(AllHipHop News Feature) Hip-Hop has always been structured by mob rule and in these days, it’s no different. Every aspiring rapper today seems to get an idea, grab their homies, and go all out for a genre they love. Enter the Bakers Club: a collective of talented young Hip-Hop MCs and producers hungry to be the genre’s next trendsetters.
What makes Bakers Club different from most other groups is difference. No two members are alike – all organically growing together through five different cities across two countries.
Group founder, producer, and leader, Raz Fresco, founded The Bakers Club when he was only 15 years old and has proven he’s way older than his age reveals.
Now at 17, Fresco has already produced for some of Hip-Hop’s hottest artists including Mac Miller, French Montana, Tyga, Big Sean, B.o.B., and Wale. But he puts his Club above all.
“A lot of rappers have that signature-type thing they do. I don’t like to box myself into sh*t like that,” Raz says. “My music grows with me.”
Baker’s Club began through mutual friends in Raz’s hometown of Toronto, Ontario. Ever since, The Club has grown to eight members, four from Canada, and four from the U.S. Each member has his or her own unique sound, making it a surprise, as they are able to gel.
“My vision for the Bakers Club was just like it’s not necessarily like ‘this is The Bakers Club’ because every group has their own-type sound,” Raz explains. “Like the Wu-Tang had that Wu sound, Dipset had that Dipset sound. The thing I like about Baker’s Club is, it’s like a whole circle where everyone doesn’t sound the same.”
Now composed of members Raz Fresco, ChillxWill, P. Blackk, The 6th Letter, Dime Don, Lo Thraxx, Brandon Chey, and BriskInTheHouse, The Bakers Club is in full circle. During the group’s formation, Fresco’s age was almost as big a shocker as his musical talent.
“The whole time I was like dude young as f*ck, even though I was working with him at the same time,” Little Rock, Arkansas native Lo Thraxx says. “But I knew he was serious.”
“We started talking more and more and got in contact with each other, and more conversation, and then he told me how old he was, and I was like, ‘Oh damn, that’s crazy,’” Columbus, Ohio native P. Blackk explains about their first collaboration. “And then he told me he made the beat, and I was like, ‘What!’”
Being from different areas in North America, a group powwow isn’t always easy. Bakers Club has never been in the same room together as a full collective, but their constant cross-continent communication shows they are one.
During a meeting last December in which five members gathered in Toronto, distance proved to be no obstacle.
“It was ill, because we all gelled like we stayed down the block the whole time from each other,” Tacoma, Washington native ChillxWill says. “We naturally have our own different sound, because we’re not all from the same place.”
With each member receiving individual recognition for their solo efforts, as well as group attention, being a member has its perks.
“It’s not necessarily a general sound or message, it’s just like a whole bunch of different messages from a bunch of dope individuals, and it’s presented to you in that Baker’s Club package,” Raz says. “At the end of the day, it’s about good music and dope artists.”
Each every member of the group, except newest edition, Dime Don, has already released numerous projects. With new mixtapes to come from every member, much more Bakers Club is on the way. Raz Fresco will be working with members on their newest releases and is planning on another solo drop once he finishes his collaborative effort with ChillxWill.
With every new crew in Hip-Hop either trying to bring a certain style back or creating a new swagger, Bakers Club does both.
“We’re not really bringing back something that’s missing, but the type of vibe and energy we got is lacking in Hip-Hop,” ChillxWill says. “Not to sound cliché, but it’s something that can be used in the game now.
“I feel like with The Club, it restores a lot of that missing vibe. I feel like there’s a gap in music and we can fill that.”