interview - dpd
photo - H Shahani (www.clearmindstudios.com)

Pssttt… I’ve got something to tell you. There’s a thriving music scene happening in LA’s Koreatown. Frustrated with the lack of venues to express their musical talent, groups of D.I.Y. artists have banded to make some changes. Amongst the forefront of the movement is FM.

FM is the best live hip hop act I’ve seen. Sure you’ve got your big names with lots of lights and flash, but I’ve seen FM come into ugly, ghetto, unresponsive scenes and turn them inside out. No matter how bad the situation may be, FM will rock it, and get your girlfriend moaning.

The trio (made up of Prohgress, Kevnish, and J-Spliff) has been together as FM for about seven years now. Over the years, the group has gone from rocking parking lots to sold out theaters from LA to China. Needless to say, experiences such as these have to make for good conversation.

I made a trip to Prohgress’ apartment in downtown LA to discuss FM’s current situation as well as their future.

J-Spliff (left) and Prohgress / Prohgress and Kevnish grab a bite.

Prohgress and Kevnish are waiting at the ground level cafe, eating dinner when I arrive. These two are always upbeat and lively, yet they’re not “happy-go-lucky” types. The changes in the music industry have created a new breed of musicians; musicians that are not only talented artists, but also alert businessmen. Between the three members of the group, FM is always keeping relations with fans via the internet, booking shows all across the world, scheduling meetings with players in the industry, and constantly recording new tracks. We discuss these issues for a bit when Prohgress and Kevnish wrap up their dinners and J-Spliff joins the entourage. We take the interview upstairs where the trio continues to explain their route.

While FM balances their bills and songs, they have another objective tied intrinsically to their music. In a scene where the Asian American voice is largely missing from the musical landscape, FM has forged one of their own. Their reasoning being that if corporate America refuses them outlets, they will simply create new outlets to speak to.Kevnish explains,

“Reality is, the seed needs to grow. We can put out an album, we can get a feature on E! Entertainment, we can go out to Japan, Korea… It don’t make no difference really, cause if we can’t do anything in the States, as just artists, and not as “Asian rappers”, it’s really not gonna change anything.”

As much as FM is a promoting monster, they’re also creating tracks non-stop. I was fortunate enough to get a preview of some of the songs from their upcoming album. To say the least, the sound is amazing. The beats sound futuristic, but not like the way ’80s new wave did. It sounds futuristic in the context of the 21st century - with blips, blops, and mashings between punk beats and Michael Jackson yelps.

-Exclusive FM preview-
FM is on the rise, the entertainment is already there. Whether FM will be a household name or simply a stepping stone is yet to be known. To Kevnish, Prohgress, and J-Spliff, the answer to that question unfurls one day at a time.*FM’s single, “You’ve got A Friend” (featuring Baby Bash and Lil Rob), is currently being played on Power 106. Text 69106 to request it!More features: As Cities Burn, Drowning Pool, Erfan, Lifehouse, The Pink Spiders, Restitution Press, Vans Warped Tour, Xavier, Zune Presents Live at the BBQ