Roughneck Jihad (or Jihad, The Roughneck MC) is a Los Angeles-based underground artist and veteran emcee and Awkward is a beat-maker, producer, emcee, and artist hailing from Bristol, UK. Definitely two unlikely collaborators separated by an ocean. Jihad & Awkward first met when Awkward contributed a handful of beats to Jihad's group, Third Sight's then-new album IV (2016.) Awkward & Roughneck Jihad have worked together a number of times since, but always in a fairly limited capacity, including Awkward mastering Jihad's 2018 project, Red Herring Mixtape, and producing the title/opening track for Jihad's 2020 effort, The Red Sentence. All the while, however, it appears as though MC Roughneck Jihad & DJ Awkward have secretly been working on a proper full-length project of their own. It all started to come to light when The MC & DJ released a neck-snapping digital single consisting of two infectious tracks, "RAWK" and "DROMEDARY" back in February 2020.
Just about one year later, Roughneck & Awk followed it up with RAWK 2, consisting of another two tracks, "Fresh Ultimate Two" and "Polypeptides." Self-described on Awkward's own Bandcamp page as, "Returning only for total devastation, RAWK 2 is more transatlantic mayhem from these two frequent collaborators..." Just this past July, Roughneck Jihad & Awkward returned once more to present us with their third collaborative offering, fittingly titled The Return of RAWK. It features the four aforementioned singles, along with two brand-spankin' new tracks, and their instrumentals; plus, a couple special surprises for good measure, as well as a limited edition vinyl release. We were fortunate enough to reach out to both Awkward & Roughneck Jihad, via email, for a comprehensive 10-question interview. It has been lightly edited for general clarity and can now be perused through below. MC Roughneck Jihad & DJ Awkward's The Return of RAWK is now available on streaming services, as well as clear black marbled 12-inch vinyl on Germany's Expanded-Art-Records.
I. When and how did you two first meet and decide to start recording music together?
Roughneck Jihad: My memory fails me... so, maybe, Awkward can clear this up. I think, I met Awkward, via D-Styles, when he contributed beats to Third Sight IV.
Awkward: I'm, actually, not 100% sure. I knew of Third Sight from the "Rhymes Like A Scientist" 12-inch in '97, so I was a fan since then. I'm thinking it was around the time of the MySpace days, as well. I think, I reached out with some beats [in] 2013? We've worked on a few projects after Third Sight [IV;] I did some re-mastering of old Third Sight recordings for the digital Orchids And Corpses release and production on [Roughneck Jihad's] Red Sentence LP for the title track.
II. What's the meaning or significance behind the album title, The Return of RAWK?
Jihad: Also, deferring to Awkward on this one, as he came up with the title.
Awkward: Well... Roughneck Jihad & Awkward [are] RAWK and we have returned to Rock the house. So, it's all of that together.
III. What were your typical writing, recording, beat-making, etc. processes like while creating this album?
Jihad: My process is fairly basic, in terms of writing. Once I get the beat, I throw it on and start writing. I don't always keep what I write, initially, but it helps me feel out the track and what kind of things are possible or would fit. Then, I record a rough draft with as few takes as possible and listen to that before I send Awkward a final version.
Awkward: This was made over two years after originally planning to make an LP and releasing it two songs at a time. All via file [transfers], but, of course, that’s the beauty of our modern world. Life, other projects, and changing times allowed us to take time and make the songs when possible. Expanded Art Records wanted to release one of the EP's we made and we decided to flesh out the tracklist with some newer songs. I stripped the layers back on production and really just kept things in-the-pocket and simple.
IV. Now that The Return of RAWK has been released into the terribly unsuspecting world, what do you have planned next?
Jihad: We want to do a [The Return of RAWK,] Part 2 as a follow-up.
Awkward: Well, I've just completed the new LP by The Cloaks (AWOL ONE & Gel Roc) with D-Styles and Sir Beans on the [scratches]. That should be out sometime in September. We have some special guests on board, also, that I was very pleased to work with; Hardcore Hip-Hop throughout.
V. Awkward: Would you mind talking a bit about the single and album artwork, as well as packaging, you created and designed for this very project?
Awkward: It's a drawn sketch of the insides of a human head shouting out some hand styles proclaiming "MC Roughneck Jihad & DJ Awkward" are about to throw down. It, also, features creeping lines of electrical veins [magnetized] out of eye pyramids.
VI. What can you tell us about the non-digital release options for The Return of RAWK? It's pressed on marble vinyl?!!!??!
Awkward: Correct. Like it's been [chiseled] from ancient marble palaces.
VII. What would each of you cite as some of your personal sources of inspiration and influence while creating The Return of RAWK?
Jihad: In all my work, I am motivated by the feeling of joy I get by making a good song with friends and reliving that on every playback... it's a drug!
Awkward: For me, a lot of '85-88 Hip-Hop. Raw, stripped back production. [The] Jungle Brothers' first LP, [Ultramagnetic MC's] Critical Beatdown, and [Boogie Down Productions'] Criminal Minded. Also, those older records where things are recorded cheaply, but Rock because things are cranked up and bleeding out the speakers.
VIII. What are the primary differences between "RAWK Original Mix" and "RAWK Remix" on the digital version of The Return of RAWK?
Awkward: It has completely different drums, an extra sample or two, and a different mix-down.
IX. Do you have any immediate plans to record a follow-up to The Return of RAWK together just yet?
Awkward: Yes, immediately or sometime thereafter.
X. Who would each of you like to call in for features for a hypothetical follow-up to The Return of RAWK?
Jihad: All my wanted features would be super-expensive, but, in theory, I'd love to work with Myka 9, Saafir, Sir Menelik/Scaramanga, Godfather Don, Breeze Brewin, Black Thought, [Pharoahe] Monch, and Del [The Funky Homosapien].
Awkward: In an ideal world? Ad-Rock, [Schoolly] D, Spoon of Iodine, [High] Priest, or Motion Man. One or all of them. Even Godfather Don or Chubb Rock!
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