MUSIC
Hashing Out Latin's Finest
Josh Brown
Listen to Hash's hit single, "Muevelo"...
Check out Hash on MySpace!
So let’s start with the basics here. How long have you been rapping?
Hash: I’ve been rapping for about 6 years now. But actually being in the studio, writing, and making songs it’s been about 3 years.
How did you get started in the game?
Hash: I actually first got started off on a dare because I had talked about this one rapper’s tracks and he was like if you think you can do better than go ahead and let’s see. So I did. And it just took off from there.
Who and/or what influences your work?
Hash: My influences man that’s a long list but 2Pac, Biggie, LL Cool J, Run DMC, Prince, Michael Jackson, Babyface, Jay-Z, Nas, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Scarface, man the list just goes on and on for me. But also just everyday thing’s might influence me, the way a person looks at me, one of my boi’s circumstances, being at a place at a certain time just something will trigger me into thinking about that moment transforming into a song.
What kind of radio play have you gotten thus far?
Hash: I’ve gotten some spins out in a couple different markets, but no major regular spins. My first song that I had on the radio was in Phoenix on Power 92 with a track called Gotta Grab This ft. Smokey Joe and that was like 3 years ago. The 2nd song I had gotten rotation on was Spanish Butterfly in Chicago on Power 92 about 2 years ago. The newest song I got playing on the radio currently is a track off my demo Muevelo on 99.3 KCLA in L.A. But my camp is looking to expand out to different areas of the country starting next year as the release date comes closer for my solo debut album.
How many shows have you done?
Hash: Off hand hmmm … I’ve done somewhere around 25 shows. So I’ve definitely established a good following in and around L.A. and have learned what showmanship is all about on stage. Cuz you gotta have a real show put together to entertain the crowd, not just you up there with a mic and sayin’ you gonna feel mean on this one namean.
Ever performed with someone or opened for someone notable?
Hash: The only person I’ve performed with noteable is Damani out here at a show in Studio City.
What has been your favorite performance thus far?
Hash: My favorite performance of all time that I’ve done had to be at the Knitting Factory couple years back. I was with my old group at the time and we had this amazing show put together with b-boys, bhungra dancers, female dancers, etc. it was just an amazing set up. But what really got me luvin’ the show was that we came into the spot, probably bout 500 people in the place, no one knowing who we were and by the time we got off stage every single one of the them was feelin’ and luvin’ us.
So are you still with Cut The Check Entertainment? If not, what happened?
Hash: HELL NO!!! I no longer have any affiliation with Cut The Check which is ironic because I helped start that company and was the only one who had any idea of how to shape it and get it off the ground. But the relationship between me and my ex-partner fell out because of money and credit issues so I felt it was best if I just walked away, took my team with me and never look back.
If you’re not with them anymore, you under any other label? You looking to be signed under anyone in particular?
Hash: Currently I’m not under any label however me and my team are getting started the process of getting our own independent label off the ground which will include promotional, production, and artist development services. As for signing, I developed interest from a couple major labels, but I still got a ways to go with that because despite “popular conception” it does take a good while from the time of interest is expressed to finally signing a deal that both sides are happy with.
Your album with rapper Brain, “L.A. Playaz,” was definitely well produced and very professional sounding. How come it didn’t get off the ground?
Hash: I was definitely very proud of that album. The reason the Hash N’ Brain – “L.A. Playaz” album never got off the ground was because of problems within the group between me and Brain. Before the album even came out we were no longer a group, but there were already 1,200 copies of the album already pressed up and ready to be sold. So, differences were set aside and within 3 weeks almost all of the 1,200 copies were sold. So, to me it was like if things hadn’t gotten fucked up between us I know fo sho that album woulda done great as in independent release because the copies that were sold had no promotion behind it. Not to mention that if we hadn’t fell out I had major press ready to go on the album, reviews, interviews, radio, the whole thing plus a music video that was going to be directed and choreographed by Shawnette Heard (dancer and choreographer for Janet Jackson). But since we fell out everything was scraped.
Explain the “West Coast Hindi” song on the album. What’s that all about man?
Hash: The West Coast Hindi song came around cuz me and Brain were looking to do something really different than what we were hearing in the industry. So we looked to our heritage. Brain is full Indian (India) and I’m half Latino half Indian so we hooked up with this Indian producer Scorpio (produced for Jay-Z, Beanie Siegel and others) and came up with the track which is all about unity. Unity for the west, different races, all that.
Are you still teaming up with Brain? If not, mind if I ask what happened to you two?
Hash: No and I have no plans in the future at all to work ever again with him. Basically we fell out because he wanted more money and better percentages than what we had agreed upon when we first started out. He started getting real shady, he’d talk shit about my people then come back and say he never said that when we’d confront him about it. He looked through my phone for industry contacts that he personally didn’t know to try and use them for his own personal use.
The final things that made me leave the group were a combination of when I was asked to do a track with Damizza (former Program Director for Power 106/ producer and artist) and Bishop Lamont (Aftermath Recording Artist) as well as problems with credit issues and the final mixing and mastering process of the album. The song with Damizza, Brain heard about it when he was in Boston and called me up and demanded that he have a part on the song, but I was like I can’t do that because this isn’t my song it’s Damizza’s and he didn’t ask for you to be on the song so what can I do. And right after that he started attacking me saying I’m holding him back, I could get him on it if I wanted to and all that other kinda bullshit. Which wasn’t true at all and from what I could gather he was becoming more and more jealous of the fact that people were remembering me more than him when we’d be networking, doin tracks and all that stuff.
The problem with the final mixing and mastering process basically was that he bailed on it. Plain and simple he bailed on the project as it was being finished and left me and DJ SBC to take care of it. Then on top of it had the nerve to try and renegotiate money with producers, disrespecting members of my street team and so I was like fuck it I’ve had enough. I’m leaving and I called a meeting with all my people and we walked.
So do you have any projects you’re working on now?
Hash: Currently I’m working on my solo debut album which we’re looking at scheduling for release in late spring/early summer 2007. I’ve also got a mixtape in the process of working on which will be released winter this year. I’m working on that with my boi’s VI (Bruce Wayne) and Grumpy. Also I got something BIG in the works, but I been asked to let it marinate so I can’t really say anything about it but trust me everybody is in for a surprise.
How much input do you have on production of your music? Are you the type of artist who is right there with the producer giving input, or do you just take the beat when it’s done and rock it?
Hash: It really depends on the location of me and the producer, but for the most part I like to be involved in every step of the song including the production of the beat. Usually me and a producer will sit down and talk about concepts for a track and take it from there looking at different beat patterns, structures, etc. But, if the producer and me can’t link up then I’ll check out what he’s got and see what I like and then rock the beat.
So you find any difficulties in being Latin and trying to make it in the rap game?
Hash: I’ve seen some resistance to that fact from others in the industry, but luckily for me I haven’t seen too much of it. I get luv from all races, both genders and all that. If somebody ain’t feelin’ me as far as my music isn’t their style I always get mad luv and respect for just doing what I’m doin’. I feel I been extremely luck with that because I know a lotta other Latin rappers that have had to deal with that fact for a long time and still do. Also I never been really put into that category of a “Latin Rapper” it’s just been like yea Hash is a rapper and so what if he’s Latino he still got skill.
Where will we see Hash in five years?
Hash: I see Hash being a name that most everybody in the U.S. knows. As well as venturing into other aspects of the entertainment industry modeling, acting, etc. and start diversifying into other areas maybe real estate.
Sum up you, as an artist, in one word.
Hash: Champ.
Anything you want to add to this?
Hash: Yea if you wanna hear more tracks from me you can hear ‘um at www.myspace.com/hashlosangeles as well as tour dates and what’s goin’ on with the status of the album and much more.
Also I’d like to give shouts out to Mooch and Yvette Wilson with Fat Daddy Records, DJ SBC with Lake Transfer Productions, Lauren, the homegirl Liz, the homey Bugzy, my brother C-STAT, Abel & Ed with The Innovator League, Hiroshi with Bbizz Enetertainment, Damizza & The Baby Ree family, Enfamus, Bullet & Double 9 Records, VI (Bruce Wayne), and to all my fans new and old that have supported and continued to support me. If I left anyone out my bad, get at me ‘bout that. Oh yea and BIG SHOUT OUTS to Josh and The Noyse for this interview.
