It was two years ago, January 2008, that Che Grand first came to Can You Dig It? to help spread the word about some of his great new music. Amid the glut of do-it-yourself, independent hip-hop hopefuls hocking their wares on the internet, Che Grand's music stood out for its cleverness, style and production quality.
Can You Dig It? became a big fan, and along with a legion of devoted supporters online, waited and waited for the release of his full-length debut, Everything's Good Ugly. We followed his blog, Zimbabwe For The People, and saw the ups and downs of an independent artist struggling to get his music out to the people. A target release date would come and go, he'd post about his frustration, threaten to give it all up, then come back rejuvenated with more music. One song collaboration, "Hagler" with super-it-artist-of-the-moment Jay Electronica, gave Che Grand a big boost in exposure and was highlighted on Kanye West's blog last January.
Can You Dig It? became a big fan, and along with a legion of devoted supporters online, waited and waited for the release of his full-length debut, Everything's Good Ugly. We followed his blog, Zimbabwe For The People, and saw the ups and downs of an independent artist struggling to get his music out to the people. A target release date would come and go, he'd post about his frustration, threaten to give it all up, then come back rejuvenated with more music. One song collaboration, "Hagler" with super-it-artist-of-the-moment Jay Electronica, gave Che Grand a big boost in exposure and was highlighted on Kanye West's blog last January.
As for his own solo project, Grand took matters into his own hands, started his own label, ZFTP, and released Everything's Good Ugly via iTunes and Amazon on August 18. The full album proved pre-release jams "Swing" and "Crash" weren't flukes. EGU reveals an eclectic and talented MC who is comfortable working in a range of musical styles, successfully orchestrated by up-and-coming producers and musicians, including Aeon, Brian Brizzo, Von Pea, Wale Oyejide, Benny Sings and Colin Munroe.
The album is a must-listen for fans of the kind of fun, funky hip-hop that should be all the rage.
Che Grand was gracious enough to take break from his holiday revelry to pop some champagne and sit down for an interview with Can You Dig It? in celebration of his placement on our year-end top 10 list.
Can You Dig It?: 2009 was a big year for you with the long-awaited release of your true debut album, Everything’s Good Ugly. It seems like it took a lot of hard work and patience to get it released, so looking back now five months later, was it worth it? Would you consider it a success?
Che Grand: The month of the release was a beautiful and strange time, but definitely a success. I look at it as the end of one chapter and start of something new. Even though it got hectic towards the finish, it felt great to finally reach the point I could share the project with everyone and the response was uplifting. But as I was going through the crazy last minute promo process, I realized, "Oh shit, I'm going to be promoting this album forever!" That's a win though.
CYDI?: How have things changed for you since the release? Are you on the career path you imagined?
Che Grand: Everything's still good ugly. It's weird, even though it's available for purchase I haven't really stopped working on it. Physical copies and videos are on the way. I'm building a home for my releases (and hopefully some other artist's projects) with ZFTP Label and I've started to focus on various paths I can take in the future, all music related. I have some interesting ideas up my sleeve. Stewfuzz on steroids.
CYDI?: A lot of good hip-hop albums have a short shelf-life. They’re great for about two years, then get stale and sound dated pretty quickly. What impresses me about Everything's Good Ugly is that although the songs have been around for a while waiting for the release (we’ve been listening to “Swing” and “Crash” in my house for more than two years), they still sound fresh today. What do you attribute that to?
Che Grand: I think the good energy used in creating the album over the years made tracks come out the way they did. Plus, I had all the time in the world to work on it. I'm constantly training my ear, listening to great music of all genres. If it's dope it never gets old, soon it becomes timeless. I may have been a better songwriter when I wrote those joints (laughs). They had some "hit" qualities, now I only write raps bout drugs and prostitues (laughs).
CYDI?: Another quality of a great hip-hop album is that every time you listen you pick up a new line. Just right now I listened to “Chateau Gold” and heard “Got a Swisher, got a bowl, whatchu know, Scrapper? This Dominoes got me writing bangers on the crapper.” Do you have rhyme you’re particularly proud of on the album? What’s the last good line you heard from another MC?
Che Grand: Swisha Hause! Ha! I'm glad you dig that line. It was really just some random shit I was actually doing in real-time; writing raps on the toilet. I have a bunch on the album that I'll personally always love - "more than one or two screws loose in my brain, it looks like Home Depot got hit by a hurricane."
CYDI?: A lot of good hip-hop albums have a short shelf-life. They’re great for about two years, then get stale and sound dated pretty quickly. What impresses me about Everything's Good Ugly is that although the songs have been around for a while waiting for the release (we’ve been listening to “Swing” and “Crash” in my house for more than two years), they still sound fresh today. What do you attribute that to?
Che Grand: I think the good energy used in creating the album over the years made tracks come out the way they did. Plus, I had all the time in the world to work on it. I'm constantly training my ear, listening to great music of all genres. If it's dope it never gets old, soon it becomes timeless. I may have been a better songwriter when I wrote those joints (laughs). They had some "hit" qualities, now I only write raps bout drugs and prostitues (laughs).
CYDI?: Another quality of a great hip-hop album is that every time you listen you pick up a new line. Just right now I listened to “Chateau Gold” and heard “Got a Swisher, got a bowl, whatchu know, Scrapper? This Dominoes got me writing bangers on the crapper.” Do you have rhyme you’re particularly proud of on the album? What’s the last good line you heard from another MC?
Che Grand: Swisha Hause! Ha! I'm glad you dig that line. It was really just some random shit I was actually doing in real-time; writing raps on the toilet. I have a bunch on the album that I'll personally always love - "more than one or two screws loose in my brain, it looks like Home Depot got hit by a hurricane."
I've heard way too many crazy lines this year... Danny! Lupe Fiasco, Blu, Elzhi, just heard one from Phonte "Nigga I'm black, I was born in financial crisis!" The whole Lessondary has too many. And this one shook up the world: "Call me Jay Elec-Hanukkah, Jay Elec-Yamulke, Jay Elect-Ramadaan Muhammad Asalaamica RaSoulAllah Supana watallah through your monitor." WTF?
CYDI?: Let’s just clear this up right now. In your first verse for “Walking Under Ladders,” you say, “For anonymous fans of mine, you aint got hide, you aint got to buy, you aint got to lie,” and then either “Greg” or “Craig.” If it’s “Greg,” I just want to confirm that it's some other dude, because I’m not an anonymous fan and I did buy, albeit on Amazon cause it was a little cheaper than iTunes. If it’s “Craig,” then that guy’s a jerk.
Che Grand: "For anonymous fans of mine you aint got to hide. You aint got it, you aint got to buy. You aint got to lie, Craig"
If you've ever seen the movie Friday (I assumed everyone on the planet had as I wrote the verse) you might know the line "you aint got to lie, Craig" The scene where Ice Cube is talking to his extra hood ex-girl on the phone while Luke blasts in the background. I always thought it was hilarious. From a fan aspect, what "Craig" reps in the line isn't a jerk. I'm not calling him (or her) out, they may not have funds to buy, but with that said they shouldn't be anonymous. It's good to put others onto music you enjoy, especially if it's an artist without much exposure that you feel people should hear (or see for all my visual brethren...).
As for you, Greg, thanks for copping. I never had a doubt. And I couldn't diss you, I hear you got battle raps for whole crews!
CYDI?: “Gold Chains (Part Deux)” is a great statement of independence, as well as a fantastic car sing-along song because they do “be wanting me to stay in my lane” and yet I also “swerve on them non-stop.” Who is it that’s holding you back?
Che Grand: I don't think anyone can hold you back more than yourself, but there's always other forces out there working together to hold all of us back. Certain douchebags in high positions. Just keep switching lanes, think with your own mind.
CYDI?: “Gold Chains (Part Deux)” is a great statement of independence, as well as a fantastic car sing-along song because they do “be wanting me to stay in my lane” and yet I also “swerve on them non-stop.” Who is it that’s holding you back?
Che Grand: I don't think anyone can hold you back more than yourself, but there's always other forces out there working together to hold all of us back. Certain douchebags in high positions. Just keep switching lanes, think with your own mind.
By the way, EGU is for big speakers and car stereos only.
I'm going to encourage my mom to play this when she's driving, I just noticed over the holidays she has road rage.
CYDI?: My research says that super-cool DJ/producer Mark Ronson shouted you out and said he was going to start spinning “Too Much Too Soon.” What does that kind of exposure do for you? Are there any other big-hitters on the Che Grand team?
Che Grand: He shouted me out via Twitter. Diplo did, too. I've had a few nice co-signs on the innanets. Oh and Kanye put me on his blog. So that's my team right there, along with Oprah, Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons' nieces.
CYDI?: Are you plotting your next release?
Che Grand: The Fixtape Two: "I'm Only In It For The Drink Ticket" with DJ Low Key will be available before winter is over. And I've started planning out the sophomore album, but that probably won't drop until 2011. You can expect a bunch of ZFTP side projects: EPs, podcasts and mixes on the way as usual.
CYDI?: Any New Year’s resolutions?
Che Grand: Top 5 in no order: Learn how to play piano. Learn how to DJ. Record a new album. Read. Tour.
CYDI?: I’ll turn 34 in a few weeks and I’ve been thinking a lot about this myself, but what do you not want to be doing when you’re 40?
Che Grand: I don't want to be worrying.
CYDI?: As the father of a toddler daughter who I also called “So-So,” I’m not ashamed to say that “Soraya’s Jam” makes me a little emotional. It’s a beautiful song. So, let me tap into Che Grand’s inner Bill Cosby and get your thoughts on how we can prevent our daughters from wanting to be a princesses and start wanting to be presidents? Or at least maybe a Queen Latifah.
Che Grand: Shouts to "So-So!" I don't think there is anything wrong with being a princess, she has to understand that she already is one. As long as they continue to also be geniuses, value their minds. In the end, princesses become queens. A smart and brilliant queen is a powerful one.
CYDI?: Have you seen Avatar, yet? I’m a little obsessed with the similarities between it and the James Cameron-produced surfing bank robbers movie “Point Break.” What did you think?
Che Grand: I watched it twice. On Christmas day my sister's friend came by with a bootleg. I was way too drunk off egg nog to pay attention to the plot, but the blue folk riding around duck/dragon mash-ups looked cool enough for me to catch it again in 3D. Then I realized them big blue mofos were supposed to represent Africans. Huh? Disney's take on colonialism....the main Avatar chic got me aroused a bit I guess, yay for special effects.
CYDI?: Who will you be rooting for at the Grammys?
Che Grand: Anyone that's dope and deserves the award. I don't know all the nominees, but I heard Foreign Exchange is nominated, which is awesome. I love that album. It got me some.
CYDI?: What’s the best thing you heard in 2009?
Che Grand: "Che, I've finished mastering your album" - optix
CYDI?: Isn’t it a huge honor to be on my 2009 10-best list?
Che Grand: Bigger than a Grammy. I truly feel honored. Thank you, Greg!
CYDI?: My research says that super-cool DJ/producer Mark Ronson shouted you out and said he was going to start spinning “Too Much Too Soon.” What does that kind of exposure do for you? Are there any other big-hitters on the Che Grand team?
Che Grand: He shouted me out via Twitter. Diplo did, too. I've had a few nice co-signs on the innanets. Oh and Kanye put me on his blog. So that's my team right there, along with Oprah, Quincy Jones and Russell Simmons' nieces.
CYDI?: Are you plotting your next release?
Che Grand: The Fixtape Two: "I'm Only In It For The Drink Ticket" with DJ Low Key will be available before winter is over. And I've started planning out the sophomore album, but that probably won't drop until 2011. You can expect a bunch of ZFTP side projects: EPs, podcasts and mixes on the way as usual.
CYDI?: Any New Year’s resolutions?
Che Grand: Top 5 in no order: Learn how to play piano. Learn how to DJ. Record a new album. Read. Tour.
CYDI?: I’ll turn 34 in a few weeks and I’ve been thinking a lot about this myself, but what do you not want to be doing when you’re 40?
Che Grand: I don't want to be worrying.
CYDI?: As the father of a toddler daughter who I also called “So-So,” I’m not ashamed to say that “Soraya’s Jam” makes me a little emotional. It’s a beautiful song. So, let me tap into Che Grand’s inner Bill Cosby and get your thoughts on how we can prevent our daughters from wanting to be a princesses and start wanting to be presidents? Or at least maybe a Queen Latifah.
Che Grand: Shouts to "So-So!" I don't think there is anything wrong with being a princess, she has to understand that she already is one. As long as they continue to also be geniuses, value their minds. In the end, princesses become queens. A smart and brilliant queen is a powerful one.
CYDI?: Have you seen Avatar, yet? I’m a little obsessed with the similarities between it and the James Cameron-produced surfing bank robbers movie “Point Break.” What did you think?
Che Grand: I watched it twice. On Christmas day my sister's friend came by with a bootleg. I was way too drunk off egg nog to pay attention to the plot, but the blue folk riding around duck/dragon mash-ups looked cool enough for me to catch it again in 3D. Then I realized them big blue mofos were supposed to represent Africans. Huh? Disney's take on colonialism....the main Avatar chic got me aroused a bit I guess, yay for special effects.
CYDI?: Who will you be rooting for at the Grammys?
Che Grand: Anyone that's dope and deserves the award. I don't know all the nominees, but I heard Foreign Exchange is nominated, which is awesome. I love that album. It got me some.
CYDI?: What’s the best thing you heard in 2009?
Che Grand: "Che, I've finished mastering your album" - optix
CYDI?: Isn’t it a huge honor to be on my 2009 10-best list?
Che Grand: Bigger than a Grammy. I truly feel honored. Thank you, Greg!
