So tell me specifically about the Originators...how it got started, your involvement.
The company was started by the founder, a guy named Adam Bach. Adam was a film student in Los Angeles and he wanted to shoot a film documenting the founding pioneers of hip-hop. He didn't have the money to shoot the film so he thought of another way of telling their stories through clothing and fashion. At the time i was already working for Russell Simmons at Phat Farm and i met Adam at a Rock Steady Crew anniversary event in NYC. i asked him about the shirts because i knew the pioneers he had on the line already at that time (such as kurtis blow, melle mel, cold crush brothers, etc) I wanted to buy all the shirts basically, and didn't give a shit who Adam was. lol!"

These artists were all my favorite old school cats, so i just wanted the shirts. anyways, Adam asked me if i knew another pioneer that he wanted to get signed to the line and i knew him. the artist was dj lovebug Starski, who coined the phrase "hip-hop"

So I talked to Starski and we set up the deal to get Starski signed to the line. after i left phat farm Adam asked me to join the company, and since i had all the industry contacts across the music and fashion world it was only a better fit to take on vp, marketing and publicity. Since then i've helped the line with celebrity placements on major tv networks, major fashion and trade publications and i've also helped to secure more pioneers for the line
such as?
such as mtv, bet, source, xxl, scratch, elemental, complex, fhm, etc, etc

So...with the many hip hop artists you all reflect what is the reaction of these artists?
The artists are happy that we are giving back to them a lot of the respect that much of today's industry won't recognize. Also the artists get royalties from what we sell on the line

how do you view hip hop today?
much of today's industry thinks the pioneers are washed up, old, and yesterdays news, but without them today's rappers wouldn't be where they are, or in many case who they are either!!

Don't you feel that in yesteryear it was a more communal and positive scene?
Absolutely! much more positive and for the love of the art and expression...the music, the fashion, the parties, all the fun of it all. Today it is all about money and business. The record labels as well as the fashion houses are all set up for pre-production, like cookie cutter factories! no originality or freedom of expression! i feel you should let the artists BE the artist!

Do you feel there are some hip hop artists today who are continuing that tradition and if so who are they?
yes i do, I love artists like Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Kanye West. They showcase original content in their work, and they express what they feel in their music...They don't follow industry trends

Don't you feel that someone such as Kanye West is a bit on the BUSiNESS side of things?
That's what hip-hop is all about whether its good or bad it is what it is...no fake gimmicks!

Don't you feel he pulls from the old to refresh his new?
A lot of smart artists would do this! use the old school trends to make them new again. Everybody misses the 80's and 90's because it was so much fun back then and today it is so angry and violent, and greedy

Right...i feel there is a distinct difference between hip hop vs rappers...am i wrong in this belief?
No you're absolutely correct. Too many people think rap and hip-hop are the same thing, but they're wrong! Hip-hop is the whole culture (graffiti writers, b-boys/b-girls or breakdancers, mc's, and dj's). Rap is only one element of hip-hop

Commercial rap has left a bad stain on hip-hop because of all the negative press and because of seedy and greedy record labels who see it as a way to further exploit the urban community to make money. Hip-hop is universal and worldwide. I grew up in a military family all over the world (in japan, germany, etc) and everyplace i have lived there was hip-hop!

It didn't matter if you were white, black, latino, asian, whatever! hip-hop brings everybody together!

The world loves its hip hop! LOL! That's a really great attitude to have and a positive one.
And that's why hip-hop is now a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide and the number one medium in all of pop culture. I still remember my mom telling me in germany that it was "just a fad" and that it "wouldn't last."
ha!
Now today she loves rappers like ludacris, kanye west, mos def! lol! I remember telling her that one day hip-hop was going to rule the world. I'm glad i'm here to see that

Where do you see hip hop going in the future?
As far as hip-hop's future? i always tell russell and everybody else, that without hip-hop past and the roots, and contributions of the pioneers, that hip-hop has no future. The present must be reinforced with the contributions of the past in order for the whole culture to continue in a positive progression and on into the future

Who do you feel is making their mark on the hip hop world today?
Russell (Simmons) started his partnership with vh1 for the hip-hop honors awards just for that same purpose - to educate those who don't know about the contributions of the past pioneers like mc lyte, rakim, big daddy kane. the show recognizes these great artists and mixes up the show with stars of yesterday and stars of today. The show is already due to film its 3rd show! this year vh1 will recognize: wu-tang clan, mc lyte, rakim, eazy e, ice cube, and others

What old skooler is your fav?
mc lyte, My all-time favorite old school pioneers are grandmaster caz (cold crush brothers) and lovebug Starski. Caz co-wrote the lyrics to the classic sugar hil gang's "rapper's delight" but never got the credit or the royalties from his contributions, and Starski gave hip-hop its very name! Of course i love kool herc and afrika bambaataa for starting hip-hop as a whole culture too
that's like the funk brothers and how they weren't recognized for their work with Motown.
Yea a lot of the old-school guys didn't know the business back then and many of them got screwed out of a lot of money. Today's artists are a lot smarter and have better management. Back then it was more for the love and the fun of doing a record, and even better if it got played on the radio. today its all about bds and soundscan numbers!
That's true of the music industry in general. You'll get dropped like a hot potato if your numbers aren't on
Yes and the fashion industry follows similar trends because many of today's music artists also brand their names and images for the fashion and beauty industry
True...which i think tarnishes both sides
If the artists fall off so do many of their brands and products if not managed and marketed the right way. its tricky and very trendy, but with The Originators, we don't have that to worry about. we showcase the glory days of hip-hop and honor the true pioneers that everybody grew up watching on tv and listening to. its vintage and classic hip-hop and that will never die!

Do you feel the DJ has a more significant role in hip hop these days?
yes even though the dj has been pushed to the back, because of the rappers, but it's the djs who are today's biggest producers. dj premier produced 5 songs on christina aguilera's new album which is set to push 300,000 out the gate for her first week of sales! that is huge! And dj premier is well known throughout the hip-hop community as one of the most gifted producers of real hip-hop music. he is one half of one of hip-hop's most cherished and positive rap groups, gangstarr, but so with my contacts in today's music and fashion world i have the advantage of getting placements on all of today's hottest stars.

Where can people find your fashions?
the clothing and accessories can be found at the website which will launch the new online store this month. we can also be found at fred siegels, dr jays, yellow rat bastard, and stores all over the us, canada, and now europe and asia

For more info on the originators please visit:

www.theorginators.com

www.myspace.com/hiphophead4life

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