The Chapter 13 Interview

Chapter 13 & Migs

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Migs- Why don't you tell our readers who is Chapter 13 and how ya'll got together?

Rashis Hadee- Aiight, Chapter 13 is Young Valentine and me, Rashid Hadee. We got together back at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Mississippi. That was like January '97. Young V used to come over my crib after school to record and learn how to make beats. After a while, he was teaching me a thing or two. We just bonded like that, learning from each other and listening to good Hip Hop music together.

Migs- You catz are breathing a breath of fresh air into hip hop, as far as production goes what inspired ya'll to go back to that old school real shit?

Rashid Hadee- I can't say we really went back to anything. What we do always been what it is now. We just make what we like. Music is music, aint nothing changing but these bandwagon types that wanna be like what's "hot right now". Personally, only thing that has changed with Hip Hop, at least beat-wise, is the drum sounds. Cats was using breakbeats and shit, now they only went back to them "old school" drum machine sounds and playing keyboards over it. Me and Young V use all that shit...we make whatever the fuck we feel like to put it simple.

Migs- Where did the name Chapter 13 come from?

Rashid Hadee- From being broke! (laughs) But really though, the 13 represents the original 4 members of the crew. You know, 1 and 3 added together. But Young V wasn't one of them. While in high school, me and cat name Skip Coon started Chapter 13. I thought of the name and it just stuck with us. Later came Young Valentine and the other 3 kinda strayed away. Since then, me and him been recording and pumpin' out bangers ever since.

Migs- What do ya'll think about the state of hip-hop right now with all the beefs and shit?

Rashid Hadee- Honestly, I couldn't give a shit about the "state of Hip Hop" right now. I don't even know who's beefin' and I'm way too busy to even find out. I'm just being honest with you. One thing I'll tell you about the "state of Hip Hop" is it's sooo much favortism. It's fucked up 'cause everybody so quick to take sides and wont give you a chance just cause they don't know you. Cats is swinging on the sacks of the next man so hard that they just blind to the world. (laughs) It's crazy man. But one good thing I can say is a lot of cats is coming with heat this year! Maaan, I am so pleased with what I been hearing lately! It's actually a handfull of CDs worth listening to. Now that's a great thing to say about the "state of Hip Hop".

Migs- Being from down south and going to school down south how come ya'll didn't get into making crunk music?

Radid Hadee- We make crunk music everyday all day. Crunk aint a style, it's a feeling. I get crunk off listening to M.O.P. or even Jay-Z. Turn on "You Don't Know" at the right time or situation and I just might throw an elbow or even a chair or something! (laughs) But if you're referring to the traditional down south style, we make that shit too. Like I said earlier, we make whatever we like, whatever we feeling at the time. When we first start to make a beat or put the pen to the paper, we don't know what the outcome will be.

Migs- What projects do ya'll have coming out or working on?

Rashid Hadee- We got a Chapter 13 mixtape coming soon, just to catch everybody up on what they been missing for the past bunch of years and see where we headed. Then I got my solo CD called Dedication. Young Valentine is working on a CD. We always working on something. All I can say is expect a lot of shit to listen to from us in the near future.

Migs- Are ya'll planning on staying in the independent scene or planning on making that jump into mainstream?

Rasid Hadee- Whatever's clever. We just playin' it by ear right now and letting God lead the way for us. Simple as that. We know a smart decision when we see it, but we won't know until that decision is right in our face, feel me?

Migs- Who are some of your favorite mc's?

Rashid Hadee- my personal favorites are Common, Nas, Freddie Foxxx, Ludacris, Talib Kweli, Madlib, Redman, Ghostface Killah, it's so many more but they are the first that come to mind. Migs- What are your all time favorite songs?

Rasid Hadee- "Return Of The Crooklyn Dodgers" by OC, Jeru, and Chubb Rock. "#1 Soul Brother" by Pete Rock. "Sneakers" by Raekwon. "Real Eyes" by Quasimoto. "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu Tang Clan. "I Gave You Power" by Nas. "The Realest" by Mobb Deep. "Nag Champa" by Common. "Good Morning" by Talib Kweli. Maaan, the list goes on and on. And for the record, I have gotten crunk off each one of these songs! (laughs)