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Nappy Roots Set to Release ‘Wooden Leather’

Posted by Adam Gonshor on July 13th, 2003

Ron Clutch of the Nappy Roots has a message for his fellow artists in the urban music community.

“Let’s all get together in unity. We’re making music, we shouldn’t be fighting. There shouldn’t be no beefs. Music wasn’t meant for that.”

And the former Army reserve isn?t just talking smack. Clutch, along with the five other Nappy members, went to the Persian Gulf in June, and performed for thousands of American troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar.

“They don’t know how we feel about the war or what’s going on in the States,” Clutch tells andPOP, on the line from New York. “We was kinda like sending them the message from the States, ‘Keep it Nappy. Everything’s gonna be a’ight’.”

With temperatures nearly reaching 130 degrees, the Nappy Roots were dressed appropriately for the weather with shorts and short sleeved shirts. It was completely different for the troops.

“Soldiers as far as the eye could see. They were draped down in army fatigues, rifles, and some sleeping in a hanger.”

An opportunity to meet the soldiers at Baghdad International Airport turned into an impromptu show.

“They have soldiers on cots. There ain’t no water out there, ain’t no air. They?ve been out there for a while. It?s rough.”

For Clutch, the visit was personal. He was in the reserves until 2001 and was able to see his former unit out there.

“Those were my peoples, my homies. A lot of folks had that look where it’s like you don’t know what tomorrow’s got in store for you. You don’t know what God has planned for you, anywhere in the world. So me coming in from the United States, where it’s peaceful and there’s tranquility almost, almost, better than it is there where they’re risking their lives.”

He left the reserves and focused on the Kentucky hip-hop group. The Nappy Roots released their debut album, “Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz” in 2002 and received two Grammy nominations, two American Music Award nominations, and platinum certification. They were also honoured by the Governor of Kentucky by having a day named after them.

“September 16. It’s Nappy Roots Day,” Clutch says proudly. “Ain’t too many people? who else has a holiday? Martin Luther King, Jesus Christ, your birthday. That’s like the highest honour you can get for a civilian. I don’t know if I can arrest nobody.”

On August 26, the sextet will release “Wooden Leather,” which will last forever, Clutch tries to explain.

“When you think of wood, you think of something from the earth, from God. When you think of leather, you think of the saddle from a horse. It’s going to last 100 horses. Just think of all the things that’s elegant, that?s durable, that’s going to last a couple of life times. That’s the music right here. It’s never going to die. It’s never going to get old.”

His explanation of the recording process for the album is just as confusing: “It was intense, but it was laid back.” Explaining how his family keeps him grounded is also just a bit unclear: “When I go home, they’re excited to see me, but at the same time, it’s like a’ight.”

If there’s one thing Clutch is completely sure about, it’s that the Nappy Roots gave it their all for this album, and they don’t plan on stopping.

“There ain’t no level where you make it and stop. There ain’t no top really, you just keep going.”

“Roun’ The Globe” from Kentucky to Baghdad Video Footage:
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Click here for images of the Nappy Roots in Iraq with the troops, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Robert Deniro and more.

Preview some tracks from “Wooden Leather,” the upcoming album:
Real Windows MP3

Listen to “Roun’ The Globe,” their latest single:
Real Windows

Get Nappy on the web at nappyroots.com.

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Categories: Hip Hop/Rap