Restoring Order: Chaundon Pt. 3
In Part 3 of Chaundon’s “Restoring Order” interview, we find out who Chaundon’s favorite Hip-Hop artist of all time and favorite producers are. In previous parts HHLO.net has taken a journey with Chaundon, exploring the elements of Hip-Hop, where it’s been, where it is, and how we can go on in the future! Make sure to check out Part 1 and 2 linking at the end of Part 3.
HHLO: OK… Now that we got most of the negative stuff out of the way, let’s talk about some of the more positive elements of Hip-Hop. Who is the single most 
innovative artist of all time?
Chaundon: There is no single. There are so many. That’s the beauty of Hip-Hop; it’s never solely on one, it’s a collective. You got crew like mine, Hall of Justus, Boot Camp, the whole We Da West movement. So many niggas everywhere that make this movement dope, so I can’t just say like one dude was the most innovative.
HHLO: So do you have a favorite rapper?
Chaundon: Biggie! He had everybody’s strengths and none of they weaknesses. He took Kane’s thing, the whole confidence of being the king… he took Slick Rick’s story telling… he took LL’s power over the ladies… he took the best parts of the best, and made it into himself. He was the only rapper that could cross all the categories. He did joints for the street, he did joints for the club, he did joints for the emcees… he was the only rapper who really crossed into every Hip-Hop style.
HHLO: That’s an excellent analysis of why Biggie was so raw.
Chaundon: And shit, I’ve been preaching that since…forever…
HHLO: Yeah… It sounded like that had been done before.
Chaundon: Yeah, but I wish… I strive to be there. I’m nice, but I’m still getting’ nicer. I’m always trying to figure out another lane to take over.
HHLO: Any great artist seeks to evolve, as you do. So do you have a favorite producer?
Chaundon: Right now, my favorite producer is this kid outta Baltimore named DK The Punisher. He’s 17.
HHLO: You’re serious?
Chaundon: He got nine records on my upcoming album. He samples, but on my records he don’t sample. Nine records on my album, no sampling. I met him, matter of fact never met him face to face, I met him online. I put a bulletin on MySpace that said I’m looking for beats, he sent me an email that said I’m a 15 year old producer from Baltimore, that’s all it said, and the music spoke for itself. I sent him back, dude, send me more, and then… He ended up producing the majority of my album. The kid is hungry, and his sound…Truthfully, he basically gave me the sound I fell in love with back in ‘96. When No Excuses drops, yall gonna get a flashback. I hate to use the term, but the kid is a breath of fresh air. He’s the future. I’ll put him up against somebody, I’ll put him up against everybody. He don’t need to dig for a record if he don’t have to. So, he’s my new favorite. My five favorite, I’ll say DK obviously, Ill Minds, M-Phasers, Analogic. I’ll say Pete [Rock] and Primo. The alpha and omega of this shit, and neither of them are better than the other.
HHLO: I see. So what is your favorite moment of your career?
Chaundon: Favorite moments are doing shows in front of people who love my music, and when they come up to me, ask me for autographs, which is still ill to me, spit lines at me… The fact that the people connect with me, it motivates me to continue to make music. When you connect with people through music, there is nothing better than that. You can’t even put a dollar sign to that right there. That in itself pays me enough.
HHLO: So, let me finalize this by asking what’s the craziest line you’ve ever heard?
Chaundon: Oh man, you gong have me thinking over here forever. To be honest, I cangt do it.
HHLO: You couldn’t spit at us one crazy line?
Chaundon: I couldn’t do it. I’m getting an overload right now, all the lines coming’ in my mind at once.
HHLO: It’s a hard question, but I thought it was kinda cool…
Chaundon: I mean, you got Joel Ortiz out there, you got me out there, you got so many fucking people out there, and too many lines for all those fucking dudes… No way I could do it. That’s my thing, I love punchlines, and I listen to a lot of rappers, so all those lines, they cramming in my head right now.
HHLO: Who are you listening to right now… that still puts out music… that makes you think… that was kinda clever?
Chaundon: To be honest, in the last 12 months, I’ve been listening to me. Not on some arrogant shit, like I don’t listen to nothing else, but just to move forward. In order to not redo my sound. I listen to other people in spurts. Like, today I need to download that new Odyssey joint. The last joint I really listened to was the Busta Rhymes mixtape, and that shit was incredible. Other than that, I been listening to my shit, Pooh’s shit, for recording purposes. I need to finish my record, I got one or two more songs to complete, and then I’ll go back to being a fan.
HHLO: Makes sense to me. Well Chaundon, it’s been a pleasure talking to you, got some good quotes, got some good insights on Hip-Hop and its past present and future. Any shout outs, where can the people find you?
Chaundon: I mean, holla at me on twitter… www.twitter.com/chaundon. Buy every Hall of Justus record, every The Away Team record. Support, support, support! Everyone that’s spitting that real shit, go support ‘em by buying’ the record. Don’t be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution. Shout out to my friends, my family, and shout out to the streets.
HHLO: Aight, well Chaundon it’s been a pleasure talking to you for this interview. This is Zack Strange for HHLO.net, “Respect our House”, talking to Chaundon about the state of Hip-Hop in our new feature interview series called “Restoring Order”. Keep it real.
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