What’s your stage name and where are you from?
Chaz Kangas and I’m from Minneapolis by way of New York
What’s the story behind your stage name?
It’s my real name, which I’ve used because it sounds incredibly fake. I used to get reprimanded from teachers in high school for using my “Rap Name” on my homework, until I had to point out it was my actual name. In the years since, there’s always the occasional moment with a new teller at a bank where they say they can’t deposit a check “made out to [my] stage name,” so I always have my ID ready regardless.
Describe your musical journey in three sentences.
Made my first name for myself living in New York for 11 years, starting in the freestyle rap battle scene and expanding through collaborations with Childish Gambino, Princess Superstar, Mac Lethal, Homeboy Sandman and more as I also was making my living in music journalism (print & television) and teaching an after school music program. Moved to LA and then back to Minneapolis to work in radio where I’m still on-air today. Also, since 2006 every December I’ve released an original holiday song where 100% of the money raise has been donated to RAINN and WigsForKids.
Share an interesting experience you had while creating your latest track.
I’ve always been a fan of the movie ‘Girls School Screamers,’ and it’s been fun reciting the entire plot of the film inside-and-out to everyone involved from the other artists to those in the studios at Fairplay Entertainment where it was recorded, mixed and mastered. I feel almost ready to release an audiobook version of the film on the side. “Girls School Screamers” comes from my new album ‘The Troma Project’ where 100% of the production is made of samples of the sounds, scores and songs from the films released from Troma Studios over the past 50 years. J57 put together a few samples from different movies for this one, but kept the original trailer intro for ‘Girls School Screamers,’ so it felt like a great opportunity to share some of my favorite women in rap from across the country. Anna Diorio I’ve known as a fellow battle champion from my days in New York, Desdamona is a Twin Cities legend and RhymeStyleTroop is someone who has been working with J57 whose worked I’ve liked a lot – so I’m thrilled I could have all of them on the same track.
What message do you want to convey through your music?
On this track and this album, I think the message of following your heart to make the art that you want to make, as well as the art that only you could make. I don’t know where the three artists I collaborated with would have crossed paths, or how long it would take for someone else to have made a “Girls School Screamers”-themed posse cut, and in addition to being happy that the song came out how it did, I’m thrilled that it even exists. Make what you want to make the way that you want to make it, and don’t be afraid of the Team approach to makes things that can only come from collaboration. The Troma way.
Tell us about a challenge you faced during production and how you overcame it.
Well, ‘The Troma Project’ took over three years to make. To paraphrase composer Igor Stravinsky, it’s when walls are put up that creativity thrives – so using the tight focus of making an album that channels what I love about Troma without being “i’m just going to rap about a movie I like” that also captures the spirit that draws me to their films, but also has enough on its own so that it can appeal to those who may not be familiar with Troma so they can enjoy the song alone at face value.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
I’m going to narrow this down a bit and choose someone with the qualifier that they’re currently alive. I’ve always said Trey Parker, the co-creator and composer of “South Park,” who also got his start with Troma who helped release his first film ‘Cannibal! The Musical.’ I’ve never met Trey, but I’ve admired his work for a long time and how many genres he’s touched, especially with his work with Isaac Hayes, so I’d love to hear what he could bring out into a hip-hop soundscape.
Where do you see your music taking you in the next year?
I’m excited to be releasing ‘The Troma Project’ on Halloween and, on top of sharing music I made that I’m very proud of, helping use this platform to share some of my favorite collaborators with the world. Helping cross the worlds of independent film and underground music, a rising tide lifts all ships.
What’s the next big step for you as an artist?
Probably releasing the new album on October 31. Very excited to get this out thanks to Four Finger Distro.
Where can we hear/watch your most recent work?
The new album is up for pre-order on vinyl and digital here –
https://fourfingerdistro.bandcamp.com/album/the-troma-project-50-years-of-reel-fan-toxic-hip-hop
