Album Premiere and Interview with Wrecking Crew MC Curly Castro
Restroy & Debuild
Curly Castro is a man with a wolverine's growl, a samurai's sharpness, a nerd's layered comic book references, and a film buffs knowledge of characters and quotes. He is a key member of the Philidelphia based Wrecking Crew along with Zilla Rocca, Has-Lo, Small Professor, Castle and PremRock. He spits with fire, frustration and passion in every rhyme. He raises two ninja cats, has locks, quotes Malcolm X AND Guy Ritchie films with equal ease and conviction, and recently sat down with me to give SYFFAL an exclusive sneak peek into the thoughts and sounds of Restroy & Debuild.
Curly Castro laced me with an advanced copy of his newest album and I had the chance to sit with it; soak in the sharp lyricism, socially relevant content, and gritty boom-bap raw aesthetic.
The album is as much a social commentary, as it is the soundtrack to your train ride. It is heavy in its reflection exploring the worth and value of black lives right now in a climate of murder and injustice.But it's also raw ass raps over raw ass beats, by a raw ass MC and his friends.
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SYFFAL: Curly Castro, MC, dreaded cat master, wrecking crew member and Guy Ritchie lover. You have a new album "Restroy & Debuild" dropping right now. What can you tell the fuckers reading the idea behind the name and album is?
Curly Castro: Restroy & Debuild was borne out of two ideals. One, the classic Nas assault "Destroy & Rebuild" which was Nas at his cannibalistic best. Tearing fellow eMCess to shreds with Sabretooth-metaphors. I saw a potential in reversing that sentiment. To Restroy & Debuild. Which brings us to the second ideal.
Two, to resurrect the dying art of the "Posse Cut". This record is reminiscent of Def Jux Presents III meets Soundbombing 2. I felt the anticipation of past Posse cuts, that feeling, was extinct. I wanted to reform that ole favorite of rap fans everywhere, in my Wrecking Crew image. So I set out like Jubei to recruit for my Ninja Scroll X. I gathered like-minded Samurai to swing Parallel-Blades, and leave rap scenes serrated like the good ole days. Lol.
SYFFAL: You had DJ Fakts One produce the whole record correct? How did that connection come together and out of all the talented producers you know, why Fakts?
Curly Castro: Fakts is an icon to me. Real talk. I was a religious follower of The Perceptionists and Black Dialogue (their single opus). So I reached out haphazardly one day. And found Fakts to be of kindred spirit. And still weilding those uber-skilled production and Dj attributes. So over a few years. Some beats were forged. Some swords were selected. And to War we went.
SYFFAL: Why pay focus to posse cuts with this album?! You show the depth and importance on "Debuild" with its dumb talented line up, but why make sure that was a focal point?
Curly Castro: I came up when Label compilations were met with great anticipation. When 'Indelible MC's' was seen on the credits, you knew the wake to come would be massive. Nowadays posse cuts are marathon celebrity red carpets or the same 'posse' over saturates the practice; Five emcees who feature on EVERYTHING. The mystique was lost. Nas on a Mobb Deep track used to be an event. Now it's just an automatic download you didn't want, cross-promotion for blue tooths or something. I wanted to bring it back to its original prominence. I always say "Man sharpens Man, like Steel sharpens Steel." The challenge to meet one's peers, and excel, is necessary to the evolution of the work.
SYFFAL: There is an obvious political tone to all of this. I especially love "By Any Malcolm Necessary". What's the idea thematically in that, and how has shit lately effected what you wrote about (IE: Michael Brown and the over abundance of cops killing black folks)?
Curly Castro: If anyone is familiar with my works in the slightest, then one is aware that my default setting is ReBel. On my past opus, Fidel, that was moor than prevalent. On Restroy & Debuild, my approach was more subtle. Tracks like "Emmett Still" relay how I feel about the daily assassination of our young/old/alive black men. It is STILL happening, just like it did to young Emmett Till we are persecuted, STILL we are targeted, STILL we are seen as Chattel, STILL. I am rebellion personified, so these issues will always be addressed, On every project of mine. Sometimes I Riot slow, sometime I Riot quick. "by Any Malcolm Necessary" is just a life-mantra. Face all obstacles, as did Malcolm, even with a semi-auto peeking out your Blinds.
SYFFAL: You, Zilla Rocca and Has-Lo form the Wrecking Crew, along with long time collaborators Small Professor, Castle & PremRock. How important do you feel that support of each other is to your own musical career? How did you guys all connect?
Curly Castro: Wrecking Crew is important because it wasn't set out to be. We are all friends, who just happen to make music, who just happen to make music together, who just happen to trust one another, who just happen to be ill. We connected thru a variety of ways, former clicks, old circles, out-of-town shows, being like-minded, and seeing how we were all A-Alikes. The Fates handled the rest.
SYFFAL: You've got this gravely fucking vocal tone that is menacing, soothing and full of so much character. Do you gargle whisky regularly to keep the tone even or do you just wake up sounding that aggressively cool?
Curly Castro: For the record, I HATE my rap voice. Always have. Most emcees do. Lol. So maybe I lack perspective. But I used to be a Dementor way back when, and smoked a whole lot of Sirius Black in my day. So maybe it's that.
SYFFAL: You've recently appeared on several Armand Hammer/billy woods releases, and there seems to be a strong connection in style and content. What's it like building with those dudes? Do you guys compare who's vocal tone is the coolest, because it's a hard fucking choice for me. You all sound crazy together.
Curly Castro: As far as my interaction/feature-work with Backwoodz Studioz, it's built on an adamantium-based mutual respect. I respect what they do and vice versa, so sharing a chamber on song is only natural. Plus you can't show weakness with them. Lol. You don't want to be buried alive on a track, so you better bring your Valyrian Blades or something!! We share similar sentiments as well. woods, Elucid, and I are all Public Enemy No. One's. Modern day Geronimo Pratt's. So of course we like to strike first.
SYFFAL: Because you've made some awesome layered replies sprinkled with either comic book or sci-fi references I'm going to ask a layered question. Favorite comic book hero/villain! Favorite sci-fi movie?
Curly Castro: Colossus (fav Hero) / Lobo (of DC/ fav Villain) Tron(original) / Matrix trilogy / Akira / Videodrome (fav Sci-Fi movie).
SYFFAL: Who are some groups you looked at as a young Castro that made you say "fuck male modeling. Im going to be an MC and talk about my experiences as a black man, Guy Ritchie movies and comic books!"?
Curly Castro: Public Enemy undoubtably, Company Flow, De La Soul, Ice Cube AND The Lynch Mob, Smiff N Wessun, Heltah Skeltah, Intelligent Hoodlum, OC, Camp Lo, and now: Shabazz Palaces. As far as groups go, the list can be infinite. When I was growing up, Hip-Hop was airborne. You could pluck it right outta your atmosphere. Systems were Boomin' from everywhere. Land, Air, and Headphones.
SYFFAL: Let's say Restroy & Debuild is out and people have listened to it. What do you Hope they take away from it? Do you hold onto expectations at all when you put music out?
Curly Castro: Expectations are a slippery slope at times. You never know how fans are gonna respond. So you release material and hope that your craft is appreciated.
SYFFAL: Let's pretend our readers live in a deep dark hole, and they don't know who you are. I'll slap them later, but tell them what they should expect from the album and what this album means to you.
Curly Castro: Expect eMCees of the highest Ronin order. And a loose guillotine or three. Understand the discipline of "company you keep" and know our blades are serrated equally. And just expect the constant quality that Wrecking Crew, Curly Castro, & Fakts One always bring.
SYFFAL: Wrecking Crew has been cast to film a remake of JUICE, who plays who?!!?!
Curly Castro: Zilla Rocca is Raheem. Has-Lo is Q. Small Pro is Steel. Castle is Blizz. PremRock is half-Radames/half-Special Ed cameo. And I'm Bishop.
SYFFAL: Favorite track off Restroy & Debuild?! For the record, mine is "Sun-Eater"
Curly Castro: Can't choose between your kids Sun. Foster, Bebe's, Karma, or otherwise.
SYFFAL: What do you have coming once this record his the ears and souls of the people?! What's next for the Jedi that is Curly Castro?!?!
Curly Castro:After this Shrapnel-bomb, is my next solo LP - Tosh. It's a Dub-Hip-Hop Sunspot, in a bottomless Chalice. Just brace for the Black Wake.