Simple Complexity is two local musicians: Mas Appeal and Tough Junkie. Collectively, these two people produce not only great music, but a wildly entertaining live performance. I was first introduced to these guys by my former roomie, Rob Roy (another major player in the Jacksonville hip-hop scene who is sadly absent from this issue because he is currently out of town). After an Atlanta road trip, Tough Junkie unveiled some of his solo works to Rob and I, and Tough Junkie couldn’t shut up on how I had to work on a project with him. Did I mention I was a procrastinator?
EU: Tough Junkie, the first several times I’ve seen you boys perform, you were always costumed in an extremely fashionable hat. But when I saw you at the Burrito Gallery the hat was gone. What happened?
TJ: I don’t have it on today, but I still wear it at shows.
EU: I didn’t see it last show.
TJ: Were we at the last show?
EU: I think it was Mas Appeal’s birthday party.
TJ: Oh hell, it was raining outside. I’m not fixin’ to put my hat out in the rain.
EU: What is the most awkward bill you’ve ever been put on?
Mas: Ocean Club.
TJ: I would say Endo Exo, after the Grind 2 Shine show. That was kinda awkward because those cats didn’t understand what they were doing onstage. So, when we got onstage, nobody was moving, nobody was doing anything. And then when we started actually getting into the show, all the chicks started dancing, all the dudes started to like it.
Mas: That was one of the awkward shows. The other one was the Atlantic Theater, because everyone was sitting down.
TJ: You’re on stage going like, “Yeah! Put your hands up!” Motherf**kers are sending text messages. (Laughing)
EU: What advice would you give an aspiring artist in this scene?
TJ: Do you want to answer that? I have a lot to say about that.
Mas: All I would say is that if you’re a new and upcoming artist in this scene, you’ve got to make sure that, number one, you come correct. Because, I mean, I think the Jacksonville hip-hop scene, especially, has stepped up. So you just can’t come with just this regular bullsh*t that people have been trying to pass out at Amoco gas stations lately. You’ve got to step your presentation up. No more CDs with sharpie writing on them anymore. You’ve got to come well-packaged.
TJ: I guess for me, it’s learn the definitions of the words you’re trying to say. Wack people exist, and if you don’t understand what wack is, then you won’t know that you’re wack. And there are a lot of wack-ass people on this planet. What we’re doing; it’s music. We put thought behind our songs.
Mas: Yeah, it’s not a hustle. You gotta love music and make music because you love music. Not because you don’t want to go to jail for selling crack anymore, you can just sell CDs on a corner now.
EU: Are you guys ever not working?
Mas: Me more than Junkie, I think Junkie never stops working, he makes fifty beats a day.
EU: Big in Europe?
TJ: Yeah, getting close. I have a fan base there now, which is good. Thanks to the Boondocks mix tape. I was the only unsigned artist, which felt good because I was right before Dangerdoom and right after Talib Kweli.
EU: What do you like about our scene and what would you like to see happen with it?
Mas: From when I got here in 2002 to now, it has definitely grown. The hip-hop scene has grown thanks to groups like Asamov (now the ABs), Simple Complexity, the Smile Rays. When I first got to Jacksonville, I think that Hip Hop Hell had just started. I think that was a big help as well. Hip Hop Hell was a little breeding ground for groups to get started and to meet. It’s grown, I don’t think it’s anywhere near where it needs to be at still. The first person I met in the scene was Therapy.
TJ: What was his first word to you?
Mas: Cue Estey was playing and there were a bunch of rock bands. I walked up to him, because I had heard of Asamov, and I was like, is Asamov playing? And he was like, “Yo! I’m Therapy, son. That’s me.” (All laughing)
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EU Critic’s Choice Awards
