After a successful run under the group U-N-I, including an MTV VMA for best breakout LA artist in 2008, Thurz and Y-O have stopped making music together. Keyword together. After recording the track “Los Angeles” as friend and visual director Tomas was researching The 1992 L.A. Riots that followed the Rodney King case, Thurz became interested in learning more about the infamous past his city holds. “My boy Tomas was doing research about the L.A. Riots and some of the research fascinated me, and even the title caught my attention. I was like ‘Damn I want to a record called “L.A. Riot”. A lot of the stuff involved in the riots kind of stands as a metaphor for a lot of where new music is going that I was recording. It’s not a real historical project, it’s really a project based on emotions of the riots.”
It is evident after releasing the visuals for “The Prayer”, Thurz has his goal and vision clearly laid out, focusing on all that occurred not only during the riots, but their long-term affects that are still apparent today. Between holding interviews with neighborhood folk, recording his solo LP, and finding himself surrounded by a tight knit group of friends and co-workers (#92 Crew), Thurz has put an incredible amount of poise and dedication into this project. He speaks on all of it in one of the more serious interviews I have held in a while. Read on to learn more about Thurz’ influences for the LP, his thoughts on his past success on MTV & current work for Karmaloop TV, as well as how Redman has been one of the most important artists to his career.
RubyHornet: So you seem to be wrapping up the L.A. Riot LP. How’s that coming?
Thurz: Yeah man, I’m pretty much done. I have all my recording done, and I’m just waiting on one hook from my homegirl, and that’s it we’re pretty much done.
RubyHornet: You’ve seemed to have a resurgence in the music you’ve been making over the past year, rapping about more political topics with the Rodney King theme and all. Can you explain what influenced you to make this music in 2011.
Thurz: Basically, it all started when I recorded the song “Los Angeles”, and that was different from most U-N-I tracks. I would come up with a lot of the concepts for U-N-I records and they didn’t always come out the way I saw it, so when I record “Los Angeles”, it came out exactly the way I pictured it, as far as getting certain players involved… At the time I recorded it, my boy Tomas was doing research about the L.A. Riots and some of the research fascinated me and even the title caught my attention, and I was like “Damn I want to a record called L.A. Riot”. A lot of the stuff involved in the riots kind of stands as a metaphor for a lot of where new music is going that I was recording, so it’s not a real historical project, it’s really a project based on emotions of the riots.
RubyHornet: Can you explain the #92 Crew and everyone involved in that camp?
Thurz: Yeah, the #92 crew is basically built around the L.A. Riot project. It derives from the same metaphors during the riots, that we use in this crew. On our Tumblr we’re constantly posting different images and we’re using it as a visual inspiration board. So my music drives inspiration. The images drive inspiration. My man Tomas is the visual director for the project, Ro Blvd is executive producer, my man Dan does a lot of production with Tomas, my man Ed is the photographer who takes a lot of dope flicks and documents a lot of things that we’re doing. DJ Khalil is one of the contributing producers.
Ruby Hornet: The sound on the LP is very large, it seems different from what some may say is the typical Cali laid back sound. It’s more in your face, can you give the motivation behind this sound on this LP.
Thurz: Yeah man, I just want people to know that I really live my art, my art is not anything fabricated. I want to be able to display my talents, and have them seen in a way I believe people should see them. And I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to do this project, because some people are sleeping and I got to wake them up and let them know. Nobody is doing what I’m doing and nobody can be Thurz.
Ruby Hornet: So What producers do you have on the LP?
Thurz: Ro Blvd, DJ Khalil, THX and my man Aaron Harris.
RubyHornet: So you have said you want to spark a riot within music with this LP. Who are some other artists you believe are on par with your movement, and can assist in that?
Thurz: I haven’t thought about that too much at all. It all really starts with me finding my inner-self. So once the music is out, we’ll see how it affects different artists and inspires them. But now I’m just focusing on me for this project.
RubyHornet: I know you’ve spoken against BET or whatever TV channel that is now, with the news of the KarmaloopTV deal, do you think they will actually promote “our” music to the masses? Or will it just get handled by the corporate heads again and take the same route?
Thurz: It’s funny man because I’m actually coming up with some stuff for Karmaloop TV. I’ll let all those details come to the light when it’s time, but I definitely believe in that network and I think they will definitely be able to represent the current culture better than any other network because they are adapting better than anyone and they’re more in tune with fashion and music right now. So I think it will be a good voice for our generation.
RubyHornet: Do you think any of your early accolades from MTV with U-N-I influenced your new style & cadence?
Thurz: Definitely, I wouldn’t be here If I hadn’t done all the work with U-N-I, all the touring and TV coverage definitely allowed me the type of outlet I have now. So I’m grateful for all of those experiences.
Ruby Hornet: Are you and Y-O going to continue making music?
Thurz: I’m focusing on my solo career right now. I don’t know what U-N-I is doing, I spoke about that in “The Prayer” song. Right now I’m making the music I want to make and I like the response I’m getting so I want to push the ball with that.
RubyHornet: Aside from a couple shows this weekend, and hitting the Atlanta Indie Fest, are you hitting any other dates, and what can we expect from Thurz in the near future?
Thurz: Definitely, I’m going to be locking down some tour dates, and really just excited to get this album out and some of these videos we’ve been working on. Definitely getting some shows lined up and just want to get the people this timeless music.
RubyHornet: Did any other revolutionary albums help influence this project, like some Public Enemy or was it like you said earlier, finding your inner self and what you want to make?
Thurz: I definitely bumped a bunch of Death Certificate, I did bump a little Public Enemy, but Death Certificate stays in my car. Along with the recording I was doing, I was doing interviews in the neighborhood. I was around Florence and Normandy where the Riots started and I was just talking to people getting their views on the effects of the riots, and the current status today, including communication between residents and the LAPD. So there was definitely a lot of research that went into the project and it will definitely be shown on the album.
RubyHornet: You said you haven’t really had a great feeling for an LP since Redman’s Muddy Waters album, so is that one of your favorite albums ever?
Thurz: Yeah, that is definitely my favorite LP. That album made me want to take rap more seriously. When I was writing raps, it made me want to step it up, vocal wise, energy wise, just character. So that album definitely helped shape me as an emcee, and there are some other albums I bump religiously. The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife, Illmatic and all that, but Redman’s album was just so raw.
RubyHornet: To keep it local, you came here to Chicago a while back and recorded the song “So Cold” with Hollywood Holt, Million $ Mano & CurT@!N$. Are you still in contact with them and any chance you’ll make it out here soon?
Thurz: Yeah, Hollywood Holt just flew out here and he hit me up and we’re supposed to get up. But yeah man, I’m cool with everybody and I’d love to come back to Chicago. When L.A. Riot hits I’m trying to come back out there.