PREMIERE: Haadoob - Words From The Wise (Album) + 10 Questions
"Berlin producer Haadoob unearths a conscious boom-bap time capsule featuring all your favourite MCs' favourite MCs.
Words From The Wise is a compilation concept album dropping knowledge on your ears and sounds for your mind. It combines the lyrical skills and insights of some of the most gifted MCs around today, set to a warm, organic soundtrack. Words From The Wise is about finding your own voice, your truth, your passion and sense of self in this world.
Produced by Haadoob
Cuty by DJ Grazzhoppa
Mixing & mastering by No Sleep Nigel
Artwork by Ohmega Watts / Brokin nglish Design Collective".
Haadoob sat down with wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
Good question... as a kid I started listening to the tapes, records and CDs we had at home. There were psychedelic rock albums, soul, David Bowie and a bit of jazz too. That got me hooked on music and I began playing drums as a teen. The first hip-hop record I had on repeat was Cypress Hill III, Temples Of Boom. And that made me listen to albums in a different way. Temples Of Boom was really atmospheric and the way Muggs produced it made me want to go out and find the perfect loop. Then a friend showed me how to chop samples and I got into making beats around 2002. The stack of sample records has been growing ever since.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
That's a tough one. But some of the artists that have influenced me are Hi-Tek, Lootpack, Can, Bahamadia, Dangermouse, Outkast, 9th Wonder, Company Flow, Damu The Fudgmunk, Roots Manuva... the list goes on. Off the top of my head I'd love to make music with Murs, Ill Camille, Fatima, Cymande and Yazmin Lacey.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
Sure. The next big release is my debut album Words From The Wise, it drops on Friday 16 December via Some Such Records. It's a concept album / compilation with features from all of your favourite MCs' favourite MCs. It's been in the making for the past three to four years. The album is quite deep overall, sound-wise and in terms of the lyrics as well.
4. How would you describe your sound?
On this release: a boom-bap time capsule filled with warm, organic sounds.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Definitely releasing Words From The Wise. It was a really good experience working with all the talented artists and seeing it all come together in the end. You'll hear collabos with Wordsworth, Nappy Nina, Audessey, J Scienide, yU, Shawn Jackson, Nolan The Ninja, Thaione Davis, Boog Brown, Kryminul of Jigmastas and Psalm One. Plus some really good cuts from DJ Grazzhoppa, the former ITF champion.
The next milestone will be to get Words From The Wise pressed on to vinyl with original artwork from Ohmega Watts that really captures the mood of the record. The vinyl will have some unreleased bonus tracks so look out for the crowd-funding campaign. At this point I'm happy the digital version is out there for people to hear.
Photo Credit: Hilton Mendelsohn
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Work on your own sound until you are happy with it and don't focus on gear too much. I find quite a few people I speak to about making music are fixed on the gear their favourite producers use. Just experiment and find a setup that works for you. Then get into a creative routine and collaborate with like-minded artists. And sure, it's worth getting an understanding of the business and licensing side of things.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Golden Browne from Washington D.C., Jaisu from Edinburgh and Thallus from Berlin.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
Danger Mouse and Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Ezy Minus, Experience
Ohbliv, Anima Mundi
Homeboy Sandman, Still Champion
... and any album from the artists you can hear on Words From the Wise.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Mostly record digging and listening to online radio to discover new music. I enjoy live gigs as well. And frequently I re-watch and nerd out over old episodes of Rhythm Roulette or Tiny Desk.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
Mood lighting, a stack of records and a hot drink.