Street Justice

by Shannon “6’2” DeVries

“Originality and the grind,” Ketchphraze states to be the factors that set Street Justice apart from other groups.  “We are willing to take risks.  Take risks, take hits to the pocket, whatever.”  With a few discs up for free download, this mentality is obvious.  Street Justice members Redd, Ketchphraze and Jypsy Eye grew up in Inkster, but it wasn’t until after high school that they became the ‘four-headed monster’ they are today with the last member DJ 4mula One.  The group met 4mula One after a few open mic’s downriver and he quickly became the fourth and final member.

The quartet is currently working on a new project, “V for Vendetta” due on November 5^th – and it is no accident that it is dropping the day after the big E-day.  Street Justice will be hosting a listening party/Democratic Victory Party (yes, they are that confident in our boy, Obama).  They also have a few big shows coming up - direct support to Little Brother at St. Andrews Hall on October 18^th and Redman/Method Man at the Crofoot in Pontiac on October 25^th.

Not only is Street Justice my “favorite group” (and should be yours) as they so perfectly market themselves, but they quickly became some of my favorite people to chop it up with round-table style.  Each member is their own piece to the puzzle called Street Justice.  And because of that, I am going to break down my take on each of the “fingers in the glove” as Redd so eloquently put it.

DJ 4mulaOne

According to Ketch, 4mulaOne is “the main doo-doo stain in the operation.”  Sampling everything from R&B to Classic Rock, 4mulaOne makes the beats for Street Justice to build their fortress upon.  J. Dilla, the late beat master of Detroit, is of course his main inspiration.  Although he hasn’t made every beat Street Justice ever laid lyrics on, he has had his hand in the bulk of them.

Redd

Redd is the Renaissance man.  He would describe his style as, “educated wordplay;” he is a self-proclaimed geek and offers symbolic syllables in his lyrics and impeccable graphic work to the team as well.  Often seen as the front man of the group, Redd has an astonishing ability of networking and connecting with the groups audience.  Many genres of music have made an impact on Redd’s style including System of a Down and AC/DC, but his biggest influence to start rapping was his cousin and groupmate, Ketchphraze.

Ketchphraze

It is clear why Ketch got his moniker; his quotes permeate this story.  The smooth swag-tastic title in Street Justice goes to Ketch, the co-originator of the name Street Justice.  As a high schooler, Ketch and his boy used to battle rap in Inkster, they were fighting to give the ‘street’s justice’ and it stuck as the group transformed.  “Lyrics and swagger,” are what make up his style he said.  “I say shit that you wouldn’t think of saying but I say it in a way that you can understand.”

Jypsy Eye

Rounding out the group’s style is the “melting pot” of soul and griminess, Jypsy Eye.  Bringing the gritty street sound and polishing it with the smooth hook melodies, Jypsy covers both sides of the spectrum as the “raunch-monic” member (new word courtesy of Ketch, add it to your dictionary).

With the mix of sound, swag and success this still-young group has, there is no telling what the future holds for Street Justice.  “When it comes to the music part, we are very humble and very willing to listen and to learn from what people before us have done because we are always trying to find something new… what can we do to be a bigger entity or to be known or to have more people be touched by what we say,” said Redd, which is part of the reason they are the Detroit Kings of Free Downloads.

There are many people who are helping keep Detroit a name in the hip hop realm, with a five-stop Midwest stint on the 2008 Van’s Warped Tour and other resume key points, add Street Justice to that list.  | DetroitRap.com

www.myspace.com/streetjustice2