Mr. Greenweedz
Lyrical, philosophical, spiritual, teacher, friend, I could go on for days, but those are just a few characteristics that come to mind when I think of Mr. Greenweedz. The man with the mic in his hand has worked with many, and has touched thousands with his words.From his upbringing in Chicago's south side to touring the nation with the Grammy-nominated Liquid Soul, Greenweedz's passion for hip-hop and spreading insight and joy will never fail us Even though Greenweedz has been hitting the map pretty hard these days, he was gracious to give us a few moments of his time.
You have been traveling a lot these days and as I understand it, you have more plans for next month in L.A. Could you let us all in on the fun? What is it that you have been up to?
Touring is fun!! I love it...especially when you get a bus, to be real. I just left San Francisco where I've been working on some music with Dug, but moreover, I'm on this tour that I do every June, Zumiez couch tour. It's a skateboard event with a bunch of am and pro teams. I've been hosting it for the last three years in June, so you catching me on the road. As far as LA...I got some sessions. Do a little boxing and just absorb some dry sunshine...I've decided that's what I'm a do every summer is leave the Chicago humidity for a minute...
I believe you are working heavily with your friend Dug Infinite, do the two of you have plans for new projects in 2009? Please elaborate on Shorthand as well. The shows that I've seen in Chicago have so much life and energy, how did Shorthand come together?
The whole Shorthand crew is doing a record with John Popper...
The Shorthand "Dinnerbuckit" projects are mainly produced by Dug Inf...but like the last record, we get musicians from Shorthand to play on tunes. See, Shorthand started out with me and Dug deciding to make a crew with musicians in mind to interpret the songs. We both knew Josh Ramos was gonna be the bass player because he shredded a couple licks for us. But then we started envisioning other instrumentation...some were musicians I thought of, to recommendations like Josh did with his wife Zara and Anthony Capers on drums. I needed singers, Allegra Delores vocalist, Cream Jones guitar, and Dug Corcoran on keys and trumpet. We have fun and we do lots of impromptu, we generally get a DJ to rock with us and the fusion begins. We just wanna have fun, fa sho, and reap the benefits of all what entails fun: having the crowd feel good, turning them on to somethin' new and gettin' a Dinnerbuckit in the process.
Shorthand is working on an album with Popper, that's pretty awesome news. I love his appearance on "Oasis" on Dinner Buckit. When did you and Popper start making music together?
We met down at SXSW about 4 years ago thru DJ Logic...Popper sat in with Liquid Soul and we stayed in tune ever since. Popper was exploring hip hop at the time and I just so happened to rhyme and there it is! I did a tune on the Popper Logic Project "Louisiana Sky" and Popper in turn put some shine on "Oasis".
Going back, is there a moment in time that you remember thinking "this is what I want to do with my life"?
I had two of those moments...back when my older came in the crib with that fresh adidas suit and he was singing King of Rock...I thought that was cool as hell and then there was another time back in 88 when I was @ this concert...on the bill was Ice-T, Biz Markie, BDP, Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh and Eric B and Rakim...hit me right where I live!!!
Do you kick it with the Liquid Soul or Family Tree crew much these days? Any collaborations coming up?
Liquid Soul yea, fa sho, I've sat in with some of them cats or they've sat in with me from time to time...matter of fact Ron Haynes is playing trumpet on 20/20. Mars and I recorded together on the G.Strings LP...man, we just had a reunion show @ the Double Door that was pretty sweet--almost made us wanna get together again! (-;
Oh yea! Three Shorthand cats are in Liquid Soul. Josh Ramos, Jonathan Marks (Hey Champ), and Doug Corcoran.
Fam Tree? I keep in tune heavily with All Natural, Rita J, G.Riot and Fifth...I learned a lot from Capital D and Tone and at the end of the day we talk family,life, politics and sports, in no particular order, cuz thru time we really knew each others family, be it close or just a topical level...but we fam. Rita and I collab a lot! She's my sister...and G's that dude! I can talk to them for a long time.
What do you believe helped you the most, creatively, get to the place where you are today?
Well, I think I'm still gettin' help...I'm staying open to the possibilities in music...I like where this journey is takin' me. I don't expect much, however I try to get as much as I can for it...but as far as immediate influences...my family, my friends, my friends kids...movies, books...I'm not particular.
Who were some of your greatest inspirations while growing up?
Lots...my parents, my brother, Malcolm X, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Walter Payton...lots of cats and kittens.
I hope the road has treated you well and the Zumiez Couchtour has been a hit. Before we conclude, what can the Chicago folks look forward to in the coming weeks/months from Mr. Greenweedz?
Man! I wish I could say, but I don't know. The Joker says it best, something to this effect, "I'm like a dog chasing cars, I wouldn't know what to with it if I caught one!"
Me, Dug and Shorthand are working with Popper on a record...got another Shorthand record with Kymani Marley on it...just tryin' to work a number...the games ever evolving and I'm always tryin' to get in on the ground floor!
Bless
GW
The Response Form