The Hoodies: What The Game’s Been Missing
First things first, please introduce for me the members of The Hoodies…
Class and Young Pop.
Now let’s hop right into this brand new EP, What Pressure Makes – Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you all?
Class: What Pressure Makes is the prequel to our album Hidden Gems, so conceptually it’s like us preparing the world for our glow up. This is the process of us becoming superstars in this culture; this EP is the first step of that process to becoming GEMS.
How then does What Pressure Makes either differ and / or compare to previous The Hoodies’ entries?
Pop: This project is different because we haven’t dropped a full body of work in 3 years. The fans have patiently waited for this, and we delivered on all cylinders. In my opinion, this project doesn’t compare to our previous bodies of work because of our growth as artists. This project signifies our experiences in life and in the music industry, so it’s completely different from the others.
In having said that, when you all sit down to pen your rhymes where do you all draw your inspiration from?
Class: I get my inspiration from my life experiences. The things I’ve been through give me the most inspiration. I know I have a story to tell, so that inspires me to pen what I feel.
Pop: Piggybacking off of what Class said, I get a lot of my inspiration from my life experiences. I also get inspiration from my favorite artists. Whenever I listen to 50 Cent, Jadakiss, DMX or any of my favorite rappers, I instantly get motivated and pick my pen up.
What Pressure Makes is an Asti Love / EMPIRE project -What particular string of events actually led to this inking?
Class: Big shout out to Kristi Clifford and Asti Love / Empire; she believed in our vision, and we believed in hers. We have so much more to show the world. It was the combination of her expertise and our creativity that led to us inking the deal.
What Pressure Makes is also a precursor of sorts to your forthcoming full length LP, Hidden Gems – What can you all reveal and / or divulge about upcoming said body of work?
Pop: Ahhh, man, Hidden Gems is completely different from anything we’ve ever done before. It’s our first full length album. Hidden Gems is the perfect balance between new school and old school. The concepts, the bars, the melodies; it’s what the game has been missing. When you hear the first song on the album, you will know we aren’t playing around at all!
For it, you teamed up with DJ / producer Kid Capri – How did this connection even come about?
Class: It started with us just doing a single. We recorded one track at Quad Studios, and the chemistry was INSANE! We all agreed that night that we should do the album together. Ever since, we been like family; way deeper than music. I could pick up the phone and call Capri about anything, and we don’t even bring up rap. Very much grateful to have that relationship with Capri; one of the most solid in this game.
Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music – When did you all first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for The Hoodies?
Class: I started working on music EARLY in life. I was 7 when I wrote my first rap. I recorded my first track at 9. I still got the CD with my first ever track I recorded. I been in love with Hip Hop my whole life. Never pictured myself being anything else besides an artist.
Pop: Rap has always been a huge part of my life. Since I could remember, I’ve been rapping. I started freestyling when I was 3 years old, but I wrote my first rap when I was 9. I always studied my brother. I seen how much of an amazing lyricist he was, so when he saw me following in his footsteps he decided to put me under the wing and we started THE HOODIES. It’s been History ever since.
Now you all are natives of Upstate New York, correct? So growing up in ‘The Empire State,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?
Class: For me personally, Hov is #1…Kiss, Nas, Juelz Santana but, honestly, a lot of my musical influences don’t necessarily hail from N.Y. I’m a huge Nipsey Hussle, Drake, Pusha T, Kanye, Mac Miller fan.
Pop: For me, 50 Cent is #1…Jadakiss, Nas, Beanie Sigel, Mase, DMX, Pusha T, Drake, Max B. Those artists definitely influenced my style.
With that being said, how do you all classify your overall sound and / or style?
Class: My style is a mixture of conscious, street…I could talk my talk to the ladies, I could speak to the youth, and hold a conversation with the OGs. I would compare myself to Lebron; I have an all around game, it’s not a position I can’t play in rap.
Pop: I feel like my style is very raw and unapologetic. I tell the people what they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear. But I have multiple bags I can tap into. I can be smooth for the ladies, or I can give you that rowdy feel. Like Class said, “I feel like I can pretty much do any style when it comes to rap.”
Where does your moniker originally derive from?
Class: We’ve seen other publications say things that related to Trayvon (Martin) and that’s partly true. It stems from seeing a certain kind of kid or young man in a hoodie and prejudging him before you know his actual story. We feel like people think they know us and know our story when they don’t. We are The Hoodies because we’re speaking for that young boy who’s walking down the block and that person crosses the street because they think he’s on a certain type of (hype) because he has a hoodie on, when really his circumstances don’t make him. You don’t know his story, and you judge him off rip.
Switching gears here, what exactly do you all want people to get from your music?
Pop: I want people to get that we’re one of the greatest rap duos of all time.
If you all could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Class: Nip for sure!!
Pop: Biggie, it’s only right.
If you all could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Class: Toss up between Madison Square Garden or Coachella.
Pop: MSG, you a N.Y. legend once you do that, haha!
On a more serious note, are you all happy with the current state of Hip Hop?
Class: I think Hip Hop is in a unique place; you could literally pick what you love. Hip Hop has its own sub genres within the genre now. You have Drill, Club, Boom-Bap, Backpack, etcetera. Instead of everything just being labeled HIP HOP. I wish that the golden era sound was getting more love, but I’m not mad at where rap is at; everyone can just pick what they love.
Pop: Overall, I’m happy with the current state of Hip Hop because a lot of my favorite artists are still dropping quality music. I just think it’s a little over saturated with a certain sound, and if you not doing that sound certain people don’t think you could be successful.
What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
Class: Our ability to adjust with the time, our knowledge for the game, the willingness to learn and our talent and work ethic. These things will be the reason why The Hoodies will be legendary, not even including our BARS AND TALENT.
Do you all have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
Pop: I’m a SAG actor. I definitely want to pursue acting full time at some point in my career. Music is my first love, but acting has a special place in my heart.
Class: I want to run multiple businesses, I’m into fashion; outside of music, I just want to be a businessman/ designer / philanthropist. I want to put people in position to reach their goals, whether that be in music, fashion, etcetera. I also want to work with the youth at some point, and set up programs that could cultivate young kids’ gifts / talents.
To date, what has been your biggest career moments), at least thus far anyway?
Class: Performing all over the country for sure; doing shows all over the country has been crazy! Realizing that we have fans in all these different states has been eye opening.
Pop: Acting in Law & Order. That was the craziest thing ever! I had a scene with Stabler [Christopher Meloni], one of the best experiences ever. Shout out to him. Man, the scene was intense.
What’s an average day like for you all?
Class: I’m a father of two – a daughter and son – so I’m big on spending time with my kids when I’m not working. I like spending time with family, writing, playing 2K or GTA, listening to music or kicking it with my brother.
Pop: Handling business and playing video games, haha!
Please discuss how you all interact with and respond to fans…
Class: It’s funny because I know some of my fans names on first name basis, haha! Like a fan of ours on Facebook, who added me when we first went viral, speaks to me and my family frequently. A lot of artists are real uptight and feel like they don’t have to respond to fans, but I try to do my best to respond to fans because what if I meet one of them in person one day. It makes the experience much better. They feel like you’re personable and not a star. Keeps you humble. I show love when love is shown to me, but you gotta approach me properly.
Pop: I’m not gonna lie, I gotta get better with responding on social media. I literally post, and get right off social media for the day, haha! I love my fans though; when I meet them in person, it’s always love.
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
Pop: My favorite part is the adrenaline rush after shows, listening to the music back when you just recorded, collaborating, traveling and the love we get. My least favorite part is the politics of the industry.
Class: My favorite part is the respect or love we get from the rappers we looked up to or listened to. That means everything. My least favorite part is the way people I knew switched up when I started getting successful. That was the biggest let down.
What advice would you all have for someone wanting to follow in vour footsteps?
Class: Stay consistent, be true to yourself and focus on the mission. You gotta lose to be able to win, and you gotta give to be able to receive. You can’t cheat the grind.
Pop: I would tell someone that this life comes with highs and lows. The lows are a test; a test to see if you’re ready for this lifestyle. The grind isn’t sweet. It’s tough, it’s muddy. You gotta go through the grind to get to the top.
Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years fro now, where do you all see yourselves?
Class: I see myself passing businesses down to my kids, platinum albums, CLASSIC ALBUMS, well respected in rap. I see myself being known as one of the best in the game.
Pop: I see myself being a young mogul on top of my game. Dominating rap for years to come. Classic albums, Clothing company…really just an all around hustler. On top of all (that), I wanna be an Oscar award winning actor.
As for the immediate, what’s next for The Hoodies?
Pop: Hidden Gems, produced entirely by Kid Capri; ALBUM OF THE YEAR!
Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
Class: Big shout out to everyone who has supported us from day 1; I love y’all, thank y’all, and I can’t wait for y’all to take this journey with us to superstardom. BIG HG!
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