Juggaknots

“Clear Blue Skies” schlug 1996 ein wie eine Bombe. Jetzt soll im Oktober endlich das langerwartete zweite Album der Juggaknots mit dem Titel “Use Your Confusion” erscheinen. Wir unterhielten uns mit Breezly Brewin, B-Slim und Herawine unter acht Augen.

B-Slim, Breeze – I recently read that you two had a little brawl and that the future of the group was insecure? Could you just clear this out?

B-Slim: Where do people get this stuff? Myself and Breeze do the same arguing that we do all the time. Juggs is neva in jeopardy as far as I know everyone is going to take a moment after this album and work on solo efforts, it’s a part of growth that we all step back from the Juggaknot moniker and try to name brand ourselves the best way we can collectively and individually, then when we come back to the table we’ll be even stronger components making the group stronger in the end.

Breeze Brewin: All brothers fight. Families fight. I would be lying if I said that me my brother and my sister don’t argue. We ain’t the muthafuckin’ Huxtables. That bein’ said, I would love to know what you “recently read”. They probably lying. With this album, any conflicts were in the best interest of the music. We family, but individuals as well, with individual ideas. As far as group insecurity, that’s not even something that I think about. Family comes before any of this shit. Music, fame, money, whatever.

Are you interested in what’s getting blabbed on the internet?

B-Slim: Absolutely, the internet is the talking house I’d rather be talked about than not talked about at all, plus it builds intrigue.

Breeze Brewin: I barely get a chance to check my e-mail. I’m terrible with technology if it doesn’t involve chopping a beat or working on a song. I want to get better with it though, because there’s a lot of cats that I ain’t seen in a while trying to contact. As far as negative talk, that’s cool. Ain’t nobody perfect. If somebody got something to say that might seem unflattering, and that’s how they feel, whatever. We do what we do and are realistic to the idea that everyone ain’t gonna love it. We ain’t tryna please everyone. That’s impossible.

As a matter of fact alot of groups break up after a certain time. So what keeps the Juggaknots together?

Breeze Brewin: For the most part, it’s the family thing. We grew up loving this music as a family. We didn’t start out initially as one unit. We was all doing our own thing at different points in time. But with that came appreciation amongst ourselves. I guess most groups start that way, except we had the luxury of being exposed to similar influences and experiences. As time grows those influences and experiences expand, and I feel that might lead to the urge to work more independently. We all have done and will continue to do work outside of this group. However, that don’t erase the origins.

B-Slim: Family keeps it together at times it ain’t all sweet, but when you listen to the music that we make together it has a certain quality. I would say music, life, and our last name keep it together.

I think working together as brothers and sisters has advantages and disadvantges…

Breeze Brewin: The roles in the group are established in my opinion, organically. It’s a balance of doing what you can do and what you have to do. In the first album Slim did much more of the production. In this album he knew that to expand the visibility of the squad some strong features might have to take place. I feel that is what we needed right now to get to the next level. While he was beating the pavement I was beating out the pads of the drum machine a bit more. Herawin took some of the verbal responsibility off of my shoulders. Everybody stepped up. Who knows how things will adjust in the future. I just hope it will occur as naturally as it did on this joint.

B-Slim: We’re like the Jacksons but the Hip-Hop version. You got Michael (Brewin), Janet (Herawin), and I guess I’m Tito or something, either way together it’s a different mixture when we get together, it’s difficult music to make with all the compromises or lack there of but overall the music is the reward.

Herawin: Working together has its pros and cons, just as any real situation. Of course, creatively we will differ at times, because we are in fact different people with different ideas and perspectives, but being family also brings us together creatively because we have been influenced by similar things and come from the same place.

What do you value most about the other members of the group?

Herawin: B-Slim brings a sense of history and foundation to the group. There is a definate respect factor for him because he is the one who initiated the whole experience that has come to be known as Juggaknots. His love and affinity for music, all kinds of music and his curiosity and rebel like ways led him to seek out this music to the extent that he did and make something materialize it by being courageous and creative enough to take it serious and go for it a long time ago.He started the engine, and became a catalyst for the rest of us. Breeze continued it, creating an incredible force to follow, keeping that momentum live and strong. I value his passion, determination, skill, and tact. He knows what he’s doing with this. He could straight teach classes on this hip hop shit. He’s dope! He’s always been dope. He’ll always be dope. I also value B-Slim’s faith in the music. Perhaps because he started it, he would never allow the vision of it to die.

Breeze Brewin: Willingness. That can be either to work, or to sacrifice. I’m sure Slim wouldn’t have minded more time behind the boards, but he was doing what we needed. In Herawin I just see growth as a lyricist and business person. I don’t really get to involved with the business aspects. At this point, I appreciate their willingness to work and handle some of the business shit that I might shy away from. And musically I appreciate the differences. I would have never made a track like our title cut. But after Slim laced it I had to push myself to rhyme on some whole next shit. I really dig the final result.

B-Slim: That it takes all of us 2 make Juggs work. We are like a body: Brewin is the brain, Slim is the heart, Herawin is the lung. Watever configuration works for you.

In most groups each member stands for a different character with it’s own main focus – what about the Juggaknots?

Breeze Brewin: I don’t know. With the Juggs, it’s about the group first. I feel a character for the Juggaknots is more important that individual character. Think about early EPMD or De La Soul. E and P were part of the group name. It was uniform, down to matching fisherman hats, denim suits and jewels. De La started off with a certain vibe as well. Many people see us and think we ain’t that much alike. Slim was the locked one, Herawin is kind of divad out, and I’m the typical baseball capped B-boy. Behind that though, it’s pretty much the same as EPMD or De La. It might not seem so, but we more often on the same “main focus” now than we’ve ever been.

B-Slim: Well I kinda answered that in the last question we are definitely individual characters like TLC we’re hot, cool, and sexy – whateva configuration works for you.

Herawin: Each of us, again, are different, but I feel, in order to be a group and have a vision, in order to make that vision materialize, you have to have a common goal or vision. Sacrifices have to be made. There needs to be some flexibility, as in any relationship, in order to make the bigger picture, or goal happen. If everyone is focused on their own goal, rather than the goal of the unit, that group goal will never be achieved.

Tell me about your current label situation with Amalgam Entertainment…

Breeze Brewin: Amalgam is just trying to hustle this Jugg shit. So far they doing a great job. We needed a distributor that we could build with. Hopefully we are giving them a product that they can really do some things with. Amalgamatic is bout to do some big things. Them cats are getting the project all over the place.

B-Slim: First of all Amalgam is our distributor, Matic is our own label. They definitely seem to be on the ball. Next is a funny guy, but he knows his Hip-Hop. Joe and the guys are for real. So far, so good. Amalgam gets animal and Matic is a beast. Let the games begin.

Herawin: We thought that Amalgam would be a good place for us with this album. Based on their goals and interest, in addition to ours, it seemed like the best situation for the both companies, Amalgam and Matic, to grow and expand, while doing so through a great project, “Use Your Confusion”.

You’re new album “Use Your Confusion” is about to be released In October – what has been the last thing that you’ve been confused of and how did you “use your confusion”?

Breeze Brewin: I guess the internet has been kind of confusing. A lot of my peoples have been finding all kind of women on the internet. I tried one site and didn’t fare so well. Confused, I decided to look into some of the adult video sites. It serves its purpose in times of need.

B-Slim: Everyday, I use my confusion, it gets me thru the day. Use it or lose it.

Herawin: Overall, making decisions in life can be a confusing task at times. You experience situations daily, whether minute, or vast in which you may not know which way to turn, just hoping that the outcome is good. I think this album however is about, at least for me, was about using some of the larger confusing issues and dilemas, that can sometimes stunt your growth, throw you off track, basically, “fuck you up” and using that negativity in a positive and constructive way in order to be successful. Its all energy. The more you can use that energy in a better way, the better the outcome. A lot of elements went into this album, love, pain, humor, memories, life, etc. Our music is a reflection of us through time, as always.

Could you just give up some technical things on the album – how many tracks will it feature, what about the producers and guest rappers?

B-Slim: There are 15 tracks on the album, and for this jugg installment there are a few guest features, really the music dictates what the song will be, we own our own studio so we are constantly trying out different things, if a song has a certain feel 2 it, and you can say , I can hear so and so on this track you try to facillate the track. We did a little of that on this album. You’ll have to get the album to hear, I don’t tell the movie. Maybe one of the otha juggs will spill the beans.

Breeze Brewin: There’s about 15 tracks, with a little more than half of the production being by us. Other producers include OH NO, B$, DJ Eli, and J Zone. Guests include homies Wordsworth, 100 Keys (formerly Nine), Verdell Castro. Slick Rick and Sadat X Come through. There’s other treats as well.

Are you already working on any solo albums? What will the future bring?

Herawin: Hopefully, the future will bring more music, more good music. There is the possibility of solo things. We’ll see what comes.

Breeze Brewin: Solos and other offshoot albums are coming.

B-Slim: We all have ideas on stash, just concentrating on “Use Your Confusion” for right now, before we go hard into anything else. On the horizon, we got the highly anticipated for myself and others the Brewin solo, a B-Slim compliation, and a Herawin solo should be tasty!!!

Breeze, how are your relations to Bobito Garcia today?

Breeze Brewin: Don’t speak to Bob as much as I’d like to. I do check him spinning from time to time. It’s always love when we get up. For me, I’m just proud to see my dude out there on the grand scale. He was always a man of big ideas. A cat that that, with that much natural style and flavor should not be obscured. It would be unfair to him or the public that would be missing out.

What do you answer people that say that you’re the better version of Guru? Indeed your voices sound quite similar…

Breeze Brewin: That’s crazy. I don’t really hear no similarity. It ain’t no Shyne / BIG thing. I think we both got distinct voices, but that’s as far as it goes. I grew up loving Gangstarr. I used to talk to Guru at Fatbeats. That’s a real dude. My answer would be I feel it would be disrespectful to that cat and the art on the
whole. No question I have been influenced by that squad. However, I strive to be my own man. If the comparison alludes to both his greatness, and my being mentioned along such greatness, it’s cool. However, “better version” disturbs me. I’m tryna be the best Breeze Brewin, but I got nothing but reverence for a cat like that. I’m working on officially my third major project (including the Prince Paul project), but to quote a great cat, I feel I got ALONGWAYTOGO before I’m even mentioned in the same breath as that cat in terms of contribution to the art form. To think anything else at this point is extremely suspect.

What where the main reasons for you to make that track “Justalittlefake” and have there ever been any reactions on it, maybe from the two main participians
themselves?

Breeze Brewin: In retrospect, Janet’s fine. I just felt she was getting shitted on. If I was in on a plot to reveal her sexiness to the world, I would stand proudly like, “Yeah, I exposed that tittie. Ya’ll owe me fellas!” I just think homie should have done the same. If you ain’t gonna man up, then why fuck with it at all? I ain’t ever get no reactions, but in my dreams, I’m her knight in shining armor.

Which one of your rap parts ever done would you consider to be the best and why?

Breeze Brewin: I’m Gonna Kill You. That’s the greatest song I’ve ever been a part of. It’s just perfect to me. It’s bugged, because it kind of epic, in a story type format, so we don’t perform it all the time in the hope of keeping the show moving, but overall, it’s as classic as anything I’ve ever done or hope to do.

How come that Prince Paul chose you as “main actor” for his “A Prince Among Thieves”-album ?

Breeze Brewin: That might be a better question for Prince Paul, but I know that when we were at East / West we tried to get at him for production way back in the day. I guess that’s how he caught wind of us. I’m just happy to say he considered me, and fortunate that it went through to become the good music that it is. That was an amazing experience that continues to be a good look for me and the squad on the whole.

Will you make further guest appearances in the near future?

Breeze Brewin: I don’t see why not. During this hiatus I was able to do a lot of cool collaborations. It made for some good music.

Thanks very much for taking the time. If there’s anything I forgot to ask about you can add it here…

Breeze Brewin: Good lookin’ out for the interest.

B-Slim: Thanks to all the fans for all your support over the years, enjoy the new album, and Use Your Confusion folks. Slim Morrison, Rastarfari 1 love Go, Germany ya’ll did your thing in the cup, now give up the coach. Peace!