Legendary rap duo Camp Lo have been mainstays in the grit and soul aspect of hip-hop for the past two decades. Fresh off the release of their latest album, Ragtime High-Times, the duo spoke to rolling out about all things hip-hop.
What are some of your earliest memories growing up in the Bronx?
Geechi: Growing up in the Bronx was definitely quintessential to our music and our whole upbringing because that was when hip-hop was pretty much starting.
Cheeba: Coming up in the era where hip-hop was being birthed, we got to be apart of everything that it entailed rather than just having to hear about it so it was in our DNA from the start.
Talk about the formation of Camp Lo.
Geechi: I was solo, working with Ski Beatz, and I was always getting ideas from Che, so I said why not get together as a group and it worked.
How was it like being it a group during that time when groups were prevalent in hip-hop?
Cheeba: We got love for all the hip-hop rap groups but we were focused on not trying to be like them, you know? We were trying to bring our own flavor to the table.
What were your initial feelings when “Uptown Saturday Night,” was released?
Cheeba: It was almost like living a dream that you wrote the script too.
Geechi: It was different. Getting stopped on the street, being asked for autographs, etc. It was life-changing.
How did your Muslim upbringing keep you grounded in hip-hop?
Geechi: That’s what Islam really does you know? It’s a religion where they practice humility.
Cheeba: Sticking to your certain disciplines is important. We never had to follow what was going on. We just stuck to what we knew.
How was it like working with Pete Rock?
Geechi: It was incredible. His first album happened to be the first album that I ever bought when my grandma gave me an allowance so in working with him, the process was great. We were working out of the basement and we never left. We was [sic] in there banging it out.
What can fans expect your latest album?
Geechi: It’s hard to tell people what to expect because we didn’t have any set expectations. We just went in the lab and did what we do best.
–andre ellington
