411 Music Exclusive Interview - Daddy X Of The Kottonmouth Kings
Posted by John Malady on 07.07.2005
KMK founder on the new album, touring delays, and Suburban Noize
Welcome to a 411 exclusive interview with Kottonmouth Kings founder and co-frontman Brad “Daddy” X. The Kottonmouth Kings have 10 years in the music game and are still wreaking havoc.
Just existing in the music business for 10 years is enough to be proud of but for The Kottonmouth Kings it’s just another statistic to add to a long line of impressive stats that have been building up over the last 10 years. Try this on for size: soundscanning over 1,000,000 albums and another 1,000,000 concert tickets from over 1500 live performances and all without the help or need of a major label promotion machine. They have been named High Times Magazine “Band of the Year”. Their last album “Fire it up” debuted at number 42 on Billboard’s top 200 and number 4 on the independent chart.
The Kottomouth Kings – D-Loc (Vocals), Johnny Richter (Vocals), DJ Bobby B (Turntables), Pakelika (Dancing Virtual Assassin), Lou Dog (Drums), and Brad “Daddy” X (Vocals) – have their own thing and they do what they do for the love of music and the support of their die-hard fans as well as picking up new ones everywhere they go.
On May 31st 2005 their self-titled 7th album hit the music shelves. Shortly after the records release I was able to have a conversation with Daddy X about everything Kottonmouth Kings so take a seat and get ready to get the 411.
John Malady: First off let me start out by saying thanks for giving up some time out of your schedule to talk with 411music. I truly appreciate it.
Daddy X: Thank you man. It’s all good.
JM:I have to say that the first single off the new album, “King Klick”, is a killer tune to lead the album off with and I cannot get it out of my head for hours after I hear it.
DX: Right on. The song is actually the first one we put out there for people to check out but it isn’t being officially released as a typical single. (Editor’s Note: Check out the track at www.kottonmouthkings.com/media_kmk.htm.)
JM: The new album which is your 7th studio release is actually my first Kottonmouth Kings album. I have heard of you guys but have never heard any of your music until now.
DX: We have been around for 10 years now and new people are always discovering us every year which is such a cool thing and that’s really what its all about for us.
JM: For people not familiar with Kottonmouth Kings can you lay down the KMK’s philosophy about making music and staying in the game for 10 years?
DX: Kottonmouth Kings are an independent group started 10 years ago that records and releases albums on our own label (Suburban Noize Records). We are freedom music meaning that we do things our own way and that individuals act freely and are responsible for their own actions. Musically we are rooted in hip-hop but there are other elements in our mix as well like punk rock, reggae, and classic rock. We try to make innovative sonic sounds and innovative records. The new self-titled Kottonmouth Kings record NO.7 is a pretty good representation of what we are about and where we are at right now after continuously touring and making records for the last 10 years.
JM: I actually voted for you guys today to be on the cover of High Times magazine. There was a contest going on.
DX: Really?
JM: Totally. I threw my vote down for you man. Can you tell me about the song writing process for Kottonmouth Kings? How does a song come about and how does it make the final cut onto a Kottonmouth King record?
DX: Different songs come about in different ways you know what I mean? When we make a Kottonmouth King album there are usually 3 stages to it. The first stage is cultivating and making the beats. When we are bangin songs out and we’re pushing boundaries we look for the stand outs that have a nice groove that we feel good about. These beats become the core of what we are going to lay down.
The second stage is the live sections of the record. I will go into the studio and knock out all the live stuff over 4-5 days. All the punk rock and stony stuff comes from this stage. We take pieces of our live music and that’s what we sample. We sample ourselves and we feel this is what makes our stuff original because we don’t sample or make beats from anything but our own music. The live stuff that doesn’t get used from these sessions is usually put out in some form or another like my solo album, “Organic Soul”, which is a stony acoustic type of record that is separate from The Kottonmouth Kings vibe. Basically all the stuff that we do comes out in some form or another whether it is on a KMK record or one of our solo records.
The third stage is a filtering process. When we all agree upon the beats that we have cultivated then we start to shape the songs from what we all agreed on. Things just come together after that with input from all of us. Everyone is involved in making the beats but the live stuff is usually written by me.
JM: Very cool. The new record definitely has a killer flow from front to back.
DX: Any songs stand out for you?
JM: I already mentioned King Klick being a great grabber as the lead off track but for me as soon as the record hits song 8 (F.T.I.2 featuring Tech N9ne) I feel it really takes a whole new shape. In fact 8-14 is my favorite section of the record. I like how the vibe goes in different directions making it hard for someone to pigeonhole you guys.
DX: That’s cool. Real cool man. Thanks. You know everyone experiences music differently just as we all experience reality differently than one another. Whether it is music, art, dance, or whatever it may be. That’s really what motivates me to always try to create something unique whenever its time to make a new KMK record.
JM: How was it working with Cypress Hill on the new album?
DX: Cypress Hill were actually on a track with us on our 3rd record “High Society”. I met Sen Dog when KMK’s did an early show with his side band SX10. After the show we just really hit it off. Obviously Cypress Hill paved the way for bands like us to even have a place in music. When I met Sen Dog at that show and asked what he thought of us for some feedback he was nothing but encouraging and really cool to us. We forged a friendship from that night on. One of the things that always stuck out to me was that he was really supportive and didn’t treat gigging together as a competition which is really cool.
JM: Right on. That’s very cool. Art should never be a competition in my opinion because there is something for everyone somewhere. I want to ask you a little about current music and if there are any bands or people that stick out to you or that you like right now?
DX: I am not really into any of the new things that are mainstream right now and to be honest there is a lot of garbage out there. I really do like tons of different types of music though. When I want to listen to something I could pull out The Black Crowes or a Public Enemy record. I might rock a John Lennon record. I don’t really have one style that I like over others just what feels right in a moment.
JM: I am 100% with you on that whole vibe about music as it currently is in the mainstream as well as when you are listening at home and anything is game in any given moment. I want to quote you from your press kit because I think it’s valid to what we are discussing right now. You have said, “I think the corporate machine killed rock n’ roll a long time ago. Everything is so safe and boring. That’s why people continue to find out about a band like ours, because they are bored stiff with these mainstream acts that have been crammed down people’s throats.”
DX: I definitely think that there are certain people who seek out alternative art; books, music, or anything that isn’t part of the mainstream market which is what alternative initially meant but at the same time not everything released in the mainstream market is terrible.
JM: I think the overall vibe of mainstream marketing is just re-packaging past things in a new way and trying to tell you its new and different when it isn’t at all. Was it that type of thinking that led you to do things your own way from the get go?
DX: It was definitely part of it.
JM: I am going to post the statement from The KMK’s website concerning your tour currently being delayed:
KMK SUMMER TOUR NEWS
We regret to inform everyone in the King Klick that the Summer Tour has been postponed. D Loc has severely injured his foot and has to have reconstructive surgery. D Loc wanted to do the tour in a wheelchair and went to a number of different specialists to get different opinions. All of them said he could not do the tour. We wanted all of you to hear it directly from us to avoid any rumors of why the tour is being postponed. We will miss everyone on the road this summer but we will be back as soon as D Loc has recovered. For all the So Cal King Klick we will be doing a CD release party at the Key Club on June 10th. The Kings will be in the house to celebrate the release of the new record and the rest of the Suburban Noize bands will be performing. Stay tuned for personal messages from the band coming soon. In the meantime go get the new record on May 31 and smoke one for D Loc. Stay Down for Krown.
Are you still planning on touring when D-Loc is all healed up?
DX: Definitely.
JM: Did you have any dates in Oakland scheduled?
DX: We actually had a gig in San Francisco scheduled at Slim’s.
JM: That’s a great place to have a show but most of the places in the Bay Area rock when it comes to sound and space. Any chance of me getting to hang with you guys when you come through?
DX: Definitely man. Let our boy know and he can set you up with what you need.
JM: Right on. We are getting down to the last few questions here so I definitely want to ask you about Suburban Noize Records. What was the philosophy behind starting your own label?
DX: I basically started Suburban Noize records to make Kottonmouth King records. I had been on a major label before and I knew what they were all about so I wanted to create a situation where we had all the control over every aspect of our music and direction. It was also inspired by the whole punk rock ethic of do it yourself attitude. Make your own records, book your own tours, and control what bands you play with. Just creating a place where everyone can feel free to create and share ideas.
JM: What type of bands do you look to sign or do you go for more of a family vibe that melds with the whole philosophy of The Kottonmouth Kings?
DX: Most of the bands on Suburban Noize records are friends or people I am close to in our music community. We will listen to demos and things submitted to us but really I would rather do some shows with another band or just hanging out and vibing before putting them on Suburban Noize. I definitely want everyone on the label to at least share that common bond of personality and creative freedom. It is definitely important to me to have that family vibe be there. I also let people know that we can help you get going on your own way but we are not Warner Brothers with a huge amount of money to spend. A lot of people have the whole “we want to be rock stars” attitude and they are not really the type we are looking for because it takes a lot more than some good songs to be a rock star. We are all about creative freedom and work ethic to back it up. It is all about relationships in the end. If there isn’t that shared vibe or overall common philosophy I won’t sacrifice what I have built just to sign someone.
JM: I think that’s a great way to run a label. It reinforces what KMK’s are known for perseverance, family, and keeping things real. I was checking out The KMK’s website and I noticed that your label now has a digital radio station called Suburban Xoise Radio. I think this is a kick ass idea. What are your plans for this?
DX: Basically the idea behind Suburban Xoise Radio is to eventually have every band on Suburban Noize be involved and host their own hour long radio show. You could tune in and hear not only music from that specific artist hosting but music that has influenced and inspired them as well.
JM: I really do think that it is not only a great concept but right now it is something that you don’t see a lot of smaller labels trying. Well that wraps up all my questions that I had for you. It has been very cool speaking with you. I want to end the interview with 2 things. One from me and then one from you.
DX: Cool. Go for it.
JM: Alright then. Since it is all good when you guys come through town for me to kick it with you are we gonna smoke a huge fatty together?
DX: Definitely bro.
JM: And how is the booty on the back stage tip. Any for me? (Laughing)
DX: ( Laughing) Your talking to a married man bro but there are definitely more than enough Kottonmouth Queens to go around man.
JM: Sweet. The last thing is why don’t you end this whole thing with a little of the Daddy X philosophy. Kick me off something!
DX: Seek truth, observe nature, and educate yourself. You have one life to live so live it well.
