Smif-N-Wessun Interview: SXSW 2010

Although this is Smif-n-Wessun's first time at SXSW, they have been around for over 15 years, with their first song "Bucktown" hitting the Billboard charts in 1994. The duo of General Steele and Tek were part of the East Coast hip-hop wave in the mid-90s, and their sound is as street as their background. Often known as the "gritty duo from Brooklyn", Smif-n-Wessun don't follow the big hit artists of the day; rather they make music for themselves, reflecting the lives they know. This honesty has kept them in the game this long. Spinner caught up with Steele to discuss lessons learned in the rap game and what's changed since they started.

Describe your sound.

Smif-n-Wessun represents that street poet music with a heavy bass. It brings you to the streets of Brooklyn.

How did Smif-n-Wessun form?

We met in high school, just regular young kids just doing kid stuff, messing around. My hobby was rapping, so naturally this led to forming the group. We already had the name. It's a great name. We didn't just get in the game, we met up with Buckshot [rapper and member of Blue Moon and Boot Camp Clik], heard their record around '93.
Where did you get the name? Why the spelling?

We were always aware of the name [referring to the gun company]. We liked that it represented two people. We were always together, and always were the youngest and the smallest so we were hanging the most, and so developed a bond. We were two people but sounded like one. The name sounded cool, and we wanted to put a hip hop twist into the name, be creative. We got our name from crazy stuff from the streets in the '80s and '90s. Both of our names are slang for tech-9. Steele is a type of weapon. It all fit together. Our gun, our voice, our bullets our words.

What music have you guys been influenced by?

It's more than music. It's the streets, the neighborhood. We grew up tough. There was a little bit of everything: Caribbean, Latino, urban, black kids. Listening to people like P.E.[Public Enemy] -- the 80s were a real turning point. Bob Marley. Curtis Mayfield. Sam Cooke. Just day-to-day life. All kinds of music.

What's your biggest vice?

Wow....um. That's tough. I like people, which can be good and bad. People can take advantage of your time, energy, space. There's always the snake in the grass, you have to come through to find good ones. I let people into my circle, but you can't be too open. I speak honestly, but some people take the truth and distort it. Other people say don't speak to strangers, but I'm not a kid, I'm not three years old. I just like to be honest with people.

What's your festival survival kit? Do you have one?

Absolutely. Very important to have one. My iPhone, laptop for editing beats and writing songs, a spiral notebook, my whole gang, rolling papers -- no weed, that's illegal, but definitely rolling papers -- and ID. There's always a lot of people around, checking to see who belongs. Can't go anywhere without ID. Clean underwear, socks, the basics.

What's your musical guilty pleasure? What music are you listening to now?

I have moods, so it depends. I like to listen to music I can't understand -- Spanish, Swahili. It's so far from the usage of everyday language. That gets annoying. Music treats your mind. Nothing too crazy, not spaceship-wielding synthesizers. Spanish music, sometimes jazz, Bob Marley. I don't listen to rap all the time. I don't have favorite artists, I have moods. Sometimes country. Music is the soundtrack to your life.

So, Beatles or Stones?

Beatles. I don't know. Love 'em both.

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

[laughs] I try to stay away from crazy. People who don't speak the language knowing the words to my songs, words I'm written in my basement, hanging out with friends. Actually traveling, seeing truth. Writing words on paper, especially being a kid from the Brownsville projects. That's TV in front of your eyes, but it's your life.

Obviously there has been a lot of change in the world and in music since you've started. But what do you see is the biggest, the one that's made the most difference today?

This has something to do with everyone -- artists, DJs, writers. Getting older, now you have children in the game who are not aware of the harms of hip hop. Hip hop was born out of necessity. It brought a lot of bad things, but it also brought hope. But now kids see hope, and it looks the same way, but it's changed. They see the cars, the money, jewels, material things. That's replaced the real hope. Kids don't realize what it is, they just see the lifestyle and entertainment industry. I know people who know better who don't speak about it. Almost like it's a secret. Corporations are starting to scoop it up, dictate to others about who can perform, making it exclusive. Ownership has been relinquished.

How has your sound evolved over the years?

I've been around the world, met people, learned lessons. First we were exclusively beat miners but we moved toward classic production, and now we're working with Pete Rock. Three words: growth and development. Just being behind the scenes, exchanging information. We love the different kinds of music out there, everyone can pick what they like: If you like roses, pick roses, if you like daisies, pick daisies, if you like tulips, pick tulips. Let it shine, let it grow.

I hear you guys are working on a new album. Do you have a release date?

Yeah, it's called Monumental. We don't have a release date yet. We're just trying to make our own contribution to hip hop. I feel really good about this album. Each beat has its own background, its own story. We're just out to make the best version of what we can make.


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