Q&A With Los Angeles Based Hip Hop Duo REASON OVER TREASON
Much respect REASON OVER TREASON for the dope debut EP. Before getting into the new EP, for the readers who don’t know, how long have you guys been making music?
Divine: We started making music about 5 years ago.
Osirius: Yep about 2015.
What are some of the major takeaways, positive or negative, growing up in South Central Los Angeles? How has the city embraced your music so far?
Divine: I was born and raised outside of Boston and moved to LA back in 2006. My East Coast foundation is the energy I draw from when I produce. Los Angeles has embraced what we do I think because we are being ourselves. We aren’t searching for hits necessarily; we truly care about the craft.
Osirius: For me it’s always how folk react to my style coming from LA. My pops played a lot of Gangstarr, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, AZ, Nas, and so forth so that experience shaped my flow on some other shit. It’s unexpected. Everywhere I spit we get love for sure. It’s always that one or two people after a show that comes to pour their heart out. I love it.
How have you guys been doing during this pandemic? What do you think about the whole situation? How are you pivoting your music grind during this time?
Divine: The pandemic has truly been a blessing as it relates to my artistry. It’s forced me to slow down and get back to what I love and reassess what the focus should be. This time has been a tough one but a good one as well depending on how you choose to look at. I choose the positive perspective. We are working on new music and I have a beat tape I put together during this time titled “Thoughts Become Things Vol. 1” that I will be releasing next month. The pandemic has honestly made me hungrier.
Osirius: We on top of things for the most part. Thankful for being healthy and watching over the little ones. It’s a damn shame as far the social climate and loss of life is concerned. We restricted to the booth and social media for now but can’t wait to get back out on the open mic. I got a feeling the public will start opening back up after elections.
Just heard the debut EP, “How to Cut a Diamond, Vol. 1.” ! The production is super dope!! Briefly describe the creative process involving the EP? Writing and producing?
Divine: To be honest the production on this project is old, we started this project years ago and the beats I made are from back then. For me when I create music I always start with listening to samples. Once I hear something gritty or something that makes me stop what I’m doing and listen closer I know that’s the one. From there I chop it up and find some drums that match the sample. Working with an MC like Osirius who is a true lyricist, I know that I have to leave space for him to be himself on my tracks, so I strive not to overcook my beats.
Osirius: Life is strange and amazing, yo. I take from instances and encounters that astounded me and put them in metaphor. It’s like Divine throws me a beat and I paint the canvas and press record. It’s been a 1-2-3 process but now we plan to brainstorm together and cook up in the same setting and see what happens. It’s been dope so far but now is where we really push the limit.
In a few words, what do new listeners expect to hear on this debut?
Divine: Street Knowledge served raw.
Osirius: How To Cut A Diamond Vol. 1 is a witty, esoteric polishing of the mind’s eye.
All the songs were on fire! On your behalf, what are your top 2 tracks off the project?
Divine: My two favorites are “Blood In My Ink” and “Killjoy (Gods With Guns)”.
Osirius: That’s a tough one! “Schallah Rock Universal” and “Still Kill”. That’s just me personally.
Any new videos coming out off the project?
Divine: Vol.2 is done already so we are planning to put out some videos off Vol.2 soon.
Osirius: Maybe one more video off Vol. 1.
Anything else in the works for the rest of 2020? If so, let our readers know!
Divine: One of the great parts of the pandemic for us is that it made us more self-sufficient, so we decided to create our own studio. We have been working on new music and this is levels above anything we’ve done in the past!
Osirius: We just released “The Pre-Medi” mixtape on Youtube and Spinrilla in anticipation for How To Cut A Diamond Vol. 2. For all readers out there, check out the hiphop novel on Amazon entitled Hoodhartha authored by myself, Osirius Lewsyphr.
Our infamous question! What’s your definition of “underground hip hop”?
Divine: Underground is where the soil is and the soil contains the nutrients that we all need to survive, so to me underground hip hop is and always has been what feeds the culture. You can only consume fast food for so long before you must come back to eating healthy again.
Osirius: What defines Underground hiphop is the gall to lead the masses, not follow. Even if it means going against the grain in order to represent.
Where can people find more of your music? Is there a main platform?
Osirius: Search Youtube for now. REASON OVER TREASON.
Lastly, any shout outs involving the release of your EP?
Osirius: Shout out to my brother Marcus Hunter for the art cover and Iron Sheik out the Wu-Tang Squad for his special guest production, no doubt. Big up my Road Schallahz. SCHALLAH UP!
