Cory Scoffern slowly saunters up to the stage on a hot summer day in (of all places) Council Bluffs, Iowa. As the crowd cheers, he seems at home. When he's on the mic, he spits out his lyrics in such a way that he makes it look easy.
Better known as "The Grouch," Scoffern has been a part of the California-based, underground hip-hop collective, The Living Legends, since 1996. After multiple studio albums including 2004's Creative Differences and 2008's The Gathering, The Grouch announced a hiatus from the group in June 2012. However, he has gone on to collaborate with fellow Living Legend Eligh Nachowitz numerous times under the name "G&E." In fact, Eligh was one step behind him as The Grouch took the stage last weekend. The pair is getting ready to release their follow-up to 2009's Say G&E. In the meantime, the single "All These Lights" (produced by Pretty Lights) will have to hold us over until it drops. And drop it will. The Grouch and Eligh can be found wherever the bass hits hard. The Grouch took a few moments to talk to RAPstation about his name, addiction and living in Hawaii.
You've been an integral member of Living Legends for a long time. But lately you and Eligh have been pairing up a lot. What is it about the two of you that really connect?
Eligh is my brother from another mother and we've definitely known each other in past lifetimes. In the studio we can finish each other's sentences. Outside of the studio we're on similar paths and that helps us when it comes to making music.
How did you get your moniker?
It's just a name my homie Sunspot [Jonz of The Living Legends] called me in an argument once. It stuck. I didn't have one before that, I was just rapping under my birth name. I feel like I've done my job with it. It empowers me to tell anyone to fuck off at any given time or place and have them understand. Just kidding [laughs].
I've seen a lot of people succumb to addiction. Do you feel any social responsibility when writing lyrics and deciding on what to put out into the world?
I like to hear people say that our/my music helped them in life in some way more than to have someone come up to me and offer to buy me a drink or do drugs with them. I think about that when making music. I'm really not responsible for anyone except me and the children I bring into this world. I don't do anything because I feel like I have to, I do it because I want to, because that's what feels right to me. When people relate to that, that's the icing.
How has living in Hawaii influenced your musical style?
It taught me how to be motivated by beauty, peace and love instead of mostly pain, stress and fear. After figuring that out, I've experimented with the sounds and words that come out. I look at it like having a bigger source to draw from. I don't have just have one style so it hasn't "changed" that. I've picked up a lot of slang and met a lot of great musicians over there so I try to incorporate those things here and there. When I make music I like to be able to pull from any time period or place that I've been in. Hawaii definitely has a huge place in my heart.
What about touring gets hard, if anything?
Depends on how you tour. I've done buses, 15 passenger vans, sprinters, cars etc. I've been out with people I love and people that... well you know. It's always a lot of work no matter which way you cut it. It's hard to stay healthy. If I ever get sick it's on the road. Combine that with not enough sleep and it's hard to get well. I could go on and on, but the most important part is that all ailments go away when I'm performing. It's a love/hate thing for me, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. The good people I've met while touring make it great. I wouldn't rather have a 9-5.
Are there any techniques you use to keep your voice in top form?
There some vocal exercises I do. They sound funny. I need to be more about it though.
Do you still consider yourself a "simple man [reference to his 1999 single, "Simple Man)?"
The idea I have for myself is simpler than the man I actually am or have become. To me less really is more. I'm constantly aiming to simplify my life, to cut things out of my schedule, to reduce the number of items that I own etc. A lot of people want more. I want less so I can focus more on just being. I think great things come from that. I want to be a guy who uses his imagination more than his computer.
Do you prefer being part of a large collective or smaller act?
Variety is the spice of life. Sometimes I prefer to work alone. Other times I want to work with as many people as I can. I'm blessed to have a lot of talented friends and family to work with.
How did the Pretty Lights track come about?
We met him through a mutual friend of ours and found out that he's a big Grouch and Eligh fan. He told us he once slap-boxed with our homie Murs at a house party after one of our shows back in the day. We had good conversation and it naturally made us want to work together. I'm glad we did.
What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?
A lot of times my music is a reminder to myself to practice what I preach. It helps me to remember who I am, who I was and who I want to be. It's also like a bunch of seeds that I throw out into the world that grow into opportunities, lead to friendships, help bring my family and I abundance. Bottom line, it means a lot.
By Kyle Eustice for RAPstation.com
Exclusive: The Grouch - The RAPstation Interview
Cory Scoffern slowly saunters up to the stage on a hot summer day in (of all places) Council Bluffs, Iowa. As the crowd cheers, he seems at home. When he's on the mic, he spits out his lyrics in such a way that he makes it look easy.
Better known as "The Grouch," Scoffern has been a part of the California-based, underground hip-hop collective, The Living Legends, since 1996. After multiple studio albums including 2004's Creative Differences and 2008's The Gathering, The Grouch announced a hiatus from the group in June 2012. However, he has gone on to collaborate with fellow Living Legend Eligh Nachowitz numerous times under the name "G&E." In fact, Eligh was one step behind him as The Grouch took the stage last weekend. The pair is getting ready to release their follow-up to 2009's Say G&E. In the meantime, the single "All These Lights" (produced by Pretty Lights) will have to hold us over until it drops. And drop it will. The Grouch and Eligh can be found wherever the bass hits hard. The Grouch took a few moments to talk to RAPstation about his name, addiction and living in Hawaii.
You've been an integral member of Living Legends for a long time. But lately you and Eligh have been pairing up a lot. What is it about the two of you that really connect?
Eligh is my brother from another mother and we've definitely known each other in past lifetimes. In the studio we can finish each other's sentences. Outside of the studio we're on similar paths and that helps us when it comes to making music.
How did you get your moniker?
It's just a name my homie Sunspot [Jonz of The Living Legends] called me in an argument once. It stuck. I didn't have one before that, I was just rapping under my birth name. I feel like I've done my job with it. It empowers me to tell anyone to fuck off at any given time or place and have them understand. Just kidding [laughs].
I've seen a lot of people succumb to addiction. Do you feel any social responsibility when writing lyrics and deciding on what to put out into the world?
I like to hear people say that our/my music helped them in life in some way more than to have someone come up to me and offer to buy me a drink or do drugs with them. I think about that when making music. I'm really not responsible for anyone except me and the children I bring into this world. I don't do anything because I feel like I have to, I do it because I want to, because that's what feels right to me. When people relate to that, that's the icing.
How has living in Hawaii influenced your musical style?
It taught me how to be motivated by beauty, peace and love instead of mostly pain, stress and fear. After figuring that out, I've experimented with the sounds and words that come out. I look at it like having a bigger source to draw from. I don't have just have one style so it hasn't "changed" that. I've picked up a lot of slang and met a lot of great musicians over there so I try to incorporate those things here and there. When I make music I like to be able to pull from any time period or place that I've been in. Hawaii definitely has a huge place in my heart.
What about touring gets hard, if anything?
Depends on how you tour. I've done buses, 15 passenger vans, sprinters, cars etc. I've been out with people I love and people that... well you know. It's always a lot of work no matter which way you cut it. It's hard to stay healthy. If I ever get sick it's on the road. Combine that with not enough sleep and it's hard to get well. I could go on and on, but the most important part is that all ailments go away when I'm performing. It's a love/hate thing for me, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. The good people I've met while touring make it great. I wouldn't rather have a 9-5.
Are there any techniques you use to keep your voice in top form?
There some vocal exercises I do. They sound funny. I need to be more about it though.
Do you still consider yourself a "simple man [reference to his 1999 single, "Simple Man)?"
The idea I have for myself is simpler than the man I actually am or have become. To me less really is more. I'm constantly aiming to simplify my life, to cut things out of my schedule, to reduce the number of items that I own etc. A lot of people want more. I want less so I can focus more on just being. I think great things come from that. I want to be a guy who uses his imagination more than his computer.
Do you prefer being part of a large collective or smaller act?
Variety is the spice of life. Sometimes I prefer to work alone. Other times I want to work with as many people as I can. I'm blessed to have a lot of talented friends and family to work with.
How did the Pretty Lights track come about?
We met him through a mutual friend of ours and found out that he's a big Grouch and Eligh fan. He told us he once slap-boxed with our homie Murs at a house party after one of our shows back in the day. We had good conversation and it naturally made us want to work together. I'm glad we did.
What does the music you make mean to you on a personal level?
A lot of times my music is a reminder to myself to practice what I preach. It helps me to remember who I am, who I was and who I want to be. It's also like a bunch of seeds that I throw out into the world that grow into opportunities, lead to friendships, help bring my family and I abundance. Bottom line, it means a lot.
By Kyle Eustice for RAPstation.com
