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Interview
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Emerging in 2004, when crunk
music and southern hip hop was taking over the hip-hop world,
the Detroit, MI-based Wisemen plotted to create music that was
natural, revolutionary, street, and of the utmost quality. The
Wisemen’s plan is to be great, simply because of their music.
The Wisemen were initially assembled as a group of seven MCs.
Whittled down to the most serious in the group, the four
remaining members plan to establish The Wisemen as a force to be
reckoned with on their debut album, Wisemen Approaching.
Electing their group name stems from the idea that in whatever
context, or situation, we remain wise and use our wisdom to make
correct moves. All four members work their own ingredients into
the chemistry. Bronze Nazareth, the critically acclaimed Wu Tang
Producer-and MC, Kevlaar 7, also an MC as well as producer.
Phillie, west Detroit MC, and Salute (the Kid) East Detroit MC.
Like most inner city youth,
the Wisemen began life trying to get by whatever way they could.
For Bronze, that meant keeping a job, scraping up money for
equipment, and when life hit hard, stealing food from the local
grocer, and getting his feet wet in “get by” work. Also growing
up in a city they called “Gun Rule” Kevlaar 7 was rolling the
city streets with friends also searching for a way out. Escaping
their pains through music, Bronze & Kevlaar eventually formed a
group named “The Unknown” and released an online album called "Death's
Birth: The Grip Of Behemoths". After completing an album
together, that garnered only internet and local sales attention,
the disheartening experience would prove most important to the
Wisemen. After signing with Wu-Tang and moving to Detroit,
Bronze Nazareth and Kevlaar 7 began discussing a new group.
Bronze had an idea to build a seven man group, called the 7
Wisemen. Kevlaar 7 moved to Detroit shortly after Bronze and
they began efforts to put a recording studio together.
Bronze discovered Phillie in
the streets of West Detroit, while circulating his business card
to possible beat customers. Growing up on the infamous numbers
streets, a rough set of blocks in Southwest Detroit, Phillie
learned how to use his mental to stay swift. While trying to
stay afloat in the streets and avoid bids, Phillie would hustle
his money, and then concentrate on music. Paying dues for years,
Phillie formed and then disbanded from several groups and labels
who couldn’t match his work ethic, or groom his potential. On
the eastside, a chance meeting at work, led Bronze to Salute the
Kid. Salute and Bronze also thought on the same plain and began
to discuss life. Growing up in the projects, Salute earned his
name by the natural way of the streets. A live street history
led Salute through wild years, where he politicked in the
grimiest of spots, and eventually he found himself experiencing
tragic tribulations. Salute vowed to get himself together, and
attempt to fly right. Bronze introduced them to Kevlaar they
built at several studio sessions and they all came together.
This would form the crew that would evolve into the Wisemen.
With their 2007 debut, the thought provoking and menacing
Wisemen
Approaching, The Wisemen have created a hazy, threatening,
and thoughtful soundscape out of mesmerizing beats, bleeding
piano riffs, and surgeon chopped samples over these powerful
beats, the MCs rap with no regard as to what’s “hot”, they
provoke thought imagery, and update a vanished art of beats
rhymes and life. The Wisemen Approaching drops on the 27th of
February 2007, and features heavyweights such as GZA/Genius,
Killah Priest, Prodigal Sunn, Timbo King and more.
Read
more about The Wisemen when Wu-International caught up with
Bronze Nazareth, Phillie, Kevlaar 7 and Salute Da Kid for an
exclusive interview. |
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 and bless, how is
everyone doing?
Kevlaar 7: everybody is
good trying to feed the babies….
Wu-International: We know the group is made up of
Bronze, Kevlaar 7, Phillie and Salute, are you all
from Detroit?
Bronze Nazareth: Yeah
were all from Motown. Phillie was born and raised in
the D with ties to Chicago, Salute was born in
Philadelphia then moved to Detroit when he was
young. Myself and Kevlaar were raised in Gun Rule
(Grand Rapids) Michigan, and been living in the D
for years.
Wu-International: Why are you called The Wisemen?
Phillie: like Salute
say “The wisemen is here” and basically our actions
speak for it and shit; niggas got knowledge, keep
shit wise.
Kevlaar 7: Man
check the lyricism and do the knowledge to what we
say.
Wu-International: Can one of you kindly give
us a brief history of how the group came into
formation and how you all met, thanks?
Kevlaar 7: Me (Kevlaar) and
Bronze came up together and been making shit from
jump; we grew in Gun Rule and basically we had a
vision to build a dynasty, so we moved to Detroit to
tap into a more potent hip hop culture and shit;
from there Naz met Salute and them niggas just
clicked and that was that; Phillie and Naz also met
in the way niggas meet and shit; brought that nigga
into the fold and niggas all mentally connected on
some crazy shit and niggas is family now.
Wu-International: From 7 Wisemen to just
Wisemen, on our last interview with Bronze, you were
7 members in the group, but with this album, only 4
of the members have been advertised, what’s good
with Illa Dayz, Break Bread and Wild Child and why
are they not on this project?
Bronze Nazareth: Aight
well you know how things go man; it began as a 7 man
team. Really it was us four, my man Immortal, then
Illa Dayz, and Break Bred. It was left for us four
to hold the weight, due to circumstances. Immortal
had to hold down the crib as man of the house
helping his mother out and wasn’t really able to get
out and make moves, he still working though. Illa
Dayz was scheduled to rock all thru the album, but
the night we recorded “Super Bowl Cipher” we left
the studio at 5am, and on the way home his car was
struck by another driver, leaving him paralyzed from
the waist down. He still in the fold, he’s getting
back to some normality here a year later. And Break
Bred still here too, he’s from South Carolina
(Charleston) he’s just developing his ammo right
now, working toward the sharpshooter level.
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Wu-International:
Bronze Nazareth is the most recognizable figure in
the group, would you say he is the leader of the
group?
Kevlaar 7: Without a doubt; that nigga got
that “it” factor, you know what I mean? Nigga got
that gift to bring the whole fam together like
granddaddy used to do and shit.
Phillie: Yeah, no question; it’s like he put
us all together, so he the figurehead and proven
himself with his joint, The Great Migration.
Salute: He don’t like
to hear it all the time, he always say we all
leaders, but Naz know what he doing, fully. |
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Wu-International: Is it safe to say that The
Wisemen is an extension of The Unknown, if so, does
the group Unknown still exist and will there ever be
another project from Unknown?
Kevlaar
7: It’s a whole nother joint. Tha Unknown came
about as some of the same ideology as far as forming
a group and shit, but me and Bronze was the last
one’s standing basically outta 4 or 5 niggas. So me
and Bronze plan on hitting ya’ll with another
Unknown project; But as far as when? No telling. But
the Wisemen is a whole other movement as far as
mufukkas coming together like the Black Panthers.
Wu-International: We pretty much know the
meaning behind Bronze’s name on our
last
interview, so can Kevlaar 7, Salute (The Kid)
and Phillie kindly tell us the meaning of their
names please?
Phillie: Shit man me and cuz, Swisher, called
and came with the names and basically came from the
first blunts niggas blew; simple shit but that was
the perfect match.
Kevlaar
7: My shit is like Kevlar is the strongest metal
on earth and shit so basically all the shit I been
thru in life and the perseverance I showed
represents that. The 7 is God’s number, the number
of completion.
Salute: Street soldiers are saluted. I put in
time, and got my name.
Wu-International:
Directed to Phillie, on a press release it says you
formed and then disbanded from several groups and
labels, can you please tell us what you were doing
musically before joining The Wisemen?
Phillie: I was on the underground circuit in
Detroit just hitting the streets with random joints
keeping it sharp. Signed a few local deals that
didn’t have no steam.
Wu-International: What about you Salute,
where you in a group or always been a solo act
before joining the Wisemen?
Salute: I was solo, I did some shit with some
artists around the way. I recorded some songs with
some connects I had, but really got serious with it
in ‘04
Wu-International: Kevlaar 7 is also pretty
much known within the Wu fans, you were supposed to
release some online singles or EPs, what ever
happened to that?
Kevlaar
7: The shit’s out there, all have been sent out
to all that ordered the single, I got a few niggas
that said they aint get they shit, so I had to send
more out, shout out to all that supported that, much
love.
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Wu-International: Kevlaar you also produce,
as well as rhyme, which do you prefer doing and how
long have you been making beats?
Kevlaar
7: I was an emcee from the alpha, so I was
always writing for 13, 14 years you know what I
mean? It was always an art to me, and that’s my
first love as far as hip hop go. Then I started
thinking, yo; I can’t rhyme forever and shit;
hopefully I’ll still have my flow when I’m 45 and
shit you know but I doubt it. So I asked Bronze to
show me the angles on making beats and shit, and
chopping samples so he showed me the ropes and now I
been cooking since 2000. |
Wu-International: 4 emcees, what does each
member bring to the group?
Phillie:
Me man, I think I bring that ice breaking shit; I
like to wild out and make niggas laugh and have fun.
Salute? He the COOLEST nigga ever and shit, he the
ultimate yo; he can get you anything you trying to
get for real; nigga is crispy and the nigga stay
crispy. Naz, is the focal point and besides the
music, nigga is always there and shit; shit runs
like 4 brothers. Bronze bring loyalty like no other
and that family love knamean. Nigga rescued me and
shit. One of realest niggas ever. I call Kevlaar the
father MC of the group, cause he’s the oldest, and
he brings that knowledge….
Kevlaar
7: Phillie is the muthafucking street corner
poet. He can rock mad versatile. Personally, Phillie
is a real nigga that will never let his family slip
up, straight up. Salute is a cool mufukka; his rhyme
style is like a medieval shield holding a SK behind
it. He ain’t gonna panic at all when the shit hit
the fan. He gonna tell a mufukka like it is and
bring the wolves if you know what I mean. Bronze is
like muthafuckin 18 bronzemen for real. Rhyme style
is like Moses, straight up.
Bronze Nazareth:
Phillie is a deep
thought get by type nigga, me and him think on the
same level we always end up having the same thoughts
and plans on accident. But he amazes me with some of
the shit he says, some of the connections and
visuals he gives you in his rhymes. Kevlaar is on
some manic science genotype shit, he’s firey, don’t
keep pushin this nigga man he will erupt. And his
thoughts are deep too he says some shit. Salute is
the sharp shooter. He aint gon wait until the
crosshairs are perfect if it close he’s pulling it,
getting shit to the point. He always brings this
“feel” if you know what I mean, some artists have an
emotion in their music that you feel, the way ‘Lute
sees shit is similar to my visions but I think his
passion with what he says is what stands out. We all
move with genuine loyalty so the shit is ALWAYS
authentic. Real niggas.
Salute: They sum it up perfectly, we FAMILY.
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Wu-International: Let’s talk about the album, Wisemen
approaching, drops on 27th of February, how are
you all feeling about the album? (Bronze) Its
more of that heat, we gon take you to the days
where you didn’t question whether you should buy
an artists album, like if you saw they was
dropping you knew you was getting it, You need
no snippets , just cop that!
Phillie:
Man.
Anybody willing to listen to it, the name
speak for itself. I’m really excited about it
it’s like hip hop being reborn. Resurrected on
the 27th knamean?
Kevlaar
7:
Man go buy this shit. If you want a BANGING
album from start to finish go cop it. Stop
copping these albums with 3 good songs, and
3,000 producers that don’t even come together
right. It’s time for the real to return.
Salute: Don’t waste ya money on other
shit. Period. |
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Wu-International: I am assuming Bronze done most of the
production duties on that album, was there anyone else who
laced a song for the album?
Kevlaar 7:
yeah I did 4
beats on the joint. Its all blended together well.
Wu-International: What concepts, titles, themes are
covered on this album?
Kevlaar 7: Tragedies,
Triumphs, and History. It’s all about leaving the listener
with something to hold on to so they come back for more.
Salute:
Its
life, storytelling, braggin shit, street shit, shit for ya
lady all that.
Wu-International: What would you say was the hardest
part of completing this album from each member’s point of
view?
Phillie:
Man... All the drama afterwards; after the album was
done and recorded and shit. Formalities of the industry.
Kevlaar 7: focusing to
identify the snakes in the grass.
Salute:
The hard part always comes after the music. This is not
just music, its work. If you aint ready for that, you cant
move forward.
Wu-International: What song on ‘The Wisemen approaching”
took you the longest to complete?”
Bronze: Probably “Welcome Home” we wanted it to be a
big gangland track with mad niggas on it. We recorded it,
several verses, we had a verse from Wild Child, Altaire,
Gooch, all 4 Wisemen, and a few other cats. So we ended up
cutting verses, shortening shit, cause the song was like 7
minutes. And in the midst of it, the file corrupted on the
instrument tracks so I had to go back and lay the beat down
behind the aca pellas and get it back on beat and all that
so that took some time.
Wu-International: Album features GZA/Genius, Killah
Priest, Vast Aire and more on, GZA and Killah Priest are
monsters on the mic, what was it like working with them?
Kevlaar 7: Man it still hasn’t
sunk in? I came up listening to them niggas and the Gza is
legendary. I’ll never forget; “I be swinging swords/
strictly based on keyboards/ unbalanced like elephants and
ants on seesaws… shit is crazy.
Phillie:
I love the Gza shit, man so it’s obvious. Vast is that nigga
too.
Wu-International: So which songs are each members
favorites?
Bronze: Honor’s Promise. I feel it deeply, shit is
mesmurizing.
Phillie:
The track with the Gza, Associated; we on a track with a
legend and everybody came HARD.
Kevlaar 7: Beyond. Shit is
heart wrenching.
Salute:
it changes everyday for me, however Im feeling..but
probably beyond
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Wu-International: You seem like emcees that pride
themselves with lyrics, what are your thought
processes like when writing your rhymes?
Phillie: I got a regimen; a box of swishers and
a Q of that Ganz, and the shit just comes to me. The
beats bring that feeling though u know. Take it to
the head.
Kevlaar 7: Man, I get lost
in the beat man. Bronze got them beats I can travel
through. I like to sit down and really think my shit
out.
Bronze: just writing man, thinking, we don’t like to
get in a box. Mindwork!
Salute: We just come from the heart, no
less.
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Wu-International: With 4 talents there is bound to be
clashes at times, do you want to share some of them with us
if there where any?
Bronze: Honestly we haven’t had any! There such a level
of respect between us, we’re all men so we handle shit like
men.
Kevlaar 7: Exactly. If
conflict comes niggas know how to handle it like kings.
Salute:
Exactly this is no time to be arguing and shit we’re men
we can disagree peacefully. We all move with so much respect
for eachother we don’t step on toes or shit on eachother, at
the same time we don’t sugarcoat. If a nigga come weak we
can tell him without animosity.
Wu-International: With this new album, how do
you think the public, and more specifically your fan base,
is going to see this album in terms of your style? I mean,
is it something completely new, or something that’ll put you
in a cool niche in the hip-hop world, or maybe it’s just
straight up, original Wu-Tang material?
Kevlaar 7:
This shit is classic, raw, hip hop with a street
intellect that’s unmatched.
Bronze:
Its gonna have a wu element in it because that’s my fam, but
at the same time, it’s a genuine sound, it doesn’t look to
sound like anything, just bangers and deep thoughts.
Wu-International: Was there any one you wanted
to get on the album that you couldn’t get for one reason or
another?
Salute:
Yeah we were reaching out trying to catch Mos Def but we
weren’t able to push it thru in time.
Kevlaar 7:
AZ. We gonna push it in the future tho.
Wu-International: With Bronze being under the Wu
emblem, The Wisemen will also be directly or indirectly
linked to the Wu Fam movement by fans, apart from Bronze,
how do the rest of you view this and do you think it would
help your careers or make it harder to live up to the name?
Phillie: first of all its an honor; they legends and
I grew up listening to them and shit so I’m thrilled about
it; but we trying to give them a new flavor though so with
us coming original still I think its good being associated.
I think it’ll help because niggas will automatically look at
us and wonder we are.
Bronze:
Its beyond all that, niggas
know Im Wu so the only thing I want them to concetrate on is
if they feel the music is good or not.
Salute: Either way heat is heat, we are
represented by what we do musically anyway, so even if they
lump us in with Wu or not our music will have to do the
talking.
Wu-International: After this project, what’s
next for the group and its members, any solos, next project?
Bronze:
Another Wisemen set, then
solos afterwards. Just a continuos stream of music. Me and
Vast Aire are building some shit as well.
Wu-International: Bronze the beat you produced
for Lord Jamar and Masta Killa were excellent, have your
skills been called upon for the forthcoming projects from
Raekwon (OB4CL 2) or Wu-Tang Clan’s 5ft album (8 Diagram)?
Bronze:
Nah I didn’t do any work for
either at this point.
Wu-International: Bronze and Dreddy are
executive producers for this album, Bronze, could you please
tell us about your role?
Bronze:
Basically I put all the music
together, orchestrated the recordings, picked the beats
(with the group), and did a bulk of the mixing. Dreddy came
thru helped pull together the guestlist, arranged the song
order And did a lot on the business side.
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Wu-International: Thanks for that, What is the
difference between The Wisemen and the rest of the
groups out right now?
Phillie:
As if ya’ll had to ask; first off we not into
pop rap; we confined to the mind, like Bronze say we
got that thought for food. Groups these days have no
thought, we family men and shit. We appeal to more
crowds; we giving that piece of mind. We have
substance and them other niggas aint got that shit.
We got cats from High schools to middle aged women
following the music. We arent just music. It
animated real shit, that you cant deny. |
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Wu-International: What rappers or groups out
there would you say inspire you or keep you guys on your
toes?
Phillie: The OLD Mobb Deep; Nas; Wu tang; Gza; The
Dogg Pound; Trackmasters, Premo, Timbaland, Mase, Kool G
rap, AZ, Dead Prez; Papoose
Kevlaar 7: Outkast, Goodie
Mobb, Wu tang, Rakim Allah, Nas, AZ, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G
Rap, Ras Kass, NWA, Papoose, and Saigon.
Wu-International: What 3 words would you use to
describe Detroit?
Phillie: As said on ‘Rare Breed’ “Gully, gutter,
gangsta”
Wu-International: Nas said hip-hop is dead, what’s your
view or take on this?
Bronze: Hip Hop has a pulse still, but its breathing
hard, we just here to provide CPR and every joint we put
out, its another compression.
Phillie: He kind of enraged cats, so he could bring
hip hop back, he know its not dead, I see it as more of a
motivational tool, but it aint dead.
Kevlaar 7:
Man niggas is
TOO SENSITIVE about this shit. It’s ONE niggas evaluation on
the state of hip hop, yo. Either you agree or you don’t.
Then after you decide, keep it moving, and lets make real
fuckin music. Then it’s not an issue.
Wu-International: You obviously all grew up listening to
old school hip-hop and know about the golden era, what do
you think is the best single rap lyric of all time?
Bronze: Too many to pick one…but I love Nas when he “saw
a dead bird flyin backwords thru a broken sky” along those
lines….
Phillie: I never brag how real I keep it… (The whole
verse)
Kevlaar 7:
“It’s getting
hot in here” by Nelly hahahahaha…. Nah seriously; I came
thru the door/ said it before… ya’ll know what the fuck it
is. There’s mad more tho…
Wu-International: How much has the internet helped with
the buzz of this album?
Salute: It’s a great tool from spreading the word.
I tequals sales, that’s the new movement so its heading that
way.
Wu-International: Thanks very much for your time guys, Any last words to your fans and
potential fans, shout outs?
Salute: Much thanks to Wu International for
the opportunity. PICK UP THE ALBUM WISEMEN, WISEMEN
APPROACHING February 27th. Much love to the fans!
The Wisemen Approaching drops 27th February 2007, Go out and get your
copy, its available on most online stores as well as any
major stores around you, Find out more or keep up to date
with The Wisemen by
visiting them on their website;
http://www.dawisemen.com or myspace account
http://www.myspace.com/detroitwisemen
View Now!!!
The Wisemen Video "Iconoclasts ft. Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox)
Related Interviews: Bronze Nazareth / Wisemen
[Bronze Nazareth] -
Half Entity Interview
[Wu-Element Series] [June 2010]
[Bronze Nazareth] -
The
Great Migration Interview [May 2006]
<Read Other Interviews> |
