Who’s Bringing The Flavor To Your Ear? Your Guide To Funk Volume Posted by Lucas G. on 03/06/14 | Filed under Opinion, Jarren Benton, Hopsin, Funk Volume, Your Guide, Dizzy Wright

When discussing successful independent hip-hop labels almost everyone always says T.D.E or Strange Music. Though they don't get mentioned as frequently, what Funk Volume has accomplished, and how they have accomplished it, is just as admirable; they too are a great model of an indie label. Through extensive touring (earning them a great live show reputation) and quality merch (as well as some dope fucking hip-hop) Funk Volume has amassed a loyal, passionate fan base and have already surpassed where both Top Dawg and Strange were after five years; and there's still nowhere to go but up. Enough about the label itself, lets get to the artists.

Here's Your Guide to Funk Volume.

Hopsin

After a less than amicable departure from Ruthless Records, Hopsin teamed up with Damian Ritter to form Funk Volume in 2009. To say Hop has a diverse skill set is an understatement; Rapper, producer, label founder, pug lover, he does it all. Now admittedly, I was a little uneducated in the ways of Hopsin a mere eight months ago and while I can't say I am a diehard Hopsin fan, I can say that I respect his hard work and creativity and, most importantly, fuck with his music. His content is just as diverse as his arsenal.

You know how they say some athletes play angry? Well Hop raps angry. The fire and passion he displays really draws you in. However, the thing I respect most about him is that he has big cajones (phrasing). Hopsin isn't afraid to say whatever is on his mind. Whether it be his feelings toward Ruthless' label head (and Eazy-E's widow) Tomica Wright or his drug-addicted friend, he doesn't hold back and is unflinchingly honest. No matter how you feel about the music, you gotta respect him for being real.. You can grab his most recent album, Knock Madness over at DJBooth.

SwizZz

SwizZz , the first Funk Volume signee, might be the younger brother of Ritter and Hop's high school homie, but he isn't one of those sucker fish who hangs on a bigger fish to live. SwizZz can flat out spit. Like Hop, he is absolutely ruthless. He has a crazy, unbridled flow, but it is almost surgical; each bar really slices right through you. Though SwizZz has yet to release an album (his debut is likely coming at some point this year) SwiZz does have two mixtapes under his belt including one with Hopsin, Haywire, which was the first Funk Volume project ever. Oh yeah, the contacts, I guess I should mention it, but there is more to him than his crazy eyes.

Dizzy Wright

Of all the FV emcees he might be the most...um... "sane".  While SwizZ, Hop and Jarren like to get buck wild and eat beats alive, Dizzy would much rather lay back and engulf the beat in weed smoke. Just because he is more laid-back doesn't mean he can't rap. In fact, personally, he is my favorite emcee on FV. His flow might not be the same but he is just as versatile.

Dizzy has been known to kill a trap beat, but my favorites are when he takes a more mellow approach (see "Flyin High" and "The First Agreement"). Dizzy finds a  great balance between being fun and youthful and being introspective and smart. He can rap about smoking just as easily as he can tell us about his father (whom he just met), and he always does it with a calm, cool, and collected demeanor. It might not sound like he matches the rest of Funk Volumem, but he fits right in; hey, variety is the spice of life. You can download (or buy) his most recent project, The Golden Age, but his First Agreement EP is, in my opinion, his best work. 

Jarren Benton

Formerly cinatas (satanic backwards) Benton is shall we say a little out there. Lucky for us because his eccentric, balls ass crazy style makes for one hell of a rap tune. Signed in 2012, Hop is the newest member of Funk Volume, but his sound makes you think he has been there from day one. Though his music's southern influence is unique from the other emcees, his content is signature Funk Volume. In fact, songs like "Skitzo" make Hop seem normal. He is over-the top, bloody, and violent, but that's why you listen; I wouldn't want it any other way.

He also has some of the best project names in hip-hop. How the hell do you not listen to a project called Freebasing With Kevin Bacon or My Grandma's Basement (look at that artwork!). If you are looking for the rap equivalent of a PCP/bathsalt cocktail, Jarren is your guy.

Producers:

They might not be on the mic, but DJ Hoppa, Kato, Rikio, BJames and to a certain extent, SupaHotBeats (who isn't officially on the roster), are just as crucial to Funk Volume's signature sound. Each one has a unique style which fits the diverse emcees perfectly. They are so good at working with form-fitting the beat to fit the vibe and style of the often unconventional emcees. As someone who is producer oriented, I really admire what these cats can do behind the boards.

So there you have it, folks; the rundown on one of the need-to-know indie labels. Funk is a very interesting label. When you look at everything they have accomplished it is hard to believe they are only five years old. Being so young also means the ceiling is sky high. If they can do all of this in between the Vancouver Olympics and the Sochi Olympics, what are they going to look like in 10 years?

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