Welcome to the Strange version of Hip-Hop Soul.

Myone, Myth and Symbolyc One (S1) are Strange Fruit Project. Three emcees who continue to set trends as not your typical southern hip-hop group, all hail from Texas.

The group has made a huge impact in a short period of time.

Through innovative production and creative lyrics their music separates them from many independent artists. Strange’s 2004 release, Soul Travelin’, was an underground beat banging collector’s item which included hip-hop and soul at the root of its origin.

The new SFP’s 2006 LP, The Healing, is nothing short of a classic, carving out their own niche in this hip-hop game, earning respect as emcees and original songwriters.

The Healing includes a young dream team of producers such as Jake One (G-Unit, Lloyd Banks, De La Soul), Illmind (Common, Dave Ghetto, Supastition), 9th Wonder (Little Brother, Jay Z, Destiny’s Child, Mary J. Blige) Nicolay (Foreign Exchange) and Vitamin D (Rah Digga, Kardinal Offishall, Black Sheep, Choklate, Blackalicious) just to name a few.

The Healing also includes special guests: Little Brother, Darien Brockington and singer/songwriter Thesis.

We managed to grab the guys for a quick interview on FMCS…

FMCS: Hi guys how’s things?

SFP: Cool just on the road grindin’

FMCS: Tell us where you are right now?

SFP: We are in Washington D.C. doing some promotions with XM Radio.

FMCS: And how’s things going with Strange Fruit Project?

SFP: Things are cool. Just trying to continue to work hard and expose our brand of music to as many people as possible.

FMCS: Are you getting the positive feedback you deserve and is the inspiration to keep climbing strong?

SFP: We are getting positive feedback on our new project with Spilt Milk and Om hip hop. We continue to push forward and do what we do best, make good music. We are our own inspirations as well as the fans who have continued to support us since the days of From Divine.

FMCS: What can we expect from you guys in the coming months?

SFP: Way more shit hot music and more hard work.

FMCS: Gunnar tells us you are expected in Europe soon. Are dates set yet? where can we catch you?

SFP: The dates are set, October 20th -27th, I think. London, Leicester, Manchester, etc… For more info checkout www.myspace.com/strangefruitproject

FMCS: Is this your first time in Europe? and especially England?

SFP: Yes this is our first time to Europe, should be a great time we always wanted to head out this way.

FMCS: Benji B and Gilles Peterson have been spinning your records on their BBC shows for a while now and spreading the word.

SFP: Benji and Gilles have been playing our music for a while, since 2003, to be exact. Long before The Healing was even a thought.

Hopefully we’ll get to meet those guys and thank them for their support throughout the past few years.

FMCS: What’s the scene like in Texas? You guys don’t exactly fit into the ‘dirty south’ scene that is going strong there?

SFP: Actually there’s a lot of diversity is Texas, but most people who aren’t from Texas don’t take the time to find out.

Dallas, Austin, Houston and all surrounding cities have their underground heads as well as your more radio friendly artists. We’ve never claimed to be ‘dirty south’, just claimed to make good music focused on hit records and hope the feedback and support catches up with us at some point.

We’ll never stop tryin!

FMCS: Each member of the group sings and raps as emcees. Who takes care of the beat production?

SFP: S1 aka Symbolyc One

FMCS: What was it like workin with Ghostface Killah on the 2005, Strange Fruit released single, Milk’em? That’s a slamming track by the way! (Milk’em with Ghostface Killah topped the CMJ charts via Rapattacklives.com, July 2005)

SFP: Working on a record with such a well respected artist was a pleasure for all of us. We thank L.A. based label ‘Sound In Color’ and our label Spilt Milk for making that happen. Hopefully the fans and public enjoyed the record as much as we did making it…

FMCS: Who is inspiring you right now music wise?

SFP: Strange Fruit Project

FMCS; Thanks for the time! Any shout outs?

SFP: Big up to our Black Son crew, Spilt Milk and OM hip-hop. Keep good music alive people…alive.

Video Interview

“Most of my iPod is just a random 9000 song trip and occasionally I have to walk up to it/pull it out of the pocket and see who it is. The artist I did that the most to was Strange Fruit Project (From Divine/Soul Travelin’)”

- Ahmir ‘QuestLove’ Thompson of The Roots.

“I love their neo-underground feel. Their hooks are crazy. I could listen to them for a long time. Sounds good.”

– Pete Rock reviewing SFP in COMPLEX

“Breezy grooves, cozy with rich bass lines and jazzy samples.”

– VIBE

Site: www.strangefruitproject.com
Label Site: www.om-records.com