INTERHIPHOP Interview with The Lenzmen from 2005 Retro-Read

The Lenzmen 2005 interview with INTERHIPHOP (Italian Media)

Lenzmen taking a break. Doc Strange, Centri and Dynamics Plus

C: A little history of Lenzmen
Strong Island NY collective The Lenzmen have been plying their craft for a minute. Forming in the late 90’s out of a college radio program, these next level cats have been blending the fantastical in wordplay with gritty hip hop. The group debuted on The Persecution Of Hip Hop compilation album several years ago which also featured indie hip hop royalty such as Cannibal Ox, Slug (Atmosphere), Atoms Family, Deep Puddle Dynamics (Anticon) and Hangar 18. While many of those groups have already exploded onto the national scene, the Lenzmen stayed to the shadowy background like the super heroes they write about, training in the hip hop danger room on lyrics and beats.

Centri, Earthadox and Dr Strange grew up together and went to high school with DJ Makin Noize, who was a radio show DJ. Strange and Dynamics met and clicked because their styles focus on progressing the lyrical narrative. The duo started a group and recruited other emcees who complemented their lyrical quest. The group chose the name Lenzmen, derived from a Japanese anime about a interplanetary police force and much like that fictional group, the Long Island crew devote their focus to exploring the cosmos of original rhyme schemes. The group also support the hip-hop community by hosting radio shows, producing a weekly showcase and waving the banner for hip hop. ‘

As Centri says: ‘when you are buying our album, don’t just think you are buying into high lyrical underground rappers, you are supporting an entire movement. We don’t want to be appreciated for being different, we want to be appreciated as skilled artists with an original voice in hip hop.’

Centri @ The Bowery in Manhattan

C: This is your first CD?
L: We have been featured on two compilations in the past. The Persecution Of Hip Hop on CP Records (CPrecords.net) and Mood Swings Nine, but this is our first true commercial release.

C: Tell me something about hip-hop in your city.
L: Well, we are from Long Island, New York- NYC being the birthplace of Hip Hop. LI is special because originality is key and a very central focus. In the inner city- you sometimes have whole groups of cats that rhyme similar and share styles. That’s a no-go on Long Island. Your voice, delivery, flow and even wordplay must be fresh and original. This stems from the suburban setting and the Rap history of the Island. Many artists develop their own style in isolation due to the very few opportunities for wide exposure on Long Island. You can keep your lyrical method a secret much longer while you develop it.

C: Do you know something about hip-hop in Italy?
L: Due to the language barrier I admit I am unable to follow the scene. I’m sure it’s vibrant because Europe has been doing the Hip Hop thing for a while.

C: What do you think about mp3?
L: In regard to piracy? -our music is available as individual songs on itunes, MSN and a few other sites. We made sure anyone interested in our music can make an educated decision on whether or not our music is for them. Most sites will allow you to listen to 30 seconds or more of every track on the album. I see no need for a consumer to ‘test listen’ the album by illegal downloading it.

C: And about women in hip-hop?
L: I think they will remain under-rated until they gather enough momentum to truly create their own space. Lyrically, female rappers have been on par with males for a minute now, but the social and cultural differences have created a divide where some of the women’s issues/agendas have no meaning in a ‘mans world’.

C: Have you performed live?
L: After we felt we were ready, we began to showcase our talent in ciphers. From there we went on to making records. Seeing how the crowd responds to our music lets us know where to go next. We enjoy doing shows and you can see some elements of our stage show at Lenzmen.com.

C: Who is the artist you like most and why?
L: It’s hard to say. I tend not to like artists, but like particular bodies of their work.
Public Enemy: Nation Of Millions
De La Soul: 3 Feet High
Ultra Magnetic: Critical Beatdown

C: Do you think that hip-hop videos represent the real hip-hop?
L: I assume- in Italy- you’re only getting the biggest, most commercial groups exposed. That would be drug-dealing, expensive cars and half-naked women.
A video represents a gross exaggeration of the rappers fantasy life. If his dream is ‘pimpin’ and being ‘gangsta’ then so be it. My only issue: why is that image the only one being put forth? When that concept is pushed too far, you have many people caught up in thinking someone can really live like that.

The Lenzmen Scientific Community

C: In which way do you live hip-hop?
L: I don’t think I live Hip Hop. I feel I am wired a certain way and that causes me to be attracted to Hip Hop. Rap Music is one of the many ways I’ve chosen to express myself. I mostly function just outside the normal boundaries of Hip Hop. My graphics are not always Graf, my beats are not always Boom Bap and I’ve taken my lyrical content places a traditional Emcee would not go.

C: Tell me something about clubs and radios in your city.
L: Clubs now play a heavy amount of commercial rap as opposed to traditional club/dance music. Commercial radio plays the music behind the materialistic themes driving modern artists.

C: Future projects
L: I never share blueprints. Expect more music and videos. I am now in a position to expand my label, Dynamica Music, and make a bigger impact in 06.

C: Thanks and hello to
L: The usual suspects?the rest of the Lenzmen, Centri, Doc Strange and Earthadox. Atoms Fam- namely The Cryptic One and JestOneArt. PRO and Shea, NASA at Uncommon Records and his whole roster.

You can catch up with everything we’re up to at http:// www. Lenzmen.com
Thanks for your time.
-Dynamics Plus
Lenzmen Dynamica Music 2005