Ho99o9 (pronounced “Horror”) are a thunderous, rap/thrashcore band out of New Jersey. Known for their DIY shows, put on everywhere from empty warehouses to cramped basements, Ho99o9 will quickly become your favorite new band of 2015. Recently relocated to Cali, their first Ep, Mutant Freax, has us bouncing off walls, much like the audiences at their shows. Their video for the track “Bone Collector” encapsulates the band pretty well: it’s just two cool dudes playing wild shows and getting reckless.
The O.G.M. and Eaddy have something special here with their band Ho99o9. This past summer, they played a 30-minute set at New York’s Afropunk Fest that really caught our attention. Ho99o9 seems to be the natural evolution of a music scene in New York City that mixes thrashcore, skateboarding, hip-hop, punk, and fashion. If you like Death Grips, this band is definitely for you. With a style, attitude, and sound all their own, we’re hoping to see a lot more of them. But in the meantime, we spoke with the boys in order to get some inside info that’ll hold us over.
You guys recently moved to Los Angeles. What’s it like being a NJ band in LA?
OGM: It’s cool. Better weather. We went from pizza to tacos.
Eaddy: And I get to wear my sunflower dress more often.
So now that you dudes have gone from the “pizza grind” to that “taco life,” have you noticed any sort of subtle differences between playing or going to shows in Cali as opposed to NJ/NY?
OGM: It’s not that different as far as the scenes and the shows go. Just awesome to see it elsewhere. Right now, it’s winter back home, with snow and cold weather. We’re here in 60/70 degree weather eating tacos on the strip in the middle of “winter.”
Ho99o9 has used a lot of great samples, especially the “What a Rush!” from Legion of Doom. Have you ever considered sampling Gravediggaz? I feel like you could absolutely murder “1-800-Suicide.”
OGM: We’ve heard that from a few fans as well (in reference to the Gravediggaz). I’ll look into it. Probably won’t use it cuz everyone expects us to.
Eaddy: Yeah, and definitely RIP Poetic.
You guys have a really eclectic, surreal, and beautiful yet terrifying quality to your art. Are there any artists, musicians, or filmmakers that you have drawn from for inspiration? Or is Ho99o9 the result of just living life?
OGM: Yeah, living and killing roaches (literally), Quentin Tarantino, Rob Zombie, and Sophia Castello.
Ho99o9 is known to put on a wild live show. What would you tell a potential fan to expect if they were thinking of seeing you play live?
OGM: Expect nothing. Expect everything.
Eaddy: Micheal Jackson’s moonwalk.
Ho99o9 doesn’t make it safe for anyone to stand idle at your shows. Do you guys like messing with the photo pit?
OGM: Our sound and lyrics set the mood. We get high off that energy and bounce off what they give us.
Eaddy: It’s all in the moment. Whatever feels like the right thing to do at the time I’ll do it.
Are there any bands out right now that you would kill to play a show with?
OGM: I wanna play with the band Nick Cannon had in the Drumline movie or with a Rick James Hologram.
Eaddy: Parliament.
Interview by Timothy White.
Photographed by Cheryl Georgette Arent
For Issue #3
