Partners N Crime Interview: SXSW 2010

When mutual friends from their New Orleans high school introduced Walter Williams and Michael Patterson [aka Kango Slim and Mista Meana] in the early 90s, a hip hop partnership was born. The duo have achieved local and national notoriety through both their own music and collaborations with artists such as Mystikal, Lil Wayne, Juvenile, T Pain, C Ride and more. Spinner recently caught up with the duo to get their thoughts on life, music and returning to SXSW, where Partners N Crime will be part of the New Orleans Block Party Official Bounce Showcase on March 20th at Submerged on East 2nd Street.

How did you guys form the group?

Kango: We first started off in '92, '93. I was in high school and he was an alum. So when I came in, everyone told me about him -- we had friends that told us about each other. We met out back of the gym one day and started the group.

How would you describe your sound in your own words?

Kango: I'd say it's a universal sound, because we're not just sticking to one genre. We're mixing it all together. We're the type of group, you can drop us on the West Coast and we'll survive, you can drop us on the East Coast and we'll survive.

Who are your primary influences?

Kango: I'm into a lot of old school artists, like Marvin Gaye, 'Reed Seed' [1978 album by saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.] and Johnny Guitar Watson. Just all the components of the 'Reed Seed' album, back when you had to put the little circle in the album to play it. When I was a kid, I always played that around the house.

Meana: And I'm more on the hip hop side – Run DMC, Houdini, LL Cool J.

How did you come up with the name of the group?

Meana: I came up with it. It's just an old school slang term that everyone used to indicate a partner that's down with every thing you're down with.

What's in your festival survival kit?

Kango: My survival kit consists of water, cigars, towels and that's about it.

What's your number one vice?

Kango: Vice? I don't have any, s---, I don't know what you're talking about [sarcastic]. Watching too much TV.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Kango: Nine Inch Nails. Just the vibe of the music, and meeting them, I just was blown away by it [their show].

Who was your first celebrity crush?

Kango: Halle Berry. When she was in an Eddie Murphy movie, I can't remember which one.

What's the craziest thing you've experienced on tour?

Kango: When the fans ripped my clothes off at a show in Baton Rouge last year.

You guys have been around the block a few times, have you ever played SXSW before?

Kango: I know we were there once before. I can't remember exactly when, back when we dropped the album with Primetime [PNC 3 in 1994, when the group featured third member Earl Williams, aka Primetime]. We have been to Austin a lot of times. This time, let's just do it, we're looking forward to going to SXSW and doing it big.

Greg M. Schwartz is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.