempos on the album that you might not find all together on anyone else's album. That diversity impresses me more than the our ethnic diversity. |
Post your comments, thoughts and questions at the following link:
Giant Panda | The Representation Community
Giant Panda | The Representation Community