The Record Crate

This past Wednesday, Hoodie Allen stopped in at The Middle East Downstairs in Boston. Part of a mini-tour that brought him all around the northeast, this was his first ever show in the Hub. As we expected, he came correct and lived up to his mantra of making every word count. Before he took the stage with songs from his recent mixtape The Pep Rally, as well as a “world premier” of a new song, Hoodie sat down with The Record Crate and gave us his thoughts on sampling, influences and the hair whip movement.

The Record Crate: Thanks for sitting down with us Hoodie. Describe the Hoodie Allen Experience.

Hoodie Allen: I think it’s summery, fresh, unique. I think those are the three adjectives I would use. It’s very upbeat, light-hearted music and at the same time it’s not like a lot of things that are out there.

TRC: What do you mean by that?

HA: I think just a lot of the ways we incorporated new school sampling and old school – instead of a Nina Simone samples I used some of my own favorite artists like a Yeasayer and VV Brown. I think that’s what keeps it fresh and different. I guess one of our big things is incorporating things from my own past and childhood in there and I think you see that in a lot of the pop culture that are on there.

TRC: Listening to your album, based on samples alone, is almost like listening to the Hype Machine. Do you pick your samples because they are fitting with what you’re writing about, or is it reflective of your own musical tastes?

HA: For sure. It’s the music I listen to. It’s really cool that I’ve gotten so much support on Hype Machine. You know, because I’m first and foremost a fan and that’s where I’ll go and find my own new music, so I’ll end up discovering all of these new songs. This whole thing started with me and RJ, my producer, and we were really digging the Marina and the Diamonds album so much and we were like “let’s try this and see how it comes out.” It’s kind of what started everything. So yeah, I’m just a music fan first.

TRC: So, would you say that by sampling these artists, you’re sort of paying homage to them?

HA: Absolutely. Yeah. Very good wording. It’s a way to sort of give them more recognition in the hip hop world. Someone who might not have heard of them goes and listens to that song and realizes that they like it too. So it’s a nice way to pay back and put my own personal preferences into what I do.

TRC: You are very accessible to your fans. Is this a conscious effort?

HA: It’s definitely a conscious effort. I feel like it’s the one way to really show your fans – you know you have to put in the work if you wanna show your fans that you really appreciate them. You have to actually get on there, speak to them, give them the time, meet everybody after the shows and I’m a firm believer that that’s what really builds long term fans for life and that’s what’s going to make you win in the end and not just be a flash in the pan. I try to be as good as I can to my fans.

TRC: You’re doing a great job of that, for sure. Explain the whole concept behind The Pep Rally:

HA: Thanks a lot. I appreciate that. The reason for the title The Pep Rally is because when you think of a pep rally, you think of something exciting, new and something to get revved up about and that’s what I wanted the experience of the mixtape to be. Very fast, hard-hitting and by the time it’s done you’re like “whoa, what just happened?” and you go back and listen to it again and I try to keep that tone throughout the whole mixtape to match with.

TRC: When you write, what inspires you?

HA: I think it’s very life-based. I end up writing about, a lot of the music is about individuality and it’s just the kind of things that everyone experiences and I just put my personal take on it. You know, things like jealousy, honesty, relationships with family, friends and girls is obviously a big topic as well. And that’s really my outlet for getting out what’s on my mind. Music definitely inspires that. If I hear something sample-based it makes me conjure up some images, so that’s usually where the inspiration comes from.

TRC: In past interviews you’ve cited Outkast and Blackstar as your inspiration for getting into the game. What have you taken from them and how have you been able to build on that?

HA: From Outkast, it’s definitely the lack of fear, to be innovative and to do something different and to really embrace it. Because, you know, Andre 3000 will get up on stage in a dress and just kill it and own it. It’s definitely being on stage and doing something different. Speakerboxx/The Love Below was something very different at the time. It was hugely successful because they said, “Fuck it. We know what we’re doing and we know what we like and everyone else is going to feel that.” As for Blackstar, I think that was really the first time I really fell in love with the lyricism of hip hop and understood that there’s great storytelling here and there’s so much potential in writing. So that inspired me to be a better writer.

TRC: So are we going to see you in a dress tonight then?

HA: [laughs] Just a kimono I think. Nothing too flashy.

TRC: Outstanding. One final question. I guess I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t ask. What’s your take on the “hair whip” movement?

HA: Like “I whip my hair back and forth?”

TRC: Exactly.

HA: Will Smith is never going to be broke. He’s gonna have so much money.

TRC: [laughs] Without a doubt. Thanks for sitting down with The Record Crate. We really appreciate it. We’re pumped for the show tonight.

HA: Yeah man definitely. I’m glad you’re sticking around for it.