Having recently released their iconic new single ‘Goku‘, I caught up with alternative hip-hop duo Hippie Tribe to chat about their writing processes, their preferences on performing live or recording and what’s in store for the rest of the year.

To anyone new to your music, name 3 words that best describe your sound.

Charismatic

“Most people would describe us as pretty chill individuals but we really have HUGE personalities and it comes out in the music. We think music (and any art form in general) is one of the few moments people have to express the truest, most radical version of themselves. We realized this at an early age and now try to take full advantage because In any other setting we are proper gentlemen i.e ‘Yes ma’am, no ma’am thank you ma’am’ ” -blond.bomber

Ever-Blooming

“The inspiration is everywhere. We stay out here in Brooklyn so it’s hard not to keep adding layers and layers and layers to the palette. You can really walk around for like 15 minutes and you could have enough material to make 10 songs. As we discover and experiment more and more, our sound keeps evolving and growing legs and tentacles and all that. So it’s still hella familiar but its just all leveled up. “ -dp.thuH

Raw

“Its very whatever we allow to happen happens , then we go back and fix and refine. Its very in the moment, present. You’ll feel the emotion. We mix our vocals a way that you still get a lot of the grit and natural happenings. “ – blond.bomber

What’s your writing process like? Do you write the music or lyrics first?

We have a few different methods to making our records but it’s rarely too much writing forreal . 1 way – I generally have a hook or melody or something that I wake up with, then I’ll take that idea to the studio and start producing around that. Once i have at least a shell, I’ll prolly roll one and start freestyling till it feels right. 2nd way – Niko will start playing keys and we freestyle until we really like something. 3rd way – Niko will have a beat or short chord progression or a loop and he’ll open up his lil digital pad and i’ll peep different short stories or poems or something he’s written – we really might talk about what he was feeling in that moment or what he’s trying to convey – i’ll formulate a chorus or bridge idea which leads to more and more…i dont know, We don’t really decide which comes first – we just kinda go. ” dp.thuH

“Exactly, It varies a lot, inspiration is everywhere – like you could be sitting at the park and words come to you or with your homies or having sex or dreaming. We just let things flow as organically as possible. So sometimes dee will have a beat that inspires me or someone will come in with some bars they came up with on a random whim. We really just let the universe decide “ – blond.bomber

What’s your writing process like? Do you write the music or lyrics first

“we have a few different methods to making our records but it’s rarely too much writing forreal. 1 way – I generally have a hook or melody or something that I wake up with, then I’ll take that idea to the studio and start producing around that. Once i have at least a shell, I’ll prolly roll one and start freestyling till it feels right. 2nd way – Niko will start playing keys and we freestyle until we really like something. 3rd way – Niko will have a beat or short chord progression or a loop and he’ll open up his lil digital pad and i’ll peep different short stories or poems or something he’s written – we really might talk about what he was feeling in that moment or what he’s trying to convey – i’ll formulate a chorus or bridge idea which leads to more and more…i dont know, We don’t really decide which comes first – we just kinda go. ” dp.thuH

“Exactly, It varies a lot, inspiration is everywhere – like you could be sitting at the park and words come to you or with your homies or having sex or dreaming. We just let things flow as organically as possible. So sometimes dee will have a beat that inspires me or someone will come in with some bars they came up with on a random whim. We really just let the universe decide “ – blond.bomber

Make sure to follow Hippie Tribe on Twitter and Instagram.