The Blast Blog interview with The Group
The Giant Blast: What made the two of you decide to come together?
Olatunji Mason: First and foremost, it’s the love and appreciate that we have for each other’s talent from day one since we link up in March of 2007 outside of Central Piedmont Community. Once Ston-city heard my material and I heard his lyricism, our chemistry became so tight, we decided to work together. This was a couple of years after the original members of Blaq Planet and I departed, which left me solo. Then I decided to reform the group with only Ston-city and myself. So far it’s been a great turn out because we’ve recorded several travels together continuously over the years.
Ston-city: Olatunji has a very distinct sound. His sound is hiphop but you cannot miss the African spices he adds to his sound and he is african. I was looking for a producer who could fuse my heritage with his sound so when i had Ola it was a wrap.
The Giant Blast: How would you describe your sound?
Olatunji Mason: Our sound is a of hip hop with a touch of afro-beat reggae, and soul. It has a Universal appeal.
Ston-city: Afrikan Magik.
The Giant Blast: What plans do you all have for 2012?
Olatunji Mason: We plan to release the Blaq Planet mixtape and full length album, which we plan to feature as many guest appearances as we can. We also plan to shoot some video footage, do local performances and take it nationwide and overseas, tapping in the African and European market.
Ston-city: We plan on putting out good music that people can listen to and understand that we have a story to tell. This first LP we are putting out this year is kind of an introduction to the world as to who exactly we are and what we do. Its going to be titled "Olatunji and Ston-city are the Blaq Planet".
The Giant Blast: Who are some of the artists that influenced you all to make music?
Olatunji Mason: Common, KRS One, Ken Starr, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Akon, Kanann, Jazzy Jeff, various Sierra Leonean and Ugandan artist.
The Blast Blog Interview with Olatunji Mason
The Giant Blast: How would you describe yourself as a beatmaker?
Olatunji Mason: My style is a unique combination of hip hop and world music, creating a feel good atmosphere. I usually incorporate elements of African and Reggae in my production. The inspiration came from hearing them being played in the household coming up, dancing to them at various African functions, and hearing them in club venues. Many producers may have sampled international genres yet I have not heard any that flipped the kind the find which is Highlife, Congolese, and Palmwine melodies. Those ideas make me standout as a producer.
The Giant Blast: Who are some of your favorite beatmakers?
Olatunji Mason: J-Dilla, Pete Rock, Kev Brown, Praise, Slakah The Beatchild, Damu The Fudgemunk, Nicolay, DJ Spinner, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz, Buckwild, Large Professor, 9th Wonder, Nottz, Premier, Marco Polo, Ayatollah, Hi-Tech, Prince Paul, Marly Marl, Howie Tee, and Teddy Riley.
The Giant Blast: What do you use to make your beats?
Olatunji Mason: I use the MPC 2000xl, The Roland BR1180 Digital 10 track record, the Zoom Rhythm drum and base machine, and CDM-3610 Professional/CD/ MP3 DJ Workstation turntables.
The Giant Blast: Who all have you worked with?
Olatunji Mason: I’ve worked with my cousin Simeone Browne (Philly based singer), Messenger (Philly based dancehall DJ), Angel(Philly based singer), Kao Denero (Atlanta based Sierra Leonean mc), Ghetto Fello (DMV based Sierra Leonean mc), Silent Solidiers ( DMV based mc’s) M.O.A aka Minista of Agriculture (Philly based Ghanaian mc), Masta Boobah (DMV based Ivorian mc), Zimbabwe Legit (DMV/NY based Zimbabwean mc’s), D.Moose (formally of Blaq Planet), Al (formally of Blaq Planet), Ston-city Kazingah (of Blaq Planet) Shabb Ranks, Krumb Snatcher, Supa Laj (Brooklyn based Sierra Leonean mc), Will Power ( DMV based Sierra Leonean Producer) and Qwin D Sojourner (Philly based Sierra Leonean songstress).
The Giant Blast: Who would you like to work with in the future?
Olatunji Mason: I would like to work with artist like Les Nubians, Akon, Summer Angel, Sade, Neneh Cherry, Youssou N’Dour, Christopher Williams, Mos Def, Special ED, Q-Tip, CL Smooth, Grap Luva, A.G, Sadat X, Lord Tariq, Talib Kweli, Jean Grae, Wale, Channell Ketchmore, K’Naan, Pharoah Monch, Erkyah Badu, Jill Scott, Bilal, Black Thought, Krs One, Donald Mason (my uncle in Spain), Harley Brez (my uncle’s studio engineer in Spain), Wan Lov (from Ghana), Peter Rosenburg aka DJ PMD (from New York’s Hot 97), Kev Brown, Oddessie, Cy Young, Kaimbr, Roddy Rod, Ken Starr, Little Brother, MC Lyte, Johnny Famous, Doc Ice, Big Daddy Kane, Snoop Dog, Outkast, Daddy Saj, Emmerson, Hard Life, K-Man, DEX3, Vicki Fornah, Fulani, Sambu Sewah, Jay Arr, Shadow Boxxer, Jaybo, Manzu and C-Bolt, Zeboy ( from London), Bunny Mack (my cousin), 2face Adibia, Pupa Banja, Cecile, Tanya Stephens, Screechy Dan, Alison Hines, Edley Shine (from Born Jamericans, Sanchez, Beenie Man, Morgan Heritage, Gyptian and Queen Ifrica.
The Giant Blast: How can artists get in touch with you for beats?
Olatunji Mason: They could get reach me on fbook and twitter if they type Olatunji Mason. They could reach me by email: olatunjimason@gmail.com, and on my cell on my cell at : 704-941-9058.
The Blast Blog Interview with Ston-city
The Giant Blast: How would you describe yourself as an artist?
Ston-city: I'm an artist who wont put out music that does not make sense. I have a whole continent to represent. I understand that people love to dance and have fun in the clubs but if my Africans are not having fun then I am not rapping. Being African means I've got a lot to talk about besides the pop culture that we live in. So as an artist I would describe myself as an African emcee with a vision to shine a light on the brighter side of the dark continent.
The Giant Blast: What inspired you to rhyme?
Ston-city: My environment I must say. Listening to hiphop growing up in Africa I realized that a lot of the issues around me could be dealt with in less than four minutes on a track. The poverty, the corruption, the disease, the wars. Hiphop was the platform for that.
The Giant Blast: Who all have you worked with so far?
Ston-city: I've worked with many underground African emcees. I am actually a member of another African group called Sons of Symphony consisting of me and a Ugandan emcee called Mperio.
The Giant Blast: Who would you like to collaborate in the future?
Ston-city: Any nice emcee with a strong message for the human race.
The Giant Blast: What type of concepts and topics are you speaking about on this forthcoming project?
Ston-city: A&E. Africa and emceeing.
The Giant Blast: Do you have anymore plans to do any solo projects and songs for 2012?
Ston-city: Me on an Ola track is the Blaq Planet and vice versa, but if a producer I respect approaches me with a track that I am feeling then why not. I am also trying to get Ola to produce for a couple of Ugandan emcees so his sound can go global. We are quite an unselfish bunch who understand that its bigger than music.
