The Benn Grim Interview
TIS: I love the YouTube video of you freestyling with Converge. Was that planned or spur of the moment?
BG: Spur of the moment, but it was half a freestyle, and half an old verse I never put on a track. It was years ago and I was more than likely high out of my mind. You can tell by the long hair and “stop snitching’ shirt I was wearing. I love those guys and no one will ever do that with them again!
TIS: So we were in a band together for a while, and we were both really into our drugs and what not…now we’re both not into drugs anymore, and still doing the music thing. I’d like for you to talk a bit about the difference of writing/performing sober vs. writing/performing anything but sober.
BG: Don’t get me wrong, if it weren’t for hard drugs, my parents record collection wouldn’t be half as big as it is. Though in my case, you can say, “yo, I smoked the best weed and wrote this dope song”, but for me, having a level and clear head helps me be more creative than any drug could ever make me.
TIS: Can you tell me about one of your craziest experiences from back in your using days? Not to glorify it, but rather to show people how far you’ve come.
BG: I used to cop dope mostly on Madison or Jefferson, right off park street in the south end of Hartford, I used to always go to the same guy for at least 2 years, his name was cupcake, or cake for short. He had the best shit. I got in pretty good with this guy and I used to pick him up at his house and bring him to the block and what not. He ALWAYS had a gun on him, he had a friend on the block over to him, they referred to him as “retarded holmes”. One day some one got shot, and the cops were all over the place. No one was answering phone calls and they were too scared to come out of there houses. I went straight to cupcakes other house and he got mad that I just showed up, but for some odd reason he let me in. They looked me up and down and said, “yo Ben, want to do us a favor, we’ll hit u off if you do.” So I obliged, they gave me a doubled up stop and shop bag and told me to walk directly over to retarded holmes house and give him the bag, don’t look at anyone, don’t talk to anyone. I started out the door and one of them said, “yo Ben, put this on under your hoodie” it was a bullet proof vest. OK guys, what’s in the bag I thought to myself, but I knew exactly what it was. I trembled my way to retarded holmes house and he was waiting at the door, I walk in, take off the vest, and hand him the bag, countless bundles of heroin. They gave me half of one for transporting a package that could have landed me 20 yrs in jail. Hahahah, but I was a junkie and I was willing to do anything to get high.
TIS: What are you working on currently?
BG: I just wrapped up a compilation CD I’m calling Benn Grim’s Blah Sides, it’s a collection of mostly older tracks I’ve never used for anything, Mixed and mastered by my musical life coach F.Sean Martin. Should be pressed in a couple weeks. Im also working on my long awaited “Novocaine Mixtape”, that’s scooting along steadily and will have a lot of special guests. I’m working on an EP with my Friend ADAM BOMB out of New Orleans, probably gonna be 6 songs or so, and I’m also working on an EP with producer Sammy Marion out of Philly, that will also be 5 or 6 songs. The Mizery Crew, (Timmy Wiggins, Metalheart, and myself) is currently in the studio working on our freshman release as a group, and Timmy Wiggins and Metalheart are working on their prospective solo shit, which is gonna really shake things up!!!
TIS: What influences the lyrical content in most in your songs?
BG: Life, love, regret? Hahahaah, no, I’m the guy that takes past experiences and makes them real. I talk about shitting on unworthy rappers mostly. I’ve been told I can tell a pretty good story too. You give me the beat, and you’re always gonna get something different.
TIS: Who would you like to collaborate with on future projects, and are you going to make it happen?
BG: I’d love to do a track with Aesop Rock, he’s my buddy, so that’s not a far stretch, but as for dudes I don’t know? I want to do a track where Brandon Flowers from the killers to sing the hook, or get on a beat that The XX made. That would be epic!
TIS: Who’s killing it in the underground right now (hip hop, hardcore, whoever)?
BG: HMMMM as for underground cats? Fuck! I’m going with my man! The one and only, YAK BALLZ! Nothing cooler than a bunch of kids chanting your name before you come out on stage. His fans love him, (and so do I) and it shows. As far as new and up and coming hardcore? Hate Your Guts, cruel hand, black breath, backtrack, and bad seed, all dope HC bands doing their thing now.
TIS: Who’s specifically not killing it in the underground right now (let’s start a beef)?
BG: Hahahaha, he’s not even underground anymore, but I’d say WALE. He’s a homophobe with a shitty name, chill WHALE!!! Hahaha.
TIS: What’s new with Carboard City?
BG: Every body is working on their respective shit, but all I gotta say is watch out for that new Glassjaw album. I’ve already heard a few unreleased tracks and I’m blown away.
TIS: I’m a bit out of the loop but was wondering if the Vast Aire/Cage/El-P beef was squashed yet?
BG: Hmmm, I didn’t even know there was a beef? Hahaha.
TIS: How did Shia LaBeouf hook up with Carboard City?
BG: Shia met cage a couple years back, the rest is history.
TIS: Any news on the movie about Cage that Shia wants to do?
BG: They are looking for a director is the last news I heard. I can’t wait for that shit.
TIS: Last Shia question, was it epic for you guys to see him throw up the Cardboard City sign at the end of hosting Saturday Night Live a couple of years ago?
BG: It gave me chills, and still does. It makes me feel good to be a part of something so awesome. EVERYBODY go see the new Wall Street movie, my man kills it with Michael Douglas! Hahahaha.
TIS: Ok, time for some obligatory shout outs…go ahead.
BG: My cardboard city fam, Daryl Palumbo, Fsean Martin, my mizery crew, all my friends in NYC, Miami, San Fran you know who you are, my brother, Chauncey, the Hartford party starters union, Corey Scoolidge, and everybody at Brass City Tattoo.
TIS: Anything in closing?
BG: Surround yourself with good and exciting people, and nothing but good and exciting things will happen to you.