|
|
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 1) Tell me about your name and your origins
HARVEY STRIPES: First of all, deuce-DEUCE is basically two of the same. Me and Nelson basically approach everything equally, like fifty-fifty. We basically ‘bout the same things. The Stripes came from my neighborhood where I lived all my life. They gave the name Stripes cause of my hood stripes - I’ve been here for 19 years.
NELSON DOWN: I was born in Africa & Nelson Mandela was the president of my hometown. I felt I could represent Nelson in that way and represent where I’m from. Down came from my block. They knew me as the dude that was always down to do whatever. Whether it was trouble or something positive, I was the down one.
So there it is, a little from my roots & a little from the streets.
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 2) Is there a style that inspired you?
HARVEY STRIPES: I grew up to hip hop music: Ready to Die, Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt. Over the years I learned to listen to more of the soulful music, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and that changed my whole approach to music. To me, it’s all about making songs with a meaning.
NELSON DOWN: Yea, when I was younger my moms used to listen to a lot of different music:
Rumba, Reggae, Rock & Roll, Soul, etc. From young I was around music, and it gave me a sense of what music is. When I got older, my brother got me into hip-hop. He would listen to the older dudes like Scarface and Black Sheep. It was in my blood from young, so it came natural.
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 3) What about your life outside of music?
HARVEY STRIPES: My life outside of music is about getting money in anyway possible. I’m real involved with the business side also. A lot of artist have talent, but know nothing about the business so they fail. I’m trying to secure my spot in the industry as an artist, as well as a business man.
NELSON DOWN: My life is real calm. I’m not very public person. I like to stay in my own comfort zone with people I’m close to. I stick to what needs to be done, and focus on my products.
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 4) Tell me something about your project "Paperboys – The EP". How was it borne?
HARVEY STRIPES: It started with us recording joints just to get in the booth. We realized it could be more so we took it more serious. The whole concept of Paperboys came from the time we had our own hustles, not newspaper boys. We figured it would be a good theme for the EP. The concept was a money making, soulful type of record.
NELSON DOWN: That was our first project and we moved thousands of units. We generated a buzz with the single “Where Do We Go” which was ridiculous. The album was our first time to let the streets hear our point of view on issues people can relate to.
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 5) What do you feel to say about your singles "Where Do We Go" and "Candy Girl"?
HARVEY STRIPES: “Candy Girl” is about the broads. It’s a club song that the girls can dance to, but the niggas can relate. We just made a real hot record. We had fun with it.
NELSON DOWN: “Candy Girl” was getting at the females from a dude’s point of view. We said things that a lot of people wouldn’t say. Some ‘ll say we went to hard on ‘em [females], but I say we kept it real. It was a side of us a lot people have never heard. “Where Do We Go” is authentic deuce-DEUCE music from the heart.
It’s our pain and struggle in life. Real niggas can relate.
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 6) We’ve seen many featuring on shows, Kid Capri, M.O.P., and others, but when we will appreciate a show only you?
HARVEY STRIPES: We have done plenty shows with just deuce-DEUCE, but when we work with other artists there is a broader audience range. We tap into their fan base and build like that.
NELSON DOWN: As far as dudes opening for us, it’s in due time. When we in the position, big things will happen. You know, when shit starts popping off for us. That’s when it’ll start happening.
DAVE AMATO (Gangstasparty.com): 7) Tell me something about your future projects?
HARVEY STRIPES: The album is almost done. We got about 30 songs recorded, but we’ll be cutting down to the best of them. We putting the final touches on the album over all to make sure its all killer no filler. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air in the music industry; it’s going to shock a lot of people.
NELSON DOWN: Right now we’re trying to concentrate on what we’re doing now. Finish up the album and work on a video. First and foremost, we’re trying to focus on the album. Gotta make sure the product comes out right.
|
|
|
