THE ROAD WARRIOR

FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS LEGENDARY MUSICIAN HEIGHT KEECH HAS BEEN TRAVERSING THE UNITED STATES ROCKING CROWDS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT WITH HIS UNIQUE GENRE DEFYING BRAND OF HIP HOP. AFTER TWO DECADES OF ROCKING HEIGHT SHOWS KNOW SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. A MUSICIAN, A PRODUCER, AND A RECORD LABEL OWNER, IT SEEMS LIKE HEIGHT IS JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF SHOWING THE WORLD WHAT HE'S GOT. HE CHOPPED IT UP WITH US ABOUT HIS APPROPRIATELY TITLED LATEST ALBUM RAW ROUTES AND HOW HE CAN NEVER GIVE UP HIS LOVE OF THE ART.

SMORE JESUS: You dropped your most recent album “Raw Routes” towards the end of 2019. What is the concept behind this album? How does it feel having the record out in the world?

HEIGHT KEECH: My goal for a lot of these songs was to say something that would be worth saying in real life, rather than just saying anything that feels right within the abstract world of music. I was inspired by my labelmate Kate Ferencz. I helped produce her last album, and I saw how much care she put in to make a good conceptual point in every song. I'd never thought to fully apply that method to my own stuff, because I love abstraction and dream language in songs. It wasn't my default state, but I gave it a try. It felt new to lay out my thoughts about a mass shooting or this new wave of fascism in a literal way. I didn't know if anyone would dig it. Part of me had doubts, like 'jeez Height, way to get the party started.' I had no idea how people would respond, but it's been rewarding to know that some people feel moved and/or comforted by hearing someone else talk about these things.

SJ: You are Baltimorian to the core, what are some misconceptions out-of-towners have for the state of Maryland?

HK: I think some people think of The Wire, and other people think of the ultra-wealthy DC suburbs filled with creeps like Donald Rumsfeld. In reality, it's a whole bunch of different types of people living different types of lives in a pretty small state. To me, it will always be an interesting place. I do deliveries for my day job, and I never get tired of learning about new weird pockets of Maryland.

SJ: To me a stand out track on “Raw Routes” is “Working Woman Blues”, gives me a bit of of Frankie Valli vibe. What is the story behind that joint?

HK: I wrote that after reflecting on the fact that my wife was stuck at this job she hated, partially because I've chosen to go off the beaten path into this rap career. Money is always such a struggle for both of us. She's a writer, and I wish I had the flexibility to tell her, 'I just copped this Thoreau cabin, quit your job and go make it happen.' Instead, we're permanently toiling away at various B.S. jobs and constantly worrying about overdrawing our checking accounts. When we were younger, not having money seemed like it didn't matter because we hoped our dreams and passions would lift us up to a better place...Now that we're older, being stone broke feels like it's just our permanent reality, and that's a miserable feeling. I wanted to tell her that I know how crazy this is, and that I still believe we can change it someday.

SJ: Would you rather binge watch Saturday Night Live or The Simpsons?

HK: Simpsons all day. My childhood pal Mickey Free was taping every Simpsons episode on Betamax tape starting with the Christmas special, and we would binge watch them again and again. Studying the first handful of seasons informed my creativity in a major way. SNL is way too hit-or-miss for a serious binge.

SJ: “Do the Kool Herc, Do the Mike Watt”, to me is a lyric of yours that appropriately defines your style. Your music transcends the boundaries of era and genre, is this a conscious effort since you began making music, do you have a specific genre or artist that is a main influence?

HK: When I started, I was mostly thinking about other hip-hop albums I liked, and trying to make my albums feel like those albums. I knew my music shouldn't sound the same, (thanks to the Ghostface skit on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx) but I wanted my music to evoke similar feelings. Other genres inspired me as far as our live shows, or what kind of references we used, but trying to be some kind of rock & roll guy was the furthest thing from my mind. As time went on, I found myself wanting to try different things and I stopped thinking of myself as just a rapper. As I started doing these non-genre songs, I loved what I was coming up with, but I felt like it sometimes made audiences clam up. I guess that's understandable, because it used to seem like every singer was a corny rapper (Madonna on American Life) and most rappers delving into rock or pop would be a train wreck. Nowadays, there's tons of people that can go back and forth between different styles in a natural way like it's nothing, and the audience doesn't even think of it as a mish-mash.

SJ: When you go on tour do you have a favorite city/venue you have to hit up? HK: Detroit, Philly and Kingston, Ontario are three of my favorite tour stops. All three of those places have deep musical roots, (including the tiny town of Kingston) and every time I visit, I learn a little more about how it all fits together. During my last Detroit visit, I got to see Dennis Coffey play his Tuesday night weekly gig at Northern Lights Lounge. A bunch of other Motown musicians and singers were there... Some were onstage with him, but some were just in the audience with us cheering him on. The show had the same clubhouse vibe that a Co-Ownaz event does, except the people were mostly senior citizens. It warmed my heart to see these oldsters still basking in the music and having fun together, and it gave me hope for the future. Stuff like that just doesn't happen in any old place.

SJ: Which rock and roll documentary is your favorite?

HK: It would probably be Anvil! The Story Of Anvil. Sometimes while I'm on these DIY tours, I think about how touring is a dramatic journey, and it's like a battle against the whole world and against your own mind to make it happen. I always thought it would be cool if someone made an unflinching documentary of a seriously struggling band. The front man of Anvil is the perfect subject. He comes off like a knucklehead goofball, but he has some kind of super intelligence that allows him to explain a lot of things about being in a band that I don't think have ever been explained on film.

SJ: Consistently touring and putting out music could be exhausting to some, but you have been doing it steadily since the 90’s, what keeps you motivated to keep rocking?

HK: The number one motivator is that I love making music. When I see these acts that only put out new music every five years and keep playing the same songs live over and over, I wonder what the point is for them. Is the music just an excuse to go to a bunch of different bars? Do they just enjoy the social media promotion process? I hate all that stuff, and I make music in spite of it. I love the process of continuing to turn the page and get to the next chapter. As a fan, I love seeing how artists evolve over their discography, and I love charting the course of my own music-making journey. The bad parts (crushing financial blows, the Sisyphean struggle to gain a critical mass of fans, etc.) have gotten me real down at every stage of my life and I've seen some real lows. I've wanted to hang it up many times. However, the voice telling me to hang it up isn't as strong as the voice telling me that I'm only going to live once... When this life is coming to an end I'm going to want to know that I made all the music I dreamed of making, and did everything I could to get it out to people. Another thing that helped me is realizing that there are other people like me that think of music as a serious art. There's the pop side of music where you trade on your looks and you have to retire by the time you're 26. There's another side of music where the artist devotes their whole life to it, the same way a painter would to painting, or a writer to writing. I want to be like Fred Cole from Dead Moon and go in on music for my whole lifespan, regardless of whether or not there is any place for me within the music industry.

SJ: Who would you rather see in concert Jimi Hendrix, Tupac, or Nirvana?

HK: All three acts would obviously hold it down, but it would have to be Nirvana.

SJ: What is one of your favorite show memories?

HK: Here's one that comes to mind... My pal King Rhythm and I went to see Public Enemy in DC back in 2012. It still stands out to me as one the greatest shows I've ever seen. A few months later, I was in Atlanta rocking a show, and the guy upfront showing the most love out of anyone was DJ Lord from PE. He gave me props on the set, and I did the same back to him. Sometimes, I'm at shows and I think, 'maybe one day they'll see my show' but you don't usually think it's going to happen immediately.

SJ: On top of being an artist you run your own record label, Cold Rhymes Records. What inspired you to start your own label? is there a certain thing you look for in the artists you put out?

HK: My goal was to create a label that I would want to be on... The part of that we've locked down is that it's like a family and that we all help each other. Admittedly, the ideal label would also have some money coming in, but we're doing the best we can with what we've got. I just look for people's music that I appreciate, that I feel needs another voice saying, 'ATTENTION, THIS IS TIGHT.' I've always wanted to be able to help amplify the music I like, and now I get to do it, in my own very small way. When I started, I wanted every release to feel like some kind of one-off in-house collaboration between Cold Rhymes and the artist. I think that led me towards targeting people that would sound good on these Height beats. With a little experience under my belt, I've realized that's not always necessary, and not always feasible for me either. I think the important thing is just to keep trying different things and keep the ball rolling.

SJ: Which tv show past or current has the best theme song?

HK: The Price Is Right theme bass player definitely went in.

SJ: You have been touring steadily for two decades now. Do you have any advice to up and comers wanting to live the tour lifestyle?

HK: I would say go into it with as much of your own excitement and vigor and confidence as you can. Touring is not like a music biopic where everything comes together in a single magic moment. There's a lot of different kinds of bummers out there waiting for any sensitive fledgling artist. Therefore, you have to come into it with your own energy, rather than counting on picking up energy from whatever randos you come across on the road. Look for tourmates who won't break down when faced with disappointment. We're all sensitive people (Marvin Gaye) and we're all effected by our surroundings, but everyone in the van should have some kind of inner drive that can't be stopped by whatever weird shit you come across on the road. If the most you ever get to do is a three day tour of your state, make it the coolest, most well thought out three day tour ever. Make a tour poster, make a tour exclusive EP, whatever it is... make it special for anyone that's paying attention and for yourself. When I've taken those steps for myself, It felt a lot better than times that I've taken a more passive approach.

SJ: Where can people go to keep up with what you are working on?

HK: heightkeech.com and coldrhymesrecords.com are the spots.

SJ: Any parting words?

HK: Giant Milk is fire and thanks for having me be a part of it!

THANK YOU HEIGHT! IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE!

BE SURE TO FOLLOW HEIGHT KEECH AND HIS RECORD LABEL COLD RHYMES RECORDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT @height_keech and @coldrhymeslabel

AND MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THIS COLD RHYMES PODCAST EVERY MONTH WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS!