How's everything on your guys side?

HAPP G: Chillin, feelin good.

JAKE LEFCO: Good! Hyped that the album is out!

Damn when I found out about "Missing Trooth" over a year ago I couldn't wait for that shit to drop. Days, weeks, and months passed by, and I was still without the "Trooth". What accounted for the delay?

HG: This album's been a long time in the making! Many years. After you've put so much time into something, you realize that it would be stupid to rush it because of something you might have said in an interview or a press release when you were being optimistic. Trust me, we were eagerly awaiting it ourselves!

JL: Patience mostly. Happ and I are both perfectionists, as well as our own worst critics, so there was some last-minute tweaking, fiddling, and final recording that had to be done before we were both entirely happy with the finished product. It also gave us some valuable time to push my first album "And You Are?"

Happ, you have been able to get your artists on MTV as well as Comcast On-Demand Music. Did you have anyone giving you some guiding advice on how to get your music out there or was it all trial and error on your behalf?

HG: For the most part it was years of making mistakes that taught me better than anyone else could have. I just tried to not make the same mistakes twice. We've been blessed and lucky, but I always like that quote that "luck is the residue of hard work". Being an independent record label and landing opening theme music on two MTV shows was huge for us!

Will you be trying to get the "Comfort Zone" video on anywhere like MTV or BET or those type of outlets? How did the video come about? It's so unique and outside the norm of a typical rap video.

HG: Definitely!

JL: Yeah, we're sending it out to the major networks soon, just making the necessary format changes. The "Comfort Zone" video is crazy! Given the unique qualities of the song itself, I knew I wanted to do a completely original video for it. However, the angel/devil concept and most of the story board sequences were the ideas of director/producer Benjamin Ahr Harrison (machinemaninc.com). With Fletcher Wolfe as director of photography, Eddie Simeon as co-producer, and Benjamin Oviat handling the animation, I couldn't have asked for a more talented and driven crew.

Happ, as you know better than most, small indie labels have a habit of dying out real quick but you have managed to stick it out for 8 years now. What other labels have you looked to for inspiration?

HG: I look at Island Records, Stax, Motown, Def Jam, Sub Pop, label's that ran in their own lane and made enough noise to make the industry come to them, on their own terms. And on the rap tip I look up to the Hiero squad a lot. Those cat's were all on majors and then they flipped it to the indie lane and have been self sufficient ever since, I really admire that. I also look up to Stones Throw, Rhymesayers, Def Jux, Brick, and labels like that that have been able to make a significant contribution with their presence and music over the years in a consistent way.

How did you get into the art of production and DJ'ing Happ? What was your first set-up?

HG: I consider myself more of a producer than a DJ, but spinning records was definitely at the foundation of the whole thing. I always used to make little mix tapes and home recordings acting out TV shows as a kid, and in high school I used to say "that would make a good loop" without really knowing what it meant, so the interest has always been there. I got turntables the summer after high school. I really got into production though in college, when I met The Alchemist and saw someone that I knew personally that was doing this amazing thing that I'd always been drawn to. My setup then was a couple turntables, a mixer and an SP-1200. Over the years there have been many things added to that foundation, but that setup has always remained at the core of what I do.

Will Karma Response Unit be releasing any other albums this year or are you putting all your focus on "Missing Trooth"?

HG: With the speed in which time has been traveling lately I don't wanna make any more predictions, but Duck Chutney and The Double Entendre's "Nobody Rides For Free" album should be dropping by November. That album features a bunch of cats, including Reef the Lost Cauze, Reks, Side Effect, Jake Lefco, Briz, Viro the Virus, Snuff, and more. It's a concept record, and it's crazy! "Missing Trooth" is definitely going to be getting a significant amount of push over the next year or so. On the indie level, the shelf life has to be longer so we can allow the word and buzz to spread on a project.

JL: Right now I am eating, sleeping, and breathing "Missing Trooth", but I'm also fired up about the Duck Chut project! Talk about unique, that shit is gonna be bananas! I also heard that Fake Rightko has an appearance on there. Apparently he's got a line or two dissing me and my music. Whatever though, I've been dealing with his psycho bullshit all my life! Plus, I heard the track is fire!

When it comes down to recording do you guys do it together or individually?

HG: We're always together when recording Jake's material.

JL: Unless I'm doing a guest verse on someone else's track who has their own studio, I always record with Happ G and our long time studio engineer Greg Smith. Over the years, we've developed a productive routine, a great group dynamic, and we always have a blast!

Of course you guys have a "business" relationship but what kind of relationship do you guys have outside of the music industry? Do you guys hang out, drink, smoke, do whatever?

JL: Yeah, we chill as much as we can! But we spend most of our time on music. We were friendly before we started working together, but back then Happ was closer friends with my brother. Naturally, our friendship has grown a lot over time, and I consider Happ one of my closest friends. Fortunately, our friendship has never distracted us from our musical ambitions.

HG: It's hard working with friends. Jake and I get a pat on the back for being grown men about the whole thing and keeping communication open and honest, which ultimately makes the music better.

Jake, I remember at the end of the last interview we did, you gave a shout out to your fellow mentors at Urban Art Beat. What do you and your colleagues do at Urban Art Beat and how did you get in involved with that?

JL: Urban Art Beat is an amazing non-profit organization based out of the South Bronx, providing Hip-Hop-based after school programs for middle school and high school students. As mentors, we teach the kids how to write, record, and perform their own original songs. We also foster a sense of respect, self worth, and individuality in kids with natural talent and limited resources. I found out about the program through my man DJ King Cut (djkingcut.com), who handles the event planning and fundraising for Urban Art Beat, and also spins for me at live shows. It's an incredible program to be a part of! Anyone interested can check us out at: urbanartbeat.org

To follow up on that; how has life in the big apple been Jake? Do you plan to set up shop for the long haul, move back to Philly or even move somewhere else later down the line?

JL: While I do miss Philly, the big apple's been good to me! It's a crazy place with a crazy pace but I'm used to it. I'm definitely here for at least another year and a half. After that, its really hard to say. For music purposes, right now there's no place I'd rather be.

How painful was it slamming your teeth off of the porcelain sink? Did you have some nerves hanging out and shit?

JL: Ahhh!!! Just hearing that question gave me a headache! Yeah…that shit hurt. But the tooth wasn't so gory, no dangling nerves or anything. Most of the blood involved came from my fist after I got up and punched through the bathroom door!

You ever get any of your adult teeth mangled Happ?

HG: I had a wisdom teeth disaster late in college. It sucked. Actually that's my wisdom tooth on front cover of "Missing Trooth"!

To the people that have heard "And You Are?" but have yet to hear "Missing Trooth", explain to them what they can expect.

JL: "Missing Trooth" is a cohesive album, full of innovative lyricism, bangin production, real life commentary, and honest introspection. While some joints are more personal than others, overall, "Missing Trooth" is an album about growing up. While "And You Are?" served as a light, playful introduction to me as an artist, "Missing Trooth" brings the listener one step closer. It has a heavier tone and a more consistent theme throughout. Anyone who digs "And You Are?" will enjoy this album!

HG: It's an album that you can listen to front to back.

Are there any other MC's that either of you know of that use their government issued name like Jake does?

HG: There's a few, but not too many. Definitely Keith Murray is the first one that springs to mind. Keith Murray came up when Jake and I were discussing possible names he could use, and it became clear that his government name was the way to go.

JL: Kieth Murray, Obie Trice, Kanye West.

Jake when was the first time you met your twin brother Fake Rightko?

JL: We met the day we were born, but we had to be separated almost immediately after Fake tried to strangle me with the umbilical chord. It was all downhill from there.

Do either of you sport large music collections? About how many CD's/Records do you have?

HG: I have a huge collection. I have thousands of wax and cds. My house is full of music. I can't stop buying music, it's by far my biggest addiction. In my opinion, one can never have enough music.

JL: I've got hundreds of cds but I've never been a DJ so my wax collection consists only of my single "Headphones", and Karma Response Unit's compilation "The Hogan Fam EP"

I know Jake is a Sixers fan from the story he tells in "Life Goes On" and the old school Sixers shirt he rocks in the "Comfort Zone" video but what about you Happ? And do you think that the Sixers have a shot at making it to the East Finals with the addition of Elton Brand?

HG: I'm mostly an Eagles fan, but I do love all Philly sports teams. I hope the Sixers can pull it together, they have a lot of the talent and pieces coming together, it's just all about that chemistry and if they can make it happen. Things go in cycles, and they've been building a new foundation and stacking the chips up in the post A.I. era, and I think the time is quickly approaching that we'll see that gel.

JL: Naameeen!!!

Also, how do you think the Eagles will do this year? If McNabb stays healthy I think they have a chance at making a run. I mean fuck if the Giants can beat the undefeated Patriots anything can happen right?

HG: I'm really hoping, because the folks in this city are getting restless. To have been so close already and not being able to bring it home was a painful blow to this entire city's psyche! This city deserves a victory.

JL: GO BIRDS!

Good looking on the interview fellas! If you have anything else to add please feel free to go off with whatever you have to say.

JL: No, thank you! Please check out my brand new album "Missing Trooth" on iTunes and krurecords.com. And to all the listeners out there: Be yourself and floss daily!

HG: Sign up for our mailing list at krurecords.com to stay in touch about specials from our store, live performances, and all that type of goodness. Also look out for the krurecords.com website relaunch in September or October. Thanks for the interview Jeff!