Q&A: The Hood Internet

STV SLV, 1/2 of The Hood Internet

The Hood Internet is making a serious run at dominating the world of mash-ups, that quirky musical category achieved by blending an instrumental version of a song with (an often very different) vocal from another. The group’s inventive and witty mixes often combine hip-hop or R&B with indie rock or electronic music. In the world of The Hood Internet, rapper T.I. gets funky with rockers Liars (“Byzantium Shit Poppin’”), while indie darlings Modest Mouse jams with Lil Wayne (“Fire It Up, Firemouse”) and Destiny’s Child rubs up with Justice (“Lose My Waters of Naza(b)reath”).

The duo, ABX (Aaron Brink) and STV SLV (Steve Reidell) formed in Chicago, but recently became a long-distance dedication when ABX moved to Brooklyn in September. The strange fruits of their loom, which might be powered by a bit too much cough syrup, are available for daily download at their blog.
    
How and when did The Hood Internet form?
ABX: The Hood Internet began last March when STV set up the blog and started posting stuff. We met long before that and have played in our band together for the past four years. We have similar music interests and we both had the technical know-how to make our own mixes.

You use such a wide-range of music to make your mash-ups. Do you ever make a track using an original song or artist that you don’t like?
ABX: I did one that mixed R. Kelly’s song “Rockstar” with Jens Lekman. I love R. Kelly, but I thought that song was the worst thing on his new record, probably mostly due to the stupid Kid Rock guitars and backing vocals. I think the version I did sounds much more natural as an R. Kelly track, but then again he is always hotter on a remix.

STV SLV: I did a Datarock/50 Cent track, and I generally don’t like 50 Cent.  But I do like Formula 50 Vitamin Water because it is grape flavored. When I was a kid I used to sneak a spoonful of Dimetapp here and there—it’s kind of the original Vitamin Water.

What are your all-time favorite tracks that you’ve done?
ABX: My favorite of mine is R. Kelly vs. Broken Social Scene, “I’m a Flirt (Shoreline).” My favorite of STV’s is Khia vs. Dan Deacon, “Snatch the Cat Back.”

STV SLV: The Destiny’s Child/Justice track I did is probably my best. ABX’s Kels/Broken Social Scene is pretty unbeatable, though his Glass Candy/The Pack joint is a hot one.

I heard you actually made a whole mixtape of mash-ups of songs done by The Pack, a great up-and-coming rap group from the Bay Area. How did you meet up with them, since you are based in Chicago and New York?
STV SLV: After ABX dropped a mix of The Pack with Crystal Castles, their management contacted us about remixing their EP and some songs from their new record, and we were totally into the idea. We’ve actually never even met those dudes.

What else are you working on at the moment?
STV SLV: ABX and I are working on the next Hood mixtape, which should be
out later this month. I’ve also been slowly putting together a short mixtape with all Chicago rappers and bands. Plus we’re trying to keep the site updated as regularly as possible.

What are your top tips for people thinking about making their own mash-ups?
ABX: If there is singing, make sure that the songs are in the same key. Turning the title into a pun is great, but don’t pick bad songs for a mildly amusing song name. Don’t use anything off Jay-Z’s Black Album. It’s been done—a lot.

Who are some of your mash-up influences or colleagues that you think are really good?
ABX: I don’t listen to a lot of mash-ups, but I like the idea of having colleagues…like as if we were some kind of mash-up academics and would attend conferences together. Girl Talk is great. Flosstradamus had some hot mash-ups a while back, but I think they’ve been putting their energies into other things. STV SLV is a big influence on my work.

STV SLV: I’ve heard good tracks from Them Jeans, Certified Bananas and Girl Talk, who is really on a whole different level—he’s like the Cassetteboy of mash-ups.

What can people expect from your performance at CMJ (with Matt & Kim and Flosstradamus)?
STV SLV: People can expect to hear a lot of tracks we’ve worked on; we’re gonna try to keep it pretty upbeat and hopefully get people moving before Flosstradamus blows it up. In terms of visuals, we might bring some lights or wear ties or something…I don’t know yet.

The Hood Internet plays the Metromix New York CMJ showcase on Saturday, Oct. 20 with Matt & Kim, Flosstradamus and Art Goblins. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. $5 tickets are available in advance. That’s cheap! Photo by Rob Warner.