B-Man: My first memory of hip hop is hearing the Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache" break or either hearing a grimy sounding 12 inch copy of Audio Two's "Top Billin".
Triza: I would have to say my first memory is meeting Salt & Pepa and Spinderella. I was about four years old and they came to this party my uncle was DJ’ing. I got a slow dance from them and got some CD's. Just the whole vibe i got from them made me want to be a part of music.
MVRemix: For those who don't know who you are, introduce yourselves.
B-Man: This ya boy B-Man, half of The EQuiKnockZ.
Triza: This is ya boy Triza. Half of of The EQuiKnockZ I should get that hustler of the year award. We are really about to take over the game. So be on the lookout.
MVRemix: Why the names B-Man and Triza?
B-Man: When I was younger my grandma use to call me Maine and my cousin used to call me B-Man so it stuck.... Maine turned into Man. Get it?
Triza: Everybody in my family calls me Tre'. So one day i was playing PS2 with my cousins and he was talking all this junk, saying he was gonna beat me. You know how it is when you playing Madden. So he kept saying Triza Tre'. So Triza just kinda stuck
MVRemix: How did the name EQuiKnockZ come about?
B-Man: Triza, I’ma let you answer this one.
Triza: One day me and B was like, “Yo we are gonna get serious about this music thing. So we was looking in the dictionary. And we saw Equinox. So we changed the spelling to mean what we thought. We EQ a lot of sounds. And we gotta have the subs that knock. So that's basically where we got our name from.
MVRemix: What has been the toughest thing for you to learn with regards to production?
B-Man: The hardest thing is I how to mix a record. I'm still learning.
Triza: I would have to say keeping your style fresh. Just about reinventing yourself.
MVRemix: What was the one album each of you listened to over and over growing up?
B-Man: I got a couple... When I was younger, it was Kriss Kross's "Totally Krossed Out." Then it moved to Dre's "The Chronic," to The Fugees' "The Score" to Lauryn Hill's "The Mis-Education Of Lauryn Hill," Jay-Z's "The Blueprint," to Kanye West's "The College Dropout." I don't think I've gone a whole week without listening to this album at least once"… To Kanye's "Late Registration." As you can see, I'm inspired by homeboy.
Triza: Erykah Badu “Baduzim Live." That was my joint. My family listen to it for at least 2 hours everyday for about two or three years.
MVRemix: Tell us a little about your collaborations with Dipset and Paul Wall and how they came about.
B-Man: Well, as you know, we contacted Spliff like 4 months before the "Missing You" track came about and we hadn't heard anything from them so we're like, I guess they didn't like it. So one day we get up and check our email and Mayhem ( S.A.S.) had emailed us saying that they wanted the track and the rest is history. I'ma let Triza tell you about the Paul Wall situation.
Triza: We hit up Paul Wall on the sidekick. He is probably one of the most down to earth cats I’ve talked to probably besides RZA. So I came up with the idea for us to do a mixtape to promote his new website www.grillsbypaulwall.com. He was loving the idea. So we getting everything together now.
MVRemix: What are you currently working on?
B-Man: Well, first of all, we got a mixtape coming out and the rest.; we gone keep y'all on y'all’s tippy toes..
MVRemix: For those that haven't heard your music, how would you describe your style or sound?
B-Man: Mine is a sample based, synthesized subbed out style.
Triza: We got mixtapes coming, a ring tone website, our Artist Shane, and probably getting into the clothing business. And for those who haven't heard my style it’s real hard drums, crazy synths and lots of subs. We are separate producers and we produce together.
MVRemix: It seems these days there are few Hip Hop fans, everyone takes a role. Is the whole situation with that a good or bad thing - the fact that the genre has few people who are solely fans.
B-Man: I think that that’s a bad thing because if hip hop keeps losing fans, who will buy the music and who will want to sample our music when we're 60 years old. You know? We gotta provide for the hip hop community and bring back the lyricist side in my opinion.
Triza: It just seems like everything is getting to simple and people are selling out. Hip Hop is a lifestyle and a way of expression. The money is just a bonus. But a lot of people take the art of music for granted.
MVRemix: What did you think about Three 6 Mafia winning an Oscar?
B-Man: Man, that's a big accomplishment.. I'm proud for them boys. With them winning. I feel like all the African Americans are winning award just because it's a big accomplishment for the hip hop genre.
Triza: It’s just a great thing. Hip Hop has came so far and it’s just good to see people who were on their grind make it and do something big. They deserve it.
MVRemix: How is the Hip Hop and mixtape scene in Virginia?
B-Man: To me, in Virginia..everybody wants to do this. Now if you look at the production side of things... We kinda running it. We got the Neptunes, Timbaland and Missy. As in artists we got Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Skillz, Quan, Tyra, & D'Angelo - sorry if I forgot anyone.
Triza: I don't think it’s as big as it can be. So hopefully we can take it there. So if you see EQuiKnockZ on a mixtape you gotta cop that. Support the Youth [chuckles].
MVRemix: Do you have any non-musical aspirations?
Triza: I wanna own a club. I'm about to go to college and get my business degree.
MVRemix: A la "Fight Club," "If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight?"
B-Man: good question.. Let me put it this way I’m a producer/writer - not a fighter... [laughs]
Triza: I would have to fight Timbaland.
MVRemix: Why and would you win?
Triza: Just because I respect him a lot. It would be a honour to be in the ring with him. I was a boxer for 13 years. So I think I might can take him.
MVRemix: Any last words, shout outs, or plugs?
B-Man: Big shouts out to all of VA. Big shouts out to my lil’ sis Meg, Crystal Goode, my boy P.T., DJ MR. G(UNC)Neal, all of Halifax county High School, all of NC - Especially Greensboro.102 Jamz for showing support. All my fam, Grandma Pearl and Marie. I love you both unconditionally, Jay-Esco, S.A.S., Paul Wall, Cory Gunz, Brandon D. Man, y'all already know VA & NC... Stand up!
Triza: I gotta give a shout out to VA, NC, MD. They all like my homes. Jami, Meg, Dj Mr G, HCHS, Kidd Wonder, Our manager Jay Rob, Paul Wall, S.A.S, RZA, D.O.E. And if I forgot anybody im sorry. Check out our MySpace page www.myspace.com/eqkz. And thanks MVRemix for this interview. I hope we can do it again.
