Montreal, QC - During a time of great anticipation for their new album, Euphrate's member Nofy Fannan fell victim to an accident that has put him in a coma. With only a week until the album release, the remaining Euphrates members, Narcicyst and Habbilis, took a seat with HipHopcanada to discuss what to expect from the album, their views of the war and most importantly to show support for Nofy while he remains in the hospital.

HHC: The last time we had you guys in the hot seat was August of 2003 in which we discussed the history of Euphrates, the American invasion on Iraq and a variety of other things. A lot has happened within your circle, as well as the world as a whole that you guys will definitely want to speak on. But, before we go into any questions... HipHopCanada would like to make a special shout out to your producer Nofy would wasn't able to make this interview due to a car accident. Can you tell us how Nofy's doing and when we should expect to see him on his feet again?
The only individual or energy that knows when Nofy will be back with us is Allah. Inshallah Khair. I hope to God that our brother will be back in full force with us soon. First off I would like to say FUCK ATLAS TAXI, Nofy was more than just a producer to me. He is my big brother. I grew up with Habi and Nofy my whole life, over a decade and a half and Nofy was my confidant, my big homie, and my inspiration. He was the one that made all this happen for us, with us and will forever be the reason we have reached the point we have. He was crossing the street to come over to my place, and was hit by a speeding taxi. I don't want to go into details but all I can say is hold your fam close man, hold all your loved ones by your side and love every moment you exist in, you never know when it will be your last….

HHC: He'll [Nofy] be in hearts and minds during this tough period. How do you stay focused when something like this happens to your family?
Right now, I don't feel too focused. The only thing that is keeping me focused is Nofy's energy and the perseverance he taught us to hold closely. I love him dearly and this and everything I do from now on is for him. Typing this out is difficult, I'm thinking of how if fate were different he would be sitting next to me right now with habi answering the questions intensely. I don't know duke…this really wish he would wake up tomorrow so we could touch base like crack dealers.

HHC: In the '03 interview, we discussed the release of your debut album, "A Bend In The River" which featured memorable tracks like N.E.W.S., Shalom Aleikum, Seven etc.
A bit more then a year later and the follow-up release is ready to go. The "Stereotypes Incorporated LP" features the current HHC Choice Cut, 'Told You So' featuring D-Shade and other new singles from Euphrates including 'Oil Slick' and 'Creep Up'. The album will also feature Rugged Intellect and Boston emcee Virtuoso. What is the major difference between the first album and this one?

The first album was more of a project, we wanted to just jumble thoughts, we were learning US as the time, I was learning the art of Mcing, and SandhiLL were working on mastering their bananasness. So ABITR was really just us getting together at a time where we felt as though we were being targeted because a certain minority of our peoples were using violence as a means to get the message of our freedom out. So we dropped it as a response to the backlash we were experiencing as Arabs in the West. STEREOTYPES INCORPORATED is more of a jointed project. We really sat down and planned this one out amongst ourselves. It relates to the last one but it our evolution in sound and thought. We decided to come off a bit less serious, well; we didn't really decide it just came out that way. The basic gist of this LP is that 'WE WENT FROM RAGHEADS TO BAGHEADS'. Stereotypes are everywhere and I think everyone can relate to it. We split the album up into West and East, the two sides of our conditioning; the warring faction of our relationships in the world. The overall battle in our environments, souls and mind states.

HHC: Give us a track-by-track breakdown on the album in terms of what viewers should expect from each song:

EAST

Stereotypes Incorporated: This track is about the Arab stereotypes. Its split in two where the first verse is directed at the western hemisphere and the second is directed at Arabs. I'm basically telling both sides how we both are diseases eating away at each other and we are both to blame; there is never one side to every story. It's a diss to the Big West and the Middle East basically. The self-loathing Arab Stereotype.

Anthropolitics: This is a theory Nofy, Habi and I came up with in our studies and overall experiences. Its really about life and how we seem to live life on the daily without thinking about how fast everything is going by and without appreciating the greatness in all of us as humans, as souls…ironic…The conspiracy theorist Arab stereotype.

SpiderHole: Iraqnaphobia part four thousand seven hundred… haha… enough said. This was our response to the War. Funny thing is it was cut and written before the Iraqnaphobia that appeared on the last album, but it fit perfectly… so we threw it on there as a response to the American governments control on our mind frame through the advent of war and psychological warfare…they're still selling us on shelves and racks…The fed-up Arab stereotype.

CreepUp: This track was written from the perspective of an American soldier, or just a regular Arab American civilian who is in a desperate situation that needs to get the fuck out and make some cheese. So he joints the army, ends up in Basrah with British troops, just caught up in the heat wave of war and Iraq and gets involved in some delusional power trip, only to come home and totally lose control…eventually killing himself.

Necronomicon: The demonic, evil, angry, desperate, depressed, narcissistic, intelligent mad Arab stereotype.

I.R.A.Q.: This is a story for our motherland. It's written in the form of a love story between two peoples that meet but never get the chance to spend time together due to fate's grasp on life and movement. Its basically about the mother nature that we find in Iraq and how we never got to know her at her full potential, and despite her destructive relationship with the world, she will always be a queen we wishes to reside in. The warmest womb; the reminiscent Arab stereotype.

Flow Addicts: This is Virtuoso, Rugged Intellect and I getting down on some straight raw shit like sushi digestion. For real, this was an ill experience. On the album cut it's the remix of the original version we had, but the original is on there too as a bonus!! We offering triple the illness like trisomy homie. The MC stereotype.

Death and Guns: This one is dedicated to one of my arch nemesis on this planet, the bizarro world version of peace to me. I wrote it from the perspective of someone who thinks the world revolves around them, but doesn't realize that is the cause of their world crumbling onto themselves. MOODY YOU OUT THERE LISTEN WELL LOC! He's a muhfucka, I had to tell him straight up in track form, he wouldn't listen to me otherwise. Long story, short track. The 'vindictive, know-it-all while knowing nothing of others' Arab stereotypes. We call it JARAB in Arabic.

Mecca to Medina: This is the story of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) from the time of his birth to the delivery of the message, which is Islam. I had to put that in there because our religion is everyone's religion, and the world has got its origins and tenets twisted like Al-Aqsa and the wailing walls. We are all from the same source, be it Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist …I wanted to offer the story of Mohammed in its simple form for people to appreciate Islam. Islam is peace, I had to make sure that what raised me had its time to shine. This one is for the beautiful upbringing our families gave us with such a beautiful light of God as the centerpiece. The peaceful Arab stereotype (which doesn't seem to exist anymore?)

WEST:

Aim at Rebuilding: This one is with Pako and Pesh. Pako laced the beat, Loes rolled through and we just built. Pat Batemen's return on that ass. We had to do it for old times sake and it only makes sense. We still aim at building too like Mohammed's Atta's boys. The 'Bringing it back' stereotype.

Halliburton: This is dedicated to all those fake ass motherfuckers that talk shit behind our backs and smile in our faces. Jealousy is a bitch, that's my word. You know who you are (stop cringing. you deserved this one) to those that burn bridges, watch us build new ones…oh yeah, fuck Cheney too. The you don't want it with us Arab stereotype.

Commodore 64: This one is about digital existence, how the experience of music has become a strictly digital thing, how everything we live has become technology to the point where we have lost God and become slaves to the Machine. Asking Lord to Uplift us back to the days of Commodore 64….cuz we're still pushing tapes and shifting boards, just hit record, what is this for if earth's dying with a shifting core…the Old school Arab stereotype.

Break Yourself: This one is for all the pioneers, all the people that inspired us to reach this point in time and space. The 'pay homage respect' Arab Stereotype.

Mundane Sunday: This was me at Victory Cabbage's studio on some five in the morning lazed out pissed off at the world's mundane routine of life. We had to throw it on there cuz it just fit so nice, and the shit is just banging like porno channels….that's my word. Big up to Adam Sampler and Dale Boyle on the production. Pure bananas.

Told You So: D-shade is one of the illest to me. I have to have at least a cut with him on every release. Throughout my musical career I've met a lot of people here and there and D-shade is truly one of the brothers I have looked up to, trusted and felt the most chemistry with. He is definitely a big brother to me. This is our warning, we told you so… The 'world is over' stereotype.

Oil Slick: The story of the Middle East in slick Rick form. This one is for the kids so they don't get the past confused with the present. The reason for the present PNAC (look it up on Google or yahoo dawgs) has been drawn out since Lawrence of Arabia got bamboozled into believing he was freeing a people. This one is to get the British in check…I had a story to tell.

HHC: Who handled the production on the album and how did you decide which emcees you wanted to feature on your album with you?
SandhiLL handled most of the production that is no question otherwise it wouldn't be us!!!! Their sound is just so representative of my mind state; we know each other so well, so they bless me every time. Apok of course hit me off with two beautiful bangers (Oil Slick and Aim at Rebuilding) and Adam Sampler did MUNDANE SUNDAY… As for MCs, D-shade is a natural yes, no question. The Virtuoso connection was a definite, we met up in New York haphazardly once and it was on from then, he rolled through to Montreal and we did the track. It was recorded on Rugged Intellects birthday, so I called him up and told him, 'Yo I got a nice gift for you man'. And that was that.

HHC: What kind of response have you gotten from the public with your new single? The industry?
Nothing but positive feedback from people at shows to people who have heard the album. We got nothing but love, but it seems like the industry hasn't really listened, I think it's the politics to it, it might be too early for Iraqis to jump up but they're missing out! We just scored a film called VOICES OF IRAQ (www.voicesofiraq.com), which is creating crazy buzz in the states and just got signed to an international movie deal…so you never know! Peep the website.

HHC: Will Euphrates be traveling around the country to promote this new release? If so, what shows do you guys have booked so far?
LOOK OUT FOR THE APATHY IS BORING TOUR, brought to you by GNN…we are going to be hitting up Canada coast to coast from February through March. Otherwise, we are still in planning mode, promoters GET AT US. http://www.euphrates.ca baby.

HHC: Is Euphrates still part of 9th Majesty?
9th majesty is dead. When it did exist, we were.

HHC: In the '03 interview, you guys talked about the American invasion on Iraq; at that point Saddam had yet to be captured. The war was officially declared over by Bush sometime ago but the fighting continues on. What is the overall mentality of Iraqis right now?
I don't know about the overall mentality of Iraqis, but from the Iraqis I know they basically all share the sentiment that they knew this would happen. The obvious outcome of a war that wasn't planned. Iraqis are disappointed man, I think we are disappointed in ourselves…we got rid of the tyrant we have been dreaming of murdering in our own hands, and now we are trapped in this vicious cycle of violence and misunderstanding worldwide. I feel like we got pushed back to the forties man, we were a thriving peoples, but war and hate mongers took us back to nothingness. We are extremely disappointed.

HHC: Conspiracy theorists will claim that Saddam has never stopped working with the American government and his capture was merely staged to please the American people. Last time, each of you laid out a detailed explanation as to why the Americans were invading your country. How do you feel about everything right now?

Confused. Displaced. Misunderstood. Lost. Disappointed. Angry. I feel everything and nothing at once.

HHC: What do you think about the so-called 'insurgents" that the Americans and Iraqi Armed Forces are currently targeting in places like Fallujah?
Wallah man, I think it's really sad that some of our brothers are raging so violently. I don't support to actually think they are doing the right thing, since they are killing off the people they are supposedly representing. Everytime they attack an American convoy, they are killing civilians in the process, which totally goes against the message they are trying to get out. I think it's the worst thing to happen to us since Saddam, but these are obvious reactions to War. Rage is bred with every bomb and bullet and we have to continue to think about the kids, they are all we have left. I don't think they are doing the right thing, but I can't blame them if they feel helpless, some people just lose control…I can't judge because I don't know how I would feel if I were in that situation. All I know is humankind is way too fragile to let rage penetrate. It's all about love…that is the best healing power we have.

HHC: BBC Radio has been quoted as saying that you guys blend hip-hop with "ancient Iraqi tunes to shatter imagined Arab stereotypes". How much of an impact do you feel your music has in educating people about Iraq? Do you feel your music could be or will be well received by the Iraqi people?
We hope that our music touches souls as hip-hop did to ours. I mean the energy that was offered to me through the music has only had the opportunity to transcend itself through my lyrics and SandhiLLs beautiful sound. Inshallah we will be accepted and embraced by people, and so far people have been nothing but generous with their love. Everywhere we have done shows, people have given us love and told us this is what hip-hop needs; I've heard crazy shit like 'Yo Narcy, you are a God' (laughing). So wow. People are thirsty man, seeing Iraqis on mics and the boards is not a common thing in hip-hop. We hope to start it off and show the world that we are more than we are made out to be.

HHC: What is the hip-hop scene like in Iraq - or in the Middle East in general? Without assuming that the whole world is making hip-hop music, do commercialized artists from the west have any kind of reach? I.e. 50Cent, Nelly, Eminem, Jay-z etc.
Yeah man! 50 just hit up Dubai and Baghdad for shows. (Laughing) Can you believe 50 went to Iraq before I did? That's a shock to my system; I heard he went out to do shows for soldiers at bases. Hip-hop is huge out there man, still premature, but the hugest musical movement amongst peoples definitely man, everywhere man! Hip-hop is universal. I'm sure we got aliens bumping that shit… I think it's the head nod factor, we are all drones to the beat. Masta Killa said it best; the dumb are mostly intrigued by the drum. I don't know about hip-hop in Iraq, I think they are more worried about security right now than hip-hop! But I'm sure it's reached out there.

HHC: Back to the album... This was asked to all three of you about the last album before it was release so I'll have no choice but to do it again...What is your favorite song off the new album and why?
Stereotypes incorporated. The beat gave me goose bumps and its definitely my favorite written track. That and CreepUp.

HHC: When is it dropping exactly and where can heads pick this up?
Monday November 22nd. You can get that off our website http://www.euphrates.ca or tell your local record provider to pick up copies off of us to get it out to your city! If not you can get it off me personally at shows. We will be dropping a 12" soon so look out for that…just keep checking the website for updates. If anyone wants bulks of the CDs out to their district just get at us, we'll make sure you do.

HHC: Any last words? Shout outs?
Nofy habibi, we are waiting for you King. NOFY FANNAN! Please send out your prayers and love for him during this time, he needs all the energy he can get from the world right now, just send the universe a message to bring him back to us. Post messages for him on the response page or to our website so I can show him the love from around the world. This man is a musical fannananan…hip-hop needs him trust me. NOFY! Nobody else deserves one as much as he does right now.

Habillis and Hazem re-up dawgs! Let's make this happen for the King!

Editor's Note: On November the 2nd, Nofy Fannan, producer for Montreal group Euphrates, was struck by a speeding cab. For over three weeks he lay in a coma, fighting for his life. On the morning of Friday the 26th, Nofy's body could no longer fight the incredible stress he had endured and our brother passed on. We have lost a great musical talent but more importantly we have lost a great person. Nofy was kind and humble and was truly a pleasure to work with. We will all miss him dearly and he will live in our hearts forever.