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| Sketch of KNUX by yours truly. Sorry, the resolution sucks... |
Rapper, singer, songwriter, producer... KNUX seems to be as efficient as his groupmate Cherry Brown when it's about mastering multiples talent fields. At only 23 years old, the young "hafu" releases his 1st solo project "System CRUNK" plus so many participations and side projects we can't even count. Well, Mr.Austin has something to say and you should pay some attention.
Interview by Tuân
Tuân: So KNUX, can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do?
KNUX: I'ma lover not a player (laughs)!! I'ma artist who lives in Japan now, I make beats and I rap. I'm half American half Japanese, part of the groups called Jack Rabbitz and Z-Block. And I'm also in a band called KOUNT:DOWN. I rhyme in Japanese and English. When I do solo and CRUNK shit, most of the time I rhyme in English
T: Like Cherry Brown, you have a couple of different aliases. What's the difference between "KNUX" and "Mr. Austin"? And how did you choose such names?
K: Back in the days I use to tote a brass knuckle for a percussion (laughs), so my homes called me "knuckles". I figured I could use that as a MC name cuz I didn't have one. Just took the letter L off from Knuckles, then I became KNUX. My dad was a magician and his performer name was Eddie Austin, so I got my a.k.a from my dad's performing name. For me that a.k.a is like a last name, so people don't get confused with some other artists or names.
Just like your groupmates Richee and Cherry B, I suppose you been living in a military base in Yokosuka right?
Nope. I live in Fujisawa and my second home is Wood Haven, Queens, NY.
I was wondering how's the childhood of a half American, half Japanese youth in Japan...
Not well... Especially in Elementary School you get bullied because of the color of your skin. I hate when people call me Gaijin (NB: which means "foreigner" in Japanese but in a pejorative way). That's how they get Uppercut by saying racist shit.
Your last release was "System CRUNK", is it your 1st solo project?
I guess you could say that (laughs) ! It's about my agony and anger cuz there are a lot of obstacles in that game: hate, love, whole bunch of shit. But you learn from it and you absorb a knowledge from it. Increase a motive and I expressed it with "System CRUNK". Plus my mixtape is to let people know what I really like to do and what I'm good at. Cuz you can't hear "System CRUNK" type of joints in JRZ or Z-Block. It's all from KNUX a.k.a Mr.Austin.
You can rap on some hardcore CRUNK joints, jump to Rock music and also sing some romantic ballads. Did you start to rap or sing at 1st ?
Rap of course.
Which style do you prefer?
Rap (CRUNK).
Aren't you afraid the public got lost a little bit since you can literally modify your musical style?
I'm just doing my thing son. Some day when the South CRUNK boom comes back, I'll get people's attention cuz I've been doing the CRUNK shit for so long (laughs).
Speaking about different musical genres, you said you were part of several different bands like KOUNT:DOWN, Z-Block and Jack Rabbitz. Please tell us more about them.
KOUNT:DOWN is like a Rap Metal, Screamo type of band.
Z-Block is me, Steek, DK who are my best friends. Those two guys influenced me doing rap when I was 14. We usually write about political stuffs that nobody else does. By the way, we only rhyme in Japanese.
Jack Rabbitz makes the type of music for the people who like to go to the club and PARTY!! I call it International music (laughs) !!
Isn't it too difficult to work with all these people at the same time?
Sometime it's a pain in the ass, but every group has different tastes so I enjoy what I do with them.
You do music with your brother in KOUNT:DOWN and were a member of Trill Grillz with your sister Christy. Is it difficult mixing family and music?
It's actually easier and better cuz you could say shit and say what's on your mind straight up.
Your song "You & I" was featured on "Big Ron presents: Next Starz" and "Jack Rabbitz". You wrote and produced it. How come did the boys band W-inds covered it and "Chillin' in the Daydream"?...
I guess they liked it (laughs) !!!
And how do you feel about it? Would you like to be like a ghostwriter?
It's another step to elevate as an artist, so I thought it was a good experience. I don't mind being a ghostwriter, as long as I get the credit (laughs).
There's that song about rapers on "System CRUNK" called "Kill them Rapers". Cherry B and you seem to have a real problem with those guys, something I totally understand. But where does this hatred come from?
CB too?? I didn't know that. There is a lot of shit why I can't say, but Im rapping about it cuz people don't realize it's a big problem in society. Even the fucking ignorant medias hide some incidents from the public, cuz they say it's a bad influence for the citizen. Sometimes they dont litigate the case too. If the prosecutor don't do shit... I say kill the rapers!! Real talk people gotta know these stuffs so I gotta say what the fuck is going on.
What do you think about Cherry Brown's moustache?
Ugly!
Dunno why CB is always around (laughs)! Any plan for the future?
Try to do stuff in The States. And wanna make a lovely family.
If you want to say one last thing, thank someone, it's the right moment!
I would like to thank my mom for raising me, even if my dad passed away when I was 5. Keep it CRUNK baby!
