Editorial: @VannDigital Interviews Blahzé Misfits (@MyBrainIsAlive)

I had the pleasure of interviewing Blahzé Misfits a month or so ago…here it is. Learn a lot more about their music and background.

d-Prince: How did you get your stage name?
Ly Moula: We never went into the recording of As Fate Would Have It… with a name for the group. George & I just focused on making the music and figured a name would eventually come. It didn’t. “Blahzé Misfits” was part of a line from George in “Black Nativity” before it was the name of the group, it just stood out so we ran with it.

What inspired you to become a rap artist?
Georgie Jessel: My interest in rapping came from The Lyricist Lounge Show on MTV and Freestyle Fridays on BET. Both shows featured rappers freestyling and it was a skill that blew my mind from the start. I always listened to rap and I would always rap along to my favorite songs, but I never wanted to be a rapper, I just wanted to learn how to freestyle. I’m very proud to say I’ve evolved into a mediocre freestyle emcee. The inspiration to develop as an artist finally came when I realized that writing and music were the only two constants throughout my life.

Ly Moula: Growing up, I wanted to be a writer. I used to pitch film reviews to websites and lie about my age so I could get them published. Rapping is really just an extension of writing and there’s more words per second in hip hop than any other genre. I think the element of wordplay is probably what attracted me initially. There’s a laundry list of rappers that I grew up on that had a hand in inspiring me to want to rap, but ultimately, being able to find a medium to really challenge myself as a writer has been the biggest inspiration.

When did you start? And have you created any records yet or mixtape?
Ly Moula: I started writing raps when I was 15 years old. Didn’t really take it seriously until I was 20 and started producing. Production took a back-seat to rapping, at least for the time being, about a year ago. I have plenty of projects I’ve recorded and shelved over the years, the writing has always been there, but I didn’t want to put out an album in any context until I was comfortable with where I was musically. As Fate Would Have It… is the first release from Blahzé Misfits, but it also doubles as my first rap release period.

Georgie Jessel: I wrote my first rap when I was 11. My cousin rapped and saw potential in me so he suggested I give it a try. I got hooked and pretty soon I was writing raps all the time – in class, at home, wherever. Writing has been a passion of mine since I learned how to spell so the raps came naturally. I burned out at some point in high school and didn’t consistently write raps until about three years ago. As Fate was my debut to the music world and I’m always working on new music.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t writing, producing, etc?
Georgie Jessel: Drink.

Ly Moula: Eating, warding off panic attacks with horror movies, talking to my boo, reading, spending time with the few people who haven’t completely written me off, wasting time on the internet, channeling my OCD through iTunes, photoshopping peoples heads onto other peoples bodies.

Who are your musical inspirations?
Ly Moula: American Horror Story has been my biggest inspiration in the past two years. I guess that’s not a person, though. I’m really excited about this rapper named Young Thug that’s on a bunch of recent Gucci Mane mixtapes. He does a lot of interesting things with his vocal cadences and flows that are pretty inspiring. I feel like I’m doing somebody a disservice by not mentioning Charles Hamilton, the internet’s most unfairly maligned rapper. He has an insane work ethic and an amazing creative spirit. Oh, and there’s a dude I’ve done a couple songs with named Lewis that’s really killing it right now. You know what? Go and open up a new tab in your web browser and search for “Red October” by Lewis on YouTube. Watch that video. That’s really just scratching the surface, but for the sake of brevity, I’ll just shut up now.

Georgie Jessel: I draw inspiration from everywhere. I turn to Lyle all the time and say “I felt like going with a (insert artist here) kind of flow on this one” or, “I went for a (insert artist here) kind of style on this”. I’ve written songs inspired by quotes, experiences, paintings, whatever, really. When a moment hits me in the gut I try to express it creatively.

What genres of music do you listen to?
Georgie Jessel: I’ve always said there are two types of music, good music and bad music. I listen to both.

Ly Moula: “Everything” is such a generic response to a question like this, but it’s true. If I want to feign sophistication, I guess it isn’t too late to change my answer to Turkish Psychedelic Rock, though.

What surprises would we find in your music collection?
Ly Moula: Turkish Psychedelic Rock.

Georgie Jessel: The worst rap group to ever walk the planet: The Gold Coast Crew.

Today’s music is about collaborations. What “hot” rapper out now would you love to work with?
Georgie Jessel: I’ll make a song with damn near anybody but there’s nobody I’m itching to work with.

Ly Moula: Literally anyone other than Kendrick Lamar.

What do you hope to do with your music?
Ly Moula: I just enjoy making music. The more expectations you have, the more complicated making the music gets. I’m not really sure if a career in music is realistic or even something I’d want at this point, I just hope our music resonates with people on some level.

Georgie Jessel: I hope to evolve as an artist, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of my potential. My biggest goal is to make music that people love and listen to for the rest of their lives.

Where do you see this generation heading?
Georgie Jessel: Seeing how our generation is defined by tolerance and social media, my biggest hope is that one day people of all genders, races, religions, creeds, sexualities, political leanings, philosophical ideals, financial statuses, musical tastes, spending and dietary habits can all like each other’s Facebook posts.

Ly Moula: We’re a progressive and forward-thinking generation, but also an apathetic and shallow one. I think a lot of the outcry about “this” generation is a bit overblown. We’re heading in many directions, nothing is absolute.

Is there any advice you’d like to give to young aspiring rappers?
Ly Moula: Don’t aspire to be a rapper.

Georgie Jessel: Read a book.

What projects should we be on the lookout for in the near future?
Ly Moula: Nothing in the near future, but the next Blahzé Misfits album is called Colonel Custard’s Lonely Dick Pic Band and will hopefully be released before the end of this year. I’m never going to put out a solo project.

Georgie Jessel: Keep your eyes peeled for Colonel Custard’s dick pics. They’re impressive.

Any shout outs?
Georgie Jessel: Shout out to my mom for letting us record in her basement and shout out to anybody who has shown us and our music love.

Ly Moula: I want to shout out Russ Marshalek & Uncommon Nasa for being great friends and musical mentors to me over the years. Both of these guys have done so much for me and I’d be remiss if I didn’t let them know how much I appreciate it any chance I get.