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Interview
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Krumbsnatcha made his fame back in
the 1990's as part of the legendary Gangstarr
Foundation. Mentored by the late Guru of Gangstarr, he
debuted on the classic album "Moment of Truth", on the
song "Make em pay" and his impressive verse earned him
the prestigious Source Magazine's Hip Hop Quotable of
the month. KS went on to perform on many recordings with
Guru as well as albums under his own name. Hailing from
Massachusetts, he is also a member of the W.O.L.V.E.S.
crew, thus the moniker of "Golden Wolf ". Recently
joining up with the Wu-Tang Management team, he is now
affiliated with Wu-Tang as well, and this is his first
outing as such. His latest album "The Resurrection of
the Golden Wolf" is his first step towards his new
sound, sitting in the middle of the best part of both
world and legacies (Wu-Tang + Gangstarr) as well as his
resurrection as "King Solomon" back from the Hip-Hop
"Dead", and as his first project since Guru's
unfortunate passing last year. The album features
both Wu-Tang affiliates and as well as Guru and others,
with productions from the likes of Thorotracks,
Nickel Plated, G-Clef da Mad Komposa, and more.
KS sat down with Wu- International to talk about his
affiliation to Wu-Tang, Guru, his new team Wolves and
what his future plans are. |
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With the development of Mind
Power Entertainment and his affiliation with Jimmy
Kang's Str8 Up Entertainment Label / Wu-Tang management,
the King Solomon of Rap has more accomplishments ahead
of him, all covered in this exclusive interview,
Wu-International also welcomes KS to the family tree .. .
Enjoy
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I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: Peace KS, how are you and welcome
to the family tree?
KrumbSnatcha: I’m doing
well, thanks, how are you doing?
Wu-International: Great, thanks, You were mentioned in a
recent interview by Mook to be managed by Wu-Tang
management, can you please tell us when and how this all
happened?
KrumbSnatcha: Actually it happened … we signed last May.
We had a couple of meetings, I went up to Staten to see him
with our business associate AGR from Wu-Tang Harlem 6
introduced us to him. He brought me and Jimmy King out, had
dinner, a few things briefly and then over a course of 90
days or so, maybe more, we sent music out, talked. He came
to see a couple of shows. He knew about my affiliation with
GURU from Gangstarr and so forth and you know I guess he
decided that he was going to take the chance and put me on
board with his team. We signed a management agreement last
May if I’m correct.
Wu-International: Who was managing you prior to
joining them?
KrumbSnatcha: Before the WTM
situation came to fruition, I had a partnership going on
with Jimmy King of Straight Up Entertainment. He was a
manager/business partner of Straight Up Entertainment. He’s
been witnessing me through the creation of WOLVES and like
further in that project. We’ve accomplished numerous things
as far as in the New England area. He sent me on tour with GangStarr and had people like shipping in T-shirts, flyers
and like put out my name there further when I was just a
hypeman for GURU and Premier on tour, The Common's Electric
Circus tour. Through that situation we evolved as business
partners, he has managed my career, certain decisions that I
made he’s been instrumental in me making a lot of decisions
and he has his Str8 Up Entertainment situation, it’s blowing
up right now. I have my WOLVES Entertainment label as well
as my album that I am working on now, trying to get that off
the ground as well.
Wu-International: What’s the implication of you being
under WTM now, fans want to know how you view your position
within Wu-Tang, The management and Killa Beez?
KrumbSnatcha: As far as coming in to the Wu-Tang
family, I’m still learning and understanding my position as
far as that goes. But I’ve had friends and affiliates that
I’ve been acquainted with since my first album like Timbo
and Dreddy, a lot of those brothers. As far as my
position, like I said, I’m still learning, trying to figure
out where I can make my mark, what my position is, coming
from different camp you know as a Gang Starr Foundation
member. So I’m just gradually learning and walking my dogs
real slow and hopefully be pulled in as an official family
member, I’d love to be an affiliate and add on and bring to
the table.
Wu-International: The Wu fans are one of the hardest
ones to please or accept new affiliates, how do you think
your affiliation will be handled by the fans?
KrumbSnatcha:
Like I said before I came under some really legendary hip
hop brothers, I used to be in D&D studios consistently,
around Premier, watching and hanging out, even when I didn’t
have to record I used to go to New York and just watch and
hang around D&D and see a lot of great artists come in and
out of there, even some members of Wu-Tang, Premier had
introduced me to Inspectah Deck years ago. I met RZA,
Raekwon, numerous brothers I've met over the course of time. I always been a fan of Wu-Tang, even on my first album I had Timbo King and Dreddy
Kruger. They used to come over and stay at my house back in
the days. So I have always had an affiliation with Wu-Tang
in a certain nature. It’s a pleasure man, I’m going to add
on, I’m not trying to take from them, I’m just trying to add
on and just make good music, that’s pretty much it.
Wu-International: Everyone knows your affiliation with
the legendary Gangstarr Foundation, and now you are managed
by another Hip-hop royalty, are you still down with
Gangstarr Foundation as a collective?
KrumbSnatcha: Oh yes, I speak to Primo here and there.
The unfortunate situation with my brother GURU, it happened
last year, I wanna say Rest in Peace to that brother cause
he was instrumental in me learning this industry, him and
Premier. They took a chance on me, as far as being a New
England artist; I would never even have been recognized as
an artist if it wasn’t for those two brothers. So my
condolences big dogs goes out to the Elam family and it’s
really an unfortunate situation but I hope, well my wish is
to carry on his legacy and let everyone know what he’s seen
in me as an artist, him and Premier . He took a chance on me
when no one else would and without worrying that everything
would come into fruition, to see what kind of artist I am
and if I would be able to add on to that legacy and also to
the Wu-Tang banner cause actually GURU introduced me to a
lot of members, and Premier did. Way back when I was just
starting I met a lot of brothers cause there was always lot
of affiliation or understanding between both camps and I
could only see great things coming from this merging.
Wu-International: How did you get down with Gangstarr?
KrumbSnatcha:
Before the Gangstarr situation I
was actually part of a record shop called Rhyme Records back
in Massachusetts, I was going around, making my own
noise as far as in demos, shows, things of that nature. I
got picked up by an independent label called MIA Records who
took me out of the record store and wanted to invest in a
demo. So through mutual acquaintances that premier knew...
my brother Scientific, he passed away as well, RIP to
Scientific. He was an artist who had worked with RZA, with
ED OG, he knew Diamond D as well, working with Diamond, Pete
Rock etc he knew all these brothers, they pulled me in and I
was supposed to be up under Scientific but then the
unfortunate situation happened where I ended up being
incarcerated, so the only thing they had to work with was
like a demo of mine. So I guess they had the chance to sit
down and they let Premier hear it and he was like “Yeah I
like it, get back to me when he gets out and let’s see what
we can do when he gets out”. So when I got home, they called
Premier and brought me up there in D&D studios at that time
and he played a beat and that’s exactly right after I had
ended up getting shot, getting locked up, I was going
through a whole bunch of situations in my area you know … he
played the beat, he said “go in the booth and spit what you
spit”. What I ended up spitting was the song “Closer to God”
from there, the 12 inch took off, it made its mark at that
time, he introduced me to GURU from there. I started kicking
with Guru, being from the same area, the same state. He
pulled me in, started learning from my brothers, they asked
me to be on the Moment of Truth album and from that
situation I ended up getting hip-hop quotable and from there
on I was pulled into the Gangstarr Foundation.
Wu-International: My ever first recollection of you
was your outstanding verse on the song “Make em pay” from
the Moment of truth album, which to this day is deemed a
classic. How did you feel that your verse became the first
ever hip-hop quotable published in the source magazine from
an indie artist?
KrumbSnatcha:
It didn’t really dawn on me
because I didn’t really recognize it
after I did that song, I did the vocals I went back heading
for parole violation so I was in Massachusetts State
Prison. A lot of people started screaming, first I had
spoken to Premier through the phone and he was telling me
“You wouldn’t believe what is going on: they chose your
verse for hip hop quotable!” and I was like “Oh, that’s
dope, that’s unbelievable, I can’t believe it, it’s great. “
It didn’t dawn on me until like a couple of guys on my
block, I had subscriptions to the Source magazine, so one
day I just heard the whole terrace screaming and someone
came up to my cell and showed me the photo, I had made Hip
Hop Quotable and then from there I said “I got to take this
serious”. So I started writing every day, waiting for the
day I’d come home, my whole focus was on music, getting home
and trying to make my mark from there. You know, it was a
privilege: I was incarcerated, so I didn’t see the reaction
as far as with people from where I was from or anything of
that nature, I was more sheltered in? but the more I now
look on it: it’s great man being part of that legendary
group Gang Starr and be able to make my mark within that
legendary group, that’s a great situation.
Wu-International: The great Guru (RIP) passed away
recently, how did you feel of his passing and can you please
share some of your thoughts with what was going on in the
media after his death between his family and Solar and your
take in all that?
KrumbSnatcha: That situation is very unfortunate, cause
no one really knows what’s going on behind closed doors but
Guru was a great person, a great teacher, I look at him as a
spiritual person. You know everybody has their faults
and issues and things that they go through you know, but he
dealt with a lot of stuff that was going on at that time and
I learned a lot from him. The Solar situation I can’t really
comment on him cause I don’t know how he felt at that time,
in that point in his life where he wanted to link up with
Solar. I was part of the original situation: the Gang
Starr Foundation, I was there, when he met Solar. I guess he
thought he had created a circle and wanted to focus on
himself at that time. The Solar situation, I can’t really
comment because I don’t know what’s going on behind closed
doors. But I know GURU was a very smart, intelligent
brother. Sometimes it’s easy to get a clouded, jaded view on
the people that’s around you, people who really care for,
you confuse with people who really just want to get
something from you. I’m not saying that’s necessarily what
was going on per say but that’s about what was going on.
It’s really unfortunate cause GURU and Premier just made
some really legendary, classic music so fans in a way are
getting cheated from such Legacy, it’s unfortunate.
Wu-International: Looking back now, there seems to
have been a number of Wu-Tang affiliates that have been down
with Gangstarr Foundation, True Master and Black Jesus, do
you personally know True Master?
KrumbSnatcha: I haven’t met Tru Master in person but
there’s been words going through within the management, and
through people that’s affiliated that’s trying to connect us
right now to work on this next project. I’m looking forward
to getting in the lab with this brother and really making
some really good classic hip hop, tracks, things of that
nature. I heard a lot of good things about the brother, his
name rings bells for me and I know once we get together
we’ll be able to vibe and be able to come out of the lab
with something the fans will be able to appreciate
especially coming from the same … he knows the Foundation I
came from as well as I can learn from him as far as on the
Wu-Tang foundation so it can only be like a trading of
knowledge where we can both be able to come in the lab and
come up with something both fans will be able to appreciate.
Wu-International: We know you have worked with
Black Jesus before, and seen him on one of your recent
videos, recorded any thing together as of recent?
KrumbSnatcha: Not really, but his brother actually
lives out here and to some extent I have some
links with Black Jesus and with the RZA. AGR, his brother from
Harlem 6, they actually brought me to meet RZA in the studio
one time, we was in there listening to RZA mixing a track
that comes from the Afro Samurai soundtrack. I actually been
introduced to RZA a couple of times through GURU as well but
those guys go back to my first album and I actually re-introduced them, see it’s like one hand washing the other, I
introduced them to GURU and Solar had been their manager at
that time. So I introduced them to GURU and in return they
had introduced me into what situation they was working on at
that time. The door always opens as far as Black Jesus and
Harlem 6 goes because we are like brothers man. We know each
struggle that each one of us went through when I was coming
up in this industry and you know it’s nothing but love from
his side.
Wu-International: DJ Premier is one of hip-hop’s
greatest producer, under Wu-Tang management you probably
have access to another of hip-hop’s greatest: The RZA. Can
we expect to see contributions from both of them on future
projects if not already done?
KrumbSnatcha: I spoke to Premier and he’s up for it,
you know it’s just scheduling situations. As far as RZA’s
situation goes, I’ll leave that up to Mook and Management. I
would definitely love to have both of those brothers on the
same project cause they’re both legendary and great
producers as far as hip hop goes. As far as me being
privileged to have both of them on the same album, that
would be great. As well Mr Wall whom I’ve worked with
numerous times, there’s Notts, I worked with Notts
throughout my career in AMP, Virginia and Pete Rock, … I
would love to have all those brothers back on the new
project, they just all go in as far as the new project as
well as lot of new producers I’m working with now:
Nickel Plated and DJ Intrigue from Wu-Tang Radio, a Wu Tang
DJ.
Wu-International: Another producer that was loosely part
of the camp that you worked with more than once was Arabian
Knights, do you still work with him?
KrumbSnatcha: I haven’t spoken to Arabian in a
long time but definitely the love was there man. He looked
out for me when I was still just trying to come up, I was
working on actually the D&D project, that’s how I met him:
through Duck and Dave D&D Studios. He came out to the
studio, I came by his crib a couple of times, kicked some
tracks out but that was when I was like a baby. I was still
learning the industry, learning the game and right now I
think we’d be a lot better when we got back into the lab,
now as far as me evolving as an artist. I’m pretty sure he
evolved as a producer himself, I think a lot more better
music would come out if we got back to the lab together.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, let’s
talk about your last album “Hidden Scriptures”, why have you
called it that?
KrumbSnatcha: Basically, I called it “Hidden
Scriptures” like , you know, it’s like to me some things
haven’t been said, certain viewpoints that haven’t really
been put out there in a minute. I thought I was gonna put it
out there, so I touched on certain subjects and topics that
maybe other artists haven’t touched on or talked about in
the format that I did. It’s just like me cleaning up my
image, my aura coming in with the KrumbSnatcha situation is
dead and gone and I’m coming with the KS situation. It’s
gonna be different music, not necessarily all those gonna be
spiritually deemed. But you know it’s a new person, I’m
cleaning my life up, walk right I’m trying to better myself
as a man and a person. So that album is like the beginning
contribution of what to look forward to in the future.
Wu-International: You had Extra P, Pete Rock and
Beatminerz on there, how well was this album
received by the fans?
KrumbSnatcha: To be honest,
I believe it could have done a lot better. It didn’t
really get into the proper ears, I think it’s like a
really slept on gem in my opinion as far as the work
I put into it, as far as beatwise, maybe lyricwise
and that's
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| necessarily coming from an artist in the wing
like you know, I believe it was a decent
contribution but as it goes on it only gets better
so I am looking forward to working on this next one.
I look at it as pretty much staying in my area,
where I’m good at and giving my fans and hopefully
new fans the music they like. |
Wu-International: Religious imagery seems to be a
reoccurring theme in your music and with this album you had
songs like “The light”, “Garden of Eden”, “Heaven on earth”
etc, Are you religious and if so can you please tell us more
about your faith or beliefs?
KrumbSnatcha:
I look at it like this: I
believe in the one God and I believe that there are
Messengers that came to different people at different times.
No matter what country, no matter what language, no matter
what religious affiliation, I believe that everybody had
their own grasp and look on life and a higher powered
Creator. I know not any other religion, I don’t proclaim or
assert, put myself above or in with any religion. I just
believe there is one God and there’s a lot of prophets that
came all across the world to deliver that message of love,
have faith in the higher energy, the higher power and love
your brother like you love yourself. But I look into
Judaism, Christianity, studied Islam, Hinduism, Taoism,
Buddhism … you know everything, knowledge is infinite. I try
to like study anything I can get my hands on, even
Confucius, on ethics, things of that nature. I study and
delve into understanding life in general.
Wu-International: Thanks, that project was released
2009, will it be safe to assume that you are currently
working on something new and if so how far gone or when can
we expect it?
KrumbSnatcha: I’m actually working on a new project
now, the title of the album is “The Key”. I have songs
recorded over a spin of maybe like 30 days but recently I
was just in the lab, recorded five new ones, just trying to
stay busy. With what we have, what Mook is saying is
September you should be looking forward to a new album
coming out digitally, as well as some videos and me getting
out there, promoting and seeing the reception, seeing how
the fans feel it. From there we’ll start putting things in
store, just testing the waters right now but definitely look
out for that album: “The Key” and again it’s not KrumbSnatcha, it’s KS you’re running with that.
Wu-International: The Key
you say, can you share with us some of the guest producers
and artists featured or expected on it?
KrumbSnatcha: Just getting my feet wet as far as with
the projects but like I said, we got numerous songs from DJ
Intrigue, working with Nikkle Plated as well, as far as
features go, I am looking forward to working with some of
the Wu-Tang affiliates, being that it’s such a short span in
time that we are going to turn this in, its going to be to
test the waters, to see how the fans receive me under the Wu-tang
fold, and from there I think we will be able to determine
what’s going to happen from there. But definitely in
September, there is no telling as far as the producers as I
am still getting into it as far as what I need to do. It
should be a well rounded album for the world to receive, it
comes out on Protect Ya Neck records, and look forward to it
sometime soon.
Wu-International: Thanks, Lets also talk about your
group W.O.L.V.E.S, can you please tell us more about this
group, as in when and how it came about, names of the
members etc?
KrumbSnatcha:
Wolves is my group, the label I started off with some of the
brothers I grew up with or affiliated with, it stands for
Warriors . Organizing . Life's . Values . Escaping . the
Struggle.. I have like the label manager Dramatik, I have
known him for years and he has a programme where he helps
teenagers clean up their life, that’s where I met him at. We
have Big Kra out there in VA, we have Itchy Finga, a talent
artists, look out for him coming out soon, Boo Shameek, we
have my brother Polo, he is great, doing his thing, we even
have females like Brix, and we e have an R&B singer that we work
with his name’s Shea, we even have artists like in
Switzerland area, the Switzerland Wolves, We have
peeps down in Florida, and we are open to new artists as
well. We are just working on the ground work and we are open
to accepting new artists into this Wolves situation, wolfing
on, we call it the Wolvolution, Wolves nation because you
know its with a community, and not just with the music, we
try to focus the contents of the music, on experience, or
situations where somebody can be able to benefit from the
music in any shape, manner or form, a lot of us like Dramatik worked with kids and I have worked with kids from
school programmes, and we are with the community to let them
know we are not just only artists but trying to be
responsible and role models to the best of our abilities.
Wu-International: My first reaction when I saw you
were behind W.O.L.V.E.S was that you teamed up with M.O.P.
as you did a song for the movie “Training Day” with the same
title?
KrumbSnatcha: As far as training days movie goes, I
had that idea from the private movie screening, I believe it
was me, St. Lunatics, Nelly’s group and a couple of other
artists, we had a private screening in New York, like a
month or two before the movie was released, and I have seen
the part Denzel was telling Ethan Hawke you have to think
like a wolf, to catch a wolf you got to embody the
characteristics of a wolf, and the way he explained it, it
hit home and I was like you know, a lot of things going on
in our society and our community, its like wolves men, you
got people who are like waiting outside of the chicken coop,
or wait outside the crayon, people of the community, the
poor. So you know in able to match them in mellow strength
or however, you have to think like them. So that’s the whole
concept of wolves, its like we are our own warriors in our own
community and trying to make sure here and overseas that you know
we doing what we are supposed to do, we are protecting our
own community.. Like said before, we are are here for the
babies, the women and the children, and trying to be an
example of good men and women, law abiding citizens of the
society and so on.
Wu-International: Said it’s a collective and movement,
are you all working on a project as a collective and if so
you can please give us more information?
KrumbSnatcha: It was a spar of the moment, and we just
went into the studio and vibed and kept going amongst each
other and came out with a mixtape called The Warlordz host
by DJ Diamond, shout outs to Diamond. That was the beginning
of us sitting down together and just feeling each other out
artistically, like what everybody did in the lab at once is
also a hard thing, like think of the legendary group
Wu-Tang, and the things that they went through and are going
through as a group, 9 generals and they are also family, its
not an easy situation. So I am trying to learn, and study
and watch certain blue prints, certain people. I know it’s a
hard thing, you know there are different personalities,
different attitudes you got to deal with, being an
alpha wolf and also the CEO and founder of the Wolvment, I
have certain say but I don’t try to over assert my
authority. You can understand we are all men, and all have
our ways and opinions, so I try to give those brothers their
own leeway and you know we learn off each other, and
hopefully there is a mutual respect and understanding that
everybody is royal in this Wolvement, because its not just
being about us but its like a proper example that we are
trying to set, for our people. Hopefully everything will
fall in place and everyone will play their position and it
will be a great thing.
Wu-International: The group’s mixtapes, “The Warlordz” has the WTM
log on there, is the collective also part of WTM?
KrumbSnatcha: Well I will say through me, I am like the
liaison as I am signed under Mook Gibbons, and this is just
what I am bringing to the table after me, So I'm just saying its
not just me, I have a family of my own and to be able to
come through these doors with me and be able to contribute
and play their parts as well, so its not just like hey, ok
we got KS, so now we got to go out there and look for other
things and see what's going on. No, I am coming in with an
entire family of my own who just want to contribute to
further the movement of the Wu-Tang empire, and you know add
their mark.
Wu-International: Thanks for those, Speaking of names, we noticed that you
still have the same initials KS but have been referred to
lately as King Solomon?
KrumbSnatcha: It's actually paying homage to one of
the greatest biblical figures as far as like prophets,
somebody who is recognized as a wise person, he was left to
accomplish his father’s will as far as building a temple of God
for his people, bringing the presence of the most high God
on earth, he was a builder, and of all things he could pray
to God for, he prayed for wisdom, to understand fully and
judge wisely, to be able to decide and make the proper
decision for his people and to be able to complete the
mission his father was entrusted to complete. So I am looking
like that in that manner and just paying homage to a
biblical character and me establishing and try to build a
godly spirit or godly nature through my music here on earth,
you know for people here, people in music, people outside of
music, trying to establish a righteous mind state.
Wu-International: So you are replacing and not just
adding on to Krumbsnatcha like most artists would do, why
are you getting rid of Krumb?
KrumbSnatcha:
The KrumbSnatcha situation is
done, and has stopped since my last album actually, the
Hidden Scriptures. We moving on with the KS thing situation,
and yes its going to be the King Solomon situation and it
can stand for pretty much anything, Krumb Snatcha, King
Solomon, anything, Its just letters KS, however anyone wants
to interpret it, and I am trying to move forward with it,
and form or appear as however I am needed in the current
time, The KrumbSnatha thing has a lot of dangerous or
negative intonation to it, due to my previous life, and I
believe I am shutting that door now, whatever I had
accomplished is good, as far as from there, but from here on
in, from the ground on up, I am truing to accomplish new
things, make different music so I am going to start with the
KS situation, and when I say King Solomon like I said its
just me paying homage, I am not saying I am King Solomon, I
know there are a lot of people who go by King Solomon,
Solomon and things of that nature, I am not trying to take
from them, but tying to add my own view and position of how
I see it.
Wu-International: As the same question before, they are
already a number of rappers who go by this same name “King
Solomon” how do you feel about that and wouldn’t this
confuse the fans?
KrumbSnatcha: I don’t think it will confuse fans as the
King Solomon situation is more than an aka situation for me,
artistically I am just going with the name KS, could be king
static for example, there can be so many aka’s under KS so I
am just going with the letter KS, and with the album coming
out called the Key, King Solomon is the ground work for me
to start working from and building gods temple as far as
music goes.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, You have
worked with a number of Wu-Tang members in the past, like
Theodore unit’s Ghostface and was it Trife? how did that
song come about?
KrumbSnatcha: I actually believe it was Solomon
Childs and Ghostface, and that was for “Let the Truth be
told” album, that came about through the affiliation of a
man Den Green, who was actually working with an artists,
Terminology, who also used to be one of the Wolves as well,
and the artist Kali, and there were from Statik Selektah
show off records, you know those guys used to be on Wolves,
and were involved with the Wolves situation before it came
to be, but it came about through Den Greany who spoke to
someone in Ghost’s camp, and Ghost agreed to the situation,
and came down and dropped his vocals, I think I did mines
first then they heard it and dropped theirs after. It was
dope to work with someone like Ghost because he is just off
the meat wagon. I look forward to hopefully working with
Rae, Genius, and RZA, you know I respect all those brothers
and everything they have accomplished, I’ve been a fan of
Wu-Tang since I was probably 16.. nah actually my early 20s,
when they came out in 93, and I pretty much consider myself
more in that genre as far as you know the 5% teaching, their
clever word play and things of that nature, I definitely
came up from that era. So that’s dope, it was nice to work
with Ghost and I am looking forward to doing more with those
brothers.
Wu-International: I love the song with Timbo and Black
Jesus off your first project “To All The Killaz” have there
been songs with more Wu-Tang Clan members of affiliates that
you have done that has not been released to date that you
might want to share with us please?
KrumbSnatcha: Yes, I do have a song with a kid around
this way called Minus and its with me, him and Cappadonna,
shout out to Cap, actually we are in a process of doing
something now with Buddha Monk, he was just over my house
like last week, he called me yesterday so before he gets
back on the road, we get it in before September hopefully,
Also I got a few records with Dungeon Masta, from Blkyn Zu,
and you know we do reach out to the brothers, we trying to
get into the labs and collaborate with as many brothers as
possible.
Wu-International: At time of the interview, there was no
mention of "The resurrection of the golden Wolf"
project, is this the same album as the key you
mentioned or something totally different?
KrumbSnatcha: Actually it’s something totally different,
it’s a prelude into “The Key”: numerous songs that I
recorded over time and up the point I started
recording “The Key”. So basically it’s like a
compilation of old and new songs from my signing on
to Wu-Tang Management. Basically a prelude into “The
Key” which is totally different songs. Some of the
songs, two or three songs, are the same which were
the singles but other than that it’s a completely
different project. |
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Wu-International: Chambermusik labelled this as a street
album so, how did this come about and end up through
Chambermusik?
KrumbSnatcha: Well,
actually a lot of mutual acquaintances of G-Clef, like my
brother ? from around this area, put a good buzz in my ear
about him, as well as Buddah Monk. So I told him I had an
bunch of songs that I was just sitting on so I was totally
giving Clef a call, you know: “Maybe we can see what we can
do”. Talking about a mixtape or whatever the situation is.
So he offered me the chance to put the music out there
instead of sitting on some of the songs. I actually gave him
a large collection of songs. Those are the ones he felt, the
ones we put out.
Wu-International: You said earlier that you will
be showcasing your new projects under KS and not Krumb
Snatcha, was there any reason why you kept that name on this
project?
KrumbSnatcha: We kept it Krumb Snatcha as far as that
project goes because it’s sort of like my tribute towards
GURU as far as showing why he choose me and picked me as one
of his artists and maybe basically shedding a little light
on who I am as an artist cause I haven’t been out for a
while, just to show my progress and things of that nature as
far as where the Krumb Snatcha goes. Now, as for “The Key” ,
that ‘s going to be the death of the Krumb Snatcha name and
a rebirth into a new sound, a new era, a new image. So the
KS thing is me shutting the doors of the Krumb Snatcha image
and all that comes along with it: past history and past
things that are attached to that name, opening new doors, a
brighter horizon as far as artistically … you know “The Key”
is just the first step into the KS realm that I’m going to
try to take it into.
Wu-International: It is interesting to see Guru
featured on 2 of the songs on there, when were those songs
recorded and do you have more songs you did with Guru that
you are saving for later releases?
KrumbSnatcha: Those songs were basically recorded
somewhere around 2003-2004 , right before we went on the
Gangstarr Tour but after the Illkid Tour. There’s a slew of
songs that I’ve done with GURU, here and overseas. Things
will pop up, I just got to dig into the archives. A lot of
my music is scattered throughout different studios, but GURU
taught me a lot as far as artistically, as far as going on
tour, as far as how to be a professional so I just want to
reflect on a lot of light that he gave me and carry that on
to the music.
Wu-International: Personally I was happy to see a
Guru Dedication song on there, plus the bonus of featuring
another Gangstarr foundation student Black Jesus, how did
this collaboration come about?
KrumbSnatcha: Actually Clef had reached out to Black
Jesus and AGR, and they reached out to me about the project.
To that point I hadn’t done any type of dedications or
mentioning of GURU, just to let his soul rest in peace. I
didn’t want to get onto that bandwagon of like “ok, just let
me ride this wave “ and things of that nature. So I tried to
let a lot of the hyping situation die down before I got
involved with his name and really get into how I feel from
my perspective and what I really wanted to say. That song is
really just one aspect of what I wanted to point out as far
as my relationship with GURU. I actually mentioned in the
song how he came off the Illkid tour when I was getting
married to my wife at that time. He had paused the tour and
got off the tour to get at my wedding … things like that,
you are always going to be able to remember that. He’s met
my family, my whole family, extended family as well, my
mother and so on. When his son was born I was one of the
first persons he gave a picture of when he was born. I
looked at him as a big brother because of the things I was
involved in at that time wasn’t anything positive. He gave
me the opportunity to go out and see the world. I‘ve been to
like 23 countries with GURU and throughout the States. So
I’ve seen practically a whole world due to that man and I’m
forever grateful because of that situation.
Wu-International: I know the title of the album
was based off a movie, but any significant reason you have
called it "The resurrection of the golden wolf"?
KrumbSnatcha: Just it goes
with the WOLVES situation, and as far as my camp of wolves
I’m considered the Alpha wolf, which is the leader of the
pack. He goes out and scans the area and gets food for the
pack and brings it back, you know. I’ve been pretty much
dead to the industry since my last release so it’s like the
resurrection of the golden wolf. Gold being one of the most
cherished materials out of the elements. So it’s only right
I return as the golden wolf. Actually it’s from a Sonny
Chiba movie too cause I’m a big fan of karate films and he’s
like the master of all karate films so I definitely got the
idea for the title from that movie.
Wu-International: You also have a song on there
called "Wu-Tang 4 Eva" this was a song initially meant to be
on the Wu-nited states compilation put together at that time
by The Watchmen for WTM, any reason why it was not on that
compilation?
KrumbSnatcha: I’m not sure why it didn’t make the
compilation, it was probably in the process of being mixed
down and completed. Actually I had reached out and tried to
get some cameos on it. But overall it was pretty much
completed after the project, actually I’m not even sure
which project that it came out on. Basically it’s this: I
come from a legendary camp already with Gangstarr. I just
look at my affiliation to the Wu-Tang Empire like it’s just
another school that I have to learn from as far as my
elevation as an artist: all those brothers are talented,
they came from the bottom and built a huge empire just off
hard work ethics, so I take all those things into
consideration just like with GURU and Premier and how they
came off the bottom and they were feeding their circle and
like putting their crews on and reaching out. They got the
gold album with “Moment of truth” so their hard work paid
off. So I just look at my affiliation with WTM and the
Wu-Tang Empire as : I’m a student, I’m a baby. I’m in this
to try to win or to learn my way gradually as I go on. And
I’m still affiliated with Gangstarr, I always reach out to
Premier whenever I get the chance. That’s another realm that
I have access to but I am looking forward to great things
with the Wu Tang banner.
Wu-International: What would you say is your
favourite song)s) off this new project?
KrumbSnatcha: I definitely like the GURU dedication song
cause it’s honest and truthful. I like the “Flying daggers”
because it’s so amped up, it’s one of those really amped up
joints . And “this is your life” because it touches on a lot
that’s going on in the United States: the Congress, the
President, the veterans coming home and not being taken care
of, single mothers that are running around not getting any
type of assistance from the child’s father and trying to do
it all on their own, … so much is going on in a lot of
communities throughout the United States so that would
definitely be my favorite song of the whole album just for
the topics that it touches, raising the awareness. For other
countries as well, once they hear the song they can
understand what’s really going on her in the States.
Wu-International: So is "The Key" coming out after
this project or you have something else in between?
KrumbSnatcha: We have “The Key” coming out, the release
date is to be determined but that album is done and I look
forward to getting out there and promoting the album,
getting the videos done. It’s a new sound, it’s the first
step under the KS name, the KS moniker and I want to see
where it goes from after this project here, which direction
we’re going to be taken into from there.
Wu-International: Thanks, So in brief summery can you
please share with the fans what to expect from KS for the
rest of 2011?
KrumbSnatcha:
Look out for the album “The
Key”, I will be going in hard as far as mixtape and
appearances, shows, looking forward to a tour coming out, I
belive it will be with ODB’s son, Boy Jones, that’s in the
process of being worked out, look forward to me being in
your area and local record store, in your venues doing
shows, as far as staying relevant and staying out there
consistently, you know its been a couple of years since I
dropped the last album, , that was a great album, probably
slept on, but I think with the collaborations now with WTM
situations, and the background from where I come from, it
can only be nothing but a great situation.
Wu-International: Anything else you might want to add
or say that has not been covered already?
KrumbSnatcha:
just to look out for the
underground road tour I believe Cappa is on the road right
now, and same as Buddha, look out for Boy Jones and myself,
we are going to work our way until we go overseas, I know we
got a lot of fans from both camps with the Gangstarr
situation as well as the Wu-Tang situation, two legendary
groups and we are looking forward to doing our thing and
getting out there. A couple of shout outs to my brother
Smiley, Ghetto Child, shout out to my Gangstarr foundation
affiliate brothers, NYGz, Black Poet, Hannibal Stax .. all
the brothers out there who I came through their ranks, those
brothers men, I want to pay them homage and respect, cos I
learnt from them, so. Definitely big shout out to DJ
premier, and respect in to my brother and teacher, shout out
to Big Shug from around the way, that’s my brother too.
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Wu-International: How or where can fans keep
up to date with updates from you?
KrumbSnatcha:
I believe right now yuou can
check out the informat ion on
http://wu-world.com / and you can find out
everything that is going on with the artists and
what's going on etc..
Wu-International: Thanks for your time KS, any shout
outs, words to the fans, last words etc?
KrumbSnatcha:
Shout out to John Mook Gibbons
for giving me the opportunity to represents, shout
out to all the staff at Wu-Tang management Justice,
Tanya especially, Armal, Herc, to my brother Jimmy
Kang, the vice president, and Jake, my Wu-Tang
security, its a new movement, a new thing that's
going on and we are all contributing into the family
and we are working to make this thing happen. Also
wan to shout out my brothers that have been holding
me down, The Wolves, look out for what's coming out
from us and its going to be a great year and great
situations god willing. Don't forget to check out
www.wu-world.com as well as Wu Worldwide DJ
coalition, Wu-Tang radio as well as Wu TV for all
the info's on Wu-Tang, its artists and Wu affiliates
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