Jamaica Queens, New York rap duo The Longshots have received critical acclaim for their debut album "Hunger Music" thanks to their street-minded lyrics and attempts to take hip-hop back to it’s roots. We caught up with them and talked about the group, the album and their future.
Boombox: First of all, tell us a bit about yourselves. Where you're from and how you got started.
Rock: We’re the Longshots, from Queens New York. We have an album out called Hunger Music in stores now and it’s a classic.
Crayon: We started in the streets, in various basement studios in queens just putting our work in, perfecting our craft and here we are.
Boombox: Why the name "Longshots"?
Rock: That’s for the doubters. The odds are against us. The Longshots are those who have the odds stacked against them but still succeed.
Crayon: Yeah...sorta like David and Goliath.
Boombox: How would you describe your style to people who haven't heard your music?
Rock: It’s banging Hip-Hop music. Very versatile. We can come at you any style. It’s lyrically inclined and heartfelt but also catchy.
Crayon: It’s introspective but with enough appeal to capture the ears of the masses.
Boombox: Your debut album "Hunger Music" has received critical acclaim for its rawness and consciousness. Do you think this side of hip-hop and hip-hop’s roots are being overlooked in the music that is coming out at present?
Rock: Most definitely. That’s why a lot of people have stepped to us and thanked us for bringing it back to that. The majors don’t always back up real raw music because they’re just clueless so we have to show them that there is a demand. Once they see the buzz we’re creating they’ll understand and jump on it.
Crayon: In a way it’s overlooked but time really tells how much the listener appreciates the album. It’s cool to have commercial music that you can dance to and stuff but a couple of years down the road what remains is the art that really had a message. Right now we just working on our next stuff trying to be better emcees and see if the world catches up to us in time.
Boombox: How successful do you think the album was as far as what you were trying to achieve with it?
Rock: The album was and is extremely successful. It went beyond expectations. We recorded this album with very humble means and now we’re receiving accolades from four corners of the globe. Emcees, producers, media, they all step to us and show us love. Plus it’s selling all over the net. We’re getting lots of exposure from this LP so we’re setting ourselves up perfectly up for the next LP.
Crayon: Yes the album is successful we accomplished a lot without the help of the label but to survive in any environment you must evolve. Right now sky's the limit.
Boombox: Why did you choose the title "Hunger Music"?
Rock: It was the most accurate description of the album. We were hungry to be heard. That’s like “Please listen to my demo” from EPMD. We’re like the confident newcomers that step to the vets. Also it spoke to the hungry, when every record out spoke to the ballers, players and pimps.
Crayon: Basically it was the Hunger for More (no relation to Lloyd Banks) it was a struggle to make the album financially and we felt that our story deserved to be told. I think you can feel that hunger when you listen to the album.
Boombox: What is your favourite track from the album and why?
Rock: It changes everyday. There is a different mood for every song. That’s why I feel that there’s something for everyone on there. Every time I listen to it I think to myself “this track is crazy”.
Crayon: If You With Me
Boombox: Have you had chance to make a music video yet?
Rock: Yeah we got the video for Life We Livin out now. It shows how we live in our day to day life. The video stands out from what’s out there.
Crayon: Yeah we got this video for almost nothing cause people feel our movement and want to be a part of it.
Boombox: I've heard you have a good relationship with AKIR, what have you done together in the past and are you going to be working together soon?
Rock: I was in Brooklyn with Akir, not too long ago and we were building, listenin to beats and rhymes and all that. He’s a dope beatmaker and he wanted to get some beats on the next Longshots project so we’ll try to make that happen
Crayon: Akir's a dope artist and a real humble cat I wish him the best.
Boombox: Which artists and producers would you most like to work with in the future?
Crayon: Premier of course umm...I can’t really think of too many cats cause I don’t believe in name dropping. If someone’s a dope emcee or a fresh producer then I want to work with them.
Boombox: What are you listening to at the moment?
Rock: Right now, I’m playing old music, like Stevie Wonder, Marvin. Also some 90’s Hip-Hop like “The Diary”. That new Cee-Lo joint too
Rock: We are releasing an EP called The Jungle Book and the follow up for Hunger Music, called “Glory and Drama”. This album is going to stick the flag in the dirt for the Longshots.
Crayon: A whole lot of projects but mostly staying fresh and relevant.
Boombox: Any shout outs or comments for our readers?
Rock: Peace to all my UK street soldiers. Support that Hunger Music
Crayon: It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice...on the mic!
-LSC on the rise -one!!!!
