FREE Hush
Free Hush!!!
Just about 3 years ago one of the good guys on the scene seemed to have had the world by the balls. Hush was releasing his album “Bulletproof” on Geffen Records, having his music exposed to the world on National Television, and being given the kind of shine anyone in the biz would love from media outlets nationwide. I remember picking up Maxim Magazine and “Bulletproof” being recognized as Album of the Month. I did not know Hush personally, but as a fan of the Detroit Music Scene, I was proud.
Fast Forward a few Months
I was walking out of a local show when someone handed me a T Shirt. I tucked the T shirt and continued to my car. I got situated in the ride, looked at the T shirt and it said Free Hush! I did not know what was going on, but in support I wore that shirt quite a bit. I have always believed that this scene needs to be united, and to me, wearing that shirt showed some support to a guy that has always supported Detroit.
Fast Forward a few years (Present)
Hush is now free. Free from a contract with Geffen, Free to do what he wants to do, the way he wants to do it. I recently sat down with Hush and just kicked it. This wasn’t some “lets sit down and do an interview shit, I hit Hush up and said Whats up? We got to chatting a bit and I asked him if we could just bullshit a little bit about everything. He shot me over a copy of the new CD “The Open Book” which I immediately threw it in the CD player, and I gotta tell ya, I WAS BLOWN AWAY. It changed my whole perspective on things, it inspired me to write. That takes a lot for me these days, I really worry about the state of Hip Hop. The Production on the record is pretty fuckin dope. Hush is on some personal mission on this album. When we got together, my whole focus kinda changed, it was no longer about getting to the bottom of the Geffen situation, it was more about the new material, and not surprisingly Hush seems to have the same focus. He seems 100% focused, he seems 100% dedicated, he seems 100% passionate. I did not intend to write this, I was also inspired. I asked him the following questions…
1) What inspired the new sound on this record?
I just wanted to do what felt good. I’ve always loved the sound of guitars on Hip-Hop records. Dating back to Boogie Down Productions, to Run DMC, and even just scratched guitar sounds. When Rage Against the Machine came out I thought it was great but my production and sound was never centered around that because I was producing with my ASR-10 and 1200’s and sampling Jazz records, Trip-Hop records, and whatever I could get my hands on at Car City or Record Time but I never thought to include the “Rock” sound. It wasn’t until I incorporated a band that it just felt right. I touched a little bit on the sound with “Bulletproof” but nowhere near where I took it with “The Open Book”. This was 3 years in the making and every record just felt good and felt right. My band and I would sit in rehearsals and just work on a groove or work off of an idea or loop and we would build it from there. This was the first album that I was able to actually go back time and time again, and listen to mixes or change something. I think this sound is here and never left, I just think certain artists left, and since they were so associated with that hybrid sound that fans wrote it off. If you look close though it’s here, every MC is now yelling their a “rock star” mainly because Hip-Hop has the Rock attitude now but also because artists are incorporating guitars on their records, just listen to Slaughterhouse “The One”, or Swollen Members, or La Coka Nostra or even a Travis Barker remix. I just want to be a part of it coming back into the spotlight.
2) You have been through a crazy couple of years, what’s kept you going?
I think just the love of making music. I really love making music. I love performing and I really love performing with this band. I had a lot to say and I had to get it out. I’ve never been one to give up either. No matter what happened with “Bulletproof” you could never count me out and I think people would agree if they know me. I make stuff happen. It’s the “Secret”.
3) Who inspires you musically? Any artists locally?
Instrumental music inspires me. A lot of work by Thomas Newman, or Mark Isham. I am a true Hip-Hop head though, and I have probably the most extensive collection of classic joints that I love to listen and vibe to. Locally, right now Black Milk is definitely in my Top 5 along with Elzhi, Royce, Guilty Simpson, and Marvwon. I hear Black Milk’s beats though and I can’t help but turn that shit up loud. Elzhi’s voice, and cadence are unique but his writing is unlike anyone in the D, it’s amazing. Royce, nuff said. Guilty is a beast, and Marv’s punchlines are bananas, “I’m like a pizza oven homie feed me dough”.
4) What have you learned over the years that you can pass down to others trying to make it in the biz?
Just do you. Don’t listen to your homeboys, wifey, or girlfriend, or anyone else. Do what makes you happy. In the end the only opinion that counts is your own. You obviously have to be smart in what you do and for that I say read, but it’s kind of hard out here to get points across to people coming up because the technology is so user friendly that anyone can rhyme or make beats and to those I would quote Hex and say “QUIT”. But if you want to make it, maintain good relationships with your peers, and network like crazy because you never know what could happen.
5) What more do you look to accomplish in music, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I’m always going to be involved in music in some way. I’m gonna ride this album as far as I can and see where it takes me. It’s doing great right now so I’m hoping it continues to do well. In 5 years I will probably be producing and working the T.V. angle. I’m working with a Production company now in L.A. on 8 show concepts. I can see myself trying to be involved with city politics as well. Hush for Mayor, what!
In closing, I can say I really love being free, and doing what I want to do and how I want to. It can be a blessing and a curse at the same time because I can only do what I can do without budgets. Having that financial freedom to do what I wanted to do felt great and when your free you have to find ways to make it work and I have to think I’ve been blessed in that certain people have jumped on board and “got it” and understood what I needed to gain a few steps. Other artists don’t always respect the freedom and become “free-dumb”. They never took the time to understand the business or the behind the scenes of making a record work and since the days of Da Ruckus I’ve always made sure I was hands on and an integral part of getting it to the people. I want people to hear “The Open Book” and just know this was 3 years of work with an incredible group backing it musically and just my vision. No A&R’s, no Product Managers, no Creative Marketing team, just us. Hell, if I don’t make it I’m a damn good strategist…
Fast Forward to Friday
Hush returns to St Andrew’s this Friday for his first show there in over 8 years to celebrate the release of “The Open Book” now available on iTunes. Doors are at 9 pm and ages 18 and over are welcome. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Quest Mcody will be in the house, and I urge anyone and everyone to come down to Drews. After a dozen or so listens, I am excited to see this album performed live. Hush seems a more mature man, destined to making music, and doing things HIS WAY. I never intended to write this piece, I was inspired to write this piece. See ya Friday!!!