Music Review and Interview with C J Maggs and Slim-T – Block Hot

Block Hot has a hugely alternative and creatively free sound to it. The simplicity is enjoyable, and fairly unique in a lot of ways, the vocal is pretty hard though, unexpectedly aggressive, a stark contrast with what you might generally expect from the intro. The vocal effect helps keep it within that alternative bracket – it’s an unusual fusion of classic hip-hop, lyrically, and experimental sound scape. It’s a track that has fresh written all over it.

There’s a noticeable contrast actually between the music and the vocal parts, but in many ways it’s an effective juxtaposition of anger and peace. The riff is gentle, has a softness to it, lulls you into a false sense of security and calm, whereas the vocal parts are hard hitting and loaded with angst, attitude, and seriousness. It’s an interesting combination and for the most part it works pretty well, it’s definitely unique, the music is new and refreshing to listen to. There’s no big break in the sound, no complex structure, the music just rolls out and around and leaves it’s mark and it’s memory behind. The style throughout is a huge part of what gives this track it’s signature sound.

The lyrics are fired out so quickly that it’s hard to catch the meaning behind it all, but the benefit is that the vocal works as a kind of instrument in itself – it adds to the track in the same way that the riff does, or the beat, and the vocal effect – that canned aggression, that classic stereo kind of sound, further enhances the effect of using a vocal in such a way. Performance wise the whole thing is strong and smooth and flows almost like wine as you listen. A nice kind of lightness, unusual in this kind of music, but held together by the attitude as mentioned earlier. It’s a pretty refreshing use of creativity, really enjoyable to come across.

By Rebecca Cullen

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

CjMaggz: Well i grew up all around dallas county,Mesquite,Garland and balch springs constantly moving around. I even moved to missouri for awhile before i came back to Texas. I lived with both of my parents before they ended up getting a divorce. I chose to become an artist because i love making music for one, but also it was a way to share my story, connect with people who could relate, i wanted to show other people that no matter where you came from you can aways change and rebuild youre own path.

Slim-T: I pretty much stayed in dallas county my whole life,in the Mesquite area, My parents where pretty young when i was born and didnt really know what to do so my grandmother raised me and 3 other of my siblings, one older sister and two younger ones. Eventually my parents got a divorce when i was younger but it didnt reallt bother me. I chose to become an artist because i listened to alot of eminem and i wanted to achieve some of the things he had, his music inspired me to be me.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

 

CjMaggz:  My name was just kind of something i came up with there wasnt anything special about it, then we came up with GMM (ghost money mob) because we were trying out beat to get money and noone knew how we were doing it but we were doing it.

Slim-T: My name came from my favorite rapper eminem,people called him slim and since my name is trey so i chose slim-t. GMM is the come up!

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

CjMaggz: online music sharing is a great way to promote any up coming music/art, no id never give my music away for free though, its original its mine and slims,we created it.

Slim-T: Im fine with online music sharing, could help us get famous, or known it helps us get more viewers, fans and promotes our music, id personaly never give my music away for free either though, we made the track its only right for someone else to pay for something they didnt create.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

CjMaggz: Dont let negitivity effect youre performance,let the haters movivate you.

Slim-T: Never give up, stay on your grind,dont let anyone put you down,or bash you, stay positive and keep moving forward.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

CjMaggz: It just flows from my mind, i make a beat and listen to it and then write down what comes to mind at the time.

Slim-T:After i listen to a good beat it kinda just inspires me to get goin, then i just get my phone out and open my notes or i write it down.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

 

CjMaggz: Sound cloud, twitter

http://twitter.com/ywb_productions/status/710092665119907841

Slim-T: youtube

Youtu.be/Y_4ZHoiHCCs

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

CjMaggz:I would donate half to cancer and diabetes to help find a cure because alot of people in my family have them, then id get things ive always wanted and invest the rest.

Slim-T: Id also donate to all kinds of charities, then id buy stuff for my self and for my family that we never had.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

CjMaggz: All kinds of social media

Slim-T: Sound cloud has worked the best

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

CjMaggz:GMM mixtape,music videos

Slim-T: GMM movement (The Movement)

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

CjMaggz: Working a full time job

Slim-T: id go back and finish school

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

CjMaggz:I have a full schedule i go to school and then come home and spend as much time as i can in my studio making music and then i go to work, come home and if im not dragging my self to the bedroom im in my studio again, i do what i can with my time so my family wont have to worry about needing anything in the future.

Slim-T: I try to fit my music into my schedule whenever i can

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

CjMaggz: up comming music videos and dropping our first single.

Slim-T: GMM movement growing and getting better, and hopefully an album release.