According to a quote by Henry Bromel, “We all carry around so much pain in our hearts. Love and pain and beauty. They all seem to go together like one little tidy confusing package.” This quote is the absolute essence of the music brought forth by Bronze Nazareth. The young RZA protege possesses the unique ability to combine sweet and bitter sounds that is guaranteed to leave you fixated to your seat.
To date, very few Hip-Hop fans have yet to hear the soul-stirring twists and turns that Bronze’s beats are accustomed to making. With swords swinging from both sides and an entire Clan in the offing, Bronze may prove to be an unstoppable force in 2004. The man formerly known as “Half Entity” gave Allhiphop.com a taste of what may be the beginning of a legend.
Allhiphop.com: I would like to structure this interview as an introduction of you to the Hip-Hop world. Let’s get into some basic background information about you and what you have accomplished so far.
Bronze Nazareth: I live in Detroit, but I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We call it “Gun Rule” because the same thing goes on. It’s all the same, it’s all one hood. It has the highest Black population besides Detroit. I’ve been in Detroit for a couple of years now.
Allhiphop.com: You sound just like a New York cat, though.
BN: You ever heard of LA The Darkman?
Allhiphop.com: Of course.
BN: He’s from Grand Rapids, too. He’s back and forth between The Bronx and Grand Rapids.
Allhiphop.com: What do you have in the works right now as far as projects are concerned?
BN: Right now, I got my own album, The Great Migration, that’s about 50% done. I’m trying to do it right and make it a classic. I just did some joints for RZA’s album. I got four joints that GZA’s f###### with, and I got some joints on the Masta Killa album. Hopefully, all of them will make it to the final cut. You know you got to deal with sample clearance and all that b#######. Also, I’m reaching out to Immortal Technique. We’ve been in contact, so we should be doing something together.
Allhiphop.com: How did you wind up becoming affiliated with Wu-Tang in the first place?
BN: Back in ’96, ’97 or ’98, me and my brother Kevlaar 7 had done this album called The Unknown. We was selling mad copies off the internet. I was shipping s### to Australia and Japan. I think I sent an email to Cilvaringz, because I was always loved Wu. They started listening to the s###, and they was feeling it. So, we started building or whatever, and we went to New York. We was in D&D for a couple of weeks in the summer, doing Cilvaringz’s album. He took me to see The RZA, and I did three tracks for one of the group’s he got on his label. He came in there, and he was bobbing his head or whatever. They was about to go to the club, and I was like, “yo RZA, let me get five minutes, that’s all I need!” He gave me five minutes; he’s a very gracious man. I showed him one song, and it was Wu Elements from there.
Allhiphop.com: Is there one Wu member that more fits your style of production than any of the rest?
BN: I’d have to go with Ghost and RZA probably. Ghost the most, because I’m a Soul fiend, man. I got all the old Soul in me that I grew up with like everybody else. When I start digging (in the crates), you get deeper and deeper in the samples, and I got trash bags full of old Soul CDs. I dip into classical, too.
Allhiphop.com: About how long would you say you have been in the production game?
BN: I’ve been producing since ’94, man. I used to have the straight Hip-Hop style. It’s always been hardcore, like a street style, but I really didn’t start the heavy Wu type of s### until I got with Wu. Outside of Wu, I’ve got a Hip-Hop personality.
Allhiphop.com: Do you foresee yourself getting some work on the next Wu-Tang album, provided there is going to be a next album?
BN: RZA mentioned something to me about that. They’ll definitely let me turn some s### in for that.
Allhiphop.com: With The Great Migration album, who are you expecting to make appearances on the album?
BN: I got some n##### on it already. I know my man Hell Razah from Sunz Of Man is going to be on there. Usually when I f### with n#####, it’s like I do a beat for you, and you rock me a verse. I know GZA and Masta Killa is going to be down for it. I’ll probably get RZA on there. Cilvaringz is on there, for sure. My man Baretta 9 from Killarmy is on there, and hopefully I can get (Immortal) Technique on there, too.
Allhiphop.com: Is your project going to be pushed by a major or totally independent?
BN: I’m searching right now. I got some offers and s###. I might just f### with independent distribution and make more money. I’m in no position where I’m going to be platinum; I’m going to get some attention with this joint.
Allhiphop.com: With the style of music that you bring forth, what kind of frame of mind do you have to be in to create it?
BN: I’m a deep thinker, you know what I mean? I remember we were in 4th Disciple’s studio one day, and Baretta said my music is like pain. Alot of my music is mad emotional. When I listen to a sample, I hear the pain in the sample. Alot of n##### may hear the rowdiness or the griminess of the beat, but my specialty is pain. I love the grimy s###, but I’m blessed with an ear, man.
Allhiphop.com: What do you believe is the reason for so much pain in your music?
BN: S### was real wild when I was growing up. I just feel s### like that. If I hear something painful in the sample, it just hits my ear. I want to go grab that.
Allhiphop.com: You bring out something I call “cry music.” When you put your whole soul and being into a sound, the sound is you. It is what is in your heart and how you feel on the inside.
BN: Word!
Allhiphop.com: Finally, in what direction are you looking to take your craft? Are you looking to revamp the way the world sees and hears Hip-Hop music?
BN: There’s so many people in Hip-Hop right now, I think it’s hard for a n#### to come out like that. You remember how Bone (Thugs -n- Harmony) came out? Nobody had ever heard anything like Bone had. I think it’s hard for n##### to drop right now. There’s so many different styles and so many different cultures within Hip-Hop, and it’s hard to bring something new to the table. But, I feel like if you always bring something that’s refreshing, you are going to be alright. I feel like I’m bringing something refreshing to the game. I’m trying to take it back to ’92, man. I’m taking it back to the Timberlands and the hoodies, man.
To hear samples of music and to get more information about Bronze Nazareth, please visit http://www.bronzenazareth.com.