You’re both from Melbourne, How did you guys get together in the first place?

(R)oyalz: We met through mutual bong smoking graff head mates back in high school. He had me at ‘hello’. 
(C)hains:  The humble mixbowl has always been good at bringing people together.  That’s really what the middle east needs.  Sit down Palestine and Israel with a mix, a buge, and a copy of the Matrix.  Problem solved.

Sin City has been out a few months now, what’s the general reaction/feeling you are getting from heads?

R: The response has been pretty positive so far. The softer sounding hip hop has been blowing up recently, but some people are still wanting the rawer stuff and we try to punch people in the face with our music.
C: Yeah it’s been pretty positive.  In general hip hop around the world, and in Australia, has been gradually losing its edge.  We’re not really conforming to the ‘easy listening’ movement as such.  We also keep in mind the live aspect of our music, most punters want to go out and have a few drinks and let loose, and we provide a vehicle for that.  I don’t know many people that want to stand in the corner being depressed and wiping away tears.  The scene seems to have become a bit emo of late though.  As far as we know we’ve been getting some radio play in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Perth on the independent radio stations.

It’s been 4 years since your Chaos Theory Mixtape, how have you  both evolved since then?

C: It’s hard to notice personally as you go along because it’s gradual.  It’s really when you listen to old tracks lined up against newer material that you can see how far you’ve come.   I think one of the biggest changes you notice is delivery and presence, which grows along with confidence.
R: We started rhyming around the same time so we’ve seen our style grow and become more polished over time. What Chains said is true though. I had a listen to Chaos theory the other week and you can tell a massive difference, both lyrically and beat wise.

Royalz you are also doing beats now? Did you always make beats?

R: I started out as an emcee first, but picked up making beats early on. With my first beat I actually used the same Debbie Does Dallas sample in Funkoars ‘Boxeaters’. I was really proud of myself until Turps showed me the Funkoars track and I crawled back under the rock I came from. Luckily I kept at it and have a sharper cleaner sound then I did back then.

Tell us a little about Sin City.

C: I’d describe it I guess as having a somewhat dark, uptempo, boom-bap style to it.  Hip Hop production should get your head nodding, and the lyrics should get your mind ticking over.  And not only the first time you hear it.  I like it when people pick up on a new metaphor or something even after listening to a track a number of times.

You have a few Aussie collabs including Raven from Hungry Humans, how did they come about. How was it working with similar artists? Do you think you blend well? Where there any problems?

C: Collaboration is a great part of the artform.  We recorded the track with Raven in his bedroom haha. He’s on a similar tip to us and we’ve always loved his music so was great to work on a track together.  The DBO Track was a bit of a problem logistically and was recorded in fits and spurts, and the A.I track was hard to pin Esvee down from Ballarat, but it all worked out.
R: Yeah although it was logistically difficult, I think working with similar artists and being with them at the studio helps the chemistry that hopefully translates to the tracks that we collaborated on. We don’t pay for myspace verses.

What’s your focus at the moment ?

R: We’re currently working on a free mixtape called the GRHYME Lab, which will feature new tracks from Sinergy Crew, Broken Aesthetiks and our crew Associated Illness. Then we’ve also got the Associated Illness album in the works. Dudes aint ready haha.
C:  Yeah just doing Sinergy and A.I shows, the mixtape and then 2010 will be the Associated Illness album – gonna be a banger!   There’s also a focus on building up the GRHYME name, as the distribution situation in Australia isn’t great – so were trying to build a platform to release ours, and soon other head’s music.

What’s your hustle game like ?

R: I don’t do drugs. 
C: As independent artists on our own label – that’s the only game we can play! 

Sinergy Crew are hustling around Melbourne and you can check gig dates and pick up a copy of their LP below. If you like ya shit grhyme – cop this now.
www.myspace.com/SinergyCrew
www.myspace.com/GRHYME1