Interview – Laws (5/5/10)

Download: Yesterday’s Future (Free Project)

Florida-based emcee Laws, has the kind of co-signs that excite industry insiders and hardcore hip hop fans alike. Having said that, impressive collaborations from the likes of J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, 9th Wonder, DJ Khalil, and Don Cannon are only worth while if you can back up those looks with your musical content.  Luckily for Laws, his music speaks for itself.

The well-received 4:57 project, named after the time Laws used to pack up and get ready to leave work, has been expanding the emerging artist’s fan base since its release earlier this year.  The Don Cannon-hosted mixtape has also helped to land Laws in XXL Magazine, put his single, “Hold You Down,” in rotation on Shade 45, and add his name to the concert bill on Reflection Eternal’s current tour.

HipHopAtLunch.com stopped by the Warner Bros. offices yesterday to speak with Laws about working with such a wide range of artists including electro-pop star Calvin Harris, his feelings on Eminem’s new music, what we can expect to hear on the upcoming Yesterday’s Future project dedicated to Paul McCartney, and a possible collaboration with Jay Electronica.

Hearing Laws and Jay Electronica on the same track would be dope – hopefully that happens soon!  Also, although I was looking forward to the release of 4:57 Overtime, I understand why the No-DJ project was put on the back burner in the midst of his quickly budding career.

As mentioned in the interview, Laws likes to cross different genres with hip hop.  This method works well for the emerging artist as his impressive lyrics keep the hardcore hip hop fans listening while the actual sound and hook of these tracks appeal to a more mainstream audience.  A perfect example of this genre-blending style can be found in “Colors” featuring Calvin Harris.

Laws – “Colors” (Featuring Calvin Harris)

It’s a good thing that Rook from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League put Laws in contact with Calvin.  This funky track has a crazy amount of cross-over appeal and will undoubtedly be a favorite of Laws’ female fans.  It was interesting to hear Laws explain his thought process behind aggressively rhyming on fast electronic tracks where other artists simply ride out the beat.  I agree that dance records would be more exciting with insightful lyrical content.

Here’s an excerpt from Laws’ second verse aimed at members of the opposite sex:

“Let me take her to my home, to my zone, to my bed,
To the end and beginning of a friendship,
You got me like, what’s your name. what’s your size,
Are you mine, Are you some kind of black magic temptress?
I hope so cause my life’s kinda ordinary,
I need a woman, I’ve broken all sort of cherries,
I need a tigress, I need a night prowler, I need a wanna try this? Alright holler,
I need a chick when I call, that she might follow,
I got dope, if they raid she might swallow,
Don’t be frightened momma, go and bring some colors here,
If your love is real I might even scoop your mother.”

The rapid-fire questions put into his lyrics work really well with the quick beat.

If “Colors” isn’t your type of music, check out our review of 4:57 where we touch on more of Laws’ “traditional-sounding” hip hop songs.  Also, be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming Yesterday’s Future project dedicated to Paul McCartney.  Conceptual mixtapes and albums need to start playing a bigger role in hip hop.  For example, people who don’t even like Paul McCartney’s music will listen to Yesterday’s Future just to see how well the concept was executed!

Laws in this month’s issue of XXL magazine:

Thoughts on this Florida emcee?