Detroit Rap Legend House Shoes Talks "8 Mile", Eminem, and Proof Ahead of Feb 3 Dada Gig

"From China all the way to the Carolinas
Domestic or foreign, they know where to find us ..."

So went the spoken word intro by vocalist Shafiq Husayn over the trippy, experimental hard bop instrumental of "Let It Go (The Beginning)" which opened producer House Shoes' 2012 LP Let It Go. Now the heralded beatmaker isn't just incorporating such lyrics into his work, but also living them out as he embarks on his first tour of China, including a set at Dada on Feb 3. It's a long way to come compared to his humble, mid-'90s beginnings in Detroit, where House Shoes built beats for would be stars like Proof, J Dilla and Elzhi, and got to know Eminem before that widely loved MC became an icon and immortalized the scene they came up in with the movie 8 Mile. Since then he's moved on to LA, crafted instrumentals for top notch MC's like Danny Brown, and has also founded Street Corner Music (SCM). With that label, House Shoes has fostered artists like D.R.U.G.S. Beats', whose music was chosen by Dr. Dre for his Compton album. A 2017 Forbesarticle, meanwhile, highlighted how most of SCM's releases sell out within their first week of availability, adding: "Few labels can match SCM in the realm of instrumental hip-hop albums." 

Below House Shoes shares his memories of the real 8 Mile, mulls over the state of hip-hop in lieu of last week's Grammy snafu, comments on the international rise of Chinese rappers like the Higher Brothers and PG One, among others.

As a true hip-hop head, how did it feel to see Bruno Mars beat out Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z in album and song of the year categories at the Grammys this past weekend?
The Grammys have been pretty shitty to any artists that I have ever truly respected. Once again they let it be known that they want hip-hop to stay over there in the corner. They must have missed the memo that hip-hop has been in charge of things worldwide for quite some time now.

You've produced and toured with Elzhi, one of the most underrated MC's working today. What was is it like to collaborate with him?
We created Out of Focus, his debut EP, 20 years ago. Still by far his strongest work. I was working at [the record shop] Melodies & Memories on the east side of Detroit back then. Heard the Marvin Gaye sample at work one day, took the record home and made the beat that night. One of the quickest beats I ever made. Maybe less than ten minutes. Think I got it to El the next day and we were in the studio a few days later.

I couldn't stay in the room when he cut his vocals. So much electricity in that room. The emotions of that moment were crazy. We knew something incredible was happening. Unfortunately, it never saw proper release. That happens a lot in the hip-hop game.

One of your other famous collaborators was the legendary MC, and famed friend of Eminem, Proof. You produced his song "Broken," for the Electric Coolaid Acid Testing LP. What did you enjoy most about working with him?
"Broken," was like having my music made permanent forever. With Proof getting on that it definitely was a confidence boost. He bought about five beats from me the day he bought "Broken." Shout out to super engineer Jared Gosselin for beefing that track up. Honored to be included in what I believe is his strongest project.

Proof was the King of Detroit. He took care of countless kids like myself. Giving them jobs at the studio, actually paying them for production, giving them some cash to cover their bills or get some food. Proof cared. About each and every one of us.

Tell us more about the hip-hop scene in Detroit. I bet 8 Mile only scratches the surface, instead of properly encapsulating it.
8 Mile was a blockbuster Hollywood production. The Detroit hip-hop scene could not be anything further than that. Yet, for the most part it was accurate in my opinion. The cast of background extras in the film was basically the entire hip-hop scene. They didn't have to do that. But by doing just that, Em and Paul Rosenberg [Eminem’s manager and 8 Mile executive producer] made it an experience the whole scene could take part in. Em came from that scene. And he gave back.

We have a great history of hip-hop in Detroit. To this day it grows. I have been gone from the city 12 years – I live in Los Angeles – but I will always have the ultimate respect for the place that gave birth to me and countless others that have helped grow the genre.

Have you heard much about China's hip-hop scene, including the Higher Brothers and PG One? If so, what are your thoughts on it? If not, how does the notion of hip-hop booming in a country like China feel to you as an artist and fan?
I am unfamiliar with much of the global hip-hop. My time these days is very limited to working on releases for my label, Street Corner Music, which I have released almost 50 records in recent years. I don't really look at it as a label moreso as an archive of some of the best sounds and artists that I have come across. Hip-hop has been running the world for a lonnnnnnng time and will continue to in my opinion.

I'm very grateful for this opportunity to tour in Asia finally. Hopefully I will come across an artist or two that has a catalog that strikes a chord with me, and we can start making Street Corner Music a global family. The music is all that matters.

House Shoes will perform at Dada on Feb 3 at 10pm. For more information, click here.

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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos: Sessions LA, Sould of Sydney,Okayplayer, Southpawer, High Snobiety, courtesy of the promoters