Goldenways:  What artists have influenced you? 

iLL-FLaVa:  When I was very young I was only allowed to listen to jazz and classical music, so over the years I’ve taken a liking to musicians such as Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett and Herby Hancock. As I got older, I explored different avenues of music, and got really heavy into the sounds of 70’s soft rock, and artists such as Prince, Sting, Ennio Morricone and Fiona Apple. 

M.E.R.C.: I would have to say that Bob Marley has influenced me more than any other artist. I feel that his music sent a social message to people worldwide and his sound will always be timeless. There are some Hip-Hop artists like Mos Def, Outkast and The Roots who have influenced me too, but most of it is Bob. 

 Goldenways: You guys have a very unique sound, how would you describe that sound? 


iLL-FLaVa:  I would say that our sound is a combination of Hip-Hop, Jazz and Electronic music. We use a bit of our past influences to create a future sound in the present state of Hip-Hop.

M.E.R.C.: Our sound is a mixture of many types of music. The words are Hip-Hop but the music behind the words is always eclectic. I think you have to have a unique sound to get the attention if your audience. 


  Goldenways: Have you consciously worked to develop that?   


iLL-FLaVa:  Honestly, I don’t think we have. We would just let the music take us to a place where we could best express ourselves. You know, really think outside the box. Our goal is to make good music and express ourselves to our fullest potential, no matter the sound.

M.E.R.C.: No, It is what it is. We don’t sit down and think about what song we want to make. iLL-FLaVa makes the track and whatever comes out of that is what we get. I don’t ever think that we consciously know how any song will turn out. The feel of the music drives the overall product. That is the difference between the one hit wonders and the legends, the feel. 

  Goldenways:How did you come together to form Kumi Hues?   


iLL-FLaVa:  A few years ago, when we were just starting, M.E.R.C. would come over to my apartment and rap what he had written to my beats. I loved it! I just knew there was something special about our work together, so I asked him if we should be a duo. He agreed and we’ve been Kumi Hues ever since.

M.E.R.C.: We met through a friend a couple of years ago. I would go to this cat’s house (iLL-FLaVa) and he would have beats on top of beats. So I started writing to them and we decided that we would work good together. 
 
 
   Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?

       

iLL-FLaVa:  I hope that people will simply enjoy it for what it is. Honest, fun loving and thought provoking. We want to relate to the masses, you know? Be what people anticipate.

M.E.R.C.: I want people to enjoy our music. I want them to hear the beat and the lyrics and then realize that Hip–Hop is something for everyone. Hopefully we can make people think and dance at the same time. 


   Goldenways: Your sound is somewhat eclectic, how important do you think it is for artists to be more eclectic and experimental with their music?     


iLL-FLaVa:  I believe balance is the key. Right now in the industry, a lot of music seems to be all one dimensional. The same sound being reproduced all over and over. We need to have all kinds of music emerge. That’s what so cool about it.

M.E.R.C.: Yes our music is eclectic, but I think that it is more important for artists to be themselves. Our music is eclectic because we are eclectic. The industry creates artists. They make people sing or rap what makes them money. How can artists experiment with their music if a label executive is the one who created their sound? We see a much bigger picture and we look at it from every angle. 

  Goldenways: What plans do you have for Kumi Hues?

     

iLL-FLaVa:  To become one of the most influential music groups in the hip-hop genre, to create a sound that draws people in, and to create the mold rather than conform to it.

M.E.R.C.: We plan to continue to improve. We can never sit still. The DREAM MACHINE will never land. We want people to hear our music years from now and respect it and not just think of it as novelty music. Hip-Hop is alive and we are proof of that.
    Goldenways:  What does Hip Hop's Deepest Day's mean to you?

      

iLL-FLaVa:  An explosion of good music is on the way very soon…

M.E.R.C.: It means that Kumi Hues is needed. All good music is needed. It means people should not be afraid to be different. Color stands out. Ten colors stand out even brighter, so listen to us. 



Get to know Kumi Hues better @:

  http://www.myspace.com/kumihues

    Much love and thanks goes out to Kumi Hues for giving us a peak inside their unique sound!