Family Tapes - IBS (Incendiary Blanket Statement) (Album) + 10 Questions
Family Tapes return with IBS (Incendiary Blanket Statement), a bold new 13 track project that further cements the NYC collective's place in the underground hip hop scene. Produced entirely by Sun Cut Flat, the 53 minute album blends raw lyricism with inventive production, bringing together a host of respected names from across independent rap.
Among the standout collaborations are five appearances from West Coast legend and original Lootpack member Declaime (Dudley Perkins), whose work alongside Madlib and Flying Lotus has made him one of underground hip hop's most distinctive voices. Elsewhere, Homeboy Sandman joins forces with Family Tapes on the standout single "Love Respect, & Loyalty", while long time collaborator stephenxjones features on three tracks. NYC veteran Redda Black of the Zulu Nation also makes his Family Tapes debut with three appearances, including the album's opening cut.
Currently available exclusively through Bandcamp ahead of its worldwide streaming release on 4 September, IBS (Incendiary Blanket Statement) also comes with a host of extras, including the VHS style video for "The Criteria (Keep Rockin')", full lyrics, artwork and high quality photos. With collector's edition vinyl and CDs also on the way, this is a compelling release that should appeal to fans of uncompromising, forward thinking independent hip hop.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, and originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Sun Cut Flat is a prolific independent producer whose latest release marks the 20th album of a career that spans multiple creative identities. Since launching Family Tapes in 2021, he has used the project as a platform for collaborations with artists across New York and beyond, while also performing as the lyrical alter ego Derek Cedar. Outside of Family Tapes, Sun Cut Flat's own catalogue stretches across synthwave, psychedelic rock, alternative folk and singer-songwriter material, reflecting the breadth of his musical vision. Even his name carries a literary nod, having been inspired by a Bob Dylan lyric.
Sun Cut Flat sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
My Mom plays guitar and sings beautifully, she idolized Joni Mitchell growing up. She and my Dad met in college, going to Bob Dylan shows like the Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975. When I was 12, I discovered an old Guild acoustic guitar in our basement and started learning some tunes they'd play around the house, and others I heard on the radio. I made some great friends in college who were musicians at Berklee College of Music in Boson. My campus was nearby, and hanging out with them taught me a lot about production, performance, and songwriting. I've been releasing original music in some form since middle school around 2003, in Cambridge, MA. Chris Affleck (Casey and Ben Affleck's mother) was my 5th and 6th grade teacher. She taught us all a lot about respect, community, and leadership. She passed away just recently and I want to take this opportunity to honor her legacy. Chris was the best teacher I ever had; she inspired me to pursue my dreams and instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything I set my mind to.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
One of my biggest influences, Homeboy Sandman, actually appears as a featured vocalist on my new album. I have been a huge fan of his since around 2010 when I first heard his album "The Good Son". It was unlike anything I'd heard before. It was a blessing to work with Sand for the first time this summer. They say never meet your idols, but in this case mine tuned out to be a great dude who is a true artist and a great person. Working with Declaime on 5 tracks for this album was equally surreal. I listened to many of his records with Madlib and Lootpack back in college and was always inspired by his unique soulful songwriting.
I was blessed to meet Flying Lotus on the Cosmogramma tour opening for Thom Yorke and Flea's "Atom's For Peace" that same year in 2010, those three are also some of my biggest influences. Flylo signed the Cosmagramma poster for me and we talked music for a few minutes. I still have it posted in the live room of my studio and look at it every time I record. Damon Albarn, DJ Premier, Guru, DJ Shadow, J Dilla, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Erykah Badu, Common, and Outkast are just a few. One dream collaboration would be Thes One of People Under the Stairs. Rest in peace & power to Double K. People have compared Family Tapes to "The P", and obviously they are a huge influence on all of us within independent hip hop. I'd also love for a chance to meet Bobbito Garcia, Kurious Jorge, KRS One, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, and other NYC hip-hop legends.
It is so important that we honor the legacy of the generation that created this culture and carry forward their creative fire through the five elements of hip hop. Many people forget the fifth element: knowledge of self or consciousness. The fifth element is extremely crucial and seems to be often lacking in hip hop today. It's about acknowledging the social and political realities of the world which the emcee speaks into, the DJ spins into, the dancers break into, and the painters paint into. Shout out to Redda Black of Zulu Nation, who also appears on the new Family Tapes album as well; he has been instrumental in educating me more on Hip Hop including the fifth element, the metaphysics of music, and the importance of standing in truth regarding this art form and culture.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
I'm currently working on an EP with a great producer from Hamburg, Germany - Will B. Heard. It's been dope to connect across the pond through our shared love for the golden era of hip hop. He has a very nostalgic 90's inspired production style that is also very polished, and we've been enjoying the creative process together. Our first single together is called "My Crates", and the reception has been crazy since it came out in May - it's a banger! I'm also working on a separate project with Bridgeport, CT producer East.End.Zulu. I already have four tracks out with East-End, and his style is also very dope, blending plenty of modern influences while being rooted in boombap. I love how committed he is to putting his city on the map, growing his brand, and his grind is unmatched. Our tape is going to slap when we finally put it together. Additionally, I did some DJ scratching work for a dope artist from Boston called Sci-Fi The Mastermind, and I hope that track appears on his upcoming album cause it is super dope! He is a phenomenal emcee and producer to watch out for. He currently has two albums and an EP out, which I see has a cult following online. His style is reminiscent of Wu-Tang with a hard-hitting sci-fi / comiccore sensibility that is truly fire. Lastly, I am hoping to get back in the studio with my longtime friend and creative partner from Atlanta, Stephenxjones, to create the 4th volume of our "Hip Hop Sovereignty" series. Listeners of Family Tapes know and love Stephenxjones for his insanely catchy flow, clever wordplay, and vibey production on his solo work. The Vol. 4 should hopefully include more contributions from dope special guests throughout, as we've had on each of the first three volumes. Huge shoutout to Mistah Levy as well, his timeless voice is unmistakable on the Family Tapes catalog and you will certainly hear many more great things from him in the near future no doubt.
4. How would you describe your sound?
I'd describe the sound and production of Family Tapes as a modern boombap take on the feel-good style of west coast groups like People Under the Stairs, with some Midwest influence from artists like Hi-Tek and J Dilla, and of course some NYC flavor from artists like DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Lord Finesse. There's a bit of Statik Selektah in there too, as he is also from MA like me, and made a name for himself in NYC. He expressed on his live-stream recently that he was rocking with my production style and our vocals on the track "Groundskeeper To The Shrine". Lyrically, Family Tapes explores themes from and references authors like Thomas Aquinas, Henry David Thoreau, and Friedrich Nietzsche, to name a few. Those aren't normally names you hear in rap without hitting skip, but we lock in the nutritional substance and the flavor simultaneously. Some of the main subjects Family Tapes focuses on are creativity, empowerment, and breaking free from negative influences like drugs, violence, and toxic masculinity. Some recurring motifs throughout our music are chess, basketball, DJ/crate-digging experiences, and competition.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
My proudest moment has been hearing Family Tapes music playing from a bluetooth speaker in a park in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and being amazed that older listeners who have a deep knowledge and understanding of Hip Hop were enjoying it. That is always crazy to me because I was born in Brooklyn, but didn't grow up here - we moved from Fort Greene BK to Cambridge, MA in the early 1990's. In Boston, my classmates and I idolized NYC hip-hop culture—from the clothes to the slang to the music—without truly understanding anything about it. It wasn't until I moved back to Brooklyn in 2014 and worked in public schools here for ten years that I started to understand the deep connection between community, culture, and music here for those who truly embody it. It's very important to me that we honor that every time we touch a microphone or sampler. I've also learned that being anti-racist is an active process requiring me to engage in consistent, deliberate work to take accountability and change the beliefs I absorbed subconsciously while growing up as a white man in America. Gentrification is a real thing here that has devastated many communities in NYC, and I acknowledge that I've played a role in that. To some, I'll always be a transplant here and my presence in hip hop generally won't be welcomed. I'm at peace with that because I know I've invested my energy deeply into being a positive force as an artist working to empower the youth through music, chess, and basketball. My goal is that everything that comes out of my studio honors the legends who came before us and inspires the next generation of kids who will change the world.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
I'd tell them not to pay attention to streams, stats, follows, likes, or feedback from friends and family. Don't share mixes until the track is finished and released. Publish everything you finish and let your listeners watch you improve. Perfection is the enemy of progress, so just enjoy the process and forget about being perfect. Don't be afraid to step out into different genres and see what works as you find your own unique voice. You don't need sample-packs, Splice, or YouTube beats. Record beat-box tracks and voice memos if needed, because those are unique to YOU. In this age of AI slop, your unique voice is your biggest asset. Most people who know me from places outside of music think it's a joke when they learn I'm pursuing music full-time, and they chuckle when they hear that I rap and make beats. Last year, the 1.2 million people who streamed my music across 150 countries disagreed with the notion that it was a joke, encouraging me to move forward with my music career. "IBS" is the result of that process, of embracing my own unique voice.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
I mentioned him earlier, but keep an eye out for Sci-Fi the Mastermind. He is a young God in this game and is a PROBLEM on the mic. I am a huge fan of his and hope for the chance to collaborate with him more.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
A few of my favorite artists in heavy rotation right now are "Start Anew" by Shad, "Miami Lice: Season Four" by Aesop Rock & Homeboy Sandman (LICE), and "Neighborhood Gods Unlimited" by Open Mike Eagle.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Play basketball, go rollerblading or walking with my girlfriend, explore different parts of NYC, and coach youth Chess in NYC.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
Just three is tough! For that I'd have to say my Roland Juno 106, Tascam Portastudio 414 MKii, and Akai MPC 2000. Honorable mention to the Suzuki Omnichord 84.
Pre-Save IBS on SPotify/Apple Music here.
