*Collaborating with a who’s who of music royalty over three decades, it’s a safe bet that Kid Capri knows a thing or three about making a great alliance.
And his latest endeavor is no exception. The Grammy-winning DJ / producer has linked up with underground rap sensation The Hoodies for the group’s latest album, “Hidden Gems.” The 12-track opus highlights Capri’s skills composing beats as well as lyricism from Hoodies members Eben “E-Class” Nettles and Umar “Young Poppa” Abrams.
Although “Hidden Gems” marks the first time Capri and The Hoodies have worked together, the project is a long time coming. According to the mixtape legend, E-Class and Young Poppa hit the ground running with natural chemistry and a common willingness to rhyme over any given beat.
“When they walked in, they did the first four beats I gave them,” Capri told EURweb. “I did the first record and they did the next four beats I gave them. They just came and had rhymes ready. They didn’t complain about they didn’t like the beat or they want a different track or none of that. They just did it. So that was one thing that made me fall like right in line with them.”
Prior to working with Capri, The Hoodies was a force of its own with its “In the Whip” freestyles and appearances on “Sway in the Morning” and Funkmaster Flex’s radio show. It was there the “Def Comedy Jam” star came across the group and wanted to work with them.
The camaraderie with E-Class and Young Poppa was undeniable when Capri got them in the studio. So much so, he saw members of an iconic rap group in the pair.
“To see how they work with each other, it kinda reminded me of Jada and Styles [P of The Lox] on a 2.0 level because they sold it,” he said. “They had the intonation of two brothers. Like, I always use this analogy when you see groups, family groups that sing with each other, like the Jacksons or anybody that’s a family that sings with each other. Their harmony and intonation are different than five strangers or five people who have been singing with each other. That’s not the same family. It’s just a different intonation. It’s a different gelling that they have. I apply that to E- E-Class and Young Poppa the hoodies because they have that. It’s, it’s almost like they kinda think alike, you know what I’m saying?”
Although Young Poppa and E-Class are in great company with Capri, things could have been different. The pair, who have been rhyming since their preteen years, easily ’could’ve took a negative path in life, but opted for music as the path to travel. A move that only increased Capri’s respect for them and their talent.
“… remember these are young dudes. They could have been in the street doing crazy shit, coming up in upstate New York,” Capri explained. “Where they come from, it’s very easy to fall into things. But they went a different route. That was one thing I looked at. I looked at how they love each other, you know, how they work, how fast they work, if they had an ego.
…that’s more to me than the talent because you could deal with the talent,” he added. “And later on, when the talent gets big, they give you they ass to kiss, you know what I’m saying? So if you don’t have that straight in the beginning, if they don’t have their heart in the right place, then I don’t really wanna work with artists like that, no matter how good you are.”
With their underground following, lyrical talent, positive attitude, and dedication to the culture, Capri sees a bright future ahead for The Hoodies.
“I see them being different. I see them being really big and on top of that, right now they’re going through the grind, man. This is their first album; you know what I’m saying? They’re going through the grind and people love the album.”
Although the reaction has been positive, Capri notes The Hoodie’s independent status as promotion of “Hidden Gems” is active without a big record label pushing the project.
“So we have to go with how we gotta go,” he said. “We don’t have any big machine behind us. But in the time right now, where everybody’s coming out and everybody is out and there’s so much music out there, you can get lost in it. So that’s why we do it the way we do it. We ain’t looking for any handouts. We work hard and stay on it. And with me being who I am, I’m not gonna co-sign anything that I don’t believe in, you know what I’m saying? So I believe in these dudes and I think they’re gonna go all the way to the top.”
Led by the single “I’m Hot” and its accompanying remix, “Hidden Gems” offers different sides of The Hoodies to the listener. Whether it’s drill music (“Top of New York”), dance music (“I’m Hot” remix), or something for the ladies (“Ride With You”), Capri wanted a diverse musical plate fans could taste, in seeing what the group is capable of.
“This is their first album. So I didn’t want them to be in a box. I didn’t want them to be considered boom-bap rappers because you know them to do a lot of freestyles, a lot of boom-bap beats, and a lot of different things like that,” he said.
“But I wanted them to be able to talk to the girls. I wanted them to be able to talk to the drill crowd or be able to talk to the boom bap, the knapsack crowd and you know, the dance crowd. Everybody right now, we got the “I’m Hot” remix 2.0,” which is a club record. So, you know, not keeping them in a box is a very smart thing. Once they in one spot, then they stay there. And if you’re able to do everything and be good at everything, then you’ll have people like Madonna calling. Fred Durst has already called out for them. You know, from Limp Bizkit to do a record with him.
“There’s so many different joints that they got that you can’t really put them in a box,” continued Capri.” So they really did good with it. I’m really proud of them, man. And this is just the beginning. There is so much we got coming. But this album is definitely a dope resume for them, man. It’s just the beginning.”
Capri admits that a favorite song from “Hidden Gems” is hard to pin down among fans. When asked what his favorite tune off the album is, the cancer-free disc spinner revealed his appreciation for every song, with the entire album being “one big single.”
“I don’t really have a favorite track when I make an album, I’m gonna tell you, this is weird. When I put an album out, I kinda don’t really focus on the single. I focus on the album because I look at the album as one big single,” Capri shared while breaking down the thought behind the concept. “What do I mean by that? I try to make the album to that every song on the album could be a potential single. You could do a video to every record if you listen to The Hoodies’ album. I could do a video to each record and you won’t be mad at it.”
Citing classic debut albums from Dr. Dre (“The Chronic”) and Nas (“Illmatic”), Capri emphasized the value of an album’s collected body of work versus one or two songs that only give a glimpse into the entertainer’s artistry.
“You may like one better than the other. Like any album, you ain’t gonna like every record on ‘The Chronic’ the same. You ain’t gonna like every record on ‘Illmatic’ the same. You’re gonna like a record better than the other. But you can’t say that every record on ‘The Chronic’ ain’t hot or a potential video” he said, citing “Bitches Ain’t Shit” as a song that “people would have been with it,” had it been a single.
“We fell into this thing where singles became the narrative. “Now, singles is the thing and there’s a reason for that,” Capri stated. “The reason for that is because, at one time, you got signed because you were special. It wasn’t anybody who had a computer and could just put a record out at their will whenever they wanted. So, people don’t put albums together. You have one or two records that/s good on your album and that’s what people go and buy. Now, the narrative becomes singles is the shit to get. But if you think if ‘The Chronic’ came out tomorrow, they just gonna buy one or two records off ‘The Chronic?’ No, they gonna buy the whole album because the whole album is hot, you know what I’m saying?
The Hoodies’ “Hidden Gems” album, produced entirely by Kid Capri, is available now on all streaming and music platforms.
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