This time we’re going to interview Troo Kula aka T.R.O.O.K.U.L.A. producer of the two famous Brainwash 2000 records. I doubt that there’s any introduction needed about Brainwash 2000 so let’s start straight away.
hanDJob: Please introduce yourself, tell us how you got into the (rap) game and what your name stands for.
Troo Kula: First let me say Peace to you and all the real Hip Hop fans all around the world and thank you for this opportunity. T.R.O.O.K.U.L.A. stands for The Root Often Oversees with Knowledge Understanding Love and Acceptance. Once upon a time I was a member of a group called 3rd Eye. One of the first acts to be signed by Puff Daddy (P. Diddy). The group consisted of myself and Jesse West. We recorded „Ease Up“ on the „Who‘s The Man“ movie soundtrack for Uptown Records. I even have unreleased recordings with Biggie, ODB, Naughty By Nature and Onyx. After several failed record deals we parted ways as artists and I hooked up with my boy Naut Jugga who was looking for his own solo deal. Since I felt everyone was Brainwashed and this new millennium (year 2000) was approaching I combined the two concepts. Troo Kula was always conscious so all our songs had to be on that vibe. We didn‘t care what anyone else was saying.
hanDJob: Since Brainwash 2000 still remains a big name when it comes to the 90s underground scene, how come there’s so little info (on the internet) about you guys?
Troo Kula: I was never an internet dude. I‘m still trying to be one now since life is a little better now. I have a career outside of music. You need money and a lot of time for this independent Rap Game.
hanDJob: I think I became aware of Brainwash 2000 when I heard NY Reality Check for the first time. As for you, was that your breakthrough in the underground scene or did it happen before? Furthermore, did Primo get in touch with you before releasing that mixtape? I think Stretch Armstrong gave you guys quite some airplay as well back in the days.
Troo Kula: Stretch was the first to put „Break It Down“ on his „Lesson One“ CD. I respect that dude. He‘s dedicated and respects real Hip Hop. He gave us mad spins. Primo used to be on Hot 97 and burned the joint like crazy. Actually the first person to spin the track was Funk Master Flex. After he consigned it everybody followed.
[naut jugga]
hanDJob: How come there was never a Brainwash 2000 album or at least a 3rd single?
Troo Kula: We have a lot of albums but never released any probably because this shit is a financial grind. You have to live too. I‘ve seen many rappers forget about making a living and today they‘re struggling because they never thought about the future.
hanDJob: Since you told me earlier that you got unreleased material are there any plans to put that out? Maybe even on vinyl? As far as I’m concerned you got lots of fans in Europe and Japan as well, who’d definitely buy the wax.
Troo Kula: I have numerous Brainwash albums I‘m putting out on vinyl first then on CD. You guys don‘t know what your responsible for. You just gave me crazy inspiration to hit the world with some unheard heat.
hanDJob: What other projects or groups were you involved in back in the early-late 90s? I think I read somewhere that someone named Troo Kula was rapping on PMDs first solo LP, the 3rd Eye Ep and a sampler called NBA Jam Session.
Troo Kula: Since we were running with Diddy back in the day he put me on the NBA Jam Session with Heavy D. and Biggie produced by Jesse West. I also did a track for Parish on his solo joint. I think it was called „No Shorts No Sleep“. Parish managed us for a minute as Third Eye.
hanDJob: To finish this, what you’re working on these days? Still doing music? And how do you feel about the hip hop culture today?
Troo Kula: Today I‘m a licensed Radiology Technologist working with doctors and nurses in ERs and ORs. I have some ill projects slated to be released. One of them „The Legend Of T.R.O.O.K.U.L.A.“ I‘m still doing beats and about to get back a SP1200. I‘ve been using Reason on my IMAC for several years. As far as the music today, I think what we‘re hearing today is just modified Hip Hop. It‘s temporary and will come back to the real raw art form the way it was originally. Peace!
hanDJob: Thanks for taking the time to answer those questions!
