By Andy Tran
Last week, we had the chance to sit down with Beer N Black, a Vienna-based hip-hop group composed of JRock and Tweeter. They have a show coming up at Jammin’ Java on Sept. 6 with local artist Bo Jankans, along with DJ Ragz and Kane Mayfield. Expect the group to give a high-energy, crowd engaging set. They have West Coast cadences with a bit of Southern twang, impeccable rhyme schemes, and the mindsets of Deejays in the way they control the crowd with their bombastic beats and colorful lyrics.
I see that you guys are great friends; can you give me the story of how you bonded and developed your group?
JRock: We first met before college, but we didn’t know each other, we were playing basketball. He thought he was really good, real flashy. I was guarding him and I scratched his arm. Fast forward, second semester at CNU, we both pledged at the same fraternity PI Lambda PHI, and from there when you’re in your own pledge class, we were forced to depend on each other during the pledging process. We started being partners in beer pong and we went to the same classes, and always being with each other, having each other’s back, that all developed our friendship. Also after college we ended up being roommates.
Tweeter: I’m from Madison in the mountains in Virginia. The Walmart is 21 miles away. And I know that because my father walked from there and all the way back home. It’s a country area. I can say I’ve always been into urban things. I didn’t really listen to hip hop when I was growing up, but the first time I really ever got into hip hop I listened to Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise.” Before that, I was listening to a lot of blues—BB King and 70’s soul a lot of Marvin Gaye. I had no idea that I could rap until my friend rhymed about my sister, and I freestyled back to him and crushed it. At the time our friend Big Dave had passed away from cancer and it was a huge blow to me. We were both invested in hip hop, and when he passed hip hop grew serious for me. Marty Diggs is the first guy we ever rapped with on a song called “Smart Guy.” And then the first ever show we did was with him and the whole set was sick. Last month, at Jammin’ Java, we gave him a three-song set and he came over and crushed it.
What was it like to open for Pusha T at Echo Stage last summer? And how did you find the opportunity?
JRock: The opportunity was awesome. We got a connect from my guy Chris and he knew a guy who does promo named Jamal. He listened to our music and asked us [if] we can get around 200 people for the show. We ended up getting 300. So we went there and did our promo, talked to fans from Richmond and North Carolina, a lot of people came to support us from Charlotte. We learned no matter how large the show is, you have to adapt to the situation and the environment. We were supposed to do a 30-minute set, and we ended up doing a 10-minute set. But it was still a great opportunity to play in front of 1,100 people, at a great venue. We got the chance to get exposure, but we felt our fans wanted more from the experience.
How did you guys come up with the name Beer N Black?
Tweeter: Basically every Thursday night after college we were in that limbo space when we would smoke some Black & Milds, go out to bars and drink, and go to work on Friday hungover. So we would be in a room, smoking and drinking, hanging out, listening to beats and think up of songs. Beer and Black & Milds were a huge influence in forming the name. We just said we drink beer; we smoke blacks, that’s what we do, that’s our name.
Does Northern Virginia influence your sound? Has Vienna inspired any of your songs?
JRock: I would say that Northern Virginia embraces our style, more than influences it. We made the same sound, since we began until now, and we’ve improved our skills. We used to have a party background, I think this area is full of people who went to college, who kinda party but are going through that transition with having babies, going to jobs, paying bills. Our group and our audience have transitioned with us. We’re young professional people facing the same things they are.
Panty Droppers is the new album, what was the process in creating it? Such as writing lyrics, producing tracks, and recording songs?
JRock: It actually is four songs, and they were done for our full-length album. But then we decided not to put so many love-tracks on it. They’re all about women; all focused on them, what we love about them … our women. Our process is all in home studios. We’re big on doing things ourselves. Up to this point we’ve done independent home-based recordings. But that will change in the next week and a half. Before we were doing the grunt work, making sure the sound levels were checked. Maybe it’s better for other people doing the sound balancing, and if people show us a professional ear.
Jammin Java
227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna
September 6 @ 10 p.m.
$10-$15