A Dirty Dozen with THE 6IX – June 2023

According to a recent press release: “New England Rap / Metal band THE 6IX GVNG has released the official music video for “PIG,” Filmed, edited, and directed by James “Squatch” Joyce, “PIG” is off of the band’s new EP, Black Magic & Trap Houses. Hailing from New England, The 6ix is an up and coming music act with a penchant for delivering infectious tunes, bringing audiences on a sonic escapade. This hardcore hip hop group hailing from Maine/Vermont has a unique sound that is a distinct blend of trap music, heavy metal, and chopper rap. With their high-energy live shows and crowd interaction, they’re quickly becoming a must see act for hip hop/metal lovers alike.” We get the band to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Our latest release Black Magic & Trap Houses really became its own thing which is why it is only an EP. Dilyrium started a lot of the songs out as demos with completely different hooks than what ended up on the project. Incorporating a lot of metal and trap mixed with hip hop there were a lot of songs that just didn’t seem to fit with the overall vibe that these specific songs had. The hidden nugget would be on “Talk To The Devil” if you listen closely there is a sample of a women screaming “Oh Harder” from a porno in the background. Happy hunting. With it being our first release it definitely lays down a solid foundation of what to expect from us in the future. We plan to show a lot of versatility with each project but this style is certainly our bread and butter.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Spacey Jones: My parents always had music playing when I was growing up. My Mom always sang in the car. My Dad had a lot of vinyl records/cassette tapes. My older sister actually was responsible for hooking me up with actual tapes she would make on a boombox with hip hop songs. I remember standing in my parents big mirror as a kid dressed up in baggy clothes and bandanas trying to look like Eminem rapping every word.

Dilyrium: I grew up listening to heavy metal music through grade school /high school. Involved in multiple metal bands throughout my twenties. Being in a band there are a lot of moving parts and as anyone in a band knows its hard to coordinate so many schedules. Hip hop was a lot easier only having to rely on myself to show up. I started recording myself in the early years. Now I am able to incorporate hip hop and my metal roots into the music you hear today.

Tommie Trichomes: I grew up in a very musically inclined family. I have always had a passion for music but in August of 2000 I heard Linkin Park for the first time. I knew at that moment this was what I wanted to do with my life.

Dylan Kartoon: I was a huge Bone Thugs N’ Harmony fan when I was younger. They released a VHS/CD combo pack The Collection Vol. 1. The VHS featured their music videos, live performances and lots of behind the scenes footage. The lifestyle was mesmerizing to me. I knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

3.Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Dylan Kartoon: Bone Thugs N’ Harmony The Art Of War

Tommie Trichomes: Linkin Park “One Step Closer”

Dilyrium: Necro Gory Days

Spacey Jones: Eminem Marshall Mathers LP

4.If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Tommie Trichomes: Mike Shinoda because he is the first person who got me interested in rapping.

Dilyrium: ILL BILL. He has been one of the few artist I consistently listen to for a long time now.

Dylan Kartoon: RITTZ. There aren’t many artist I haven’t had the chance to work with that are on my bucket list but RITTZ sound would mesh well.

Spacey Jones: Zach De La Roche from Rage Against The Machine. He is a major inspiration to me. I am comfortable using my voice as a strength because of him.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

We’re all really big into self growth as well as staying in shape for performing so we spend a lot of time hiking/working out. Everyone is into gaming. Some online, some just casual. Big pro wrestling fans. We watch the PPV’s as a fam. Also when the time is right, psychedelics. Everyone needs a little reset right?

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

We would describe our music as a hybrid blend of Metal, Trap & Chopper Hip Hop. We call it Death Trap which was a phrase coined by 656 label mate HVZE. Someone called us the and we quote Mexican Three 6 Mafia on Youtube when we dropped the “Talk To The Devil” video. None of us are Latin American.

7.When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Dilyrium is the chef of the group. Tommie is always singing. Dilyrium tries. Toon and Spacey are usually the first to crack a bottle. Whoever is first usually can convince the other.

8.When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Recently we performed at a festival with Bubba Sparxxx. This was pretty cool with us all growing up hearing his music at one point or another. As he was pulling into the festival he rolled his windows down to hear our set which was not the typical “country hip hop” theme for the lineup. He liked it so much he sent his tour manager over to request us to chop it up with him before he took the stage that night.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Dylan Kartoon: Traveling. Getting to go to new places and meet new people. If I couldn’t be a musician I would be a promoter or still involved in the industry somehow.

Tommie Trichomes: Also have to say the traveling experience. If I wasn’t a musician I would be an entrepreneur (See Are You An Astronaut Clothing).

Dilyrium: The thrill and energy of a live performance. Nothing can compare to the feeling of a wild crowd. I would be working in culinary.

Spacey Jones: I truly enjoy everything that comes with the music. The traveling, late nights in the studio, the performances. If I wasn’t a musician I would definitely be heavy in the cannabis industry.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Ever since elementary school ended nobody asks me what my favorite dinosaur is. Yes, it’s a stegosaurus.

11.Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Wishing during our first tour together that we had a project out. We spent so much time networking and building fans that they had nothing to follow up with when going to listen to us.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose and what does that record mean to you?

Tommie Trichomes: Wu-Tang 36 Chambers. First raw hip hop joint I ever owned. It was on cassette.

Dylan Kartoon: Bone Thugs N’ Harmony E.1999.Ternal. It was so groundbreaking that it changed the sound of hip hop forever. A sound that is still used today by everyone from Migos to $uicideboy$.

Dilyrium: Slipknot Self Titled. First album I was ever obsessed with by any artist.

Spacey Jones: Outkast ATLiens. Outkast was such an influence on my style and sound. We jokingly called our friend Brad’s basement our “dungeon” during the early stages of The 6ix recording what you hear today. Those studio sessions with like 13 rappers spread between two studio setups was really dog eat dog. You gotta come correct in situations like that.

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Category: Interviews