INFLUENCES: Quincy Vidal

We have always felt a connection with Oukast. We chose this earlier video because we’ve sorta stuck with this old sound/aesthetic more so than their recent stuff. Although their most recent stuff isn’t so recent…:’(. It also strikes a chord with us because their creative journey is relatable. We’ve always been proud of how each of us brings such a different view to the same idea. Perspective makes up a big chunk of our mission statement as a duo.

Another song we feel inspired our sound. Plus the video was so different and unique. We strive to make stuff like this, taking a conventional idea and flipping it.
Plus Pharcyde’s antics are so uniquely awesome. Anyone who’s see our live show knows that we have that same kind of energy on stage. No reservations. This kind of music requires that.

The first group we ever got compared to was Digable Planets (along with The Fugees, Tribe, etc.). In the beginning, our whole style was based on the cool of nineties hip-hop, and we flipped out when people said we sounded like them. It’s a dope honor.
Plus Digable had that smooth edge that made them stand out, and having a woman’s voice (literally and figuratively) added to that. It goes back to what we were saying about perspective. We can give you both sides of a love story, and make it sound sexy as fuck.

Le’Asha: I’ve always wanted to have a video like this. With a cartoonish set and busta’s hilarious close ups. I’m a big fan of Busta’s animated gestures. I think videos are a big part of musical artist’s success, and Busta definitely excelled in that area.

A classic song. We’re both super inspired by Common in our own ways, so it only seemed right. Plus we do a cover of this in our live show.
“Ticka-tha-thicka-tha-thicka-tha thicka thicka thuh-tha…”. Fucking jazz. And the sample and the video and the EVERYTHING…we could go on…and Erykah?!?!?!?! Ok. Done.

Le’Asha: I love this video for its simplicity and its ability to pull the viewer in. It’s hypnotizing. Prince always took risks. Especially early on in his career. He purposely made choices that would make him stand out. People were always intrigued by him. A video this simple only has the viewer thinking about him. He’s such a mystery. There’s also the awesome fact that he plays every instrument on the track. I always strive to grab people’s attention this way in music, become a mystery and make people want more.
Prince being Prince, the OG video of I Wanna Be Your Lover isn’t on Youtube. Damn. You’ll have to setle for this live version…

CE: This song is so fucking brilliant. The writing, the music, all of it. I love the two sides of it. And the video’s cinematic feel just enhances everything I love about it. Frank Ocean is a huge influence for me as far as songwriting. I’m talking lyrics and melody. One, this dude can tell a fucking story like nobody’s business. Two, he does things with his voice that you never would expect from an R&B song. I often find myself singing along and just stopping in the middle of a run like, “Frank, what ARE you.”

CE: I can’t even really explain how Slum Village makes me feel. Their music reminds me why I sit down and stare at a computer making music into the late hours of the night. And their love songs are incredible. And of course we love Dilla for his music but that dude could rap his ass off. He was an instrument when it came to rap. He played his lyrics like a sax or a trumpet or something. They all did! That shit makes the song so thick, nuanced. I definitely take notes when listening to them.