If you speak/read French, peep the interview here:

http://www.popnews.com/popnews/regeneratedheadpieceitw/

If not, here's the translation:

Can you tell us where you come from and what has Regenerated Headpiece’s career been so far? What are the stories of the three of you?

Regenerated Headpiece was formed in 1998 in Queens, New York. The group has evolved quite a bit since then, both in sound and personnel. The group as it exists today consists of three friends who met back in High School on Long Island: Phon-X: producer and emcee; Shred Lexicon: emcee; and DJ Exfyl: turntablist. Together, we have released two full-length albums and have been fortunate enough to open up shows for the likes of such acts as Public Enemy, Prince Paul, Mixmaster Mike, Blackalicious, Phife Dawg (of A Tribe Called Quest), Dilated Peoples, Zion I, and others.


First quality emceeing, politics, scratches and turntablism, real instruments, old school and new school. Your record looks like a mix of everything possible in hip hop on a single record. Am I wrong?

No, you’re right on the money. One thing RHP is dedicated to is the idea that hip hop shouldn’t be pigeonholed or defined as any one thing. We are inspired to make music that transcends boundaries and people’s expectations, and that’s what keeps the music fresh to us. We’re trying to put our own unique stamp on hip hop music by making the kinds of records that are not easy to categorize or marginalize with a label.


You’re coming from New York. But your very free way of rapping and the diversity of your beats remind me of the Californian underground scene. Is this something you agree with?

In past reviews we have been compared to some of the groups out of California, but whatever similarities there may be between our sound and the sound of, say, Freestyle Fellowship or Jurassic 5 is unintentional. From a lyrical standpoint, I’d say that we are influenced primarily by the New York rappers of the golden age (1987-1994), and our production is influenced by every known recorded musical form. Perhaps our closest similarity with Californian hip hop can be seen in Exfyl’s contributions, as his scratching style is heavily influenced by the work of the legendary Bay Area DJ crew, The Invisibl Skratch Picklz.


You’ve opened shows for several cult hip hop groups. What’s your place and status on NY’s hip hop map nowadays?

We’re still on the underground, which is the lot for most groups that aren’t signed to a major label. We aren’t completely unknown, but we’re not exactly the most popular group in New York City either. There’s just so much competition here that it’s easy to get obscured at times, but we’re definitely on the come-up. The positive reaction the press had to our last album “Dogfight” has definitely gone a long way in helping us to establish a more firm base here in our home city.


Apparently, one of your fans is no less than Chuck D. This is a pleasant situation. How has the first contact with him been?

A few years back, Phon-X entered a remix of the hit Public Enemy song “By The Time I Get to Arizona” for a contest Public Enemy was sponsoring. While Phon-X did not win that contest, his production style caught the ear of Chuck D. Chuck then got in contact with Phon-X, and together they established a side project known as Lincoln’s Second Assassin, which is an all-instrumental operation. Through that affiliation, Chuck was then introduced to Regenerated Headpiece, and he became a big supporter of our work, licensing six of our songs for distribution through his mp3-based label, Slamjamz. And he also honored us by having us open up Public Enemy’s show at The World in Times Square on September 24, 2002.


I have the feeling that NY’s hip hop is getting less and less exiting this year. Is it because I don’t know the right names and the right groups or is this true ?

I would say that on the commercial level, you may be right. There aren’t many groups on that level that are doing anything particularly exciting. On the underground, however, New York is just as ill as it’s ever been. We are constantly encountering groups here on the underground that are taking hip hop to new, exciting places. You just don’t see these groups on MTV or in the pages of The Source.


There is a large turntablism dimension to your music. Do Exfyl regularly participate to DJ competitions?

Exfyl used to compete in these competitions regularly, but he hasn’t focused on battling so much in recent years. Now he’s really more focused on perfecting his skills and displaying them on our records and at our shows.


By the way, how have you landed on a Bomb Hip Hop Records compilation?

A few years back, Bomb Hip Hop Records president Dave Paul was putting together a compilation titled “The Real Deal”. The purpose of this compilation was to expose corruption in the music industry. We sent Mr. Paul our first album, “Rat Race Vacation” (2001) and the album’s first song, “War Cry”, struck him as perfect for the compilation. So he chose it, and we were fortunate enough to be featured on it alongside such respected underground acts as Azeem, Swollen Members, Foreign Legion, J-Zone, and Abstract Rude.


Dogfight has been released in 2003. Is another album planned this year? What are your forthcoming projects?

We are presently hard at work recording our 3rd album, tentatively titled “New Strange”, for which we are targeting a release date around Christmastime.


A commonplace question now: what kind of music and artists are you listening to these days ? Hip hop or non hip hop?

Right now I’m listening to the new De La Soul and Prince Poetry albums, but in my iPod I’ve always got a rotating playlist of classic hip hop and old Be Bop records, not to mention albums by great lyrical talents like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits. Exfyl has been bugging out to Mixmaster Mike’s new album “Bangzilla”, and Phon-X has had Duke Ellington’s 3 disc “Golden Greats” compilation on continuous repeat.


Are you planning a concert sooner or later in Europe?

We would absolutely love to have the opportunity to travel to Europe to perform. If you know of any promoters who are looking to book American acts, please let us know! In the meantime you can catch us in Antartica and the Bermuda Triangle.

this is some hot shyt, congradulations and keep it poppin

I saw this on your press page and was most impressed. Press on past the pressure.
Love,
The Cleve