We speak with American DJ / MC / producer Prolific about his new hip hop infused dnb album Loyalty Amongst Thieves on Foulplay Records. Prolific has featured on a ton of other drum & bass and dubstep tracks and other various mixtapes. Originally a hip-hop head, he has three album releases with his group Nonstopkrooks which consists of Freddy Cojaxx and himself.

What were the processes in the album's creation?

As far as the creation of this particular project it started with my hip hop tunes. After a while I just started contacting big name MCs in the hip hop scene and sending them my beats with the concepts and everything came together perfectly.  I think a lot of the artists were impressed with the raps from Freddy Cojaxx and I, the production, the engineering, the cuts and the overall product so I feel blessed to even be on tracks with half these guys.  

Each individual dnb remix I did with each artist I kind of told them what I was looking for and everything I got back was great. We only had a few revisions out of the 18 tracks on the album. As far as the foundation for the album I just wanted to do something different and lay claim to something nobody else has done.  It was about the sacrifice of all the artists around me not doing the "pay me big bucks thing" and wanting to be a part of a big project.  Putting their style and their mark on each piece of each track. That's what made this album so fresh for me.

Were the American hip hop MCs concerned how it might turn out on their behalf?

You know, it's funny you ask this question because so many hip hoppers love dnb. It's almost like your cousin that comes around every so often and you go party with for a week and then don't see him for a while.  Everybody that works with me knows I'm a straight business man and I'm always focused on progressing to the next level so I feel that nobody was skeptical of anything. I think that people would rather be a part of something unique and fresh than the same shit everyone else is doing all the time.

How did you manage to blend the dnb and hip hop so well in the production?

Real hip hop has always had a street edge to it. You think of old schoolers like Gangstarr, KRS1 and De La Soul to the new schoolers like Ill Bill, Jedi Mind Tricks and Necro. It's all hard-hitting in-your-face hip hop.  This is what I latched onto as an artist and why it mixes so well with the progressive and techy dnb.

The original hip hop songs were really good so for the dnb producers it was simple; just chop this shit up and make bangers that people would dance to.  My vision is all about the people.  How can I make them dance while at the same time having that real hard edge that has made me who I am today?  This is what I shoot for with everything we do.  We don't just release something to release it; anyone will tell you with me and my label it's always high-fidelity and quality production with fresh concepts.

The cover and intro track seem straight out of a Cypress Hill production...

I remember being like 12-years-old getting high listening to Cypress.  Dope group that had some effects on my overall life, maybe not so much in the music business though.  The art was done by Durte Genius who does art for Kanye's label, B-boy world, and other well-known clients. Once he shot me the first take I knew it was too hot so we just went with it.  

As far as the intro track, it was written by a6 [Prodigal Son's hip hop alias]. We plan on releasing the full version with the Spragga hook with a feature from Sean Price.  I wanted a strong intro track and going through all the beat and joints I had available and this seemed to be the one that fit the album best.

The title Loyalty Amongst Thieves is a saying we have in the streets.  There is always a loyalty amongst thieves and I'm sure if you have common sense you would know it's about brotherhood and respect and staying true to yourself.

Words: James Barclay

Prolific presents: Loyalty Amongst Thieves will be released on a CD featuring 13 tracks, while the digital download includes five bonus tracks.

CD Tracklist

1. Prolific ft. Spragga Benz - War
2. Prolific ft. Copywrite, Cojaxx, and Kice - Big Business (Raiden Rmx)
3. Prolific ft. Saga Renaissance Rap (Zardonic Rmx)
4. Direct Feed and Mainframe ft. Prolific - Click Click VIP
5. Prodigal Son ft. Crayz Walz, Cojaxx, Critical and Doc Demeyez- Kids That Want To Battle
6. Prolific ft. Cojaxx - Assasination (Kid Kryptic Rmx)
7. Prolific ft. Cojaxx and Planetary - This Is For My Hustlas (SPKTRM Rmx)
8. Prolific, Sabac Red of Nonphixion, and C-rayz Walz - Progress (Gein Rmx)
9. Prolific, Ricky Raw, and CL - Public Eye (Mayhem Rmx)
10. Prolific ft. Goretex of Nonphxion and Cojaxx - Street Level (Mumblz and Switch Tech Rmx)
11. Prolific ft. Cojaxx and Kice - Give You What You Need (Infiltrata Rmx)
12. Hellabent ft. Prolific - Pull Out Ya Glock
13. Prolific - Bangin Headz - (KillSwitch Rmx)

Bonus Digital Download Tracks

1. Mark Tailor - Everybody Knows ft. Prolific & Cojaxx
2. Bazz Williams - Nothing Else To Give ft. Prolific, Kice of Course & Cojaxx
3. Prodigal Son - You Ain't Fuckin' With This ft. Prolific, Critical & Madness
4. Sighnature - Elephantitus ft. Kosha Dillz
5. Mark Tailor - Poetic Disorder ft. Prolific & Saga

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