Interview: Hanzo Reiza3
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2012 is already off to a good start, especially for my iPod. With the release of Happy New Year 2012 by Julian Nagano, I was introduced to producer & emcee Hanzo Reiza. Representing London, Hanzo Reiza produces music with character and soul. Like his namesake, Hanzo’s music is a little unorthodox, and at times even a little quirky–sampling everything from scenes of Samurai flicks he’s fond of to looping snippets of old throw back R&B jams and incorporating them into his beats and songs. I’ve been listening to a handful of his tracks for about a week and a half now, so I figured, “Hey…first interview of 2012? Why not.”
Tiffny: What’s up? How was your New Year?
Hanzo Reiza: I’m Good, Happy New Year to you too & to everyone out there.
Tiffny: Happy New Year to you too! Alright so, um…there’s not much info out there about you. I figured, why not get it from the source: Can you tell us a little about “Hanzo Reiza”?
Hanzo Reiza: I’m an underground emcee, Ninja slash producer slash Music Maniac. I’m from London and I am a bare bones musician with minimal equipment that loves to make noise (Good Noise). Check out my home pages @ Youtube & soundloud for a little more about the Reiza.
Tiffny: I’m guessing you choose the name ‘Hanzo Reiza’ based on Hanzo The Razor [click]. Am I right?
Hanzo Reiza: Yeah!! I love my Samurai films. He is most probably the most unorthodox Samurai character there has ever been and as my style is as unorthodox as he is, it was a no brainer!!
T: How long have you been making music?
HR: I started when I was 16. Though I didn’t carry it on for long, I stopped when I was 18. I picked it up again when I was about 21/22 (on and off though) I only got serious and knuckled down last year (24). Since then I haven’t stopped and created over 160 tracks of my own and with others.
T: What was the first track you ever recorded?
HR: I can’t remember the name but I hated it. I wanted to be a producer at the time, I had no intentions of being an emcee. The beat I made though I loved but I hated the rhyme I wrote.
T: Versus then and now, how do you think you’ve evolved?
HR: I suppose I have got the hang of writing, rhyming and flowing to the beat. Though I’m still learning everyday and still evolving.
FREE Download Hanzo Reiza – WAR 2012 by theRealHanzoReiza
T: Would you ever do a remix to one of your first tracks and feature yourself? That’d be dope.
HR: That would be crazy, I wanted to Re-do “BLAM” (my first 3 verse plus chorus track I did), “Dead men – Dead men” & “Ha, Ha ,Ha” so yeah I wouldn’t mind going back and feature myself!! Though I think the new me will sound better as I now own a SM58 where as before I used my built in mic on my Mac to record (lol)
T: Let’s talk about your music affiliations. You’re a part of several different crews…or are they all just different parts of one crew? Fill us in.
HR: Well Dispatch Japan (Babel Project) is like a family to me, my brother SO1 contacted me and said he liked my work and track “Ninja Theme” so he asked if I would like to represent and I have been doing so ever since. B!G Bills is my personal team as is Wolf Ninjas, both are part of Dispatch Japan just like Killarmy is to Wu-Tang.
T: Ok, well speaking of music affiliations, how did you link up with Julian Nagano. He’s a friend to CrayonBeats, and honestly that’s how I came across your music–from the Happy New Year 2012 track you guys did together.
HR: I heard Julian before he was J-U (when he was Chikatetsu) and I really liked his Klooz’s “Like a Game Rmx” I found out later he changed his name when on twitter. So I say it was part youtube and part twitter (BTW Go check out Happy New Year 2012 and DL it people “Respect”). [Download "Happy New Year 2012" here]
T: The internet has definitely made the world a smaller place. If you could produce an album for or feature on a track with an emcee that you’ll never meet in person, which would you choose, who would you choose, and why?
HR: I’ll choose to feature on a track with Kool G Rap, the reason being that every time I hear his work I’m literally blown away. My verse wouldn’t survive on the beat along side his but it would be an honour to meet such a legend in the game.
T: Who influences your style in both production and rap?
HR: Production would be hard to say as there are great producers out there from Primo, RZA,Onra, Himuki, TOMOZ, Budamunk & Legro. Even underground producers like my brothers KO, YDN of BIG Bills, Atsu of Japanovas, Rhybow, Mephisto, Dj Bandeira, Gesubeatz, Pandaillburning, Ko35H32, 12eLegoblock, Hasan, Samuraicosmetick, dadajpn the list goes on. With rap I would say Big Pun, Wu-Tang & Kool G Rap. ‘My top 3′.
T: You recently tweeted that you were “writing through writer’s block”; how do you draw inspiration when you feel like the well is dry?
HR: I put one of these three albums on then I get that spark back “36 Chambers” “Roots of evil” or “Capital Punishment”.
FREE DL Pro. @ssstttooo ft. Hanzo Reiza – THOUGHTS by theRealHanzoReiza
T: RANDOM: What’s your favorite candy? If you don’t eat candy, what’s wrong with you?
HR: Hahaha Something is wrong with me!!
T: I’m not even gonna lie; ever since I heard the HNY 2012 track I’ve been trolling your SoundCloud. Is it fair to say that it’s a good representation of what’s to come on your upcoming album M.A.P. 2012 (Music Always Prevails)?
HR: Oh M.A.P 2012 is a Single and all my 2012 labeled work is what’s to be expected in my up and coming EP “Miller six Technique” Produced by Mephisto. (Miller six is a character played by Wang Yu in 36th Chambers of Shaolin BTW)
Free Download HANZO REIZA – B!G BILLS THEME Free Download by theRealHanzoReiza
T: Since we’re on the topic, when’s it dropping?
HR: Well I hope to have M.A.P 2012 out for My birth date of the 4th next month and M.S.T for late Feb.
T: Do you have any features on the album that you’re particularly excited about having on the album?
HR: Well for the EP it is being done by me though I do have features coming up with Enigmo, Japanovas, stouch & SO1 that I’m really looking forward to.
T: Will this be your first full length album?
HR: Not yet I’m afraid. I will keep you informed on my works though so maybe soon I’ll have good news to share with you all.
T: RANDOM: With the single’s name creating an acronym that spells out “map”, where in the globe have you gone and where would you like to go?
HR: I’ve been to France and Japan and would like to go back to both now that I have met great people from both countries.
Free Download Hanzo Reiza – W.O.R.D by theRealHanzoReiza
T: What are you wanting to accomplish this year in terms of your music?
HR: Make more good music. More Collabs as there are many talented artists out there. If anything comes to fruition then that would be a bonus but I’m not holding my breath.
T: Alrighty then, last question: Is there anything you want to say to the people out there reading this?
HR: In the words of Morihei Ueshiba “As soon as you concern yourself with the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.”
I would like to also send thanks plus all my respect to everyone that has represented me by listening to my work, featured me and remixed my tracks and to everyone that I have got to know “BIG UP” and keep doing you as you’re an inspiration to me. Respect to Karma the Zipper, Moment, Seiko, Zero, Young Blaze, Dj Glock for the features too.
p.s All my love to Crayon Beats. 1 Respect – 1 World – 1 Hope.
Hanzo Reiza: Twitter | Soundcloud | Youtube
*******
Right back at ‘cha! Thanks again for doing this interview with me, and we’ll be anticipating your upcoming releases!
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HELLO,This is RHYBOW!#LDN2JPN #JPN2LDN
I praise Hanzo Reiza’s HIPHOP ethics.
You can check”RHYBOW & HANZO Reiza/R&R”on my YOUTUBE.
http://www.youtube.com/rhybow
Thank you!!!
RESPECT HANZO REIZA FROM S.KOREA!
Hey, RHYBOW! Thanks for dropping by. I checked ou the track and you guys keep up the dope work! seriously, loving the sounds!!