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Hanif Jamiyl - The Current of Creative Juices
Interview by: Mina Jasarevic
 He wants to lick fudge off your fingers with some whipped cream – at least that’s what Maspyke’s lead MC, Hanif-Jamiyl, exclaims to the ladies in his new single “Wet Dream”, one of the 14 tracks driven over R&B/hip-hop/funk beats off of his new album, Krushed Grapes. A fresh concept entailing a diverse approach to production that includes multi-platinum and platinum producers (Allstar and 88 Keys), catchy choruses, and hip-hop vocals from once-upon-a-time underground rapper from Massachusetts. Via hip-hop, Krushed Grapes creatively describes behaviors between men and women in a story-telling, grab you by the ears (and even by the globes) sort of way. There is a catch: it’s all sexual behavior, intertwined in the thematic appeal of high heels, fine wine and sexual seduction. With the female audience in mind, Hanif-Jamiyl becomes one of the rare hip-hop artists who almost equally attracts both sexes on this joint. Nobodysmiling.com caught up with the creator of Krushed Grapes to discuss its appeal, his wisdom when it comes to women, and why he crept up from the underground.
 Nobodysmiling.com : I’ll get straight to the point: Krushed Grapes – not a typical concept behind a hip-hop CD. Who did you create this album for?
Hanif-Jamiyl : I created this album for you babe. The creation of Krushed Grapes was influenced totally by fine women; and of course, fine wine.
Nobodysmiling.com : What kind of a feel can we get from the album?
Hanif-Jamiyl : Krushed Grapes is like a sexy, funky, nasty but classy taste of classic hip-hop, R&B and soul. I wanted to create an album that you can dance to, sex to, make love to or just ride around and nod your head to. My production team consists of multi-platinum producer Allstar, platinum producer 88 Keys, RoddyRod from Maspyke, J.Bless, Fire, Belief and leN?KO. It was hand-picked by me and I feel that every track compliments the concept lovely. Vocally, there are VonQwest, Fire and Isis.
Nobodysmiling.com : Are high heels, wine and sex simply a marketing strategy?
Hanif-Jamiyl : Am I aware that sex sells products? Yes! Did I create this album because sex sells? No. I love wine, sex and women in high heels. I think most men do. Women with nice legs who like to show them off…and there’s nothing wrong with that in my humble opinion. I wanted to explore the “sexy” in all of us. Everyone wants to feel sexy sometimes. We all have a little freak in us but we hide it until the lights go off. I just kept the lights on this time and let the cameras roll [laughing].
Nobodysmiling.com : What does it mean to have your grapes krushed?
Hanif-Jamiyl : I attempted to describe the actual act on the entire last verse of the song “Krushed Grapes”…but I could show you better than I could tell you.
Nobodysmiling.com : You are part of Maspyke, an underground hip-hop group from Massachusetts. Why was the choice made to create a commercially appealing album?
Hanif-Jamiyl : Good question. Many artists in the field of creative arts carry the gift and the curse of being type cast. When people start labeling you and your art as “conscious”, “underground”, “backpack” or whatever, you’re not allowed to paint other pictures. I don’t even own a backpack. I drive a Benz so what does this mean? This happens in the field of music mostly with hip-hop artists. The fans get so attached to a certain sound, style or personality, so deep to the point where if you try to explore other topics they don’t know how to receive it. They fear growth and change. Krushed Grapes is equally dope and fresh as anything I’ve ever created. If it was wack or not up to par with my previous work, that would be a different story; true artists paint the picture of life on a whole, and sex is a huge part of life. Everyone’s doing it - no pun intended. Marvin Gaye said “What’s going on” but he also said “Let’s get it on.”
Nobodysmiling.com : Good point. Why did Maspyke’s artists all decide to take a solo route?
Hanif-Jamiyl : There are many reasons for the solo projects but the main reason is vision. Many great groups disband because of money issues. We didn’t make much money from Maspyke so money was an issue but more of a “lack there of” kind of thing. I’ve been writing and performing since I was 10 years old. I knew at 12 that this is what I wanted to do with my life and I wanted to do it big! I feel I can get rich off of doing what I love to do. Maspyke doesn’t believe that so if you can’t see it, you can’t be it. I’m not interested in being just an “underground” artist. Why limit myself to the underground? My favorite artists were not and are not “underground”. They are world-known. I want to touch as many people as possible. 95% of the cats that talk that “underground” jazz are broke. They are dying to blow.
Nobodysmiling.com : You're good with Mos. Are you planning to collaborate?
Hanif-Jamiyl: We’ve spoken about collaborating before. When the time is right; everything happens on time.
Nobodysmiling.com : Is this album meant to describe sexual behavior?
Hanif-Jamiyl : On the surface; but it’s more like a 14-track study of the sensual and sexual dynamics that govern the relationships between men and women.
Nobodysmiling.com : Speaking of which, you seem to know much about women. Where does that knowledge come from?
Hanif-Jamiyl : When I was a child, a wiser man than myself once told me, “Study women. If you study the nature of women you’ll never be alone.” Me being the extreme cat that I am, I actually went to the library and started studying women; from their bodies to their minds. Why they think the way they do, what turns them on and off, the intimate things…just their nature. So I was always with older women; they taught me how to make love and give love. There are also a few things you pick up about females when you grow up with 9 sisters and you’re the only boy.
Nobodysmiling.com : I’d think so. What is the most important lesson you learned about the opposite sex?
Hanif-Jamiyl : The most important lesson is that you can never learn it all. I learn
something new from every woman I encounter.
Nobodysmiling.com : How do you think your fans – especially the heads – will respond to this album?
Hanif-Jamiyl : The rhymes are dope, the music is dope, the concept is dope. If you enjoy classic hip-hop, R&B and soul music, then I think you’ll love Krushed Grapes.
Nobodysmiling.com : Rappers can have images and even gimmicks. What is yours with this album?
Hanif-Jamiyl : First off, most rappers don’t have an image. They dress, sound, and immolate their favorite rapper. That’s why there’s only one Nas, one Jay-Z, one B.I.G., but there’s 100 biters for each of them. I’ve been told that I look like Mos Def, Usher and even Jamie Fox!? People want to compare you to whatever you remind them of at the time of the first meeting. When Nas first dropped they said he sounded like Kool G Rap…Shine like B.I.G., Mos Def like Q-Tip; Erykah Badu like Billie Holiday. In my eyes, my image is that of class, style, finesse, sensuality, sexuality, spirituality and consciousness. Maybe they’ll say “Hanif-Jamiyl is the modern-day Marvin Gaye”.
Nobodysmiling.com : Maybe. If you’ve got what it takes...
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