Hip-hop can get a little stale if you only listen to what mainstream serves you. The talented collaboration known as Well Dressed Villains bring a much-needed breath of fresh air to the world of hip-hop. Their recent studio effort, “Hide Your Valuables”, is a perfect example of modern hip-hop with an open mind and a creative twist. We caught up with the duo to get behind the scenes and see what makes them the Villains that they are. Enjoy the interview here:
Love the name Well Dressed Villains. Where did that come from?
Some years ago, I came to a realization that much of the large scale pain inflicted on the world has been carried out by men who wear suits and dress formally—these individuals are truly well dressed villains. They mask themselves as hero’s through the manipulation of laws and perception. We live in a flip flopped world today—and so, we’ve decided to embrace that concept as a musical contradiction.
Your music brings a lot of genres together. How would you describe your sound?
We’d describe it as current—a blend of hip hop, pop, EDM and rock.
What pushed you to form this collaboration instead of pursuing solo careers?
It takes a team. We were happy with the results of our work together so we kept going. We each have our own sound and vibe and blending it together was like the best of both worlds. Collectively, we feel like we speak to a lot of experiences and that kind of diversity and reach is a good thing. We’ll definitely release our solo projects as well in the future too.
What are you hoping to get through to people with your music?
Fresh perspectives and insights. We’re looking to share a powerful sonic experience that inspires the listener in some way. Through sounds and lyrical content, we’re looking to entertain and expand the hip-hop landscape with new ideas.
I think we have similar thoughts on the Major labels after hearing your track “F* The Label”. What are your plans for success without them?
We live in a new world. The key is building your audience and consistently delivering. Collaborating with other artists and sharing resources is the “must have” ingredient, so we’re spending time in this area at the moment. Mutually beneficial relationships are a beautiful thing and the song F* the Label is about an imbalanced relationship. Our plan is to keep growing organically and create alliances and friendships that add value for all parties involved.
Tell us about your new record Hide Your Valuables? How did the album develop?
We had a few tracks that we created about a year and a half ago, but much of the album came about more recently. In short, we had a show booked and we needed material for it—and so we went to work! We wrote, produced and performed the songs which were well received during the show—and so, that content turned into the new album. After the show we spent more time recording the tracks and enhancing the songs until everything was ready to go.
What advice would you have for other artists looking to do something different?
Go for it. Find your voice and share it. The audience is important, so it’s possible to have an amazing sound that just needs to find the right ears—so don’t get discouraged if people in your local community aren’t feeling it. Share your sound with people outside of your network. Collaborate with people looking to push the envelope and explore beyond the known horizon.
What is next for Well Dressed Villains?
We’re playing with Ces Cru and G-Moe Skee on March 18th at Goldsounds (44 Wilson Ave) in Brooklyn. We also host a monthly event at First Live (219 Central Ave) called ‘All the Way Live,’ which is a curated freestyle jam.
Keep up with more Well Dressed Villains at:
Official Site – http://www.welldressedvillains.com/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/welldressedvillains
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/welldressedvillains/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/villainswell
