There’s no reason to rundown the lineage of MC’s that Brooklyn, New York has manufactured, because the list would be an insurmountable one. Solo acts from the historic borough have long come and helped to influence their surrounding neighbors along with other aspiring artists who have never been to Brooklyn or even New York for that matter. But if you’re talking about Hip-Hop groups that reside there, then the subject is well worth the indulgence. What Wu-Tang Clan is to Staten Island, is what Pete Rock & CL Smooth were to Mount Vernon, and currently what The Boot Camp Clik still are to Brooklyn. The whole entire collective are relatively mainstays who’ve stuck with their platoon through thick and thin, and that’s where two of its most popular members come into play. Heltah Skeltah, which consists of Ruck (who now goes by his born name of Sean Price) and Rock were drafted into the camp since they first made their presents felt back in 1995. Their debut album, Nocturnal which was released in 1996 and was instant hit with hardcore Hip-Hop fans and the underground scene alike, but their second album Magnum Force back in 1998 was less than stellar in the eyes of the people who purchased over 250,000 copies of their previous effort.
From there the group went on a hiatus, with Rock joining the big leagues and inking a deal with Interscope Records through DJ Lethal’s imprint. But the House Of Pain/Limp Bizkit affiliate would witness his label being dissolved and in turn, it dashed any hopes of Rock releasing his first project aptly titled Planet Rock. He ended up missing the roll call for The Boot Camp Clik’s The Chosen Few album, but he was quickly reinstated from his A.W.O.L. status just in time to join his partner in rhyme Sean Price for his Monkey Barz debut project. Rock was only featured on two songs, and by this time the man that now goes by his government name was making a push at solidifying himself as solo artist in his own right. It would be an understatement to say he achieve that goal, because Sean Price’s sophomore album Jesus Price Superstar which was released back in 2007 was the first Boot Camp Clik album to crack the Billboard Charts since 1999. Featuring production by 9th Wonder and Khrysis and appearances by Phonte of Little Brother along with his fellow boot camp soldiers in arms, the album got near-perfect scores from across the board. XXL Magazine, The Source Magazine, and Okayplayer all rated the album one notch away from being flawless.
Riding the wave of colleague’s success, Rock finally made his entrance with his Shell Shock Mixtape earlier this year. The album was released amidst of the attempted murder charges that are pending against him at the moment that involved a confrontation with another individual. But despite that, the reaction to the project was a positive one, as fans got to hear Rock carrying the load all by himself, just as they did with Sean Price. Now after ten years of writing their own separate stories, the two seasoned MC’s from Brooklyn once again share the same page with their third album, D.I.R.T (Da Incredible Rap Team). When you have a slick-talking metaphorical linguist in Sean Price mixed in with the rough and harden vocal tone of Da Rockness Monsta, how can they put their minds to be nothing but incredible?
Rap Sheet: What’s been going on?
Rock: Ain’t sh*t.
Rap Sheet: How was it like going back in and getting to finally work on the Heltah Skeltah album?
Rock: Well I really never left the studio; it was just basically turning the page. This right here is what we do; you know what I mean? It was good for my boy to walk in on this point in time though. Working with Sean P is a beautiful thing. But as far as this studio sh*t, we’ve been doing this for a lot of years and we never stopped doing it.
Rap Sheet: Why did it take so long for this album to come?
Sean Price: I don’t know. I know I wanted to put out two solo albums before I put out a Heltah Skeltah album; you know what I mean? I didn’t want to put out one album and then be like, “Alright, now it’s back to Heltah Skeltah!” I want ya’ll to know that I’m a serious solo artist, and I felt like I solidified that, so I went back in to do Heltah Skeltah.
Rap Sheet: As the years went by, did you ever think you were going make another album together?
Sean Price: At some points I thought we would, and other points I didn’t think so, and other times I didn’t give a f*ck; you know what I mean? I had all of those emotions.
Rap Sheet: How was the creative process when you were making the record? Were you two always on the same page?
Sean Price: We just ran through beats; I liked some and Rock didn’t and vice versa. But the ones we really liked, we rhymed to.
Rap Sheet: You two have relatively kept your style the same, when other artists sometime switch up. Why is that?
Sean Price: We’re not trying anything too different—we just stick to what we know. Our style of rapping is our sh*t right there, and that’s what we do.
Rap Sheet: Did you feel any pressure to make sure this album is a success since it’s your first one in ten years?
Sean Price: We felt a little pressure, because we ain’t put out an album in over ten years. I wondered if the people would still remember us, you know what I mean? I’m sure they know me as Sean Price, but would they remember me? I wondered if our sh*t would still be relevant, and should we even do Heltah Skeltah.
Rap Sheet: What’s been your motivation through the years?
Rock: What the f*ck else are we going to do? This is what we do. This isn’t a fabricated image this is us. We just don’t do it for the money—this is what we do. We don’t really give a f*ck on what other people do.
Rap Sheet: Do you feel as if you put everything you had into the new album?
Rock: Ain’t no denying n*ggas that get busy, you know what I’m saying? We didn’t do too much experimental bullsh*t, we just did what the f*ck we know how to do. That right there is basically undeniable so we ain’t tripping off of that, it is what it is. The people are going to like it, unless [they] don’t like this kind of sh*t at all. If you’re type of n*gga that likes sissy music, then maybe you won’t like it. But if you like n*ggas that tell you what’s going on in the slums of BK or in the slums of your ‘hood, then this is the real deal. Come over here with the good brothers of Heltah Skeltah, and we will be happy to help you with that.
Rap Sheet: Even though you haven’t put out an album in quite sometime, you two still helped each other out on individual projects. How important was it for you guys to do that?
Sean Price: It was important to do that because we don’t have any beef. It was never anything like, “F*ck you Rock!” We were just doing other sh*t, that’s all. Whenever I’m in the studio, I want some of the nicest n*ggas to be involved, and Rock is one of the nicest n*ggas.
Rap Sheet: After awhile, groups usually break up. What’s been the key in keeping you guys together?
Sean Price: You have to agree to disagree on certain things. You have to understand that there are no hard feelings, its just business. So once you have that understanding, and know what’s going on, everything is all-good.
Rap Sheet: Sean, during the time when you were doing your own albums, did it ever get difficult carrying a project yourself coming from a group setting?
Sean Price: Not at all because it had been years since I dropped something, and I had a lot to get off my chest.
Rap Sheet: So Rock, were you happy on how your Shell Shock Mixtape was received?
Rock: I’m happy it came out, and I wish more people would go and get it. I wouldn’t give a f*ck if a million people bought it, I would still want a million more to get it. That’s just the reality of what it is, it’s getting received well, and I’ve heard a whole lot of good sh*t about it. I don’t think I’ve heard a negative response to it or whatever, so I can’t be mad about that.
Rap Sheet: Do you have anything to coincide with the mixtape?
Rock: We got the DVD that we’re working on right now, and that should be out really soon. I got a lot of sh*t that I’m working on right now. I’m in a few movies, and one of them is called Community Service. I’m going to be all over the place. We’re still grinding, and plus we got Monster Music in the works. I’m going to say all of this and you might write a lot of it, or a little of it, and the people are only going to remember some of it. Just know that Shell Shock The DVD is going to be popping, and that’s my next work of art right there.
Rap Sheet: Talk about your acting experience.
Rock: I haven’t done any roles that were too difficult yet, and it’s pretty much the same as imitating a n*gga that I know. I’m a pretty animated person, you know? I don’t just speak with my mouth; I speak with my body also. I’ve already adapted to that kind of thing already, so it really ain’t nothing. If the role I’m playing ain’t really me, then I probably know that n*gga from up the street. I haven’t played anything that was too challenging for me yet. When I play a doctor or something like that, I’ll let you know.
Rap Sheet: [Laughs] I’ve heard some people say that Hip-Hop is a young person’s game right now. Do you feel as if you're competing with the younger acts that are out as well?
Sean Price: We don’t pay that sh*t no mind; we just do what we like to do. We don’t worry ourselves about the youngsters, the older guys or none of that sh*t. That sh*t ain’t even a thought.
Rap Sheet: You’ve both went through your personal problems, so how have you remained positive enough to still put out music?
Sean Price: Who said I remained positive?
Rap Sheet: [Laughs] So I guess you haven’t…
Sean Price: [Laughs] I’m cool about sh*t, but that don’t mean I’ve remained positive. There ain’t sh*t you can do, but do you. We don’t worry about things we can’t control.
Rap Sheet: What’s next for Heltah Skeltah?
Sean Price: There is going to be no more Heltah Skeltah albums, this is it.
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