It's impressive to se a band like Kinky whose electronic and rhythmic sounds fill up a club as if they were a group that belonged in London, Amsterdam, or Paris. Kinky, for example, is one of those underground bands that only has a demo but their stage presence shows one that this band is ready to explode onto the scene. I witnessed them at a club in the famous Barrio Antiguo (old neighborhood), which is known for its nightlife.

Xavier: What is Artillería Pesada? What do you exactly do?
Piochaz: It's a crew of MC's that does hip-hop.
X: Will this project include some rock?
Piochaz: No, it's pure hip-hop. The thing is that we can do both. Sometimes we like to do hip-hop and other times we just like to do some hard-core rock. We want to show what we have learned from the hip-hop culture. We listen to it, we live the culture, we saw when they killed 2Pac and Biggie, etc. For example, [Maigaz] cried when that happened. (Everyone laughs/)
X: Is Fermín (Control Machete) involved in this project?
Piochaz: For now he is not involved because he's working on other things. Right now we are totally concentrated on this and also on free styling.
X: Is this project pure free styling?
Todos: Yes!
Javu: I'm an MC; I will record and then sell my music. We already have the capability of doing this. We are definitely concentrated on this.
Piochaz: We want to break the stereotype that all Mexicans dress like gangsters, that they like Kid Frost, etc. We grew up listening to hip-hop but it also happened during an era when you would hear stuff like Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, etc. So people didn't know much about true hip-hop. Control Machete came along in '97 and a lot of people would laugh. In '92 or '93, "rap has died," was a common phrase among people.
Javu: Yeah it was around '92 or '93.
Piochaz: Yeah, I remember! It was January 25 of '92 when Adrian Peña said that rap had died. This dude says that New Kids on the Block had died referring to them as a hip-hop group along with Vanilla Ice.
X: Maigaz, how do you feel when reporters/journalists say that Molotov, Plastilina Mosh, etc. is hip-hop, is everything hip-hop?
Maigaz: That's a really stupid thing to say. I don't know who the dumbass was who started that notion but he's an idiot!
Piochaz: Those bands aren't hip-hop. They incorporate hip-hop in their music and we like that, but they are not hip-hop.
X: Besides Mexico and the United States, have you heard other hip-hop groups?
Piochaz+Maigaz: Yeah, from Spain! Solo Los Solo, CPV, Ari, 7 Notas 7 Colores…
Piochaz: When 7n7c came we wanted to challenge them to a freestyle battle. We wanted to freestyle with someone who wasn't from these parts but they didn't want to. I think they chickened out on us. (Everyone laughs.)

X: The Artillería Pesada project is only a crew from Monterrey or are you going to invite other groups to participate like Tiro de Gracia from Chile?
Piochaz+Maigaz: Well, actually, we want to do something with Alex Lora from El Tri, you know it has nothing to do with what we are doing, but we need to also end the taboo that you can't have rockers and rappers on the same stage here in Mexico. Actually we would like to do a hip-hop remake of their song "Triste Canción (Sad Song)."
Javu: Chela Lora, his wife and manager, said that there wouldn't be a problem.
X: You wouldn't invite American groups that don't speak Spanish to participate?
Piochaz: Well CPV is in Brooklyn and has made a song where there are appearances by Mos Def, Jeru the Damaja, Guru, and more. That's cool because that's a sign that we can do it too.
X: And how about doing an English/Spanish song, let's say that they would come to Monterrey to do something?
Piochaz: Well for this project we already have Ralph M of Funkdoobiest coming down to learn more about this.
X: You guys know him?
Piochaz: No we don't know him or the group but for example there is contacts through Toño and Fermín. Hip-hop is a worldwide phenomenon and that's cool. It's a whole culture.
Maigaz: Just like rock, house, etc. Hip-hop is universal.
X: Will this be the first album released under Sones del Mexside?
Maigaz: Yes. After that will follow the albums by Los Bastardozz (The Bastardzz), Lingo Squad, etc.
X: What's Lingo Squad?
Maigaz: Piochaz and me.
Piochaz: Maigaz began to play with La Flor del Lingo (Lingo Flower) and well he started as a rapper. I came into the band later and also learned a lot from him. I didn't know anything then, now I know a lot more. I learned to create beats for example. In Cuba, there are also some hip-hop projects taking off. I didn't know that the island had hip-hop. But there is everything because musically they are rich. We are going to work with some Cuban MC's and there's a strong possibility that Sen Dog of Cypress Hill will participate. There will be a chance to flow.
X: What do you think of the mix of hip-hop and money? You know that thing of being a player, pimp, etc
Piochaz: : I think that style is kind of sad. I think it will return to its original roots, don't you?
X: : You guys wouldn't make a video like that? You know with some girls riding around in your Mercedes-Benz?
Maigaz: Ha, ha, ha…stop eating shit!
Piochaz: No, you're talking about showing and throwing around dollar bills in Mexico, ha, ha, ha…
Maigaz: Well having chicks yeah, but no dollar bill throwing…
Piochaz: We are different. El Maigaz likes chicks, Javu other things, Waldo other things. That's how we are.
X: In Monterrey, are there a lot of hip-hop groups?
Piochaz: Yeah, but they don't care about making decent hip-hop just bad mouthing Control Machete.
X: There aren't any Freestyle Wars?
Piochaz: I'm not an asshole, but many groups here can't hang. They don't know how to freestyle. They arrive to battle but with written lyrics. They rather badmouth people who work hard. I have no money but I work my ass off. We want unity.
X: So the album will talk about this aspect?
Toy: There has to be unity, that's why Sones del Mexside exists. It's to unify and develop. That's its purpose. Yes, so the album will have those themes.
X: Well how about you guys do a little freestyle battle?
Todos: ¡Órale!

Piochas

X: After witnessing that battle, I can only say is that you guys are dope! Wow, incredible! Toy is this what Sones del Mexside is and will be?
Toy: Yes, what you just witnessed is exactly what it is. We will build on this and of course I have Milo's help.
X: So Sones del Mexside will be pure hip-hop?
Toy: That is something ambiguous. It can be something for all types of music. We like to do all types of music. We want to do everything! There is a signature sound however. The idea is maybe to have 4 distinct sub-labels. You know work everything independently. Artillería Pesada for example, can be the hip-hop sub label of Sones del Mexside. As long as everything is tight and unified. Music is that is well made can be mixed and played together. The genre doesn't matter. It's having the vision to work with someone for example, like Roco (La Maldita Vecindad), with someone…it's being able to have a certain work mentality and being able to develop artists like the stuff that Andrés Cantisani (singer/songwriter from Monterrey). I like to work and learn. Andrés' project I do it without any financial gain but to learn. And he isn't hip-hop. You know doing black music…
X: Your (CONTROL MACHETE) song "Danzón" was inspired from Afro-Cuban music, right?
Toy: I think that was a special and specific moment. The music video captured that. It was the exact moment when we were inspired.

X: Is 2000 different for you guys?
Toy: It's really cool!
Milo: We came across a decisive moment. This is the year where we will work our asses off. We will begin to develop the entire infrastructure that we attained during the last decade. You know knowledge learned on trips, in concerts, etc. Everything that was learned will be put to use so everyone can get totally involved.
X: In order to invest?
Toy: Not only money, but heart and will.
X: Well I've been told that Carlitos is living here in the studio?
Toy+Milo: Ha, Ha, Ha…yes, that's the truth. He has a little bedroom here in the office. He doesn't live here because we forced him to but because he wanted to work here all the time.
X: So you guys are in the right age to be doing this?
Milo: Yes, we all still have energy left. We all vary in age however. There can be a difference of up to 10 to 15 years but everyone is on the level.
Toy: Exactly!
Milo: There is experience combined with youth. For example, we (Toy and Milo) are in the middle.
X: Do you search for new talent?
Toy: Of course! Not to develop superstars necessarily, but to find people who will be of use in all aspects. One who can design, one who is good at promoting, one who is a good DJ, etc. We like to give references. If someone needs help and we know someone who could fill the role we don't hesitate to refer him or her. We adopt and live in a culture, but we don't stay in it. I love to do all types of things. For example, things aren't the same here like they are in New York. Maybe you have a certain style of rapping, being a DJ, etc.
X: So your dreams and hopes are more alive than ever?
Toy: Yeah and to attain those goals one has to work hard.
X: How about development in the United States?
Milo: I think it will breakthrough by itself. There are so many connections and people are always looking for new ideas. It will enter by itself.

Toy: There will be some penetration. For example, I had the opportunity of remixing a track by Eminem and it was played on the Wake-Up Show, wow! Stuff like that, I guess, that's what it's about. But there is a lot to be done here still. My maximum desire is not to be a big hit in the United States yet like others want to. I still have to develop things here. There are a lot of people here with whom to work with. It will happen by itself over there. It's like when you got Control Machete for the first time and now you've hung out with us several times. You see it can reach people through a cousin, a relative, friend and it happens. I talk to a lot of people in Colombia and Argentina among other places. I talk to the people from Rap2000 in Argentina and the people in Chile who do La Saga Hip-Hop. Now we can hook up and even make a hip-hop show for Latin America.

"Toy" Hernandez - Control Machete

To Be Continued...