Spotlight on the Foodchain
by Shatarra “Que Linda” Camacho & Jonathan McNaughton
Photos Credit: Ed Kelly, Next Level Films
With just starting and officially becoming a group in the winter of 2008, the Foodchain has become one of the most known unknowns in the Colorado hip-hop scene. With the original four emcees who started the group, FL, Mic Coats, C1 and Champ and a producer Mass Prod, the concept of the Foodchain was originally made to be a mixtape of some of their recordings that they were just “playing around with.” According to Coats, outside forces put the mighty team together, and he leaked some tracks onto the Internet. Describing their music as a 40-hour workweek with no break, these men are humble, dedicated to true hip-hop, and aren’t willing to sell their souls to make a few bucks.
DJ Louiscide stated that if the industry is going the way he thinks it’ll go, then the good ol’ early ’90s hip hop will be back in, and they’ll be successful. Right now it’s just a waiting game, and when it’s their time, they’ll be ready. With their growing interests and fan base they ultimately created their first self-entitled album in April of 2009, easily gaining the title Best in the West 2009 in the Westword. They distributed nearly 9,000 copies across the state; something that they were pretty impressed with, along with their current management team, who was brought to their attention at a show in a Denver club. Francois found that the sound and the fact that they were ultimately a self contained band intrigued and sparked his interest. Only after Foodchain agreed that they would maintain being a band (playing their own music), did he consent that he would be the creative and driving force in making their music come to fruition, along with co-manager Johnny.
Many doors have opened up for the group, as well as a few revolving ones. Many people have been able to claim to have been tied to the Foodchain; however, as time and their music evolved so did the members. From having vocalists to band members to other emcees, they wanted to stay true to the hip-hop sound that they learned to love, and grew up on, as well as keep their music constant even at their concerts. Despite the many changes, the Foodchain ended up producing their second album Corpses, which dropped in February 2010, features Talib Kweli, Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, and Chaundon. Shortly after, in August of 2010, Statik Selektah announced a distribution deal with Showoff Records right before getting “Rich Girl” some airplay on Shade 45.
This officially launched the Foodchain in their hip-hop light on the East Coast. While touring in New York and opening acts for a few names led up to a third album The Brunch. That dropped in November 2011, with “Dear Industry” grabbing the most attention, allowing them space on XXL Magazine, and praise from many hip-hop notables such as Ice Cube. At one of the concerts that they opened for Talib Kweli, FL recalls when a few of the group members decide to smoke blunt in a friend’s car when all of a sudden, “Dear Industry” started playing on the Shade 45 XM radio station. That was the first time they heard their own music on the radio.
Coats said there was an outside force placing them [in the car] at that moment to witness one of their own songs on the radio; it was such a surprise and accomplishment for them. It solidified all of the hard work that they were putting into their craft, and a lot of them have outside jobs to feed into their music, and provide for their family. With Statik Selektah under the group’s belt, they’ve readied themselves for their next project in 2013, the Summer Concert Series, and their very own set at the Shady 2.0 SXSW Showcase in July.
Overall, the Foodchain has made some strides in the music business, coming from the state where everything’s round and it’s tucked neatly in a box trying to get out. Working with such heavy hitters as Lauryn Hill, Ice Cube, Talib Kweli and many others, there’s no reason why this team of extraordinary men won’t be in the limelight and forefront, as the dream team is currently working on a project with Just Dizle for 2013.
By taking a stand in keeping hip-hop in its natural and original state, and staying true to their lyrics and what they want to say, the Foodchain will remain strong. However, where in this dog-eat-dog world will they wind up? The top or the bottom?
Category: Hip-Hop
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