Artist spotlight + exclusive interview: STAZ OF MAN
STAZ OF MAN group shot (sans HIDE MAN and Shin Seoyeon). From left to right: DJ E WHAN, MISS BANSH, LEGANIX, HALLEY STELLA, FR-03/DJ FRESHH, X-ELECTRO/VEE X KILLA, DR. KIDMAN/JAY KIDMAN, APOLLO KID, FENNY BLAKE/FENTANYL, ROSENYUCK (cr. STAZ OF MAN Facebook page)
Twelve friends have gathered together over a span of three years to form STAZ OF MAN, a Korean hip-hop crew with a vision for artistic expression that goes beyond making music. They also draw from realms of literary and visual arts: performance, costume design, image conceptualization, illustration, still and motion media; and all of which are fused with inspirations from American comic book culture and genres of hip-hop.
None the less, that may be the very least STAZ is all about. The best way to engage with them, if not purely in their work, is to hear from their own mouths. I met up with nine of the members during my time in Korea last December for a chat about their beginnings, their creative processes, and their aspirations as artists. Though it’s been a long time coming, I am grateful for the perfect timing of this publication - just hours ago was the release of their first music video ‘Command HQ’, an original track off their latest mixtape “STATONITE”, written by STAZ’s rapper/lyricist line X-ELECTRO (aka VEE X KILLA), the leader and founder of the group; APOLLO KID, one to watch out for; and HALLEY STELLA, formerly Daniel Star of New Block Babyz; and produced by JAY KIDMAN (aka DR. KIDMAN) (and if that name sounds familiar, it is - he is also the in-house producer for Independent Records).
‘Command HQ’ MV, directed by X-ELECTRO and PKON. Check out details about their “STATONITE” mixtape here (including the tracklist and download instructions)
All four were present for our insightful and fun talk, along with FRESHH (aka FR-03), DJ and producer; FENTANYL (aka FENNY BLAKE), cartoonist and art director; MISS BANSH, vocalist and lyricist; HIDE MAN, the group’s manager; and Shin Seoyeon, photographer and the latest addition to the STAZ family. Designer and outfit manager ROSENYUCK and producer LEGANIX were unable to make it that day; as well as their scratch DJ E WHAN, who was (and still is) serving in the military.
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