Summer’s just beginning and Hybrid Groove Project, the genre-bending new music duo from Baltimore, is already heating things up with their number one summer jam, “HGP Anthem” In the grand tradition of the great hip-hop conflicts like Tupac v. Biggie Smalls, Dr. Dre v. Eazy-E, and 50 Cent v. Kanye West, “HGP Anthem” brings some much needed antagonism to a new music genre more accustomed to passive aggressive behind-the-back cattiness than drive-bys and street corner stompings.
“By droppin’ this track we’re showing all these new music fakers who the real playaz are,” say Sacawa and Spangler. “It’s like we’re telling everyone, “Yo, we’re hot, and you’re not,” you feel us? Like, y’all need to get out of the game. Plus, we need to show love for Bmore, you know what we’re sayin’?”
Indeed, new music will soon regret its unofficial partnership with indie rock with the release of Hybrid Groove Project’s latest hit, the number one summer jam of 2008. But don’t call it a comeback, HGP’s been making heads nod since 2004. Just hope it’s not too late to return those skinny jeans.
Click below to hear “HGP Anthem” along with the skit “We Need More Beef”:
VERSE:
Conversin’ in a dialect, not what you’d expect
We’re from a city that’s too gritty for the New York set.
Mobtown! Gets down to the sound that makes you move
Listen up, worldwide, we’re known as Hybrid Groove Project.
We’re so hot we melt ICE from Chicago to Manhattan.
We got Claire chasin’ her tail ’cause they lookin’ like has beens.
Mad kings, Berio… Sound original? Nope!
We’re putting new dope twists on licks that Philip Glass wrote.
So Percussion! So what?! Think they’re in touch with the street.
On your minimalist tip we got that champion beat.
Iannis Xenakis. What? You think you bad playin’ hard shit
with nested triplets and septuplets?
You down with MTT? Yeah you know me!
S.F. Symphony, but that’s not all that he be.
American Mavericks, spinnin’ fab shit,
like Milton Bizabbitt, but HGP’s so past it.
Like our last hit, where we extended our reach
and sent Mike packin’ down to Miami Beach.
New World, same game with HGP off the chain,
gonna dis you other suckas but first check the refrain!
CHORUS:
The chamber music insurgents with an urgence to earn it,
We’re steppin’ forth in new directions cuttin’ beats like a surgeon.
With the sound causin’ all these flat composers to flee,
it’s the Mobtown Modern and HGP.
Knockin’ ivory towers down, bringin’ it straight to the hood,
it’s Dubble8 and SLN and we’re up to no good.
Spinnin’ wax, playin’ sax and makin’ music with poise,
we’re the best, oh so fresh, and all the rest is noise!
VERSE:
We ain’t a flash in the pan, like Bang On A Can.
We keep our sets tight not like a marathon, man.
You’re makin’ music for the people, we feel you, no doubt,
But if you do step to us, my friends, we will take you out!
Who’s that Eastman group known for rockin’ Nancarrow
and makin’ unplayable arrangements that sound like a player piano?
Call Aphex Twin he’d know what’s down in that town.
Nah, he wouldn’t hang with people like that… oh wait, Alarm Will Sound!
Eighth Blackbird we can play your music backward
Then chop it up and serve it to you 13 Ways!
Y’all stuck on Kronos carbon copy new music cliches
Straight pimpin’ Fred Rzewski for that Grammy mo-NAY.
Now that Boston’s got Levine and playin’ Wuorinen all the time,
They’ve got a lot of people sayin, “Oooh, that’s so divine.”
But HGP’s on the scene and we’re gonna shake it up,
So mind you’re business, Gil Rose, or we’ll BMOP you up!
West coast! Kronos! Pimpin’ all kinds of cheap tricks.
What’s next summer of love, like Haimovitz covering Hendrix?
From San Diego to Frisco we’re leaving bit playaz bereft.
Like Del Sol, CMP and the EAR Unit who must be deaf!
CHORUS:
The chamber music insurgents with an urgence to earn it,
We’re steppin’ forth in new directions cuttin’ beats like a surgeon.
With the sound causin’ all these flat composers to flee,
it’s the Mobtown Modern and HGP.
Knockin’ ivory towers down, bringin’ it straight to the hood,
it’s Dubble8 and SLN and we’re up to no good.
Spinnin’ wax, playin’ sax and makin’ music with poise,
we’re the best, oh so fresh, and all the rest is noise!
