Q&A With Odd Squad

Odd can mean strange, exceptional, unusual and unique but being odd is not always a bad thing, especially when your version of odd makes you a trend setter, has you making your own rules and building your own lane. These are the traits of the movement known as Odd Squad Records. Since 2000, Odd Squad has been marking their territory and making their name known all around New York. Now, these Washington Heights representatives seek to “conquer the world” and N.A.B. caught up with them to see what’s good on their ride to success.

N.A.B: Define Odd Squad to the world?

Penny More: Odd Squad means ‘Only Doing Dirt’ Squad. We do what we have to do to survive.

Verb: It’s also a brand. It’s a breath of fresh air from a lot of the music that you’re used to hearing nowadays. Its like bringing back a bit of the 90’s sound and doing it our way. In a sense making us ‘odd,’ different, unique.

Flip: We all have the same vision in our success. We each have a different style that we bring to the table, which also defines us as odd.

N.A.B: We see Odd Squad is more than a company. Who is a part of Odd Squad the group, and the movement?

Penny More: Odd Squad consists of myself, Flip, Verb, Jay Fire, D Stacks, Jae Stage, Jess Haze, Shai Amazin plus many others.

Flip: But myself, Verb, Jay Fire and Penny More are the foundation to the company known as Odd Squad Records.

Verb: The movement is everybody else, the fans. The supporters are just as important as the members.

Jay Fire: If you rep Odd Squad you’re part of the movement.

N.A.B: When was Odd Squad first established?

Odd Squad: Penny More created the name in 2001.

Penny More: We really needed a name and everything was taken and it just fit what we was trying to do as far as rap goes. But Odd Squad came from all the problems we came across in life. We feel we have to and need to do what ever it takes to get on, and if we have to get dirty, then so be it. Odd Squad’s the team!

Jay Fire: We were friends before rap. We started rapping as a hobby. Our mans Cise (R.I.P.) and Abs Berry took their music to another level and we decided to do the same.

Verb: After realizing that we were all talented in our own right, together we showed a lot of people we can be much stronger as a unit!

Flip: It started with us four and as time went by we added more members to the family. Yet there’s still so much more to come.

N.A.B: Being in a group, it’s known that you have to deal with different personalities. What are some things you agree and disagree on?

Verb: What a lot of people don’t know is we’re technically not a ‘group’. If I had to put it in a metaphor, I’d say we’re like Voltron. We each hold our own but when we form together, we’re a problem.

Flip: The personalities are definitely different, that’s what makes us. We are like brothers. We have many disagreements but we always remember what our main goals are.

Verb: What helps is that we have a family unit. We are very close. We went from being friends to family.

Jay Fire: We’re like the Goodfellas of rap. You see one, you see us all.

N.A.B: Name one memorable moment in Odd Squad history?

Jay Fire: My most memorable moment was when Penny More, Abs Berry and myself performed at the Chazz Club. I pulled a girl onstage and her boyfriend/fiance/husband had to jump on the stage to pull her off. I was going in on her. (all laugh)

Verb: My memorable moment was staying up until 7 a.m. with Jay Fire and Penny More drinking a half gallon of Brugal (Dominican Rum) then getting a phone call at 8:30 a.m. telling me that my son was about to be born. Then getting to the hospital to meet Penny and Fire only to hear Fire say “I told you the baby will be born today”.

Jay Fire: October babies. Let’s get it!

Flip: Believe it or not, every moment is a memorable one. But the one that sticks out for me is when they played our music in a T-Mobile store on Fathers Day in my hood of Washington Heights. Yo, good looking out DJ Question!

Penny More: The first time we went to the studio to record our music.

N.A.B: Congratulations on your recent Elegant Hoodness Nomination of 2010. You guys came in and took second place with only two members out of your camp, very impressive. How was the experience performing in the Elegant Hoodness arena?

Verb: I cant front, I was a little nervous at first, but then the beat dropped and I knew it was cash. I have to say hearing, Easy Mo Bee say “we brought real hip-hop to the show” was the highlight to the performance.

Flip: It sucked not having the team there but me and my man Verb went in with one goal in mind and that was to take first place. To take second place out of ten competitors in our first competition says something for itself. At the end of the day, me and Verb feel the same way:

Flip & Verb: We are number one!

N.A.B: What projects do you all have out now and what future projects are you all working on at the moment?

Penny More: Well believe it or not we dropped a More Fire album back in 2000 which consisted of myself, Jay Fire, Verb plus other artists that we featured on it. We are currently in discussion about possibly bringing it back cause no one ever heard it.

Flip: On March 8th of this year we actually dropped our first mixtape, Da Game Will Never Be Da Same. We went around the hood with a thousand copies and asked people if they were ready for change. Look where we’re at now!

Verb: Flip mentioned the first mixtape, we have a second mixtape that is just getting a few minor touch ups. We have a compilation album which is on the way followed by solo projects from Odd Squad’s core members. Hopefully in the same order we mentioned.

Jay Fire: We also have been featured on three different mixtapes as of late. The first was Streetz Radio Presents: Open Fire Vol.2, hosted by our homegirl Ms.FeFe, NAB herself. The second was presented by The Heaviest Hook Ups out in the UK, Cash In The Bank. The third was Major Movements Vol.39 by DJ King Swat.

N.A.B: Where can we see Odd Squad five years from now?

Flip: Definitely on top man, doing what we do best and just living life, enjoying every moment of our dreams that turned reality. So when they ask about who the top MCs are in the game they mention each member of my camp.

Penny More: Owning our own business while taking rap to another level and making Odd Squad a household name. In the process making sure we get our families in the position to make money and being able to give back to our community.

Jay Fire: I hope to see Odd Squad in an awards show, accomplished and all our goals either met or being met.

Verb: Setting the standard for the next generation of MCs. As it is, we already raise the bar for the competition, so in my mind its easy to see a future filled with success and excess.

N.A.B: If you wanted the world to remember one thing about Odd Squad, what would that be?

Penny More: That we do what we do for the love of the music, first and foremost. The money and fame secondary and at the end of the day we’re just regular people trying to make it out the struggle like everyone else.

Jay Fire: I would like the world to remember us a unique group of people who changed the game and brought something different to the table.

Verb: Drive! Our passion to accomplish the unthinkable. To strive, to be the best, not out of arrogance, but because that’s what we really are. We are the best at what we do and no one can ever take that away from us.

Flip: Remember us as one of the most under-rated teams that took it to the top when all odds were against us. Remember us not just as a team but a family. Remember us for how we are and our music because we spit about our lives for you.

N.A.B: Any last word and shout outs?

Flip: Yo, shout outs to everyone that has showed us love and support. To all our families that have backed us up and have been there to push us. Shout outs to June Vortex Production, CMC Production, Airam Productions, my dues Pyro Da Arsonist and Fynezt. Definitely to the whole N.A.N, N.A.B movement and Ms.FeFe, because she has opened a door that we will and continue to bum rush.

Jay Fire: Shouts outs to Abs Berry, a special one to Yoel ‘Cise’ Marin. May you rest in peace. Shout out to OEF, Kost, Money Making Moe, “The Bigga Nigga” a.k.a. El Judio, Korona Sounds, BNS ENT, RD, Dutch, the whole team 100nd, Gaze, Yanelly, I wrote my first rhyme in her crib. Love you cuzzo! God for bringing us all together and everyone who supported and believed in the movement.

Verb: Shouts to Jae Stage, Jess Haze (Odd Squads official singer) Stacks, Shai Amazin a.k.a “The Choice of N.Y.,” OED, OEF from B’way to Audubon, all my BX niggas. Finally to all our haters. Without y’all we could never make this possible, y’all the reason we’re so NASTY at what we do. Try harder or die martyrs! Odd Squad for LIFE!

Penny More: Look out for us! Odd Squad is the team. Shout outs to Ms.FeFe, A.D., the whole Wash Heights, the BX, my family and everyone that supports Odd Squad and this movement.

Written by: Ms. FeFe (N.A.B)
Courtesy of the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program 2010