The League of Extraordinary Gz Interview: SXSW 2010

It takes eight diverse and talented Gz to make one extraordinary league. C.O.D. [Mr. Greezo, Tuk-da-gat, S-Dot, Lil' J], SouthBound [LowKey, Sandman], and Dred Skott [Esbe, Reggie Coby] are a central Texas street movement of soul, political passion, and lyrical acrobatics here to rival any straight gangsta sound out there. With their self-titled debut album on the big-sky horizon, Spinner rounded up the Gz to discuss how they will open the eyes of the narrow glare on the Texas circuit and prove that "reality rap is not dead" this year at SXSW.

Describe your sound in your own words.

SouthBound: New, refreshing, and highly needed.

Reggie Coby: I would like to think that our sound is ever-evolving, but if I had to compare it to something, I would say if the Dungeon Family and the Wu hooked up.

Lowkey: [laughs] Yeah, they called that boy Reggie the RZA of the League, but I think of him more as the skinny-ass version of Cee-lo of the group. Really, we have a unique sound though. There's nobody like the League. I promise.

How did the League come to be?

SB: It all happened when the groups Dred Skott, Southbound and C.O.D. were all attending Reggie Coby's birthday party.

RC: Yep, last year we had a party on my b-day, got on it, and decided to do a mixtape together. Since then it's become its own monster. Don't think we ever thought that you would be interviewing us because of it.

Lowkey: It all fell into place.

What are some musical influences here?

RC: Everything.

Greezo: II Face, Nas, Street Military and X-Raided.

Where did the group's name come from?

RC: Stole it from the movie. Thought it was dope how all these super heroes got together and made this super group.

Biggest vice?

RC: Weed and porn.

Greezo: The Bible.

Lowkey: Since we're confessing s---, I get high as a mothaf---a and write verses on the highway going 75mph. That's a vice. I know I have a problem though, but I gotta write.

What music have you heard lately that excited you?

Lil' J: The Loeg'z Concealed Weapons mixtape!

Greezo: Anything Lupe Fiasco is doing.

RC: I'm really diggin' Muhsinah and Zero 7 a lot right now. She is awesome!

What song it is when it's not rap?

RC: 'Ain't No Sunshine,' Bill Withers.

What do you need to survive at SXSW?

SB: I like to rock with my c--- out listening to the Beatles' White Album.

Is there a SXSW act you are looking forward to seeing this year?

RC: Smokie and Raphael Saadiq. I wanna see who just shows up. Sometimes the unofficial shows are the dopest.

Your group's favorite performance ever?

RC: The next one.

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

League: No comment.

How is it living and playing in Texas?

S-Dot: Hot as hell.

RC: Austin is a great city. Playing and living here is cool, but SXSW is a whole other planet. Probably the best time of the year for artists networking.

Okay, there are eight of you. Is there a method to creating your sounds?

RC: Whatever sticks. At the end of the day, we just want to make dope music.

Greezo: We're all creative musicians, so all we do is create and whenever we get together that's what we do.

Is there anything you do that separates your group from any other rap collective?

SB: Yeah, go hard.

RC: We go harder than them, period!

Is there a message in your music?

RC: Truth, creativity, quality and diversity.

Who are we going to be next to at a League show?

RC: A little bit of everybody: old ladies, dope boys, Norwegians, Asian people, truck drivers, kids, yo' mama, etc.

What's next for you?

RC: Releasing the League album. Each group will be putting out records this year. It's like everybody got a bullet in the chamber and it's about to be a shootout.

Where is it going to go down for the League at SXSW?

Greezo: We'll be on the Best in Texas showcase at La Zona Rosa on March 17th, then at Club Krucial on the 18th, and we'll probably have a few more things going on, ya'll can check for updates on our Myspace.

Lowkey: We're gonna be in your face so much that week they're gonna call us acne! You might see us all over the city. [Laughs] There's a lot of us.

Shari Monique Gab is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.