OHGEESY and Fenix Flexin are rising up.
Regardless of making a number of the most memorable West Coast lure music of the final 10 years, the Los Angeles-based duo behind Shoreline Mafia has traded all-nighters for intensive gymnasium periods and black label bottles for Erewhon smoothies. OHGEESY even bumps jazz and classical music greater than the rest nowadays.
Half a decade since their final studio album Mafia Bidness (2020), the previous quartet (which additionally featured Rob Vicious and Grasp Kato) has changed into a pair – another locked in than ever earlier than, confidently selecting again proper the place they left off however higher.
“Prioritizing the psychological permits us to do all the things higher. We’re rising up, and the music is rising with us,” Flexin defined.
Days off their longform return to the music scene with Again in Bidness – commemorated in correct LA vogue by a Born X Raised collaboration – and days forward of their first efficiency as a duo in 5 years at Coachella – the rappers divulged extra.
How have the primary few days off the album launch felt?
Fenix Flexin: I really feel like we’re about to be on the largest level in our profession very shortly, so I’m making an attempt to harness that star energy like a surge of power going by way of me. I really feel like an actual rapper.
Why was now the time for a correct Shoreline Mafia reunion?
OHGEESY: We had been locked in on our solo careers the entire time we had been aside. We’re each at totally different levels in our lives than we had been 5 years in the past. We’re older and wiser now, and all the things simply feels proper.
How does every of your solo work differ out of your work as Shoreline Mafia?
FF: It’s much more enjoyable recording collectively.
OG: Once we’re collectively, it’s simpler to make good occasion music.
FF: Solo initiatives really feel extra like work. Once we’re collectively, it’s much more enjoyable. The chemistry we now have is magical. You’ll be able to’t put a value on it. It makes it very easy to work.
Why do you assume that’s?
FF: Once we began making music, it was collectively. It wasn’t till after that that we began coming into our particular person voices. We all know one another’s rhyme patterns and cadences so nicely that it’s virtually unconscious.
OG: We actually are like twins however opposites. Like yin and yang.
Courtesy Of The Artist
Courtesy Of The Artist
What do you admire in regards to the different particular person as an artist?
FF: Bro has them hooks. It takes me a very long time to get an excellent hook. He simply goes in like increase. 10-Quarter-hour. That’s one thing I’m not capable of do. It additionally makes rapping the verses fairly simple – the verse is the simple half when you could have an excellent hook.
OG: Fenix has fireplace power, and I’ve cool power. They stability one another out.
Is that this a continuation of Mafia Bidness or a complete new period?
OG: A continuation. We’re selecting up proper the place we left off, and we’re doing it higher.
Has your inventive course of or outlook modified in any respect?
OG: We’re so locked in our well being this time, which has performed into the inventive course of.
FF: Again then, we had been partying on a regular basis. This time, we’re within the gymnasium. We’re consuming proper. We’re selecting one another up. Prioritizing the psychological permits us to do all the things higher. We’re rising up, and the music is rising with us.
Courtesy Of The Artist
Inform me extra in regards to the significance of your Born X Raised collaboration.
FF: Shoutout Geesy, man. These had been all his designs.
OG: We had been shut with Spanto earlier than he handed away and we’ve at all times been tapped in with the model. To see it come to fruition was wonderful.
FF: An actual blessing to make that occur. One in every of my favourite manufacturers to come back out of LA.
What else are you guys feeling proper now fashion-wise?
FF: I at all times say the identical factor. Put on what you want. Don’t put on one thing since you see another person carrying it.
OG: I like GALLERY DEPT.. I actually received into them as a result of I came upon they’re from Hollywood too.
FF: Love GALLERY pants. My favourite denims to put on.
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How did you choose the duvet artwork?
OG: It’s a direct reference to a Capone-N-Noreaga album. We like to reference Nineties and early 2000s stuff.
Favourite songs from the album which will go neglected?
FF: “Tusi” and “Too Typically.”
OG: My all-time favourite is “Again 2 Again.”
How would you describe the sound of the album in your individual phrases?
OG: Lure music slash occasion music.
FF: Gamers can bump it. The common folks can bump it. The women can bump it. It’s for everyone. It’s a well-rounded challenge.
Courtesy Of The Artist
Courtesy Of The Artist
What else are you listening to proper now?
FF: I like the brand new Playboi Carti album. [starts signing “BACKD00R”]. I hearken to a variety of home music. Loads of Pink Sizzling Chili Peppers. Loads of Future, at all times.
OG: Jazz. I hearken to a variety of classical music on drives. As for rap, I’ve been listening to Central Cee’s album. Lil Durk’s album.
How do you strategy translating the album right into a dwell efficiency?
OG: We simply need to go on the market and do what we do to the very best high quality.
FF: After performing collectively for therefore lengthy, it comes naturally to us. Normally, we don’t rehearse as a lot as we’re doing now for Coachella, which I can think about will make an enormous distinction in our efficiency.
Are we gonna see some throwbacks within the setlist?
OG: We gotta do a number of the classics, after all…
