iPhonic sit’s down and gets real on topics such as Las Vegas, underwear, Rock N Roll, and even Ninja Turtles.

It’s about time we get back into something a little different than the hip-hop norm. The good folks over at Karmaloop introduced me to iPhonic, a jamming band from Cleveland that offers something a little bit different. iPhonic, a young, energetic and creative band from Cleveland has an original blueprint that could lead to some mainstream success. We took the opportunity to get to know them a little more personally.

1. How did you come about the name iPhonic and weather or not you think it’s had a positive effect on your growth as artists?

Gibson (Guitar/Keys)-iPhonic = ill party hip-hop over nasty instrumental concoctions.
Dave D (Vocals)-iLL Party Hip Hop Over Nasty Instrumental Concoctions….surprisingly enough most people dont really associate our name with the whole “i” generation. We never really intended on having anything to do with “iPhones” or “iPads” or any of the apple products it just kind of happened.
JQ (Vocals)-Ill. party. hip hop. over. nasty. instrumental. concoctions. The band has definitely had an effect on me as an artist, it has improved me as a song writer and a performer. The thing about being in a band is everyone has to do there job or the team won’t win. Its a different vibe from being a solo artist. U don’t really have the “I did it all myself” attitude cause u were with your dudes the whole trip, coming up together. That makes u step your shit up when your team is depending on u.

2. Talk a little bit about how the band came about. How were you able to find your sound as artists? What is the group dynamic like?

Gibson- Dave and I met while we were students at Ohio University, and we started playing in a classic rock cover band. dave and joe knew each other from high school. one day we just all ended up in a studio making hip-hop flavored rock music. then when ended up meeting ben when we went in to record with him at Spider Studios (Ohio) and he ended up joining the band. Our group dynamic is amazing… we just have fun with each other, everyone is truly friends
Dave D-The band was started out as a random collection of artists and mc’s going into a studio with no real direction. I (Dave D) had a few beats I brought to the table that were somewhat basic and we built the tracks up as we went, Gibson layed down guitar licks, JQ added verses, our old Drummer added live drums, and “Listen Hard” was the product. From there we kept evolving the sound and finding us, I think we really found ourselves while recording our latest album “Rock n Roll Vol. 1″
JQ-We all have very different styles. Over time we have found a way to blend them all together and really develop our sound. We embrace the fact that were a band and try 2 incorporate different elements of music into our songs.

3. The mixtape sounds a lot like a refined Blink-182. Would you say their genre of music is a general inspiration to the iPhonic sound?

Gibson-Thanks, thats a huge compliment, I was (and still am) a huge blink fan. As a big fan, it’s safe to say they have influenced our sound a bit. I know daves a big fan too. When i think about it, I guess we do have a lot in common with Blink 182… we are both groups of goofy dudes making fun music about stuff most kids can relate to.
Dave D-Thats funny you should mention that because Gibson and I basically grew up on Blink-182 they are still my favorite band to this day. So kudos to you for picking out that influence, but to eloborate yeah we definitely have that young fun care-free element that blink brought to the table. We have a couple heavier deeper tracks but for the most part we just wanna have fun and we want our fans to have fun, people have enough problems in their personal lives, we want to take them away from that whenever they come to a show or listen to the record.
JQ-Punk rock/classic rock/ rock n roll can definitely be seen in our swag. The mentality is there just as much as the music.

4. Krayzie Bone is a hip-hop/r&b legend, especially for those from Cleveland like yourself. What was it like working with him?

Gibson- Working with krayzie bone was very very cool. we were all just sipping on vodka while he layed down his verse. i remember he was in the vocal booth rapping and drinking a cup of vanilla vodka straight; no ice, no mixer lol. but hes a real down to earth guy and we could tell he was havin a good time during the scenes in the “Shut It Down” video.
Dave D- Working with Krayzie was an amazing experience. Like you said being from Cleveland, Krayzie is a fucking legend man I mean a real LEGEND. So it was a little intimidating at first to work with a grammy award winning platinum recording artist, but he was a cool ass down to earth dude. He showed up at our spot Spider Studios we immediately participated in some artistic enhancement supplements *wink* and he started writing right there on the spot, and in my opinion threw down one of the hardest Kray verses i’ve every heard. It is most definitely one of the those moments I’ll never forget, we are very blessed to have had that opportunity.
JQ-Working with krayzie was nuts. He listened to a CD I gave him then hit me up, came 2 the studio, partied with us and laid his verse. He drinks his vodka straight and still supports Cleveland music to this day. You could tell he was working with us cause he really felt our music and believed in it. That’s my dude right there.

5. Where do you see yourself in regards to the progression of Cleveland music?

Gibson-I’d like to think that we have definitely established ourselves as a powerful force in the music scene. Most kids in the area and people who follow music seem to be hip to us, which is great.
Dave D-Its kind of funny because we are a pretty humble bunch, but after three years i think we can finally comfortably say we are a big part of Cleveland music. The more travel the more we appreciate just how dope the “cleveland” music scene actually is, so its cool to be apart of a city that seems to be thriving as far as music goes.
JQ-I feel like the Cleveland music scene is off the chain right now. There is a lot of talent here and I’m happy that were playing such a big role.

6. What can we expect from iPhonic in the coming months and years?

Gibson-You can expect more videos, more shows, more music, more blackouts… just a whole lot more of iPhonic. We are gonna be goin hard all over the country this year, spread our music and gaining new fans; so get fuckin ready.
Dave D-Thats a good question, that honestly we dont even know, I just hope we all stick together, and keep having fun making music and playing shows, thats really all i can ask from this rowdy, fucked up, asshole, dysfunctional family that we call iPhonic.
JQ-U can expect iphonic to keep dropping the best and most original music in the fucking game. Were gonna keep putting on the rowdiest shows and having the most fun. And were gonna keep giving 5 year olds vodka in our videos and telling state liquor agencies to fuck off.

Machine Gun Kelly’s official major-league debut, Lace Up, won’t be out till summer, and even an EP by the same name won’t drop till spring. But local hip-hop impresarios Big Heff & Dommystyles can’t contain their excitement, so they’ve slapped together a mixtape featuring the Cleveland rapper and they’ve called it Pre Laced.

It’s the best among a spate of new mixes that recently dropped on the local landscape, each one of which gives a big fat, wet kiss to our favorite city. The beats are strictly Cleveland; so’s the flow. Here’s a rundown of four of our favorites and where you can download them for free.

Big Heff & Dommystyles Presents Machine Gun Kelly: Pre Laced

What it’s all about: Twenty-eight cuts, mostly remixed from MGK’s previous mixtapes, as well as a few featured tracks (including the new single “Wild Boy” with Waka Flocka Flame) and a voicemail from his new boss Diddy.

For your own mix: ”STFU,” which borrows a sample from the Go-Go’s and an attitude from every punk you know.

Representin’: The first words MGK spits after the radio-interview intro are “Man, I’m so Cleveland, it’s a goddamn shame.” Straight up.

Where you can get it: divshare.com/download/16390434-13b

Tezo: Tezo

What it’s all about: Tezo’s hard and raspy rap style gives these somewhat conventional 10 tracks a kick in the ass. “Evil Plan” is the first full cut here. More important, it also serves as the Brush High School grad’s statement of purpose.

For your own mix: The skittering “Redrum,” a murder fantasy straight outta Freddy Krueger’s nightmare.

Representin’: Among other places, “Rep” tips a cap to East 55th Street and Euclid Avenue.

Where you can get it:

tezoforprezo.com

Lil Marv: The Road to the Top

What it’s all about: Marv’s 15-track mix is about a young man who wants to hit the big time. Presumably that road to the top heads out of Cleveland.

For your own mix: The title track, which weaves a snaky sax in and out of an old-school drum loop.

Representin’: ”Our journey begins in Cleveland, the city of lost hopes and dreams,” an ominous voice tells us at the start, over a horny sample that sounds like it was whisked in from a blaxploitation flick.

Where you can get it:

lilmarv.bandcamp.com

iPhonic: DJ E-V Presents Rock N Roll Vol. 1

What it’s all about: Unlike the other artists here, these guitar-slinging pop-punks aren’t really hip-hop. But they do include a dude who raps once in a while. The 14 songs feature collaborations with Krayzie Bone and Machine Gun Kelly.

For your own mix: ”Stand Up” is a fist-in-the-air anthem with a Cleveland-ready guitar riff, ’80s synths, and enough cowbell to fuel a Blue Öyster Cult session.

Representin’: The remix of Patrick Stump’s “This City,” in which the Fall Out Boy frontman gives a shout-out to Cleveland. The iPhonic guys then roll through a map of our fine city.

Where you can get it:

livemixtapes.com