Back in 2003 BLESTeNATION had some underground mixtapes filter out into the hip hop world that made them the talk of the town. Hayley Woodgate interviews the group via email in reference to their new album MBugout City, the evolution of their sound, and McDiesel Chicken Plumps??!
The three members FAFU (Producer & DeeJay), Various, and Werdplay were on top of their game. Being hunted by major record labels and enjoying the high life, their hard rhymes had earned them. Weaving their way into the industry BLESTeNATION created songs for film soundtracks, porn stars, and big time artists. The next step was what so many bands associate with the entertainment life: women, drugs, and hard play. At one point, it sounded like the life most young guys wouldn't argue with but when it took over the music and only loss ensued, it became time to assess the damage and begin the repairs.
They learned quickly how life can revert on itself when they got lost in their world of gold and glamour all in the name of excess. What began as a meteoric rise to their magical kingdom soon found them swimming in their own sordid rubble of fights between fellow band members, sexual misconduct, and over the top drug use. Their game plan soon changed when record labels and musicians alike turned their backs on the talented hip hop group. No matter how good the beats and lyrics, if no one is listening then it becomes a lonely descent into the musical maelstrom.
After playing out their rebellious deeds, BLESTeNATION realized that without any ears paying attention, their music faded out to silence. So they rolled down their sleeves, pulled up their pants and began rising out of their self dug egotistical graves to bring back to the fans what their journey was all about... mad hip hop rhymes with fresh beats! Their new album MBugout City is due out for release on April 13th and for a taste you can grab their 19 track mixtape MBC Digital free from their MySpace blog. Here's what the band had to say about themselves and their music.
Can you give a brief description of your group BLESTeNATION for our readers?
FAFU: Three dudes who make music as an outlet for our frustrations. We don't make any one kind of music, we just take in all of our influences old and new and process them through our own crazy methods and whatever comes out is what we make. We're all from different areas and have different backgrounds in music and life in general so we combine it all to come up with our own 'mbugout' sound.
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