*Exclusive Interview* The Queen Princess chats with Sa-Ra!

In our never ending quest to bring you hip hop headz what u need, we're constantly raising the bar. Last Wednesday (5/2/07), our super writer and protege, Queen Princess, had thechance to sit down with newcomers and hip hop mega trio, Sa-Ra. Who are they? Well, the group is composed of members, Shafiq Husayn, Om'Mas Keith, and Taz Arnold. Hailing from the NY & Los Angeles areas, these cats are coming in the game on a different level than your average posse. As Om'Mas states, "We take the best of all doctrines, practices and sciences, and have developed our own style. Our music contains a deeper meaning, a real purpose." Wow..let's get to know a little bit more about them while finding out what ideas/thoughts went into making their debut album The Hollywood Recordings which was released on 3/24/07....

Queen Princess: How did the three of you come together to form this group?

Shafiq: Umm, the group actually unofficially formed in around 1989. Taz and I met at a mosque in Washington. Om’Mas and I met in 1994 at Ice-T’s house. We started out as a production offset and in the process of getting songs circulated we put CD’s out. Taz would kind of fly around and kind of mingle with some other cats. People would call back about the CD and be like, “I like beat number 17, but who’s that on track number three. It sounds like some girl’s singing on it, the track is bad, I like that.” And we’d be like, “well that was us.” A couple of people actually bought songs. Pharaohe Monch and Bilal actually bought Sa-Ra songs. So that was actually the birth of Sa-Ra as a group, but Sa-Ra Creative Partners is a production entity, the three of us as a business entity started late 2000, early 2001.

Queen Princess: The name Sa-Ra translating to the offspring of the most powerful energy in the universe has a very powerful meaning. What does the group Sa-Ra stand for and in what ways does the group display their purpose?

Taz: We stand for the same thing that the name emits. You know freedom within freedom. Creative secret within the secret, um…..

Shafiq: Black excellence

Taz: Yeah, understanding that you play the fool in life. Knowing nothing could become somebody who knows everything eventually. You know what I mean? It’s the same. We’re of the most divine thing of the Universe; we’re a reflection of that. So we are also the most divine beings in the Universe. That’s what birthed us.

Queen Princess: The Creative Partners of Sa-Ra aren’t you average producers. My translation of the group’s music is a fusion of funk, old school and hip-hop, but what genre, if any, do you classify your music as?

Shafiq: Sa-Ra (laughs). Actually in an interview we just did, we had to explain that. The influence, the upbringing, our predecessors, our ancestors, you know all of that, this is what you get. There was a time that the three of us remember when there was no hip-hop. There was a time when we remember when hip-hop was magical and when rap music was very very dope. And when I say rap music I’m talking about emcee’s over beats doing their thing. Also when R&B was really dope.

When they were singing over songs with real core structure and song arrangement. So that’s what Sa-Ra is. The category of music we’re in….we just consider it music at the end of the day. If you want to call it black music, if you want to call it urban alternative.

Queen Princess: There aren't many people who can stand in their own lane like that, but you guys definitely have the sound to.

Shafiq: Thank you. All praises due. Thank the Universe for that.

Queen Princess: Each of you has your own personality. Who plays what role in the
group?

Shafiq: All of us do any and everything. I can explain what Taz and Om’Mas bring to the group. Taz is a visionary. A big dreamer, everything has to be to the max, it can’t be just regular. If you just look at him, I can say that he’s the flyest dude on the planet hands down. Om’Mas is just a genius flat-out. He can do anything and everything, don’t need nobody but he chooses to work with us. He’s a craftsman, he’s a math wizard. He’s the best at what he does.

Queen Princess: Would you agree that the group’s fashion preferences are a product of the music that Sa-Ra creates?

Shafiq: Um…well like I said. I don’t really consider myself a fashion dude. I’m just really being myself. Taz, since the day I met him has always been a fly dude overall, before we were making music, Om’Mas too. Om’Mas and Taz have a connection together. They linked up on some fashion shit dealing with the polo scene in New York.

Queen Princess: Initially the group was offered a deal at various labels such as StarTrak and Def Jam, but what was it about Kanye’s G.O.O.D. music that made you decide it was the right move.

Shafiq: Kanye’s a poster boy. He’s a spokesman who’s not scared to hold his tongue. He went up against the president. I’d rather have someone that’s going to jump up and down and scream Sa-Ra 100 times and not feel bad about it as opposed to somebody being cool like…..I got this group called Sa-Ra. No, I GOT THIS GROUP CALLED SA-RA AND THEY’RE DOPE AS FUCK! That’s Kanye. On top of that he’s a real cool dude. Not that the other guys aren’t, there was a connection that made it happen.

Queen Princess: That’s what you need though.

Shafiq: We’re not signed to G.O.O.D. music right now. This album is through Babygrande. I just want to mention it, because they’re the ones facilitated this album, so I don’t want to short them on what they do. We are still down with Kanye in a big way along with the G.O.O.D. music fam.

Queen Princess: As producers do you feel that no one can deliver a song as good as the person who hears in their mind. Are there certain songs that you feel you have to keep for yourself?

Shafiq: That’s a great question. Actually our initial meeting with Kanye was in the studio in New York at Sony. Him and John Legend were there working and Hollywood came on and they were like, “This is my joint. This is the one right here, what’s up?” We were like we sold that song to Bilal. They were like, “Why would you just give your best song away to someone else? You’re supposed to keep those songs to yourself.” That’s what producing is, knowing when to apply something and knowing when to leave something out. There is a fine balance. I know a song that would fit for Britney, Whitney, D’Angelo or Bjork, but I don’t think they would do it the way we would do it. A lot of people wouldn’t know what to do with the songs as artists.

Queen Princess: Now these songs aren’t on the most recent album, but “Big Fame” and the original “Hollywood” portray similar concepts of the glamorous life not being all it’s cracked up to be. Can you explain what those two songs are about?

Shafiq: Hollywood is basically a metaphor record or a novelty record as some would call it. Om’Mas used to be a professor up in Hollywood. The studio that we were recording in was in south Los Angeles. It could be Monday, Om’Mas would be like “Okay, I’ll be back in 5 hours” You might not see Om’Mas until Friday night. We’d just be like, “Where were you, lost in Hollywood?” Hollywood itself is a very mystical place. It’s an illusion. Big fame is the same way. When you get to Hollywood and you make it you get turned out. Niggas lose they mind over big fame. Bitches slit they wrist over big fame. This could be anybody anywhere. Politicians are losing their mind over big fame, they’re empowered. They’re trippin’ and actin’ up. The corporate dudes are losing their minds and overstepping their boundaries.

Queen Princess: What’s the concept behind the Hollywood recordings?

Shafiq: The Hollywood Recordings is basically a production album. A bunch of classic stuff that people like your “Glorious”, “rosebuds” your “So special” then features on top of it. Erykah Badu, Bilal, Pharaohe Monch, Capone-N-Noreaga and then us. For those who did not know Sa-Ra you’re getting caught up. For those who did know Sa-Ra you’re getting a little of what’s to come. For the record it’s not an actual Sa-Ra group album, it’s a Sa-Ra Creative Partners album. Sa-Ra Creative Partners is our production and business entity. Sa-Ra is the group where Taz Om’Mas and myself are actually performing, singing and rapping and whatever we do.

Queen Princess: What song on the album holds the heaviest message and what exactly is the story behind it?

Shafiq: Taz you want to answer that one?

Taz: Wow………um, I’m so indecisive; you might have to answer that Shafiq.

Shafiq: I would have to say, Hollywood Redux which is just a re-working of the original song Hollywood. The song structure and the chords are changed, but the significance of what I just spoke about, what Hollywood symbolizes to the world is the same. The illusion.

Queen Princess: What artists or eras of music does then group look to for inspiration?

Shafiq: From Monk to Punk. Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong.

Taz: Louis Armstrong is the one who broke that mode and made it more free and fluent. He brought the blues to the pop.

Queen Princess: Taz, I’ve seen you wear different masks on stage and in the videos, do they represent anything or are they kind of a fashion statement?

Taz: No, They represent everything. Different masks are different faces of me psychologically. The green mask might be the Duke of Kindness. The Pharaoh mask might be the king of the middle ground world where there’s the most aggressive kings on the planet and those are all things that reside within self. The more that you give your inner spirit the more you master your reality and the more powerful you become. The masks just identify different parts of me psychologically.

Queen Princess: I want to thank you guys for doing this interview it was a pleasure. I like the music a lot, you know I like the different type stuff that most people don’t know how to get down to.

Shafiq: Thank you I’m glad you like it.

We'd like to thank Sa-Ra for giving HHR the chance to interview them. Hey, go check out their debut album "The HollyWood Recordings" in stores now and to get more on the group, hit them up on their official site.

Got questions or comments for the Queen Princess, email her at this link.

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Ya Boy "Golden State Warriors" 2007 Theme Song (Audio)

Posted at 5/11/2007 05:04:00 PM

Exclusive Audio
Ok, we gonna hit up the West Coast with this next one. Ya Boy whose outta San Fran, just dropped a new theme song for the Golden State Warriors called "Holla At Yo Boy" the remix. Neat hook and great track! Peep game and as usual, show some myspace luv by hitting us his site...

"Holla At Ya Boy" (click to listen)

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Supa Nova Slom "G's Up Salute" feat. The Game & Jadakiss

Posted at 5/11/2007 04:22:00 PM

Exclusive Audio
Here's one more MC for you to feel his Chi. This playa's name is Slim Nova Slom outta of NYC. He's droppin' his debut album Unify the Hood, Heal the Hood (which features Jadakiss, TheGame, Ice-T, Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, and many others) in the next few months. On the album, he's got a bangin' release or shall I say world premiere, that I'd like you to listen to called "G's Up Salute" featuring The Game and Jadakiss. Tell me what you think?

"G's Up Salute" (click to listen)

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Thursday, May 10, 2007   MUSIC |  VIDEOS |  INTERVIEWS  | NEW ARTIST  | HOME

Kanye Digs "Swank" (Video)

Posted at 5/10/2007 05:34:00 PM

Exclusive Video
It's so good to see it when people are real about things and it's even better when celebrities tell it to you straight and don't seem rehearsed all the time. Kanye West is a real naaggaa. He sat down on the Ellen Degeneres show the other day in promotion of his mom's new book. In this new clip that you're about to see, provided to us by TMZ no doubt, he explains how the media goes a "little too far" when it comes to certain risky statements that stars make. I think you'll like it, and it's just a reminder that when you say or write something crazy, you might not think people are watching, but they are...

"Kanye on the Ellen D show" (click to view)

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Hot Dollar "Streets on Lock" (Audio)

Posted at 5/10/2007 05:05:00 PM

Exclusive Audio
This just in, Jermaine Dupri's team just sent me information that they wanted me to post concerning their newest signee, Hot Dollar. Cool huh?! Anyways, listen to his new single called "Streets On Lock". Expect more from playa playa on the site in the future. Yeppp!! By the way, his new, debut album My Dreams...A Day In The Life coming out on August 14th thru Universal Records.

Windows Media: Audio

Real Player: Audio

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"G'Sparkz" is Comin' Thru + New Track (Audio)

Posted at 5/10/2007 04:43:00 PM

You know, it's so great the luv you playas out there are showing to the set. We really 'preciate that and to show that respect we gonna keep giving you that good good. Young playa, G-Sparkz, is in your area cuz. Reppin' the Burtsonville, Maryland area, he's bring not only skillz of artisty to the table but also those of production wizardry. Mad nice...cuz is definitely multidimensional. Yo, peep his latest track from him which is called "I Choose You". Great piece, tight hook,... good good! By the way, he's apart of a new street team called "The Track Geniuses" that are going to do it big in '07..Hit him up on his site for further convo..Peace!!

"I Choose You" Remix (click to listen)

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Introducing "Rukus" + 2 New Tracks!!! (Audio)

Posted at 5/10/2007 04:16:00 PM

In the tradition of introducing you to new blood, I just wanted to put you on to a very, talented young brotha named "Rukus". He's an MC that's on the positive tip and recently got with his partner, whom y'all should know, John Meyer, to make a great remix of his song "Waiting on the World To Change" (see below) along with a smooth track called "Cool Out" featured Bosston (I really like this one). Just so you could learn more about Ruk, check out his bio (see below) and if that's not enough, peep his official site. One Luv...word to all hip hop fans, there are still MCs out there making good music, you just have to keep your eyes open...


"Waiting On The World To Change" Remix (click to listen)

"Cool Out" (click to listen)

Biography
It was all just a hobby back in 1999 as Rukus rocked ciphers, before he hit the stage in Bryan-College Station in 2001 to open up for a special showing of famed movie producer Spike Lee’s hip-hop movie “Bamboozled”. Afterwards, Spike pulled Rukus aside backstage and said “You were tight man…you’ve got a bright future”. With his gritty voice, smooth flow and witty lyrics, Rukus re-emerged in the summer of 2004 as a major player on the hip-hop scene. Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, but raised in a Nigerian household, the 24 year old MC reps Nigeria and the “2-1-0” to the fullest as evidenced by the well received release of his first mixtape titled "The Big Bang Theory” and the release of his first album entitled “Home Grown”. Comparisons to Common and Kanye West abound as Rukus impresses with a combination of witty rhymes and a fresh, conscious perspective.

After having mixtape singles "Come On" and "Drop" already receivie spins in the Houston area, college radio, and airplay on KVJM 103.1, Rukus wowed DJ’s and fans alike with his catchy remixes to the already popular Amerie hit “One Thing”, 112’s “U Already Know”, and Teairra Mari’s “Make Her Feel Good” as his remixes outshined well-known rappers such as Fabolous, Eve, and Foxy Brown. With several remixes in Houston clubs Dreams, Club Visions, and Metropolis as well as steady radio rotation on KVJM 103.1 in the Houston area, Rukus has begun to receive a flood of calls and emails from record label representatives.

Riding the underground success of his 1st official album, Rukus is more focused than ever and expects to make an even bigger splash in the clubs and on the radio with his latest recording project for the grown and sexy entitled “Cool Out” spinning all over Houston. Hundreds of CD requests were placed after the emotional mixtape single “I Will Remember” first released and aired on his myspace page. In addition, he’s wowed international crowds everywhere with his rendition of “African Queen”. Most recently he took on the task of remixing John Mayer’s “Continuum” album. His “Waiting On The World To Change” remix has people of all ages and music interests anticipating his next release. Look for this talented young star to continue making waves in 2007 as his exposure ventures outside Texas and to a radio near you.

Contact: rukusdamovement@yahoo.com
Webpage: www.myspace.com/rukuslive and www.myspace.com/thejohnmayerproject
Booking/Inquiries: (210) 473-2866

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Wednesday, May 09, 2007   MUSIC |  VIDEOS |  INTERVIEWS  | NEW ARTIST  | HOME

Introducing "Mickey Factz" + New Album Download!!

Posted at 5/09/2007 04:48:00 PM

As usual, HHR is the trendsetter and not the follower. We at the site are definitely about pushing good music, whether it be mainstream or underground, as long as we dig it, it gets a lookout from us. With that said, We'd offering you the fans a free download newcomer MC Mickey Factz's, new mixtape (In Search of The Nerd). Yo, this cat has got serious SWAG, and when I say that I mean he's got that old school demeanor (rhyme skillz attached) with new school style. In a word, he's what hip hop should be steppin' to. Yo, From the quality of his material, he put some work in to compile his own sound and feel. Good shit!! In Search of the N.E.R.D. is an arrangement of songs using the production from the N.E.R.D. albums and Mickey Factz' going off lyrically from the original concepts of the album. You have got to feel this. Cool? To learn more about Mikey, hit him up on his official site.

"In Search of The Nerd" (click to download)

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Introducing "A.Pinks" + New Video!!

Posted at 5/09/2007 04:34:00 PM

Word up you hip hop junki