ROX-TV interviews New Hampshire’s own Wicked Culture. Sherm and Mak Matiks talk about their music, the 603, and more

Here we are again, on a Monday night in the Mitten. I’ve been away for about two weeks….took a ride out to Brighton but I have returned. I want to apologize to a few of the artists that have been waiting on a highlight, but you can’t always predict a blow out and so it goes. I’m just glad to be back behind the wheel and giving independent artists from all over the country a place to be seen and heard. Tonight we have a few cats from New Hampshire ready to chop it up with ROX-TV….so without further to do….let’s get to it….

Welcome to the ROX-TV lab. I’d like to thank you for coming on with us tonight. But before we get started can you let the readers and fans know where Sherm and Mak are representing tonight?

Thank you for having us. We are from the Tri City area of the 603. New Hampshire.

I’m a fan of the underground and the music world at large. One of the cooler aspects about interviewing artists is getting to pick their brains a bit, and learn what makes them tick. Can you talk about your earliest memories of music. What were the artists or songs that got your attention back in the day? What was it about those artists or songs that resonated with you so much?

Mak Matiks – 

Ever since I was a lil kid my dad raised me listening to stuff like, Cypress Hill, House of Pain, and other 90s rap. I seen old home videos my parents had of me dancin to Jump Around by House of Pain when I was barely 2. My dad was a DJ and I think that carried on in me a lil cause I’ve always had an obsession with rap, the artistry, and the talent.

Just the way it can make you feel and think. I grew up listening to pretty much everything from like Lil Wayne to Wu Tang. When I was in high school I found a lot of the old school Memphis rappers and Houston stuff. That’s when I was like I found the sound I been lookin for all my life.

Then artists like Raider Klan, Bones, $uicideboy$ were coming up and their ability to be independent artists made me want to do the same, but none of us could cause we were broke as fuck.

Sherm- 

First rap song I ever remember hearing was Tupac, “Life Goes On.” That was around the time that YouTube was a new website. I was hooked right when I heard it and had to have replayed 100 times. Then I saw the recommended videos and that’s what started my endless search to find more rap that I liked. It was just crazy to me that someone could just talk over music basically and it was dope.

Obviously all artists, start the journey into the music world as fans first. How long did it take for you guys to make that turn….from being fans to wanting to create your own sounds and music?

Mak Matiks – 

Like I said, in high school when YouTube and SoundCloud was just full of new underground, independent artists, I felt like I finally had an idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Watching everyone else create the most unique and original art was motivating and made me want to be able to create my own lane so bad. But because we all lacked the resources to be able to make our own music I was just forced to be a fan and nothing more for years. But we always would download beats and freestyle for hours all throughout high school and even after. Once we grew up and got decent jobs I was able to start buying the equipment we needed and started to really take things seriously.

Sherm-

I don’t remember why or when I started rappin, I just always been doin it. Like Mak said we all grew up watchin these artists growin their movements on the internet, and we wanted to do the same. We always felt like it was the only option to be able to do somethin with our lives. No one around us in these towns was doin anything productive. It was all gettin high and wastin your life.

What did those early attempts look or sound like? Was it a process paved in obstacles or did it come naturally for you guys?

Mak Matiks- 

haha, well we all gotta start from somewhere. Our first tracks were definitely not the prettiest but what matters is we never give up. As time has gone by and we keep practicing I think we get better with every tape we make.

Sherm-

Our first attempts were terrible. But we always felt like there was talent underneath it just needed polishing. At first we had to find ourselves as artists too cause we didn’t even really know what we wanted to rap about or be portrayed as. 

For the people just getting hip to Wicked Culture, can you let them know what is in the library? Maybe talk about the releases you have up until this point and where the readers can sample them or buy them?

So we got 9 tapes on our YouTube channel and our SoundCloud. Plus 1 music video we created and a good handful of singles. Our music is that wicked shit. We are tryna show how dark it really be out here. We livin in where America started, and there’s a lot of dark history from then till now around here. If you like real tracks about real struggles and dealing with situations that aren’t comfortable. You might relate to us a lil.

As independent artists, what is your advice to anyone looking to get into the game of making music? Is there anything that you would suggest or discourage?

Mak Matiks – 

All I gotta say is it can be rough. But you can’t give up. Even when you’re like why am I even tryin. Cause everyone gonna doubt you and everyone’s gonna hate. Especially if you don’t conform to the mainstream side of rap. Just do you.

Sherm – 

Don’t do it unless you got thick skin. No one’s gonna f*** with you. Your friends and family gonna goof on you about it. You gotta beg people to even just listen to what you make. But if you’re gonna rap bout that lil pump type shit. That mumble shit that ain’t saying anything. Then people will fuck with you. So either sell your soul or make music that’s real and expect to struggle tryna make people listen. 

What is the underground/independent music scene like in your home state? Is it thriving or dying?

Music scene around here is trash. Bunch of old fools that wanna be the next Eminem. Or they tryna make NH something that it’s not talkin bout guns and gangs. Its dark out here, and evil lurks. But people tryna make it seem like its somethin its not.

How are the fans in your area, do they get out and support the scene? Are there venues that cater to the underground sound there?

Its practically a ghost town when it comes to underground rap fans around here. Everyone that is an artist is pretty much out for themselves and don’t support each other. Most people go to this city called Manchester cause there’s a rap venue there but from what we see it as, its just a place where old rappers go to battle rap till their careers are dead. We ain’t movin like that crowd, and i know that crowd don’t want rappers like us in there anyways. The internet our only outlet that’s been given to us so far.

You just released Crash Test Dummies and Pain and Problems on YouTube last week. Can you talk about those songs and break em down for the readers?

Yeah that’s just two of the 12 tracks off our latest tape, “Scriptures From Tha Wicked”. “Crash Test Dummies” is just basically explaining that’s what we about to become if rap don’t make us prosper. Pain and Problems is just that. Us talkin bout what we got and can’t get rid of. Our “Pain and Problems”. Which kinda plays into “Crash Test Dummies” cause our “Pain and Problems” is what’s gonna lead us into being “Crash Test Dummies”. We always try to create a reason for each track we make, and we hope people pick up on our messages and meanings.

What are your plans for the rest of 2021? Shows, new releases, working in the lab?

Rest of 2021 we are gonna start dropping 10+ track tapes as much as we can. The other thing we really wanna start working hard on is more music videos to supply more content to viewers and our subscribers. There’s not really venues for underground artists so until we find an opportunity, no shows for now.

If you had a chance to work with an artist you respect, who would it be and why?

The people we would wanna make music with is the people who inspired us to make what we make now. Artists like everyone from Raider Klan, Bones, $uicideboy$, Kirb La Goop, Doom Shop, Goth Money Records, and many more. They really the ones that made us get off our ass and start working. It’d be an honor to even just meet any of these artists, let alone work with them.

I dig having artists on and talking about music. I also dig on what artists are listening to at the moment. Who are you bumping right now?

We pretty much both like the same type of stuff so the list is like $uicideboy$, Doom Shop, Drakeo the Ruler, Bones, Xavier Wulf, Lil Peep, Three Six Mafia, Project Pat, City Morgue, Chris Travis. We could go on forever but that’s just a few of our favorites. 

Before we go, I’d like to give you a chance to give some shout outs. I from the 1990’s and believe they are important. Who are you shouting out tonight?

Mak Matiks-

First and always first is my wife. For pushing me to push myself. My homie Matty B, RIP. My mom for always believing in me. My enemies for makin me resilient and motivating me to be better than I was before. Shoutout to the all underground rappers and everyone who supports our movement.

Sherm-

Shoutout Matty B, RIP. If he was still here he’d be right here with us every chance he got to put some work in. 

 

Thank you Mike, for giving us your time. We appreciate the opportunity.

Well, there you have it. That’s about all the time we have for tonight. Thanks to the homies Mak and Sherm for cruising by ROX-TV for a little time. I appreciate their time and will be keeping an eye out for these guys. Until next time gang….3 minutes…..

Signing Off,

Mike Shepard

ROX-TV Head Writer

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