Dead in the face
Brendan Murphy
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Non Phixion: All real, all the time
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Non Phixion not pulling any punches more than a decade later
It's standard practice to ask visiting musicians what their thoughts are on the city they're about play, and seeing as how ILL BILL from Non Phixion is no stranger to rocking shows in Montreal, it was no surprise that he came back with the best answer I've heard in a while."Montreal is the only city in the world where the women go to work in the morning dressed in clothing women in other cities would wear to a discothèque."
Brooklyn's Non Phixion, the gloriously un-emo kings of underground hardcore hip-hop, have been shocking and seducing appreciative audiences for years with their incendiary live shows, countless 12-inches, their incredible debut LP The Future Is Now, and last year's The Green CD. Made up of ILL BILL, Sabac Red, Goretex and DJ Eclipse, the group blends together like blood and spinal fluid, but BILL helpfully offers up some small differences.
"I'm probably the loudest, Gore is the quiet one and Eclipse would probably say he's the smartest. Maybe. He's definitely the oldest out of all of us and the most responsible when it comes to the basic shit. Sabac is definitely the Non Phixion drunk. He likes his crunk juice."
Ten years of working together, while still managing their own solo projects, has made for a high-proof distillation of a creative process that has remained essentially unchanged.
"When it comes to Non Phixion, I usually lay the groundwork concept and beats and then bring it to the rest of the guys to add on. It hasn't changed at all since the
beginning. That's how it's always been. I'm the spark and these guys add their fire to the mix to create what you end up with."Originally signed to Geffen, BILL and company left the major after two years of middling help from a label that didn't understand what to do with them. Taking matters into his own hands, Bill started Uncle Howie Records (named after his real-life uncle, whose exploits are as legendary as the group's) and, given that they have always put up huge sales numbers, it's easy to see how busy he is doing double duty.
"Uncle Howie Records has increased my workload 100-fold. These days I'm ridiculously busy. I'm not just an artist anymore, so any deal I do has to benefit Uncle Howie Records, not just ILL BILL or Non Phixion."
Their legions of fans know that the group's lyrics display an affection for violence that isn't new to hip-hop, but, unlike some rappers who are clearly just marketing an image, with Non Phixion it's clear that their name says it all.
"Growing up, I was a knucklehead. I've outgrown that in a lot of ways, but at the same time, I'm not looking for trouble at all, but if someone pops shit with me for no reason, I will definitely punch you dead in your face. Making music though has always been like a great therapy for me, and if I didn't have it as an outlet I'd be locked up right now. A lot of my boys and even my uncle have spent years behind bars and I know that's not where I wanna be."
Non Phixion
With A-Trak, Euphrates, Applied Science, and Buddha Blaze at Foufounes, June 1
Advance tickets (available at Foufounes and Off The Hook) include entrance to the Inspectah Deck, Planet Asia and Afu Ra show, June 5
| Non Phixion : keepers of the radical tradition of hip-hop |
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Non Phixion have the knack for making hip-hop in a way that reminds me of Public Enemy or NWA. They are able to come up with a rap made of complex verses over a music that tries to explore new avenues. Their trebly guitar loops feel like a good change in a time where people think that, because of lazy "artists" such as P.Diddy, hip-hop is simply sampling known popular ditties and editing them over breakbeats.
Also, Non Phixion tread over uncharted territories when they subtly mix woodwinds over consistently tight breakbeats. It is comforting to know that some young musicians are trying to use traditional instruments and find new uses for these tonalities. And contrary to many gangsta-rappers, Non Phixion wouldn't mistake a clarinet for a crack-pipe.
Finally, like I said previously, Ill Bill,Goretex, Sabac and DJ Eclipse show in their radical lyrics the same fighting spirit as Public Enemy or NWA. Just listen to "Black Helicopters" and I dare you to tell me that this song written in 2000 wasn't prophetic of the paranoid state of mind that prevails in post 9-11 USA !
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Sylvain Provost
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{52 votes}
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Yes Non-phixion is rough and hard-core, but in the rap industry (also comming from brooklyn) who isn't anymore.
With 50 Cent being shot up 9 times and still being able to mass produce for the teeny-boppers, the underground rap industry needs a comical-violent look at life.
Listening to the likes of Non-phixion, Necro etc, all one can do is laugh at some of their lyrics.
Just like life, listen to it with a grain of salt.
Don't get caught up believing everything they say.
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Jeremy King
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{32 votes}
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Those guys are too much a "caricature"
I understand that some artist have some image building needed to be different and take segment of the market. But honestly, in show, it is obvious that they go extremly far in their fake character. Not a good example to show to young people in quest of honesty, beeing themselves and integrity.
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Jean Goulet
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{24 votes}
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