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To say Heltah Skeltah are close friends is an understatement. Ruck and Rock are probably the same person trapped in different physicals. They have known each other since they were 4 years old. Their friendship has been subjected to many tests but the older they got, the more in tune they became. Finally, after overcoming the temptations of street life, they diverted their energies into the group Heltah Skeltah. A short time later, they were inducted into the Bootcamp Clik. Now, they talk about the events that led to their first album project Nocturnal and Duck Down Enterprisez. Let's get to the essence.Talk about some of the things that happened before you guys hooked up. Ruck: I knew Roc since he was four. I am a year older than him. He used to come to my birthday parties when we were young. We're like family. What kept you close all these years? Ruck: We were separated a couple of times. Rock went to jail, but through all of that, we still remained close. We used to meet up over the years to hang out. Rock: We weren't close at the beginning. I thought he was so much older than I was. We didn't really get close until we got older and that was because we were doing dirt together and we had to trust each other. And because we were family it was easier. Before we get into the creative aspect about the relationship between you two, let's talk more about the group's spiritual and emotional bond. Ruck: I'll give you an example. One time Rock burned his hand. I became his nurse. Rock: This is the hand (holds up his right hand) of Heltah Skeltah which belongs to both of us. This hand was literally on fire. It was a freak accident that happened at my man's Louieville's crib. Ruck nursed it back to health. If son wanted me to smack the shit out of somebody as long as he asked me to do it with my right hand it's all right. So the bond between you makes it easier to handle the business end. Let's talk the earlier days of the group. Ruck: I just wanted to do it. I didn't know what I was doing it for. I knew I was going to do it. I listened to a lot of old school artists like UTFO, Whodini, and Jimmy Spicer. I went through a lot of bullshit partners. I was rhymin' and crimin'. One day I went to this club in Brownsville call The Future. Rock was standing outside rhyming in the rain. That was the beginning of Heltah Skeltah. Ruck: We didn't know we were going to be partners but after Rock came back from being locked down it was on. We were named Two To The Head. Then we changed the name to Heltah Skeltah. Why? Rock: When we rhyme we do more than just come from the head. So we didn't want to limit ourselves. Heltah Skeltah means utter confusion. It also means war to us. That name fits us. We are the warlords of the Bootcamp Clik. The Road Warriors. We also deal with the other meaning, utter confusion. It manifests itself in more ways than just war. Utter confusion; Society, Education, and Humanity as a whole. Do social issues play an important role in your lyrics? Rock: We are anti-society (the system). Anything that's consider normal I'm (anti) against. I rage war on anything normal or considered normal by daylight. Ruck: We are bohemians. We also deal in spirituality. Where is the group spiritually? Ruck: Spiritually, I'm learning more and more everyday about my spirituality. It will be present on the next album. Rock: Ruck and I are one in the same. We call it the shining, because I'll be thinking about Ruck and all of a sudden he will walk through the door. The first time I thought it was a coincidence. Then it started to happen all the time. We basically are in tune with each other. Let's talk more about the lyrics. Ruck: Lyrically, the world is in for some shit!! The flows are on point. We said heads ain't ready for our shit! Let's talk about the Fab 5. Rock: The Fab 5 stemmed from the Bootcamp Clik and the Boot Click Clik and the Bootcamp Clik is the organization. Organize, Organize, Organize!! We have another organization called the Sharks, The Triple R's (RRR): Ruck, Rock and the Representatives, The Last Platoon, Little Rock and Supreme. These groups represent the effects of our lifestyle. The experience that the Bootcamp has gone through has trained their groups and prepared them to be ready for anything and everything. Each one, teach one. Let's talk about some of the cuts on the album. Rock: Clans, Crews, Posses, Cliks is dedicated to everybody, especially those who first heard us on the Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong show and saw us at shows opening for Black Moon. Prowl featuring Louieville Slugger is a song we did because even when it's daytime, people still are in the dark. Some other songs to look for on the album are called, The Square (RRR), Therapy, Sean Price, and Understand. People may get intimidated by the name Heltah Skeltah. Don't think that we are some Devil shit 'cause we are not. Heltah Skeltah only means war, we are soldiers against things that are wrong out here. How do you fell about the state of the industry? Ruck: I can't lie to you, Buckshot and Dru really try to stay away from the traditional elements of the industry. Rock: Dru told us 'See that industry over there? Watch how many times they reveal their snaky colors to you. Watch how many people try to cut my throat just to get to you.' We got so many calls from people saying 'fuck that cracker, get with us!' We learned what we need to learn about the industry. We also mastered the industry. Because we didn't get caught up in the industry. Let's talk about the producers Rock: The Beatminerz did Da Wiggy. Baby Paul did Understand. And Evil D did Clans, Posses Crews and Cliks. Shanique produced The Great Unknown and Sean Price. Any guess artists on the album? Rock: The representatives, Louieville, and of course, the Bootcamp Clik. -
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