by Davey D

Click Link below to Listen to Knox Fam interview

Listen to Breakdown FM Interview of the Knox Fam

The Knox Fam consists of Seattle Hip Hop mainstays, Julie C, and Jerm from the super group Alpha P and well known producer DJ B-Girl. They came together to not only drop a nice album, but to also add to a serious community movement that the city’s Hip hop community has been sparking.

In other words Knox Fam are not simply rappers who are looking for commercial airplay or BET love. Sure, they’ll take it if offered. And they are more than talented to deserve it. However, what stands out first and foremost for the group is that they are community activists and organizers who are part of a larger more vibrant scene. Its not good enough to just flow on the mic. Nowadays many of the city’s heads are knee deep involved with some sort of organization or project. Maybe its 206 Zulu which has one of the larger and more exciting annual celebrations. Maybe its Hip Hop Congress which has Seattle as it the site of its conference later this year (July 29-Aug2). Maybe its community outlets like UmojaFest Peace Center or B-Girl Bench. Whatever the case for many in Seattle, Hip Hop is beyond music and the Knox Fam personifies that.

During our interview we kicked things off by talking with DJ B-Girl about the Seattle sound which has come along long ways since the early Sir Mix-A-Lot days. She explained that her production skillz and the Knox Fam has added to the underground sound as defined by stellar names like Vitamin D, Jake One, Blue Scholars and Gabriel Teodros to name a few.

We spoke with Jerm about the influence his two female counterparts Julie C and B-Girl have had on him. In an industry that is often criticized for being too male dominated, Jerm explained that the two forced him to step up his game and become more polished. He also talked about how he has built upon life experiences and reflect them in his rhymes. You’re not likely to hear him rhyming for the sake of riddling.

Later in the interview Julie C and B-Girl spoke about the strong presence of women in the Seattle scene. Julie C noted that many, including herself had been flowing and getting busy long before it became a trendy thing to focus on.. DJ B-Girl rattled off a long list of female emcees ranging from Canary Sing to Beloved One to Toni Hill who is featured on the Knox Fam EP. There were so many names of people who who are putting out dope material there’s no excuse to not have a female on the ticket of any Hip Hop show. If you can’t find someone go to Seattle cause they rolling extra deep.

During the interview Julie C expanded upon the community projects that the group is committed to including the Hip Hop Congress Goes Platinum project which is a innovative fund raising tool for the organization.

She also talked about the concept behind the groups’ name Knox Fam. She said it was inspired by the movie Natural Born Killers and that the Knox Fam understands they have to Destroy to Build. In this case they are about breaking the chains and challenging the long held notions and paradigms that in many ways has stifled Hip Hop and communities in general.

For example, we talked about the fact that the album took more than a year to make… Once upon a time that was the norm. People took their time and perfected their craft. Nowadays in the days of instant gratification, people step in a studio literally freestyle an album in 10 minutes and put out half ass material. DJ B-Girl noted it was important to take time to do things right. For her its not just producing and editing, but also getting the business aspect correct. The Knox Fam is on an independent B-Girl media label.

Julie C added that the group did not want to compromise or shortchange their community activities. In fact if anything the community involvement helped make the group and album more accountable to the communities they wanna speak to..

All in all the Knox Fam EP is just a the start of great things to come from this talented trio from the Emerald City. Currently they are on tour and in keeping true to their words, their tour involved them connecting and building with local community centers. Julie C described it as a homecoming of sorts..

Click Link Below to listen to Knox Fam Interview

Listen to Breakdown FM Interview of the Knox Fam

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http://hiphopandpolitics.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/breakdown-fm-the-knox-fam-destroy-to-build/

Knox Family EP available on iTunes and Amazon.com

Street savvy styles with lyrics that speak on the real, and beats that slap…That’s what the Knox Family EP is bringing to the party. Listen carefully for that particular Seattle swagger that’s been kept under wraps for all these years. You are listening to Jerm and Julie C., some emcees that are highly under-rated, coming up for the last decade in a crew called Alpha-P. These cats rip it harder on the mic than most of the cats you hear on the radio, hands down. And with guest appearances by Rufio and Toni Hill, singing and harmonizing, the tracks really melt into your brain. By the way, the production by DJ B-Girl ain’t no joke either, so don’t sleep. Cop the EP today.

Track Listing:
1. News Flash Skit (Physical CD Only)
2. Make Love
3. Interlude
4. Boots Laced
5. Run Up
6. Born Bad Skit (Physical CD Only)
7. Couldn’t Handle That
8. Snake Skit (Physical CD Only)
9. World Turns Feat. Rufio
10. These Streets Feat. Toni Hill

Release Date: 05/20/2009
Photo by Marshall Reid
Graphic Design by DJ Audeos
Recorded at B-Girl Media
Mixed by DJ B-Girl
Mastered by Steve Turnidge at Ultraviolet Studios

Available on iTunes and Amazon.com

Check this full-length hip hop album featuring a handpicked line-up of fresh Seattle talent. A myriad of styles and flavors collide, from regal to battle ready, indie to experimental, hear what makes Seattle’s top female producer so unique. There’s a little something for everybody on this release, so be prepared, Seattle’s on the rise!

Track Listing:
1. Livin It feat. Khanfidenz and Toni Hill
2. No More Beef feat. Inkubiz
3. Identity Theft feat. Phreewil and DJ WD4D
4. Need the Game feat. Jerm and Cyreeta
5. On the Rise feat. Julie C. and Cyreeta
6. People feat. Sage Nomad
7. Life feat. Piece, Toni Hill and Forrest on Bass
8. Stay Alive feat. Sista Hailstorm
9. The Arena feat. Inkubiz
10. Murder She Wrote feat. Sista Hailstorm and Julie C.
11. Two-Oh-Six feat. Asun
12. Get Low feat. Julie C. and Asun
13. Free Yoself Dub feat. Inkubiz and George on Percussion

Release Date: 01/16/2008
Artwork by Angel179
Recorded at B-Girl Media
Mixed by DJ B-Girl
Mastered by Steve Turnidge at Ultraviolet Studios

The Knox Family brands itself as a mix of “street and scholar.” While Seattle hip-hop is no stranger to that particular cultural mashup, this trio is not just another group of scholars wearing blue collars. A collaboration among DJ B-Girl, Jerm, and Julie C—all of whom are righteous MCs and DJs on their own—The Knox Family is a hip-hop/activist powerhouse. Combining a heavy gangster element with catchy melodies and poignant subject matter, The Knox Family is the kind of group that inspires audiences to get off their butts and move (both physically and politically). BJB

Musicians can sometimes be too quick to box themselves into categories. Sometimes that’s a record label’s doing, other times it’s just mental laziness. But if you’re not trying to conform to industry standards and are lucky enough to be on a local label that understands you, why not have fun and smash all the boxes you can?

That’s a question MCs Jerm and Julie C started asking themselves a year ago when they formed the Knox Family along with local producer/label head DJ B-Girl. Although all three are involved in various other projects—Jerm also fronts Helladope, while Julie C works with Hip-Hop Congress/206 Zulu and DJ B-Girl heads an indie-media company—they found time to record songs together with the intent of challenging the expectations of Seattle’s hip-hop audience.
Jonathan Cunningham

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