Blacklisted Individuals Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 2nd 2010 8:30AM by Hannah Cook
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Back in 2002, Synp and Da'Shade of Austin, Texas, coupled their hip hop roots and social opinions to form Blacklisted Individuals. The duo's music stands up for everyday people with an admirable passion and open-mindedness. In advance of the pair's hometown SXSW appearance, Spinner spoke with Da'Shade about all things Blacklisted Individuals, from words of wisdom to lactose intolerance.

Describe your sound.

I would say our sound is a sledgehammer shaking hands with an olive branch. Basically, we destroy to construct. We don't consider ourselves political at all. You could place us anywhere between NWA and Arrested Development. I mean, we basically leave the task of [describing] our sound to the listener.

How did your band form?

Snyp and myself were both doing solo things. Around 2002 we decided that we were going to try to create our own lane and do music that was relevant to us, as well as the people that were around us going through the struggle. It didn't seem like there was a lot of music out there representing the common class, the working class. Hip hop, with its competitive nature and the need to display the triumph, it was too flashy at the time. So we decided we were going to make music for people, period, end of discussion.

What are some of your musical influences?

I think we both share similar tastes. Snyp's more of a lyrical person. He punches with metaphors and stuff -- Redman, Method Man, Chino XL. As far as I go, I'm more for the social commentary. I listen to a lot of OutKast, Goodie Mob, Ghetto Boys, Isley Brothers, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Mozart, Yoko Kanno. We're all over the place.

How did you come up with the band name?

Being from Austin, you often hear about us being the music capital of the world. You would assume, if you were not from here, that there would be a lot of opportunities for artists being in a city that has that title. The reality of the situation is that, up until recently, there hasn't been a whole lot of opportunities for hip hop artists to emerge from it and grow and have careers. We always had to go somewhere else to do that. We were just trying to get people to listen. One day we were sitting in the room writing songs and I was just like, "I'm sick of it. I feel like we're outcasts." And that name was already taken, so we was like, "What's the next thing to describe us as that?" As being outcasts, outside of the box, free thinkers, open thinkers. And we just thought, "Hey, we're two individuals and we're blacklisted, so there we go: Blacklisted Individuals."

Who was your first celebrity crush?

My first celebrity crush would be Jazz Smollett from the TV show 'On Our Own.' My second crush would be Lauryn Hill from the Fugees.

What is a musical guilty pleasure of yours?

Soulja Boy, 'Turn My Swag On.' People think that I'm making fun of that song, but I really actually like that song. I haven't liked a song that wasn't talking about anything -- no content, no nothin' -- in a long time; since I was a teenager and wasn't really listening. But every time I hear that song, it makes me want to run around singing it and annoying the hell out of people. When I hear it on the radio, I'll be singing it an hour after it's off.

What's in your festival surivial kit?

Extra cords just in case cords go out. Lactate pills, 'cause I'm lactose intolerant. Sometimes I gotta pop one of those. Good company, good energy -- anything that's going to create good energy. Love. Lots and lots of love.

Hannah Cook is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.