Floss finished with Art or Fiscal Intelligence

Here is the last bit of the album, finally completed and ready for the world...I had so much fun working on the project. Time to start it all over again with a new one and so far its a beast, stay tuned for that one, but this one should tie you down for a while

HOLLA

Nick of Rockaway Productions

In the studio talking about Floss new album and Rockaway Productions

Kidd Singing on FLOSS album

here is footage of Kidd singing in the studio for Floss album "Art or Fiscal Intelligence"



album download here:

http://www.zshare.net/download/19183829f8da5fab/

Floss Talking in the Studio

Floss in the Studio

Team Scene Got Next?!...

Or at least for the moment...Team Scene sounds are def. original, but i cant help but compare them to a mash-up of Pop culture meets Kid CuDi mixed with the Seeing Sounds Pharrell... Honest lyrics with abstract beats combine for a great mixture and a breath of fresh air to the music industry.

"Team Scene" (the name's under discussion) is a project that's been a long time in the making. Creating music together since 2003, Team Scene should see a spot in the limelight soon!

Bigger.Bu$iness and Carmel Labs are the producers and architects of the project. Erick and Ike are the MCs

FLOSS: Uniting new talent in music is IA's goal and you guys def. have a different sound...Can you explain how Team Scene was formed and where the name originates from?

Nako - Thanks man. Well Erick (Chase Love) and I have actually been rapping together since 2003, since the days of Cool Edit and computer mics. I put out a tape back in '04 that he helped me with called "Educated Thuggery" that got a generally mixed reaction on the net, both good and bad, but we've been making records together ever since.

We never really had a band name (it was always just Chase Love & Nako) up til a few months ago. I guess you could say, we kinda "borrowed" the whole Team Scene idea (haha, shout out to jblackcat and NT) first and foremost because I love scene girls...

Chase Love - I think with the name Team Scene comes from, both words have significant meaning to form the overall point we try to make. Life is a collaboration. Music is definitely a collaboration. While we are the only two official members of the group, there are plenty of people who make Team Scene happen whether they are musicians we've worked with, our people behind the scenes, or our fans --- everyone's a part of the team!

Now "Scene" basically stems from the fact that we are the life of the party, and while our music varies widely in style, theme, and topic (and is not always party music), it is always entertaining.

FLOSS: Who are your musical influences and How would you define your sound?

Nako - I grew up listening to every genre of music, and I mean literally EVERYTHING. Em's rap style definitely had a big influence on me when I first started -- all my verses were very lighthearted and sarcastic -- and of course everyone from New York aspires to rhyme like BIG and Jay. I'm really into T.i. and Luda... But also artists you wouldn't expect like Zack de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine (one of the most underrated MCs ever) have definitely influenced my style as well. Haha, and I've made the argument before that folk vocalist Regina Spektor's flow is flawless (check out her tracks Pavlov's Daughter and Consequence of Sounds). Oh and I fucks with Kanye and 50. They're the funniest personalities in hip-hop today.

Chase Love - Outkast, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye, Jay, N.E.R.D.,

FLOSS: As a group i know its hard because sometimes the beat takes you in two different directions, how do you vibe and create your songs together?

Nako - It really depends. With the "Go Shawty" record the producer, BNyce from "Carmel Labs," came to us with the beat and song idea so once we agreed to keep it simple, coming up with that hook was automatic.

Chase Love - The fact that right now we both live in different cities makes it a bit different than usual. We'll get a track from either Carmel Labs or Bigger Business that one of us likes. That person will throw down a rough draft of whatever inspiration has created (it could be as developed as a few verses and a hook to a simple hook idea). The other will then formulate their part. It goes back and forth a couple times after that until we have a full version. We usually go through 2-3 different versions of a song.


FLOSS: Also I peeped you have two seperate groups of producers...Can you explain the two different producers?

Nako - Well Bigger.Bu$iness is a group I've been down with since high school. The producers are the Marti brothers who are very into pianos, strings, and guitars. Carmel Labs are child hood friends of Chase's and if you hear samples, deep bass, and synth then it's probably them.

FLOSS: Which group produced the single?

Nako - Carmel Labs did, specifically BNyce who also rapped on the record. But there's definitely going to be a lot of Bigger.Bu$iness on it.

FLOSS: What is your favorite 16 that you've rapped? Heard from an established artist?

Nako - My favorite 16... actually it's probably more like a 48, is a verse i originally came up with for a radio cipher I had with a few rappers on a show I hosted back in '05. I said something on there like "I inhale shotguns like Kurt Cobain, and let the smoke out slow, blow my thoughts away..." I remember the first time I kicked that everyone's face was sort of like "eek!" haha. I actually just laid it down on a song that we're thinking about using on the tape, so that verse should see the light of day soon. As for my favorite verse I've ever heard... I don't know, I'm not sure if I have one. Both of Biggie's verses from Victory still give me shivers though.

Chase Love - My favorite verse I've rapped is actually from an unreleased song we did called The Coolest Verse Ever. My favorite 16 from an established artist has to be from Lupe Fiasco's Real Recognize Real track..."They say the game has the belly of a beast..."

FLOSS: How does the international traveling of your life influence your music?

Nako - This probably pertains to me a lot more than Erick. Umm, well you know I spent my childhood in England so I grew up very into British Rock and Garage music, but I've also been surrounded by Nigerian culture my entire life and that upbringing definitely still influences my tastes today. I'm REALLY into MIA, groups like MSTRKRFT and JUSTICE and I personally thought Kanye remaking Stronger and Jay covering Wonderwall were two of the greatest things to happen to hip hop ever. I'm really into experimenting with genre blending and international sound, so every time Carmel or Bigger.Bu$iness play a beat for us with the slightest hint of an electro sound or African drums or sampling sitar strings or whatever, I go nuts. This is a little bit of a diatribe, but if Timbaland could stop straight up jacking beats from international producers and just work with them on bringing their sounds over here, I think he could really help advance hip-hop as a world genre (because it really isn't just an American thing anymore) and really expand it to a lot of people.


FLOSS: If you could get a mainstream artist on your debut album who you going to get? Producer?

Chase Love - Andre 3000, Pharrell (I need my melodies)

Nako - Hmmm, artist... I'd go with Kanye. I'd have to. I'd definitely have Timbaland produce it though. With Just Blaze helping, haha.

FLOSS: Have any labels shown any interest in you and if no what would be the perfect label situation for you?

Nako - Hah, naw no label interest yet. Bigger.Bu$iness got a couple of offers to intern as producers (think Mysto and Pizzi) with some big names and Carmel are definitely talented enough to work for a major, but no deals are on the table for Team Scene as a whole yet. I'm not really sure what the perfect label situation would be for us. You always hear artists complaining about how labels are restricting them creatively, but then the second they get that freedom they wanted so bad, they fuck it up, you know what I mean? They just make horrible decisions and piss everything away. I want to say I'd want to sign with Puff because he's a fucking genius, but I know after the first album he'd just rape us for everything we had hahaha. I think the right situation for us would be one with a label that understood yeah we'll do the club songs and the pop records -- haha, I've got no qualms about making the sell out record -- but they would also need to understand that every now and then i might want to sample a billie goat, yodellers, and a baby crying and I'd need them to support my creativity and vision and believe in me enough as an artist to get behind me and give me and that record the proper push we deserve.

FLOSS: What upcoming projects are in the works for the group? (Shows, Albums, etc).

Nako - Planning the logistics for shows are hard considering we and our live band live in different cities right now, but we've got a few things in the works for Boston this winter. And the album/EP/mixtape, whatever you want to call it, either way it'll be free, should be out around the same time. We're about 4 or 5 tracks in, way more than we expected to have done by now, so we're just working on getting that done and then taking it to the next level. A website launch is gonna coincide with the album release, so be on the look out for that too.

FLOSS FIVE (answered by Nako)
1. USA or LONDON - USA. NYC to be exact.

2. FAVE New Artist - Hmmm, besides Chase? I'm gonna go with Drake. "Wheel Chair Jimmy's" been doing his thing lately, and I can't hate. I still think we'd body him though.

3. Football or Soccer - Football. Ask me again in two summers, and I'll probably say soccer hah.

4. Music Gulity Pleasure - i don't really have guilty pleasures. It's music. I listen to it all and I like it. (That last Britney album was a banger though...)

5. Jordan 4 or Jordan 5
Jordan 4. i'll take the 3s over both of them though.

Thats it for this week's artist you need to know, but as usual i provide you with your musical fix: A link of 4 songs from TEAM SCENE enjoy!!!

TEAM SCENE MUSIC

And I Wonder....

One of my favorite songs off of Graduation, probably top ten in Kanye's catalog...The song questions what does life mean and how to sort out your dreams

For my whole life i had a 6th sense about being in the entertainment business in some way - acting, music, marketing commecials, sports etc but not into 3 and a half years ago did i feel my real passion was and is MUSIC...For those who have reached it kudos, but i'll see you when i get there

I'm happy that i completed my foundation album, its a relief to get it off your chest, but now i need the public to get ahold of it

Its also bittersweet because I'm happy its completed but sad because i'm already recording my next one...You see i'll promote the hell out of it, but at the same time, i feel people are really gonna take notice to me and i want extra songs for them to have once they get tired of the foundation album

I know it sounds crazy, but i got a weird feeling about it, and i think it will pay off

Shout outs to ROCKAWAY PRODUCTIONS, KIDD, DUCE, & TAE GUTTA... THE COUNCIL, HERO & RAD, FAT TONY, PRESTO!

Please support the album when you get ahold of it, It really means alot to me

EP for download

Art or Fi$caL Intelligence EP download:

zshare.net/download/17152729a3b7b2f8/ download

Yo for more info about me hit myspace.com/hwflossss

Hurricane

As most people know, Hurricane Ike is approaching and it got Houston and the rest of the city by the gulf coast in a frenzy, Me i'm still trying to do what i love third (after god and fam) MUSIC baby lol!!!

Anyways the Art or Fi$caL Intelligence album is done, complete...I'm just picky about mixing and making sure i get the best product to ya ears ya dig

The process for making the album was really a dream...For the first time i was on my own and i had to come up with everything from the beats to the hooks to the verses...I really had fun tossing away songs as if i was a real exec. haha

But i read on another artist blog uzoy - that she didnt feel like her album she was working on was her first- but instead a foundation

I feel the same way, Technically it is my first album, but it isnt because i'm just opening the world to me, and still finding myself as an artist..I really dont want to find myself as an artist, i want to always change as i think its healthy and i got undiscovered ADD

But anyways look out for my album and pick it up, buy it, download it, steal it, whatever - -I love my fans and everyone trying to support the movement

Shoutouts to KIDD, Duce, Rockaway Productions, The Council, Presto!, Young Rilla, GoD Jewelz, Wize, TIME, Henz $, Fat Tony, KAM, Hero & RAD, H-Town Music Period

Listening To : Lupe The Killer Song - Sick Wordplay and he put Ninja Turtles in a verse

Where Brooklyn At - Henz $

FLOSS: Henz, I want to thank you for taking your time to interview with
IA, can you discuss a little bit about yourself?

HENZ: Oh no problem my dude, we been fucking with each other before I even thought about rapping (LOL) so its my pleasure. Well, my name is Henry but now a days all I hear is Henz, henz0, henz $, or with the chicks Henzy, Henzy Wenzy LOL. Anyway, I'm from Brooklyn, New York.. East New York to be exact... I'm 23 (damn niggas getting old), Sarcastic as hell. Super laid back.. Maybe to laid back.. my hobbies include: Stayin' Fresh, Sports (basketball,football,baseball) i'm a athlete!!, Surfing ( the internet, lets be serious LOL).. Smoking ( bud ), and lets not forget Video games... Yall holla @ me on Xbox live so I could show yall how to do this ( gamertag - henz0 ).

FLOSS: As a newcomer to the music scene, what made you decide to take

rapping serious and pursue it?

HENZ: Hmmm I dont really have a clear answer to this one its really a mixture of things.. I've been a fan of rap for as long as I can remember and I would always take niggas lines & switch it up a little to fit myself personally and use it as away msg's or just random sayings during everyday shit and people would always comment on em like " thats funny " or " thats hot ". Or even " hey make 1 for me " ( LOL ).. So I realized that people really pay attention to my words, and what better way for people to follow em? About a year ago one of my dudes who raps, just outta the blue came to me like " yo, you got a rapper voice ", So everybody lookin at him like AYOO you like Henz voice.. But now I guess he can say I told you so (shout to rah) haha. Last but not least, I started doing this shit because I hear these dudes who been calling themselves rappers for years that sound horrible making moves with it so I figure hey why not me?

FLOSS: Who are some of your favorite rappers or influences?

HENZ: Well my favorite rappers are ( No order ): The Clipse , Cam'Ron, Eminem, Fabolous, Lil Wayne, Kanye, Juelz Santana, and Youg Jeezy. As far as influence I would definitely have to say the Dip Set.. My reason for that being it always sounds like they're having fun with what they do, not taking themselves to serious.. Like the joker said.. " why so serious " So i definitely take that approach when I'm in the booth.. Also Kanye, Jeezy and I'm gonna single Juelz out (juelz from the dips in this part) because of the emotion they be put out on the tracks.. I fucks with that.

FLOSS: What is your process when you decide to create a song?

HENZ: The urge to lay down some shit could come at any time its never planned but here it goes: First I need to hear the beat, I've never wrote a verse just to write it, always the beat first.. Then figure out how I'm gonna start the track, Thats like the hardest part to me, after that it kinda just flows out 8-).. Are there
any subjects you wont talk rhyme about? I will never rhyme about killin niggas or selling tons of cocaine because I dont do either.. Some things may be exaggerated in the lyrics, but I wouldn't talk about things that I dont do.

FLOSS: How long does it usually take you to write your verses?

HENZ: I dont think its ever taken me more than an Hour to complete em.. With just the first 2 lines taking up the most time.. I try not to sit there and think to much about it because then it never comes out >:o so I just put down whatevas running through my mind.. And when I play it back I might make a couple little edits here & there.


FLOSS: What would be the ultimate goal for you music wise? Do you want to
get signed or do you prefer the indie route?

HENZ: My ultimate goal is to really just to entertain & have alotta people fuckin wit me and interested in whats coming next.. Also working with alotta different people and to just keep having fun enjoying the music shit. I'd prefer the indy route because I can still do what I prefer which is just having fun on the mic and saying whatever I want instead of having a whole plan to things. I think that takes some of the fun out of it.. I didn't get involved for the $ I did it for the fun.. If $ comes along with that... Thats a Plus ( big plus haha )



FLOSS: The Ayo Technology and Sexual Healing freestyles is where people
started acknowledging your skills…Have you always known you can rap or
did the responses shock you?

HENZ: "Started acknowledging my skills?!?!?" LOL... That statement sounds like I been rapping for years and niggas just started noticing me... Those are like 2 out of the first 5 shits I ever wrote/spit in my LIFE.. I kinda knew I could do it because like i mentioned earlier people always comment on little sayings/lines theyve seen me use/post up online.. But I never tried to turn it into rap until recently which you can still tell ( flow still in progress!).. The responses definitely did shock me though to see so many people feeling it and even putting it on their on myspace pages, and asking for the mp3's to download like I was a veteran at this shit definitely put a smile on my face and motivated me to keep going @ it.

FLOSS: When can we expect more material from you? A mixtape or more features maybe?

HENZ: I have all the lyrics and beats I plan on using for my mixtape ( The Unu$ual Suspect ) ready to go, a nigga just been lazy with going to the studio.. Which is right around the corner from my house SMFH.. I know this sounds cliche but " Coming soon " LOL. Features I'm always up for.. Maybe by doing that, their fans can become your fans.. you never know. I actually features more because it makes you want to go harder knowing you're along side somebody, sorta like a little fun competition ( see: crosscountry royalty ).. So whoever wanna do something with me holla at me.. I'm down.

FLOSS: Any producers or other rappers you want to work with?

HENZ: My dude Plan was displaying some of his beats at " the secret society " (LOL).. And I was feeling one of em so hopefully we can work something out with that... My man time has a song called " I'm That Nigga " that is just crazy to me so I would love to be on the remix of that ;) since every day I hear "im that nigga ".. The other 2 people I wanted to work with G.O.D Jewels & Dom Kennedy we already completed that and is getting crazy reviews called Cross Country Royalty... On a mainstream level I would love to get a beat from Heatmakers, and whoever the fuck be doing Jeezy beats, shits just get you hype and WANT to go in in the booth... As far as rappers if I could pick some people to do a track with it'd be Juelz, & Cam.. would be a funny ass track.. Or Weezy, you get Weezy on a track you know a million peoples listening.. Son is going in right now!

FLOSS: What makes you listen to a rapper and buy the album or show support?

HENZ: They have to entertain me, it doesn't even have to be lyrical.. The shit could just be funny. But as long as im entertained I could fuck with it.. If its a new rapper, I have to hear them go in on somebody else's beat. I cant just listen to a "song" from someone i've never heard of they have to show me something first, like bodying somebody elses beat.

FLOSS: Where can rappers, singers, and future fans get in contact with
you or hear your work?

HENZ: Well the best place would be the myspace.. www.myspace.com/henzmuzik. With all my other contacts ima have to know you first before you get access to those, theres some weird things going on out here!( listen to "technology" Lol & watch the video on the space ).

FLOSS FIVE

1. Jay-Z or Fabolous - I'm not gonna sit here and say that Fab is better than Jay. But i'd rather listen to fabs music anyday over jays.. he entertains me way more.

2. Besides rap what music artists do you listen to - alicia keys( my boo ).. Other than that I dont really check for anybody but when its a good song I fucks with it reguardless of who it is.

3. Favorite Jordan - Jordan XI.. I remember me & my moms went to go cop the White/black joints when I was in 5th grade a week before they came out when everybody had the grant hills, I was that dude..

4. Jets or the Giants - UGHHH I dont fuck with either of these teams, and before a few weeks ago i wouldve quickly said the jets but now they have brett favre :-\ who i despise. So im gonna leave this one open (-_- )

5. Madden 09 or NCAA 09 - When I'm playing with friends I prefer Ncaa because its more fun, but online I gotta go with madden, shit is serious business with the online play and you really have to have a strategy to win, whereas in NCAA its mainly run & gun.




Once again i want to thank my guest this week (HENZ $) and you know I want leave you without a preview here it is:

HENZ $