KWT Exclusive: KWT x 151 Feva Gang (Interview)

KWT promised you an interview, and we came through. Naturally. For those who aren't familiar, 151 Feva Gang is Dapper Don and Kherk Cobain, from Jersey. I won't go into too much detail, as I'll let them speak for themselves. Basically,  their specialty is smoking hella kush and making music for when you're in a wild, do-something-regrettable-and-wake-up-not-remembering-it kinda mood. They're not worried about being lyrical, they're in the business of making music to get all crazy and jam to. And turn up your purist nose at them, but everybody needs music to party to.  

If The Hangover 3 is filmed in Jersey, this is the type of music Alan will be getting fucked up to. Get familiar with the unofficial stoner anthem of the summer above, and read the interview after the jump, where the Feva Gang talks influences, Fader.com love, the insignificance of being super-lyrical, and foot-long joints.

TS: For those that aren't up on you guys, what are the basics?

Kherk Cobain: Well, for those who don't know the specific history...there's 151 Feva Gang (the crew) and there's Feva Nation (the music/entertainment label).  Feva Nation is an independent company started by 2 members of 151 Feva Gang (Killa Kherk aka Kherk Cobain and Dapper Don aka Denaro).  The actual 151 Feva Gang is a huge homegrown crew from East Orange's infamous "Down The Hill" neighborhood (which also happens to be the same neighborhood Naughty by Nature is from and was also featured on Gangland's episode for the Double II Bloods). 151 Feva Gang spread from East Orange to Newark and eventually the majority of Northern New Jersey, gaining momentum as one of the largest, wildest, flashiest, trend-settingest, not-giving-a-fuckiest crews to hit the streets. 

We decided to make music at one point.  Uploaded an original song called “Shakin My Dreads” to our myspace, which was written in like half an hour. Somehow someway, somebody at Music Choice Television Network caught wind of it and put it on the cable TV channel.  That's when we realized, yo we go hard, lets take this shit to the next level.  So we decided to put a whole project together and show people how Feva G'z roll.  And they love it.  It's surreal.  I guess the basics are: We got barz, we make dope beats, we really do run the streets, and our style from the fashion to the rappin' is unlike any other. 

TS: Obviously, you guys make hard, street-oriented songs, but also very electronic, club bangers - what are your guys influences?

Kherk Cobain: We are from the streets of New Jersey.  So we have our Jersey Club Music scene which is very electro and dance oriented.... and then you have the actual streets of NJ  (gangs, murders, stolen cars, drugs, crooked cops, etc.). We just illustrate and bring to life both sides of our day to day experiences through our songs. 

Dapper Don: We listen to an array of different styles of music… from East Coast Lyricism, Dirty South Crunkness, Club and House music, you name it. You can probably hear a little of it all in our music. 

Kherk Cobain & Dapper Don

TS: It seems like it would take a certain type of mind-set to make music like yours, do you have a specific recording process?

Dapper Don: Usually all I need when I step in the studio is some FEVA + Sangria (True Blood), Red Bulls, a Dope ass beat, and some of the FINEST greenery around! Our studio sessions normally end up turning into a party lol!

Kherk Cobian: I can't really say that I do.  I listen to my beats in my car.  I write my songs whenever I get some free time.  Then once every 6 months or so I go in the booth and just spaz out.  I guess from our wild party life we just wake up with our energy on level 151!  We rap how we feel, and for the most part, we feel fucking great every day and night! 

TS: Fader.com put everyone onto the stoner jam of the summer – how did “Kush Groove” come about? 

Dapper Don: One night as I was under the influence, I just happened to sit down in front of the computer with the idea of making a song called Kush Groove already. Daft Punk’s “Music Sounds Better With You” just so happens to be one of my favorite songs, so I started chopping up the samples. Once I awoke out of my Kush induced coma, I realized a hit was born! I mean who can argue with the fact that music really does seem to feel and sound better when you’re in that RIGHT mood? Lol!

Kherk Cobain: I honestly have no idea.  We uploaded the video to Youtube and I started promoting it on Twitter.  2 days later we get an email from "The Fader" saying they love what they see and hear.  I was like, this has to a be a joke of some sort.  Once we saw it on the website, I was like, "Hell fuckin yeah, somebody at "The Fader" knows what the fuck they're talking about!"

TS: On “Gold Grillz Piece and Chain” you guys say you don't give a fuck about lyrics, you just need a “banging ass beat”. That's a pretty bold statement. Could you expand on that?

Kherk Cobain: Exactly as it says.  When we write our songs... we're not thinking of clever punchlines, or trying to make the funniest celebrity mentions or whatever typical rappers may do.  We literally look at each other, put the beat on, and write down whatever reflects what we may have went through in the past 2 weeks.  Which usually consists of party, girls, fashion, drugs, some type of violence, and more party!  The lyrics don't matter, it’s the FEELING that the song generates when it’s finished.  You give Feva Gang a bangin ass beat, you got a hit record in the makings.

TS: Can you explain the concept behind your mixtape “The Last Swaggin”, availaible now at www.fevanation.com?

Dapper Don: “T.L.S.” is a glimpse into the FEVA LIFE! It showcases the two sides of our story and style. Disk One aka “SHO’NUFF” represents the more Hip Hop/HardCore side of us, while Disk 2 “THE GLOW” introduces our Party side. We have a House/Club influence that comes from our Jersey roots growing up, so you can hear a lot of that “get up and shake ya assness” to get your night on the town started right on there! The idea of “The Last Swaggin” came from the classic film “The Last Dragon”. We were watching the movie one night and decided it would be dope as a title. We are the Best of the Best, & The Last of our kind, just like my man Bruce Leroy!

The Tape!

TS: You guys performed over Labor Day in Jersey, what was that like?

Dapper Don: It was poppin' as usual! We love performing and Going Gibson! Plus you can’t beat getting paid to do what you love doing. So, we grabbed up the Feva Nation and mobbed out to put on a show! Shouts to Emerald Ent. for bringing us out! You can get a glimpse of what our shows look like on our Youtube channel “FEVAGtv” , if anyone is interested in booking us, you can holla at us at 151FEVA@GMAIL.com

TS: Can you explain what the fan support situation is like for you guys in Jersey?

Dapper Don: It's lovely, not only is our statewide fan base constantly growing, we’ve been getting all types of love and support from all over the world! It feels great knowing that the music we enjoy making is also enjoyed by other people from all walks of life. I love the fact that my music can make someone else who needs that energy, feel better listening to us. 

TS: Plug those bongs you're selling, what do we gotta know about those?

Dapper Don: They were just like a limited edition personal collection people asked about so we had some on deck, but I’m currently looking to make some from scratch. I’m hoping to link up with an artist soon on that. If you haven’t peeped them yet, you can check em out in our “Kush Groove” Video! 

TS: Alright, alright, blunt, bong, or joint?

Kherk Cobain: I fuck with the Sour Kush Brownies, maybe with a sprinkle of shrooms on top lol, aside from that we fuck with extra longgggg blunts called "OOWOPs".  Gotta be at least a foot long or more and stuffed with only the finest of the greenery. 

Dapper Don: Shittttt, as Kherk said, OOWOPs on deck! Lol but we done started putting the OOWOPS in the Gas Mask (wildness indeed!).  If you facebook me (DAPPER DON) we done did the art gallery of blunts…all blunts at least a foot long, We done smoked “Y” blunts, “Double Barrel Shotguns” and blunts taller than toddlers! To me, as long as it’s exotic green, it don’t matter what way it gets burned. 

OOWOP?

TS: As underground artists, what are the most important things you guys do to get attention and fans?

 Kherk Cobain: Keep it original, keep it consistent.  When it comes to stardom, I'm a firm believer in "You either got it or you don't!"  Our fans see us, relate to us, they get behind us and they want to see that Feva wave go worldwide.  They are as much a part of Feva Life as we are.  So, since it's obvious that we got the "IT", we just have to consistently give "IT" to our fans.  And give it to them with style and pizazz, cuz that's what dope muthafuckas do!  Dress dope, fuck dope ass girls, drive hot ass cars, and turn anywhere into a jumpin ass party.  The fans dig it.  That Feva Life!

TS: Who do you guys fuck with musically right now?

Kherk Cobain: Honestly, I don't listen to a LOT of whatever comes on the radio.  I fuck with Jersey Club Music, old school House Music, DubStep, and old school DJ Screw/Swisha House.  As far as actual artists that are relevant right now, I guess I fuck with Jadakiss, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Machine Gun Kelly, Big Sean and BIG K.R.I.T. ... aside from that I think Katy Perry is pretty nice with it.

Dapper Don: SMDreadz lol… Word, I’m definitely more into the underground wave but my personal favorites will always be OutKast, Three Six Mafia, and other classic shit. Currently my ears are listening to Dubstep and House also, I’m fucking with the homie French Montana’s shit, KRIT, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, of course that FEVA NATION, a few others and whatever else happens to catch my attention from time to time!  

TS: What's up next for you guys?

Dapper Don: We’re getting ready to put out Kherk Cobain’s project and in the process of finding the beats to complete our next EP. We just want to give our fans and the world good music to keep ya body moving and grooving. Keep in tune with the FEVA LIFE as we ride to the top is all ima say! Follow us on Twitter @151FEVAGANG and add our Facebook Page (151 FEVA GANG)! The latest project is available for free download at www.FEVANATION.com and you can subscribe to our videos on youtube.com/FEVAGtv.

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