Interview: NY Rapper Hazok Talks About His New Single "Afghan Kush"
/
“I feel like rappers are beat interpreters. Before I can translate what the beat is saying to the audience, I have to understand what the beat is saying to me.”
If you had to describe your music to a stranger in three words, which ones would you select?
Love, rage, and punchlines.
Describe for us your creative process when you are developing new tracks, and what do you look for in the beats that you write to?
I feel like rappers are beat interpreters. Before I can translate what the beat is saying to the audience, I have to understand what the beat is saying to me. During that first exposure I have to that beat, I’ll write the chorus and go from there. I typically like beats that are faster paced and heavily sampled. Although I’ve been experimenting with drill beats lately, I’ve found I gravitate towards anything with a Kanye, 2000s or 90s feel to it. That being said, I do feel that there’s a good amount of rappers, that aren’t good rappers. They just have amazing beatmakers and can get away with writing the same recycled bars over and over again.
Tell us about how you got started as an artist, and who were some rappers that inspired you to pick up the pen and pad.
I guess it first started in middle school where my English teacher would point out the only good grades I had in his curriculum were from the poetry assignments.
My top 5 inspirations would have to be Eminem, Cassidy, Fabolous, Lloyd Banks & Immortal Technique.
Congratulations on the release of your new track "Afghan Kush"; who produced it and what inspired you to write it?
Appreciate that, it was produced by Busco @ bridge studios in Buffalo, NY. The death of Pop smoke actually inspired me to write it, as well as many rappers referring to “Afghan kush” in their rhymes. I thought it would be a good idea to make a song about afghan kush from an Afghan rapper.
Do you have a music video in mind for "Afghan Kush"? If not, what's next for you musically?
Nothing specific yet, but I’ve been listening to other people’s visions for it and kind of developing a birds eye view for the project in case anything substantial develops.