How Brooklyn's Realest Producer Linked Up with Australia's Realest Label

Found on street corners from Brooklyn to the Bronx, and selling everything from lottery tickets, beer, groceries, sandwiches, and Our Lady of Guadalupe candles – often until 4am – the neighbourhood bodega has become a New York City cultural institution.

Brooklyn-based musician Gut Nose has recently released Citadel Supreme, a 12-track beat tape that sounds as bright, brash and multicultural as any corner bodega. It's a music that captures the urban anxiety and excitement of life in New York City and blends house and hip hop into a thrilling mix of chopped beats and banging rhythms.

In 2014 Gut Nose released Filthy City, a dirty old-school New York mix tape that mixed jittery and grimey hip hop. Some of the cuts on Citadel Supreme were lined up for 'Filthy City' but due to the vinyl run-time length they were left off. So when emerging Australian label Cult Trip (2200) asked him for tracks for a new release he sent them through.

Have a listen to the track "Lethal Face Goonie" and read a short interview with Gut Nose below.

THUMP: What is your local bodega and what is your typical purchase?

Gut Nose: I find myself going to different locations to rest my head so I frequent a few 24-hour joints close to wherever I happen to be. Usually I'll have the grill man hook up a handful of scrambled eggs with onions and avocado. Easy. I like them fluffy.

Your name is Vagabundo. Where is your family from?

Vagabundo is a name I gave myself. I get a kick every time someone mentions it. My given name is out there, I've seen it. So much for trying to practice privacy, eh? Vag•a•boon•doe. But yes, Mom is from South America. Dad was born in NY.

How did you end up on Aussie label Cult Trip?

They messaged me about "Inside the Banker Compound," a track I posted on Soundcloud. Back and forth emailing turned to talk about putting out a beat tape that ended up being Citadel Supreme. Real recognises real. Much respect goes out to Cult Trip.

What were you listening to in your formative years?

Back in middle school, I remember finding a cassette copy of Redman's Muddy Waters in the hallway, I wasn't able to find who it belonged to so I popped it in my Walkman, and the whole thing was incredible. From there I wanted to seek out any rap or hip-hop stuff that was in a similar vein, similar production style. Albums like; Temple of Boom, Gory Days, The Infamous, Cuban Linx, Supreme Clientele, War Report, Petestrumentals, Capital Punishment, The Chronic were in the rotation. I got my license as soon as I legally could, so I was driving around Long Island with those CDs always in the car. If I found any production that had that certain flair, I was bumpin it.

What clubs were you going to? Was there any shows or performance that stood out?

I went to this place APT a few times, and one night the singer from Skyy was doing a live performance of the song "Call Me" on the dance floor, she then looks in my direction and points to me, does the call me hand gesture, interacting with me in a playful way for the duration of the song. I played along with her by pulling out my flip-phone and responding in-kind, all smiles. It was a fun night.

Do you think that in NYC there's too much emphasis on nostalgia and not enough on what is happening at the moment?

Nothing is ever permanent. I think there is a longing for a time when NYC as a whole was a more affordable place to make your life. Certainty there is a relief that crime has gone down. If it reverted you'd see those trendy kids abandon the place in droves. Occasionally you'll hear of someone you know getting mugged. To prevent that you must be aware and have your wits about you in the moment. Do the best to avoid that situation in the first place. Either that, or carry something on you to neutralise the threat. But I would say NYC is a safe place overall.

"Lethal Face Goonie" has real cinematic feel to it. Is it meant to reference Lethal Weapon, Face Off and The Goonies?

Years ago, I used to record the radio with cassettes. One evening I had my dial tuned in to the Underground Railroad on WBAI. Easy Mo Bee was a guest and he's cutting up breaks and original tracks that were sampled for hip-hop. So I taped what I could. The drums were sourced from that cassette, the rest of the samples were acquired rummaging through my mom's old cassettes. The title was inspired by a Ghostface lyric, probably not exactly what was said, but it's my interpretation. Mr. Lethal Face Goonie was holding the rifle, and supposedly they had whole shit shook.

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