Background music:

Rob Quest – “Ohh Yeah” featuring PZ of the Luv Bugs
[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/Rob%20Quest%20-%20OHH%20YEAH%20FEAT%20PZ.mp3]

Rob Quest – “In Ya Ear” featuring Snap
[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/Rob%20Quest%20-%20IN%20YA%20EAR%20FEAT%20SNAP.mp3]

When most people think about pioneers of Houston hip hop, the first name that usually comes to mind is the Geto Boys – and rightfully so. But during that time, there was another crew that positioned itself as a more lighthearted alternative: Odd Squad, consisting of Devin the Dude, Jugg Mugg, and the undisputed personality of the group, Rob Quest.

He calls himself the “Stevie Wonder of rap” for obvious (and not so obvious) reasons. Although he’s physically blind, he’s a visionary in his own right. He learned to play a number of instruments once his sight left him. I was shocked years ago when I saw him operating an Akai MPC – without any assistance. The absence of physical eyesight is not a disability for Rob. I remember seeing the video for “Can’t See It” back in the day and doubting whether or not he was really blind. I’m still not completely convinced at times.

These days, Rob is staying busy with a number of projects. He’s working on a “Stevie Wonder” project with The Are, and has recently wrapped up his new album, The Age Of Quest, which will be in stores soon.

For more info: www.robquest.com

We wrap up HISD Week by having a talk with 1/3 of the production team, King Midas. Thanks again to Flash Gordon Parks  for the footage. Come meet the gang in person tonight at The Standard.

Catch The original “Get To Know HISD” and more after the jump.

Get To Know… H.I.S.D. from Ethos Music Group on Vimeo.

Some time during the making of his Taster’s Choice album, D. Rose emailed me a track called “The Caper” that he wanted Big Mon and me to hop on. No problem. We wrapped it up in about 24 hours and got it back to him. When I asked him who made the track, he said “This kid named King Midas. He’s one of the producers for H.I.S.D.”

Again with these H.I.S.D. cats! I still hadn’t officially met the crew, but they were definitely making their mark on the scene. A few months later, I receive a call from Midas, introducing himself and askig if I’d be willing to write to a track that he just created for their Summer Sessions EP. I’m always down to write, and i’d heard nothing but good things about him, so I said YES with no hesitation. I wouldn’t discover until months later that Justin “8 Months” Lewis was the one that referred him to me. Midas was  looking for guest spots on the song, and after running through a laundry list of talent, 8 Months suggested that he let me take a crack at it. The rest is history. “Summer So Good” was created.

In the time since, i’ve probably spent more time around him than any other musician around here. King Midas is a fascinating study, because he epitomizes the term “student of the game”. It isn’t simply enough for him to know whether something sounds good or not; he needs to understand WHY. I’ve only seen 2 or 3 other producers that are as meticulous at music creation as he is. One of them is DJ Cozmos, who he aligned himself with to form King Coz. It’s amazing to see how these two, nearly a generation apart, seem to have been cut from the same cloth.

I don’t think Midas ever takes a day off. He’s always working on music. Sometimes working on tracks just for practice. Not too long ago, he worked on a track for about 12 hours, only to discard it at the end of the day. He understands that some of your greatest lessons are learned from failures.

His home contains “The Gold Room” where the HISD collective meets every week to write, record, and debate. It’s a haven for creativity, and they’re all fortunate to have a place where they can tap into that synergy and bring ideas to life.

A simple blog post won’t give you an idea of how far-reaching his talent is. I’ll let his body of work over the next year or so speak for itself. And yes – i’m documenting every move. He’s one to watch.

-Damien-

By the way, he co-produced the KO “Willie Turner” project with DJ Cozmos. Here’s a taste:

The Legendary KO “Ch 2 – Laid Off (Snippet)” from The Ballad of Willie Turner

[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/02%20Laid%20Off%20Snippet.mp3]

We’ve reached the penultimate chapter (big words!) of HISD WEEK, where DJ Soul One literally takes us on a trip. I need to work on my puns. Flash Gordon’s behind the camera. See HISD at The Standard tomorrow.

Background music: Lower Life Form “Move To The Side” (Produced by Soul One)

[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/Lower%20Life%20Form%20-%20Move%20To%20The%20Side%20(Produced%20by%20Soul%20One).mp3]

Lower Life Form is hosting The Standard. Coincidence? No.

More below:

Soul One was the person that introduced me to H.I.S.D.

I’d already known him for years as one of the “young boys” on the scene, an up and coming DJ who kind of studied under the wing of DJ Cipher. Kind of an interesting read because he started as a DJ with no real affiliation; he made a name for himself through his own accord.

He was part of the crew that played ball at a local YMCA on Sunday nights. This was when I had hops. I think it was one of those Sundays when he first told me about H.I.S.D.:

(Pulled from my fragmented memory)

Me: “So what are you working on these days. I see that you’ve started producing now.”

Soul One: “Actually, i’m working on an album now with this new crew. Kind of like a collective.”

“Anybody I know?”

“Maybe. You heard of Savvi?”

“Yeah, Savvi’s cool. I finally met him not too long ago. I told him we need to work together.”

“Well, Savvi kinda put this group together. It’s like 4 MCs and 3 or 4 producers.”

“Damn – putting together your own Wildstyle!”

{Muted laugh} “Heh. Yeah, it’s really kinda cool”

“What’s it called?”

{Pause to figure out how he’s going to explain it} “Okay. The name of the crew is H.I.S.D.”

“Like… the school district?”

“Yeah but no. It stands for Hueston Independent Spit District, But Hueston is spelled with an H-U-E instead of H-O-U.”

“Okay – I follow you.”

“The one thing we’re still working on is the ‘S’, because it can really stand for anything, like Soul or Slang-”

“Or Southside.”

{Very reluctant laugh} “No – not really.”

I may have embellished the last part of my story, but I credit Soul One with introducing me to this collective of talent. He functions as their DJ, and 1/3 of their production team.

Whatever you do, don’t ask him about the time he tried to throw me an alley-oop; he’s thought little of me ever since.

-Damien-

Day 3 of H.I.S.D. Week brings us closer to The Standard this Friday, with a look at L Da Voice. Visuals by Flash Gordon Parks.

More below:

From Damien -

Of all the members of H.I.S.D., Ldavoice probably has the name that fits him best. He might tell you that it’s because he used to sing or that his voice is an instrument of change that should be broadcast for all to hear. These are valid arguments, but I think the name fits him best because his voice is the one thing that makes the most lasting impression on you. He uses his voice A LOT.

And not in a bad way, mind you. (He probably has a smirk while he’s reading this.) You’ll learn that he’s very passionate about almost everything, and will easily engage you in a discussion about nearly anything. In an age of apathy and diluted opinions, he’s a rare breed of person who is not reluctant to have an opinion and offer it when many tend to shy away from opinions.

If you ever get the chance to sit in on one of HISD’s infamous “debate” sessions, you’ll notice that he’s the one in the middle of the room, animatedly attacking the discussion from all sides. The kid has a lot to say, and you WILL hear it. While reviewing the footage from this interview, I quickly discovered that he had twice as much footage as everyone else. There is no question that he won’t answer. Again – he has a lot to say, and you WILL hear it.

Fun facts about L:

1. He’s a Gemini (greatest zodiac sign of them all)

2. He ran a 4.2 4.5 40 as a sophomore in high school. (I might have to race him someday and test this)

-Damien-

In part 5 of my interview with Michele Thibeaux, she concludes the week with her thoughts on tonight’s performance at “The Standard”, and why an event like this is sorely needed in our scene. Make sure to check after the jump for an exclusive sampler of her new project!

Get To Know Michele Thibeaux (Part 5 of 5) from Ethos Music Group on Vimeo.

If you’re in the Houston area, be sure to check her out tonight (Oct. 2) at the inaugural edition of “The Standard”. Located in the “Green Room Lounge” of Warehouse Live. DJ Cashless is keeping us on our toes all night. 813 St. Emanuel St. Houston, TX 77003. No  cover. No dress code. No B.S.

FINALLY – Here’s an exclusive sampler of “Hey DJ: Experience Michele Thibeaux” courtesy of our friends at Peace Uv Mine Ent. Mixed by the multi-talented DJ Flash Gordon Parks.

Hey DJ: Experience Michele Thibeaux Sampler (Mixed by DJ Flash Gordon Parks)

[audio:http://peaceuvmine.com/audio/Michele%20TBo.mp3]

Great artists tend to surround themselves with other talented, like-minded individuals that continue to shape and influence them. In part 4 of my interview with Michele, she talks about her circle of kindred spirits that she draws on for inspiration.

Make sure to look below the jump for some music featuring Michele, as well as a special honor that she recently received!

Get To Know Michele Thibeaux (Part 4 of 5) from Ethos Music Group on Vimeo.

Also: Michele was featured as “Artist of The Week” in the Houston Press. Click the link below to read the feature, and support her by commenting there:

Michele Thibeaux – Artist of The Week

But WAIT – as an additional bonus, here’s H.I.S.D. featuring Michele Thibeaux:

“Runnin”

[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/14%20Runnin'.mp3]
Join us tomorrow as we conclude our week of Michele Thibeaux with a special preview of her new project!

In part 3 of my interview with Michele, she talks about some of the things that continue to inspire her.

Watch her perform live this Friday, Oct 2 at “The Standard” in Houston.

Get To Know Michele Thibeaux (Part 3 of 5) from Ethos Music Group on Vimeo.

Featured Music: Lower Life Form feat. Michele Thibeaux – “Same Ol’ Song”
[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/11%20Same%20Ol%20Song.mp3]

Part 2 of our continuing discussion with Michele.

Today Michele anwers the question: “What was your worst show ever?” As a veteran of live performances, Michele has had a fair share of stellar performances. It takes a truly humble person to laugh at one of her most forgettable moments.

Michele Thibeaux – Worst Show Ever from Ethos Music Group on Vimeo.

Catch Michele live at “The Standard” – this Friday, Oct 2.

Join us tomorrow for part 3 of “Get To Know Michele Thibeaux”.

It feels like I’ve known Michele Thibeaux forever. Maybe it’s because I already knew her before I even met her. (The circumstances around that involve another story for another time, with Michele’s permission.) In fact, almost everyone who has the pleasure of meeting Michele have already known about her.

Get To Know Michele Thibeaux from Ethos Music Group on Vimeo.

Music Playing: The Legendary KO feat. Michele Thibeaux - “Be Your Addiction”

Additional instrumentation by Denis Cisneros of Neon Collars

[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/addiction.mp3]

Ironically, though I’ve known Michele for the better part of 15 years, I’m always surprised by the duality of her being. She’s a songstress with a style and presence that command attention – but she’s the sweetest, kindest person you’ll ever come across. She’s a soul singer with the sensibilities of an MC. Imagine Amel Lerrieux in an Adidas tracksuit. That’s Michele Thibeaux.

I always have a tough time “interviewing” people that I already know well. So when we sat down recently to talk about 1) Her being a southern transplant from the west coast; 2) What it’s like being a champion of the open mic circuit; and 3)What the near future holds, we spent an inordinate time discussing our affinity for Adidas sneakers and the pleasures of home-cooked food. That’s Michele Thibeaux.

In honor of her upcoming performance at the inaugural edition of “The Standard” on Oct. 2nd, we’re going to spend an entire week her. Today she gives us some insight on how she arrived here, the importance of experiencing the “open mic”, quick overview of her new project.

DJ Cozmos is genuinely one of the most talented, creative, hard-working and funniest people that I have ever known. And a damned good barber.

I was introduced to DJ Cozmos through a mutual friend named Matt Sonzala back in 1993 (damn, that was a long time ago). Matt told us (K-OTIX) that he was kind of promoting a group called Seedz of Soul, who reminded him of us. We met at a hole in the wall club named Goat’s Head Soup. They were just getting on stage when we walked in. Standing at the back of the stage behind a set of turntables was the centerpiece of the trio, DJ Cozmos.

Their show was amazing. Afterwards, we all chopped it up for hours. A few days later, we were already in the studio, recording the first of countless collaborations with Coz:

Seedz Of Chaos (K-OTIX & Seedz of Soul, circa 1993)
[audio:http://k-otix.com/koweekly/seedzchaos.mp3]

He’s one of the absolute best at chopping samples. There’s maybe 3 other people on the planet that i’ve seen who can even come close. That’s why he’s remained an integral part of the camp. I have hundreds of beats that i’ve “acquired” from him throughout years. I don’t even have to write to them. I just like to listen. We’ve worked on a lot of projects together, and he’s DJ’ed quite a few shows for us as well. Yes – he’s a DJ. And a writer, lyricist, tagger, producer, licensed barber, culinary enthusiast, and whatever else he decides to be.

Recently, he’s teamed up with King Midas to form the production team of King Coz. I was fortunate to sit with them and bear witness to their methods first hand. Without trying to sound too biased, they’re going to change the landscape of how good music should sound. Mark my words.

Damien