Recently, I had the pleasure to conduct a Q&A with Hip Hop duo, Broke MC and producer Phono collectively known as Broke’N’Phono to discuss their beginnings in Hip Hop, the thought process for making beats, and what inspired them to do what they love, and share their new video “Weaponeyez” featuring Dizzy Senze off their debut album “Satan’s Little Miracle“.
With the success of mumble rap, was it hard to stay true to yourself and not ride the mainstream wave?
(Broke MC)We did our mumble rap joint! Peep “Brain Freezer.” That’s just the dessert tho. But, really, I think as artists we all gotta do what we do. I ain’t trying to jump on any wave of whatever is hot at the moment. I’m just doing me. I’m gonna be the type of fly I like and heads who appreciate my efforts will help spread the noise!
What was the first record you recall that got you hooked on Hip Hop?
(Phono)Easy. That would be “Grandmaster Flash Adventures on The Wheels of Steel” and also the “Furious Five Freedom“. Later when I was about 8 or 9 I started buying my first singles, the first one I bought with my own money is still a track I spin every blue moon, “Texas ft Method Man – Say What You Want“. It’s a brilliant live version from 1998. They’re accompanied by a full orchestra whose notation puts a moody flip on the original single. Very much worthy of looking up if you don’t already know it.
What’s the meaning of the old-school visuals in the “Weaponeyez” video?
(Broke MC)I’m old school. I came up 8-bit and I tightened my focus with the evolution of the resolution. The song is about how you choose to use your powers—what kind of weapon you want to be. That made me think about those games where you scroll your weapons. So I flexed it and flipped it. We shot this on no budget, so, you know, I had to use what I had at hand. Also, I’m getting pretty dope with After Effects so…
What’s the difference between working with American artists and those in the UK?
(Phono)It’s a tough question…I feel like I probably sit best aesthetically with the indie/backpacker scene generally. Over here, grime and 2-step are largely the quintessential UK sounds as far as “urban” music goes. I’m just not that into the music or the overall cadence of a lot of the vocalists (not as a rule, there are always going to be artists in every genre that hit different). For me, it’s probably less about what country you call home, but more so about where you’re coming from. The more analogue, geeky, unhinged aesthetics of the indie scene and the turntablist scene were just as active and alive in the UK simultaneously as in the US. There’s no real differences between weirdos from anywhere.
How do you classify your style of MCing?
(Broke MC)Intentional.
With your daughter helping you craft the beat for “Weaponeyez”, is that something you wanted for her, or did it come naturally?
(Phono)As you might assume, my kids are raised around a lot of music and art and as the result, it just brushes off on them. “Weaponeyez” started because my daughter had been freestyling at me that morning, so she wanted to make some beats. We just hung out, I showed her how to cut samples and play with step sequencers (always a fun go-to for kids).
We isolated a few bars as a phrase/loop and just had fun building it slowly. There was never any intention of making a full track. She cut and wrote in the brass stabs, the bass synth, helped make the patches, and some of those drums we wrote in together too. When she heard Dizzy Senze over her music her jaw dropped, simply on the grounds that the girls were repping it!
That day, we actually started 3 tracks, one of the other tracks we made has also been elaborated on for another project being worked on “Milk2” (plug). Isla is currently 7 and is obsessively learning piano and music theory. She and 3 of her brothers provide some vocals for the hooks throughout the track “Pandemic Fatigues” too.
Hailing from Brooklyn, what MCs provided inspiration for your career?
(Broke MC) I mean, I’m global. Born in Germany, I’ve lived in Nigeria, Brazil, Greece, etc. I moved to BK in 2003 and immediately found my home at the MindsPray Open Mic. The Hip Hop scene in NYC has always centered around open mics for me and that’s where we all built our skills. From Freestyle Mondays NYC (now virtual in its 20th year) to Supreme Bars to End of the Weak, and Who’s Rhyme is it Anyway – there was always a stage to smash and a cypher to get us open.
What’s your thought process when it comes to producing a track?
(Phono)Depends on the track and reason for producing it. I don’t have a hard and fast rule as such. If I make beats for Broke it’s definitely different from working with most people that I have. I can send very vague ideas that he can give some direction and feedback to and I can go away and work on the next iteration of whatever it might be at the time, resend the new version, rinse and repeat. Whereas I’m more likely to send a 90% finished beat to pretty much every other vocalist I’ve worked with, that’s the standard after all.
“Broke’N’Phono” feels more of a collective melting pot where we actively shape each other’s roles just as much as focus on our own contributions to the tracks. There are songs that have reached the point of being finished that we then decide to completely rearrange once the stems have been exported, such as “Migraine Minded“, “Wypipo“, “Weaponeyez” and “Brainfreeze“. Having said all of that, my “Milk” projects and “5minutes” do have their own distinct approach and threat sonically.
How did you team up with Dizzy Senze?
(Broke MC)Dizzy is one of the illest in the scene. She always has been. She is Hip Hop in every way. I feel like we are all looking to link up with folks we respect and find ways to elevate the art. We had cyphered together many times, traded bars, and whatnot. So when the right beat came along I had to reach out!
Who are some of the artists you would love to collaborate with?
(Phono)Aesop Rock & Rob Sonic. Quasimoto. Earl sweatshirt. Action Bronson. Elvis Costello. Ray Romano.
Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the premiere of the new Broke’N’Phono video titled “Weaponeyez” featuring Dizzy Senze.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
