Artfull Dodgers Interview with Real Detroit Weekly Magazine by Origix

The Artfull Dodgers
Interviewed by Origix of Real Detroit Weekly Magazine [Related Page]
Date: January 2008

Origix: Explain the title of the album and what have you been doing to push the cd? Where can you get it? What kind of push do you have planned? How long has it been out now?
Artfull Dodgers: The new album is OFF THE CREDENZA. Basically the credenza is the desk that news anchors sit at when they're doin' the news at the television station. So what we give you on our album is our personal news cast fresh from off our credenzas. There is a funny story behind the origin of the phrase as well. Years back, both of us (Gozza and Jackpot) were interns at a local TV station. One day we were joking around doin' a mock news cast on the official set much to the station owners dismay. He stormed onto the set and screamed for us to "GET OFF THE CREDENZA!!!!". He was pissed.

We've been working hard to push the new album. We secured a distribution deal for the album and have been pushing it strong out of the trunk at live shows and off the counters at mom and pop shops. You can get the album at various spots including Best Buy, FYE, Record Time, Wyatt Earp Records and of course online at CDBaby.com or LongRangeDistribution.com. The album was just released in very late 07, so we plan to push it all throughout 08. It's still a new release no doubt.

Origix: How have the feedback and sales of your last records go? Did they help you open any doors as of lately?
Artfull Dodgers: Feedback and sales of our last records have been great. Nothing but positive reviews and steady sales. We perform regularily throughout the Midwest which helps sales a lot. Plus we've been a part of the Vans Warped Tour which helped us spread our sales all over the States. Online we've made a lot of progress too, pushing the album worldwide. We've moved quite a few units in Japan and Germany. The past albums have helped open a lot of doors lately. When people see we've been droppin' dope tracks for over a decade it increases their interest in us.

Origix: What it like being one of the longest running Hip Hop groups around Flint? A city that more known for Street Music?
Artfull Dodgers: It's great being one of the longest running Hip Hop groups out of Flint. We really are part of an elite group of crews holding it down as long as all the known Flint crews including Dayton, Top Authority, and Project Born. With so much Street and Gangsta music coming out Flint we definetly stand alone. Many people refer to us as the originators of Flint Hip Hop.

Origix: Any plans of touring?
Artfull Dodgers: Oh yeah, we are currently planning a tour from Michigan to the West Coast which will be real live. We also have a tour overseas in the works. Of course you can always catch us blessing stages all over the Midwest too.

Origix: Who and have you been working with; producing and recording rhymes with?
Artfull Dodgers: For the new album we've worked with some really talented cats. We got a fresh track produced and featuring our man Tino from the Howling Diablos, a nice battle track collaborating with freestyle legend J.U.I.C.E, and an ill posse cut with S.U.N, The Lyricists, and members of our extended Top Dollar crew. We also have a couple great singers adding their flavor to some hooks including Zen Christopher and Bangtown. We've also got some tight production from Shanrock, IQ, and DJ Psycho. The majority of the Credenza's production was handled by our own Gozza and his EarthMovers Productions.

Origix: What's the deal with your DJ situation? Who is your DJ for Artfull now?
Artfull Dodgers: Our longtime DJ SirReal has left the crew to pursue a career as a solo DJ, but he is still down with us and is killing it on the cuts all over the album. The Credenza also features SirReal's debut on the mic. Joining us and taking on full time DJ duties is our friend and long time collaborator DJ Zack Daniels. Zack will be with us for all live performances and will handling the cuts on the next project.

Origix: What role do you see Artfull playing in the Hip Hop game in the future?
Artfull Dodgers: We see ourselves us a beckon of hope for bringing back the skill and originality of the golden era of Hip Hop. We'll help guide people back to real Hip Hop and away from the garbage Hip POP that's clogging up the mainstream. We offer music with depth that you can really feel.

Origix: You all been around since the Mid 90's, what do you think about what the Michigan Hip Hop scene has become?
Artfull Dodgers: We've grown with the Michigan Hip Hop scene over the years and for the most part, it has become a great scene with a lot of talented artists. Of course you have a lot of hopeless rappers poppin' up all over trying to imitate the pop mainstream, but there are also many tight MC's, producers, and DJ's putting it down in the mitten. More venues in the scene are accepting of Hip Hop now too, which is great to see.

Origix: Any Solo CD'S?
Artfull Dodgers: Oh yeah, a solo album from Gozza and Jackpot are both already in the works.

Origix: Drop me all your radio show info. Can you stream it online?
Artfull Dodgers: AD member Gozza is now holding it down with a bi-weekly radio show out of Kettering University in Flint. The station is 94.3 FM WKUF and the show is the GOZZA STRIP which only show cases Michigan Hip Hop. You can check the show online at www.wkuf.org every Monday and Tuesday from 1pm-3pm.

Origix: List the best web site to find out new Artfull info. Any shows coming up after Jan 23rd? any other info I need to know drop me the info here .peace, O
Artfull Dodgers: The best site for Artfull info is our home base www.artfulldodgers.com The next show lined up is Jan 30th at the Loft in Flint. More shows are in the works and will be listed on the site. Peace.

The ZONE Radio w/ Origix & DC
Saturday's 8pm-12am (Eastern Standard Time)
89.3 WHFR.FM, Detroit, MI Stream Audio World Wide @ www.whfr.fm
Request 313-845-9676 Toll Free 1-800-585-4322 ext.9676

Read The Zone by Origix in "Real Detroit Weekly" Four Track Column
Visit The Zone Official Web page @ www.myspace.com/thezoneradio

Origix & DC Online Show @ www.2RAW4FM.com