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Don’t let the fresh face fool you; Tony “Blockhead” Simon goes by a lot of names, but the only thing that matters right now is “The Music Scene”, his newest album slated for release in November. Blockhead has worked with names in Hip Hop such as Aesop Rock, Murs, Slug, Mac Lethal, S.A Smash, and more.

Blockhead takes time out of his busy schedule to speak with me.

FH: I wanna thank you for your time, first off.

Blockhead: Oh, no problem.

FH: What were you and Wilder workin’ on? A remix, correct?

B: Yeah we did a remix  of “go there with you” for Chin Chin’s new album and he played vocoder on my new album that’s coming out in November.

FH: And Chin Chin’s album is out already?

B: Yeah, for sure.

FH: Wilder was telling me their performing with TV On The Radio tomorrow…

B: Yeah yeah, that’s awesome, I know.

FH: You were saying that you were working with vocalist Joanna Erdos, who’s in the group The Midnight Show, and then her Jeremy Gibson, and you are making an album together. How is that coming along?

B: Yeah it’s coming along. There’s a lot of stops; you know, the process is start and stop a lot because her and Jeremy work a lot; I mean, they both have normal jobs so its been hard to get stuff together and we actually lost some versions of songs we had cause of a crashed hard drive, so we’ve had to start over. But we’re in the process of getting together 8-12 songs. We have a bunch of stuff written, just need to record at this point. Read more…

Absolutely merciless.

Andre Sanchez here, giving you an exclusive look into one of Hip Hop’s finest producer’s out right now.

Marco “Polo” Bruno moved to New York in the early 2000s to pursue a career in Hip Hop production

and has since then become one of the most sought-after underground producers on the US East Coast, working with the likes of Large Professor, Masta Ace, and more..

Here’s what took place, in a phone interview with the man himself after a studio session:

ME: Thanks for your time, and I guess we can get started!

So…I read a little bit on you, at the moment listening to Port Authority, real good stuff! Let’s start with Pete rock! You take the most influence from him yeah?

MP: Um, he’s definitely up there, but DJ premier is my favorite producer, but yeah Pete Rock is definitely up there in my favorites. It’s not even like, one is better than the other, but yeah I like Primo the most. And I mean, I have so many favorites like Erick sermon, Marley Marl, etc. but yeah Premier tops

ME: Word up. With Pete Rock one of the most respected remixers in hip hop (basically inventing the remix) What’s your favorite Pete Rock remix?

MP: (Takes deep breath) Oh man, that’s a hard one. There’s so many; if I had to choose it’d probably be “Real Hip Hop” or…

ME: OH! What about “Jussumen”? Still “real hip hop”?

MP: Real hip hop.

ME: Ah.

MP:  Another one of course is Public Enemy’s “Shut Em’ Down, you know? Classic.  It’s like asking “what’s your favorite Primo beat”, you know? Too many to choose from”

ME: True. Did you see the soccer game today between US and Spain, or do you not care between those two teams?

MP: It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just that I’m Italian, my parents are diehard fans and so if they’re not playing, I’m not as keen on watching it, you know? You got a team?

ME: Ha nah man, I only got a football team, I’m a cowboys fan.

So…When did you fall in love with Hip Hop?

MP: Um… Hmm…I started in grade school, had some Rock ,started with a lot of Native Tongues , I remember hearing Tribe Called Quest’s first album… I ended up buying rap tracks, with LL cool J on them, Slick Rick..It started at a very early age, and just grew with me.

ME: For sure! So what would your ideal radio station play on any given day?

MP: If it were all up to me?

ME: Yep.

MP: I would like to hear a better balance, that’s all, you know? I’m not hating on what’s out now as much as I just don’t like how the older stuff isn’t represented as much anymore. It’d be dope to hear some stuff from Duck Down records, then some Gangstarr, as well as the top 40/popular stuff that’s out now.  I mean, let’s hear some Jimi Hendrix, some Beatles you know what I’m saying?

ME: Yeah mos def.

MP:  I’m not gonna hate on commercial rap at all, I just hate hearing it all the time. It’s important that the old school is remembered so it’s not forgotten, all I’m saying.

ME: For sure; how big was Michael Jackson’s influence to your music?

Incredible; I grew up on “Bad” you know?  I also remember getting petrified at the “Thriller” video; I’m a huge fan of Quincy (Jones). That’s one of the best producers ever and one of my inspirations; as a kid, I wanted to be MJ, and wanted the red jacket, the glove..

ME: What about crate digging? Did your parents have a record collection for you to explore, or did you have to find it all out in record stores?

MP: Ha, see this always gets me upset to talk about: My dad had 1 crate at the house, which had some Bob James, some Fusion Jazz, etc., but I always heard about his real record collection, which was gigantic, and I never got to use.

ME: What’s the fastest time in which you’ve made a beat?

MP: It’s funny; my best beats take the shortest time (laughs). Usually when I sit down at the MPC and know how I want something to sound and just go in, I can really make something happen. And sometimes I can over think something and it doesn’t come out like I thought it would. I think my shortest beat took…6 minutes

ME: Wow. What records did you use?

MP: To be honest, if I start a beat from scratch, I’ll just start with a break and go from there. Since I’ve been doing this for about 5 years now, it comes natural when everything just flows you know?

ME: Yeah. I’m trying to get into producing with fruity loops, and I agree in concern with 9^th wonder using it and what you were saying: that with enough dedication, you can make it happen with fruity loops as well

MP: And I think that goes for any production, you know? Like, 9^th wonder made it happen with Fruity Loops, and no one should judge your skills by what program you use. As long as the program makes it so you’re doing something, that’s legit to me. If programs are doing the stuff for you, that’s wack.

ME: what’s your favorite release out this year? Doesn’t need to be hip hop either

MP: Haven’t heard too many this year… (Long pause)

ME: There were a lot, but I listen to a lot of Indie music as well. Do you read Pitchfork media at all?

MP:  Yeah, sometimes.

ME: Yeah.

MP: I mean, Blaq Poet’s album was dope, and I liked the new 50 cent mix tape recently put out; a lot of the stuff put out by Duck Down has been sick as well.

ME: For sure. Well…one more Pete Rock question. Pete loves to use Mountain’s “Long Red” for his drums a lot (I believe it’s the snare in particular). Is there a go-to record that you use for your drums?

MP: There isn’t, but there are like, 4 or 5 popular break records which I might usually start with,  but usually when I’m listening for things If I hear something for drums I’ll keep a reminder to load that up on the MPC and work with it.

ME: Well that actually brings me to the next question because now there’s sample sets for lots of producers, I have a friend (Ivan, from Hip hop is read) who puts these sample sets out for classic hip hop records. Now everyone has the samples at their disposal. Because of that, do you think it’s easier or harder nowadays for aspiring hip hop producers to make music with the information so easy to find?

MP: You know, it kills a bit of the integrity of looking for something, you know? I think a producer should pay his dues and dig in the crates like the legends did, but sometimes I understand records can be so hard to find! So if I’m looking for a sample, and it happens to be on a rare 45’’ record, you better believe I’m downloading that, you know?! We’re in a recession, so it’s definitely good to have that convenience, but…it takes away from the experience at the same time.

ME: Exactly, I’m a purist myself so I know where your coming from.  You use the MPC 2000XL right?

MP: Yes.

ME:  Are you familiar with Jel from Anticon?

MP: Yeah. They guy who does the live videos? He’s definitely on a professional level.

ME: How about Davinci from the soliloquists of sound?

MP: Isn’t that the guy who uses the drop back in his video?

Me: I think so.

MP: Yeah I saw that the other day; don’t know how I feel about that; you could open a lot of evils with that.

ME:  Agreed. If you remember:  what are the last 5 records you sampled?

ESG, Trapped In Africa soundtrack, a bunch of random Spanish records…I also like finding sound bites from different break records, and special things like that.

ME: Very good. You worked with Duck Down, you got a good name going on the east coast scene so if you had to pick one… Enta Da Stage, or Cuban Linx?

MP: PSH. Tough one, yeah; I don’t know they’re like, two different vibes for me, but I’d probably go with Cuban Linx just because of the particular time I n my life when I heard it. Not to say Cuban Linx is necessarily better than Enta Da Stage but Cuban Linx definitely got more run from me. Definitely love Enta Da Stage, one of the best hip hop records I’ve ever heard in my lifetime.

ME: Definitely. Well I think that wraps it up for me, I’m glad I got to talk some hip hop with you man.

MP: Yeah no doubt, sorry about the delay recording got pushed back a bit

ME: No problem, and for the folks reading, you have a new record out on duck down soon?

MP: Yeah me and Torae dropped Double Barrel this month..

ME: That’s wassup. Stay up Marco!

MP: You too man!

Marco Polo & Torae’s “Double Barrel” is out now, and can be purchased directly from Marco’s Myspace page

Peep the video for the single “Party Crashers”:

You inspired so many of us. There’s so much we could (and will say) but for now…

It feels like something epic was taken away from us.

Your shoes will remain unfilled.

Your always in our hearts.

Speak your piece reader…we’re definitely gonna be doing a longer post on this, but for now…

The floor is yours.

Is it any surprise that during a recession people get more crafty to make ends meet? A local pizza parlor in the bronx was recently taken down by the feds for trying to kill two birds with one stone by taking orders for both pizza pies and cocaine. Once the orders were made, the cocaine would be hid inside the same box as the pizza and delivered to the customer. Thats pretty slick, but people always end up getting ratted on when they try to do things in this manner. I remember my homie used to go to this spot a town over from us to buy bobby brown bags of tree’s when he was jonesin’ for an L. I’d go for the ride just for kicks and because I thought it was pretty dope that you could buy 20 bags of sweedish fishes at the same spot you could buy a 20 bag of dank. Well one day we took the 20 minute drive to the spot and there was caution tape all over the place and it looked stripped. it was quite obvious a roach ratted and we all know what happens next when they open their traps – A raid. But what else could they expect with such an out in the open operation catering to any and everyones addiction with no discretion. The same could be said for these dough kneading (Get it?) hustlers. 

Using their pizza shop as a front for drug trafficking, the dough that this organization made was not from the sale of pizza but rather illegal narcotics. Through concentrated law enforcement efforts this organization’s brick ovens have been shut down,” said DEA Special Agent-In-Charge John P. Gilbride.

Nearly 20 pounds of cocaine, about $20,000 in cash, and four guns were seized by the Drug Enforcement Agency at John Pizzeria on Westchester Avenue. The suspects allegedly used at least four stash houses within walking distance of the pizzeria, where the gang then package varying amounts of cocaine.

“It must be alarming to find out that your neighborhood pizza parlor is a haven for a wholesale cocaine operation,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “Out of state ‘take out’ customers went to the pizza parlor to pick up their orders, often using pizza boxes to conceal the $32,000 to $42,000 worth of cocaine they had just purchased. Other customers received their narcotics delivered to pre-arranged locations in the Bronx.”

Officer Gildbride must have ran home to his wife to brag about how clever he was for coming up with that little quip. And no, it’s not surprising Mrs. Brennan. You act like you didn’t know Jimmy Spicoli’s dad from down the street was running number out of the local meat deli. The bronx has been a hustler paradise for all races long before you were an itch in you daddys pants. 

And the hustle continues…