800
Villynz
Interviewed by: Kristin
Who
is in 800 Villynz?
Tra,
Gargamel, Brutis Blue, Judis
How
did 800 Villynz meet?
TRA:
We’ve been a crew for a long time. We’ve known each
other for most of our lives. We come from the same block, and
have a similar Chicano up bringing.
GARGAMEL:
We met at the liquor store back in 2001
BRUTIS
BLUE:
We grew up together in the same neighborhood on the G-bloc. Our
families all knew each other, but the person that brought us all
together the most was the Big Homie KUZ, RIP. He was the leader
that brought us all together and inspired us to compete with each
other to be the best we could be on our own, which resulted in
us being the best together, an all start team of Chicano’s.
How
did the name 800 Villynz come about?
TRA:
It’s una mezcla between our favorite cerveza, Olde English
800, y nuestra filosofía de política. We grew up
poor, y siempre tomábamos la cerveza más barata,
pero más fuerte. También, we were subject to a lot
of bullshit growin up in a mostly White town so when we hung out
together, we were labeled as threats. In the police’s eyez,
we were the troublemakers. Placed on Gang file; even though our
grade point averages were higher than most and we were recognized
by certain adults that were free of bias as being exceptional
leaders, athletic, y what not… We became the Villynz of
Western Colorado.
GARGAMEL:
Our favorite beer combined with our ideology of revolution and
uprising out from the darkness…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
We’ve all made choices in our lives that have resulted in
different outcomes. The pressure that’s put on us from being
a Chicano growing up in a southwest town, put a label on us of
being from the gutter, hoodlums, troublemakers; Villynz. We share
that with hundreds and thousands of young vatos throughout the
southwest, and sippin that honey water only brought out that militant
distrust for the system that was already cultivated by our experiences.
How
do you think the group has changed over the years?
TRA:
We began as a kinda “freestyle kick-back” type of
thing. We’d liven up las parties and keep ourselves entertained.
Pero, when we found out people really liked el sonido de los 800
Villynz, we got more serious. Ahora, la muzika es the most important
thing to us.. We have jobs, but that is second on our priority
listz.
GARGAMEL:
No, not at all, our themes and ideologies remain consistent…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
We’ve developed musically; we’ve matured in all aspects
of life. We’ve all educated ourselves to become critical
thinkers in all aspects of the world, we started off just street,
but have developed into educators of and to the street. People
who have had the chance to listen to our music love it. Our styles
are all different, but all resonate with our people.
Do you think it is for the better?
TRA:
Si mon. A lot more fun producing da beatz, writin the lyrics,
making concepts for albumz, etc…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
Of course, any time you take the time to better your situation
and your knowledge and most importantly pass that on to your people
it is better. It don’t mean shit if you don’t use
it to improve your people.
Do
you write all of your own songs?
TRA:
Yes. We write all of our own verses.. Because our rhyme styles
are so different, we HAVE to write our own verses. The other Villynz
can’t rap the way I write verses and vice versa.
GARGAMEL:
Absolutely…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
We all write our own lyrics.
Out
of all of your songs, Which one is your favorite? Why?
TRA:
Sabes que, no puedo contestar esta pregunta. Every song I write
has meaning to me… One thing about the Villynz Muzik is
that we write from experience. When we lay down a track, it is
probably some shit that we’ve experienced first hand. So
favorites are hard.. Plus, we keep improving. I always think our
latest track is the best, then we put another one together and
I’m forced to re-evaluate…
GARGAMEL:
When people ask me what of our songs is my favorite, it’s
like asking someone which child is their favorite… When
asked that question, I always reply, the NEXT song is my favorite…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
My favorite song is always the next one, because we are constantly
working. But out of the records we have already done, I would
have to say the life, Homies or Thug Chic. The life represents
where we come from and our families, homies tells the story of
where we’ve developed, and Thug Chic is just a hot track.
How
does a typical day in the recording studio go for you guys?
TRA:
We come together, handle the business, then enjoy the product.
We begin with determination and end with high spiritz.
GARGAMEL:
It depends on what we’re doing… Sometimes we focus
on making music, laying down guitar riffs, recording vocals, or
producing… My favorite times are just being together, having
a drink, clowning on each other, and giving each other a hard
time…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
Gargamel behind the boards, the rest of us rotating on the mic.
I’m the type of guy that writes my rhymes in the studio,
catch the vibe from the rest of the crew and write it then. We
usually have some drink, and its really a mix of fun and work.
We through out ideas for each other on how to say something or
the way to say something, sometimes we take it and sometimes we
don’t.
How
often do you record?
TRA:
All the time. I’d say we put a new track down AT LEAST una
vez a la semana.. 1nce a week.
GARGAMEL:
We record something every week… a new song every week is
good, sometimes more if the boys get to work…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
We’re always in the studio, always puttin in work. I think
we have that Pac work ethic, cause we all know too well that you’re
never guaranteed the next day.
What
did you do before getting into the music industry?
TRA:
Survived. What we had to do to make our ends meet and have fun.
We’ve always figured out how to make the most out of our
situations..
GARGAMEL:
We got into trouble, whether we got caught or not is a different
story… We spent a lot of time philosophizing, arguing, and
developing our World view…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
We’ve always had our hand in the music game. We started
off with two shitty tape decks recording from one to the other
without mic’s. We all have done our part to give back to
where we come from, and that’s part of our culture and how
we were raised. Not to say we all haven’t made mistakes,
but hopefully we learn from them.
What
made you decide that music was the right career choice for you?
TRA:
Once I got on stage and saw how people were getting down to our
muzik. That did it all for me.
GARGAMEL:
Our ideas and points of view were strong and related to our people
as a whole… We had creativity and desire to speak in effort
to allow those who cared, to be informed.
BRUTIS
BLUE:
It’s just something that we’ve always loved to do,
from frestylin in the Harley house with the homies to doin shows
every chance we get, it comes from where we’ve been and
what we’ve seen.
Is
there any one group or person that you have worked with that really
had an impact on you?
TRA:
Besides the other Villynz, I’ve worked with a couple of
local artists here in Colorado that have done a lot to help me
grow. King MC El Rey de Reggeton en Colorado & Exxis, an artist
with dedication and who has proven to be trustworthy in the shady
azz industry. My homeboy BO-LOCCO has been a big help.
GARGAMEL:
Me personally, It’s one of my producers, Majellin, he has
taught me everything from frequency analysis, to sound placement…
he has given me books, and had done a lot to help the 800-Villynz
get some of our earlier works out to the public…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
I think that the competition that we have with each other has
had the biggest impact on me. I know that if I want to get down
on a record I need to come with some hot shit or it wont make
it.
May
we ask why that person or group had such an impact?
TRA:
King MC me ha ayudado mucho a entender la cultura Puerto Riqueña
y I think esto is important to be able to reach out to the Latino
Hip Hop audience. I’ve enjoyed doin some reggeton traxx
with that vato.. Exxis has been honest in all the business we’ve
done together, and that is dating back to like 2000. I think that
honesty is key to having a successful career. BO-LOCCO is just
a true person. He’s also one of the sickest lyricists that
I’ve ever known.
BRUTIS
BLUE:
Just like I said, we make each other better and keep each other
on point cause if it’s not we don’t pull punches,
we let you know. Plus, we’re homies in the truest sense,
we’ve done it all so we respect each other on that level
too.
Are
there any other people or groups that you are dying to work with?
TRA:
I’d like to do a record with Cypress. I’d like to
do something with Chingo Bling for fun. It would be cool to do
some recordz with Pitbull. I wish Pun was alive. I’d definitely
be interested in working with some living legends in Muzik like
Carlos Santana & Tito Puente.
GARGAMEL:
I’d like to work with Carlos Santana and Fat Joe…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
Growing up you know that you want to work with Dr. Dre, he is
the God father of this rap game, but our style comes from different
places too. I for one would like to get down with Carlos Santana,
nobody can touch his music, he’s been doin it for years,
but never was appreciated for it until recently. I’d also
like to get down with the other Latin rappers in the game, Fat
Joe is one and any of those vatos that spit that Reggaeton.
How
would you describe the energy at one of your shows?
GARGAMEL:
Simply electric…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
Smooth vibe that builds and builds then explodes at the end.
You
obviously have your own personal styles, what does each of you
bring to the group?
TRA:
We’re each like a different ingredient for a perfect salsa.
We compliment each other well, but we each have our own distinct
quality that sticks out when you hear our muzik. Gargamel is like
the main ingredient, el tomate, he provides the sound & many
times the concept behind the record we’re working on. He’s
always been able to put down a strong verse. Judis has got that
unique nasal sound to his voice that captivates the listener.
Brutis is the brash, brutally honest one; he’s clever and
crystal-clear about what he’s sayin. I got the fully automatic,
rapid-fire flow that is Spanglish and unpredictable. I try to
make every word of my verses intentional and meaningful. Our subject
matter is critical and controversial, but most importantly, it
is more intelligent and more fun to listen to than most of the
mainstream stuff that I’m hearin on the radio. Of course,
I’m a little biased…
GARGAMEL:
We DO have VERY different styles… Me… I just bring
creativity and difference… I like to use different formulas
for each track… it keeps me innovative and the listener
interested…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
I think it depends on the track, each one brings something out
of each of us, we’re all multifaceted so I bring some political,
militant style that’s intellectual on one track, but the
next track I’m being brash about a punk at the bar.
Is there any new albums, demos, videos or
anything else scheduled to be released in 2005?
TRA:
Always new stuff comin out of the G-block studio. That’s
our underground headquarters. We’re pushin a promo CD entitled
“Mal Criado” that is a tribute to our upbringing and
an example of what we’ve had to overcome to get to this
point in our musical career. We have some hot sauce that we’re
putting on a new project that we’ll be pushin on the streets
in late November; we don’t have a title for it yet. We’re
collaborating with the homeboy Smoke on a Colorado Compilation
due out in early Spring of 06 (also untitled at the moment). We
are working on a big surprise for 2006 but I’m not gonna
spoil the it…
GARGAMEL:
Yes. We have finished our album titled, “Mal Criado”
containing 17 tracks, as well a follow up project containing 12
tracks, which is still untitled…
Where
can people go online to listen to your music?
TRA:
Our Myspace profiles for the moment. We’re about to have
800Villynz.com but it’s not quite ready yet.
GARGAMEL:
www.myspace.com/800villynz
www.myspace.com/gargamelious
www.myspace.com/800villynzwilly
Influences
TRA:
Cypress Hill, Mac Dre, NWA, Big Pun, Pink Floyd, Carlos Santana,
Brotha Lynch, The Grateful Dead, Marvin Gaye, Brenton Woods,
70’s rock, 80’s pop, 90’s rap & everything
in between.
GARGAMEL:
PinkFloyd, Carlos Santana, CypressHill, Tupac Shakur
Shout outs
TRA:
My homies & primos locked up. Mi familia on the G-block; The
Colorado Undaground. God. Angela from Indie Street Latino for
settin up the interview. Good lookin out chica!
GARGAMEL:
To all my brothers and sisters who never had a chance to shine…
BRUTIS
BLUE:
To the Big homie KUZ, the G-Bloc, and Riverside.
