Brand Nubian
by David Ma
Sadat X, Grand Puba, DJ Alamo, and Lord Jamar, collectively known as Brand Nubian, will be releasing a new LP entitled Fire in the Hole later this year. Fourteen years since their first record, All For One, the likeminded New Yorkers’ music still reflects a vigilance for politics and a hunger for success. “We’ve never been apart mentally — this isn’t a reunion album,” claims Grand Puba. “This is just a progression of our growth process.”
“Our music is just a reflection of the world around us,” proclaims Sadat X. “What we see, feel, and live.” Therefore, the collective’s music, in retrospect, could also be considered a musical timeline for politics, news, events, and, of course, hip-hop itself. From the city of New York on September 11th to hip-hop’s golden era, Brand Nubian not only echoed it, but also ultimately lived it.
“We’ve been through a lot… Politically, times are tough right now, and musically, well, we’re just glad to have fans that are appreciative and stuck by us — then and now,” reflects Grand Puba.
What’s changed since Brand Nubian’s debut?
Grand Puba: Nothing. It’s too hard to compare!
Sadat X: It is hard. I mean, every album is an identity in its own time — the people are the same, but the time and energy is different. Every album of ours is a reflection of the times, so they have to be different in some way.
Grand Puba: Yeah, I mean, the first album was good — but you’ll never be able to recapture that. I honestly think that through the years, we made albums that were better and some were worse — but all were different. It’s basically about the time we got caught up in and the influences which made us think what we thought, and do what we did. Does that make sense?
Yeah, it definitely does. Speaking of the times making you do what you do — what are your thoughts on the current times and, moreover, the current politics surrounding you?
Sadat X: We don’t fuck with Bush! Hahaha! That pretty much says it all.
Lord Jamar: Not in any time frame [laughs]. Not the first Bush and not this Bush.
Grand Puba: Times are tough right now, man.
Well, how has current music been affected by the times? Not necessarily hip-hop, but just music in general?
Grand Puba: Recent music is definitely getting more political. At least it seems that way. That’s probably just a reflection of the fucked up times as well. If things are all good then people wouldn’t give a fuck or get motivated to record some politically charged shit.
Sadat X: On a different angle, times change and with that, technology keeps getting better and better. People can do almost anything musically straight from their homes now! But that doesn’t mean the skill level is getting better! As far as rapping goes, times advance and things will come back again. If it’s bad, it’ll get better and so on.
Touching on what Sadat said about technology and the progression of musical equipment, Jamar, what equipment did you use to produce through the years, all the way up to Fire in the Hole? What’s changed?
Lord Jamar: Through the years? I don’t remember, man! I can tell you that I’ve always kept things simple. Right now, I use an MPC3000 and Pro Tools. I also fuck with the Trinity rack. Keep things simple, man. That’s my biggest asset.
Music constantly moves in different directions — so what direction do you see hip-hop going towards?
Grand Puba: It’s hard, man. I think it just depends what’s going on in society at the time. Bush might steal the election again! If that happens, that might arouse some sort anger in the masses, which will cause a more political climate…which will cause more political music to be made. That’s what I think.
Sadat X: Yeah, I feel the same. I mean, it all depends — if everything is going well and it appears that everyone is making money and everything is going great, and that there is no wars and shit — music will reflect that. If things are fucked up, like Puba said, music will reflect that also.
Lord Jamar: Yeah, I don’t know. I hope music will get better. Haha!
What was it about the current time that made you guys get back in the studio?
Grand Puba: Nothing specifically. This isn’t a reunion album. We were never apart. We’ve been doing this since the ’90s — and this is mainly a continuation of our growing process.
Lord Jamar: Yeah, it wasn’t any one thing that made us do this again. The time was just right- know what I’m saying?
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