Who is Brotha Lynch Hung? Is he the lurking personality disorder suppressed by the mild-mannered, Mann? Perhaps. Is he the absolute personification of artistry? Yes! While many “rappers” spew See-Dick-Run rhymes, Brotha Lynch Hung, the antithesis of simplicity, continues to challenge Hip-Hop’s ear. Decades invested to his craft, even through his signature restraint-muzzle, he continues to thoroughly masticate then defecate upon the competition.
From familiar Garden Bloccs to a myriad of new places, this underground Sacramento legend is home at Strange Music; here his music attacks new listeners. In this surprising interview, Brotha Lynch Hung discusses everything from his shyness to his Pre-Show Ritual:
AllHipHop.com: Once upon a time there were cassette tapes. Back in ’91 you made your Hip-Hop début as part of the group, Street Talk Crew. From N*ggas in Black to your latest solo release Mannibalector, how have you retained that initial hunger you had to pick up the mic and continue writing?
Brotha Lynch Hung: I wanted to be the best. You know, I’ve always wanted to be the best rapper out there. And I’ll probably continue until I feel like I am.
AllHipHop.com: Recently have you talked to Luni Coleone or X-Raided?
Brotha Lynch Hung: I talked to X; we talked about doing an album together and stuff. He has Psychoactive part 2 coming out. He’s gonna lay down for a while. He’s gonna catch flack for doing it from the penitentiary; so, he gotta lay down. Then we talked about doing another album. But, Luni, I see off and on, he’s going through some problems and stuff, so shouts-out to him. I run into him a little more than X, obviously.
AllHipHop.com: Regarding your work, in what ways to you evaluate creative criticism; when do you know to incorporate a suggestion?
Brotha Lynch Hung: I always do. I love to know what my fans want to hear. When I created this trilogy, of course, obviously, I was going to have to create everything around it. Now my fans are asking for some of the older-school, street-stuff; so, I’m going to give it to them. I always listen to them.
AllHipHop.com: Mannibalector dropped back in February and it completes the Coathanga trilogy. Currently, are you still under contract with Strange Music?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Nine months from now is when I’ll be a semi-free agent. They’ve already offered another contract to me.
AllHipHop.com: Do you anticipate staying there; or, do you plan to work on your label Madesicc Muzicc?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Definitely, I’m still going to work on Madesicc. But I dunno—I haven’t [decided yet]—I’m trying to see what numbers this Mannibalector gets, you know, before I try and make a choice.
AllHipHop.com: So far, what business-related lessons have you learned from your time at Strange that you plan on implementing with Madesicc?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Organization, and not taking no bleep from the artists, always being papered up, and staying on the road.
AllHipHop.com: Sounds like a fool-proof plan. I want to discuss perception versus reality. Folks who are unfamiliar with your work may view you as a demented cannibal who dines upon toddlers.
Brotha Lynch Hung: (chuckles) That ain’t good.
AllHipHop.com: Even the Wiki was lying saying you’re an atheist.
Brotha Lynch Hung: I’m more agnostic.
AllHipHop.com: Do you ever rely upon misinterpreted metaphors or blatant misunderstanding as a defense-mechanism to maintain your privacy?
Brotha Lynch Hung: That’s a good question. Not really, I’m used to just writing what I feel. If I do run into a fan, and he wants to know what’s up with me, I will tell him or her. I don’t really rely on it, or use it as that.
AllHipHop.com: Do you ever feel compelled to dumb-down your lyrics in order to be completely understood?
Brotha Lynch Hung: I don’t believe in that that too much. If I do that I may stop liking it. I’ve been rhyming since 1983. With my stubborn head I just do it my way. My thing is staying different all the time. I always want to create something different. If you listen to my Loaded album verses these three albums from the trilogy, it’s a whole different type of album. So, I like to keep it like that.
AllHipHop.com: So, you’ll try to elevate us to your level as opposed to compromising your art?
Brotha Lynch Hung: That’s probably why I ain’t mainstream.
AllHipHop.com: F*ck mainstream.
Brotha Lynch Hung: For real.
AllHipHop.com: This is so surreal. I can reach out and grab your ass if I wanted to. I’m actually conversing with, you. Thank you for coming on this tour. This is going down as one of my favorite Hip-Hop memories.
Brotha Lynch Hung: Thank you, you’re going to make me blush.
AllHipHop.com: To date you’ve dedicated over twenty years to Hip-Hop. You’ve created a body of work that’s earned you platinum success. You’ve aroused a foundation of unyielding supportive fans. With you being a naturally introverted person, how are you learning to better open up to people?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Just being around more people kinda helps. You know, I grew up as an only child. In school I was very shy. Like me going on the tours that I’ve done in the ‘90’s, and going on these tours with Strange, being around people helps a lot. But, I’m still that guy in the corner. You know, I’m always by myself. Even though I’m with all of Strange right now, I still feel like I’m by myself.
AllHipHop.com: Really?
Brotha Lynch Hung: I just hang out with myself—just thinking about life and all that— I don’t really like to converse.
AllHipHop.com: This is truly how you are? You’re not being ducked off or acting too good?
Brotha Lynch Hung: I want to [interact with more people], but I just don’t get that part of it. Maybe like when I go have a cigarette and someone else is having a cigarette out there I’m like, “I hope they don’t talk to me.”
AllHipHop.com: Damn. (laughs)
Brotha Lynch Hung: I don’t know why I’m like that. I don’t mind talking to them, you know. I just hope they don’t—I really don’t know how to keep conversations that well. I do with women. With men it’s a little different. Men got this thing. I see all these fellas doing it, having fun and stuff, I just don’t know how to do it. I think they’ll say the same thing. They think I’m always in the corner, but I’m definitely not siddity though. I’m too humble to be siddity.
AllHipHop.com: Before shows do you ever get anxious or nervous, or are those feelings something from the past?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Well, I got to take my toothbrush next to the stage, because I always throw up before every show. Then I go on stage and rip it. I don’t know what it is. The only other person that I heard who did that was Barbra Streisand. So, it made me feel better about myself. At first, I thought it was some crazy stuff going on. Once I get that over with I’m ready to go on stage.
AllHipHop.com: How do you pick the tracks that you perform, do you stick to the recent stuff or do you go all the way to 24 Deep?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Obviously, with Strange I have to do more of the album releases that I did with them. But, I’m going back. I have a couple of songs where I’m going back. That’s why I’m loving Oklahoma—Tulsa, because they’re going to love these songs. Strange has a lot of young fans; so, sometimes when I go to those songs I be iffy about if they’re going to know the song or not. For all of my old school fans, it’s going to be fun to go back and get that feeling.
AllHipHop.com: Until the next time, is there anything else you’d like to share?
Brotha Lynch Hung: This is not the end of me yet. Follow me on Twitter B @BrothaLynchHung ; like the Facebook! Thank you for supporting me over the years; this is the only way that I know how to live.
Brotha Lynch Hung: And, thank you.
AllHipHop.com: No, thank you!
Brotha Lynch Hung: Strange Music, Shyness, And The Pre-Show Ritual | AllHipHop.com
