NEWS

Supreeme Breaks Down Its ‘Crazy’ Video

We can’t be mad at the so-called (not by us) “hipster” rap movement—after all, it’s a monster we helped create. But history tells us that the followers will always outnumber the leaders. A note to the gerbils: Name-dropping clothing brands in your raps do not make your lyrics original. Wearing slim-fit jeans is not a creative risk. And doing a streetwear collabo before you do an album is not progressive. Fuck. Outta. Here.

Which brings us to the ATL-based trio Supreeme. We’ve been rocking with them for a minute, and for good reason: These dudes are bringing ‘08 forward, fuck bringing ‘88 back. The music is weird, the raps are fresh, and the lane is entirely their own. Get familiar.

To tease the pre-album mixtape Silver Medallion (out Sept. 12), they VHS-filmed a video for “I’m Crazy.” See the video and check out a quick Q&A with Negashi Armada (the second MC on the track) below…

Complex: What’s the concept of the video?

Negashi: In Atlanta, they came out with a new program for crazy people to work out their issues making music. So we’re the crazy guys, and the two guys in the beginning are police officers—something like One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Then when we get out, all the people are wearing “I’m Crazy” shirts so the police can’t find us. They are our disciples.

Complex: You shot this on VHS?

Negashi: Yeah. About a year ago, I was at a store called Value Village—that’s where T.I.’s character worked in ATL—and I happened to stumble upon an old VHS camera. It turned out the shit actually works. We shot it on there, in the spirit of an old MTV 120 Minutes video or one of those Nigerian or Jamaican hood movies.

Complex: And you guys did it on your own?

Negashi: Completely on our own, self-funded. We shot it in one weekend in Atlanta—the chase scene in one day, the studio scenes the next day.

Complex: Will the song be on the new mixtape?

Negashi: Yeah, we’re giving away Silver Medallion online on Sept. 12 as a prequel to the upcoming Gold Medallion album on Warner Brothers. Silver Medallion sounds like the Ruff Ryders/Cash Money reunion tour in the year 2240.

Complex: What’s your thoughts on the whole hipster rap craze?

Negashi: I think within hipster rap, a lot is placed on glossiness…it’s very clean, pristine. To me hipster rappers are a nice weird intersection between pretty boys and nerds. Maybe we’ve been lumped in with it but we’re not really a part of that. We’re coming from a totally different tradition of artists. And I hate the retro music.

Complex: Word. Anything else?

Negashi: Check our MySpace and web site…it gets crazier there.