Contributed by Step Above Most on 2/27/08

At face value, it seems that Dutch producer Nicolay and Houston rapper Kay have little in common. Born thousands of miles away, producer Nicolay is professionally trained in musicology from the University of Amersterdam, while emcee Kay has prided himself a man for which music has been his savior from a life of struggle and hardship. Despite their differences, the two men look to harken back the days of Premier and Guru, bringing the lost art of storytelling back into hip hop with their new album TIME:LINE. The two recently interviewed with us here at Drop Magazine to talk about their differences, their similarities, and how hip-hop needs to regain it’s sense of ‘balance.’

How would you describe Nicolay & Kay’s music?
Nicolay: Music that has a lot of heart and soul into it, no matter what genre or style we might fall under.

Nicolay & Kay started as a long-distance project. Can you guys explain how a producer from the Netherlands and an emcee from Houston hooked up?
Nicolay: I met Kay in a similar way as I met Phonte, on the Okayplayer message boards. So we started talking on there, and working from there, sending files back and forth.

Nic, you began working with Phonte from Big Brother (together as Foreign Exchange) in a similar way. Is it a matter of convenience? Or is this method of starting partnerships just better?
Nicolay: It’s not necessarily a matter of inconvenience, but more a reality check. I was in Europe and had no way of working with anyone in the same room, for obvious financial reasons. So we worked together the only way we knew how. I think I have started appreciating that process more because it allows for a lot of creative freedom… you work on your part of the equation without anyone looking over your shoulder.

Kay, after your solo record, The Talk Show, was shelved indefinitely, you considered early retirement. How did you recover from that kind of disappointment?
Kay: It was hard, but I realized that I really love music and that my main motivation for doing music should be to fulfill myself rather than being concerned about releases.

Nicolay, can you tell us about your ‘traditional’ musical education background? How do you think it has affected your beat making process?
Nicolay: I have studied musicology at the university of Amsterdam. I personally do not like the term “beat making” as it doesn’t really cover what I do, it’s much, much more complicated than that. The ‘beat making’ is only a small part of the bigger picture of producing, composition, arranging, sequencing, mixing, etc. and in that sense my background does give me a little bit of a lead.

What elements of each of your styles and contributions make Nicolay and Kay so compatible and sound so good together?
Nicolay: Speaking from my perspective I think we are compatible because Kay is willing to be adventurous and is a very ‘musical’ vocalist.

Kay: Nicolay always pushes me to do different things. His production pulls out many different ideas that allow me to experiment.

Kay, your one of those guys that never writes down his rhymes. Give us a feel for your lyrical composition process. Do you start with a basic idea and rhyme scheme? Are you freestyling? Or is it really all thought up and memorized?
Kay: Actually I do write to a degree. It’s like a short hand so I don’t forget what I’m doing. I freestyle and then i may write a couple of words down so i don’t forget, but sometimes, since I record myself I may just record what I am repeating just to get it into the session.

What is your guys’ general opinion of the state of hip-hop today?
Nicolay: There’s no balance, as far as I’m concerned. The problem is, mainstream music takes up over 95% of airtime and I feel like the underground needs to be more successful in battling that. The problem is that the majority of the albums that come out are nothing more than just “okay”. But I think there’s an incredible amount of talent around that can turn things around.

Kay: People need to be more creative. I also feel that labels need to understand that hip hop has a more broad audience. They could probably make more money if they promoted more mature hip hop to all the “tribe-heads” like myself that feel neglected. We still love hip hop!

Both of you grew up with all kinds of influences. What’s your favorite album of all time - any genre?
Nicolay: I really can’t narrow it down to one. But I’m currently listening to Abbey Road a whole, whole lot.

Kay: Wow… I’d say its between Midnight Marauders and Hear My Dear.

Any final thoughts or comments?
Nicolay: Thanks!

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