Shaheed and DJ Supreme Share New Video “The Art Of Throwing Darts” ft. Slug

Two artists withstood the test of time and continue to produce hip-hop tracks to inspire future generations. Shaheed and DJ Supreme model what it means to use creativity and craft to educate. Their creations combine the traditional boom-bap rap with relevant sentiments. The evident undying passion is a testament to their twenty years of collaborative success. Since the early 2000s, they have used their musical gifts for the betterment of society: addressing environmental issues, highlighting local causes, and giving a voice to topics that go unacknowledged.
 
The Birmingham natives have collaborated with countless musical talents, such as Raekwon, Atmosphere, and Brother Ali. Now they’re teaming up yet again with the legendary Slug, a member of Atmosphere, for the title track of their highly anticipated album, The Art of Throwing Darts. Returning under the Communicating Vessels label with this impactful record—the duo is destined for ever-growing greatness. DJ Supreme’s masterful production abilities with Shaheed’s awe-inspiring flow and Slug’s lyrical finesse are a collaboration of talents for the books! “The Art of Throwing Darts” reflects this team’s sharp skills, respect for hip-hop, and focus on significant themes.  
 
“Respect the culture because the culture is a form of art” is a standout lyric. The song is a metaphor for the rapper’s lyricism and production process. When creating a track meant to make waves in the music industry, artists are responsible for producing work with precision and accuracy. Shaheed and DJ Supreme consistently hit the mark and cleverly acknowledge essential issues in their music. They encourage connection, creativity, and care above all else. Slug joins the duo in their mission to be authentic and drive change as he raps about his passion and the effort he makes to maintain his respect for the craft. By approaching their artwork with intention, they remain grounded and humble—the two keys to their success as artists. It is why they persevere and will continue to carry on the legacies of rap and hip hop for years to come.

What are Shaheed and DJ Supreme’s main goals when writing and producing music?

Shaheed: The goal is to make a positive contribution to the art form and more importantly to  the world. Then to grow and get better.

DJ Supreme: Our objective is to always bring the truth over beats. We strive to display the perfect marriage of soulful, melodic production underneath well-crafted, thought-provoking lyricism.

How did this collaboration between you both and Slug of Atmosphere come about?

Shaheed: The collaboration with Slug happened because we opened for them at a show Atmosphere had here in our city. He liked what he heard and then approached me after the show and said, “If you ever need anything let me know.  I told him “We definitely need a verse for our new album” and he said, “send me the track.” He laced it beautifully and we appreciate him so much because he is a legend we grew up listening to. He is definitely one of the best to ever do it.

DJ Supreme: We were the support act for Atmosphere on a show here in Birmingham, AL and we met Slug that night. He was totally approachable and cordial. We discussed the possibilities of a collaboration.

What was the experience like getting in the studio to produce this track? Was it a more collaborative process, or did you all work individually to then bring it all together?

Shaheed: It was done individually. Dj Supreme came up with the track then I came up with the hook and the concept and sent it to Slug and then the rest is beautiful history.

DJ Supreme: I put the beat together first, but it had a different sample then. We couldn’t get the sample cleared so I played all the instruments on the version you hear now. Shaheed laid his vocal down, then we thought Slug would be perfect on this track. We sent it to him, he turned it around, and it turned out flawless.

Can you describe the behind-the-scenes experience shooting “The Art of Throwing Darts’’ music video? Why was it the best way to illustrate the track’s message?

Shaheed: The behind-the-scenes was awesome because we were able to get Slug in the video. He is so busy but he made time for us and the talented brothers Darrell Nance and Corey Anchors our their great touch on it and it features the World Famous Saturn Venue in Birmingham Alabama.

DJ Supreme: We loved shooting the video for this song. It was shot on location at one of our favorite venues in Birmingham called Saturn. It was important for us to have Slug participate in the video, so we filmed it during a tour stop in Birmingham. The director of the video Darrell Nance used the dart board imagery to further accentuate what we were trying to get across.

How will “The Art of Throwing Darts’’ song and album impact the music industry?

Shaheed: The message of this song is to let the world know that the art form of hip-hop needs to be respected and protected at all cost and we will continue to do our part.

DJ Supreme: We feel that the new album The Art of Throwing Darts is some of our best work and will touch the hearts, minds and souls of those who listen to it. Folks will gravitate towards the rich production value as well as the mastery in the mix (provided by Grammy award winning engineer Darrel Thorp). The lyricism is sincere and captivating. Overall, I feel it will be an enjoyable listening experience with no skips.

Follow Shaheed and DJ Supreme:

http://www.kruhiphop.com
http://twitter.com/shaheed_supreme
http://instagram.com/shaheedanddjsupreme