HHC: Who does Notes to Self consist of and what is each member's role in the group?

Notes to Self: Three rappers; Swamp Donkey, Roshin and Bronze One. One producer; Bronze One. One DJ/Turntablist; DJ Dopey. One writer/artist; Elicser.

Bronze: We have a mutual respect for one another, we all do our thing and I think we do it well. It's all about balancing that growth.

HHC: You've recently completed the Shopping Product demo sampler. What is the goal of this project?

Bronze: The goal is to let people know that Notes to Self is for sale. To try and connect with anybody and everybody who may be prepared to offer us something, whether it be touring, management, working with other artists, or a label to call home. Please visit our website in order to view our EPK and to listen to our sampler. Feedback is most definitely appreciated. http://www.notestoself.net

HHC: Have you had any interest from labels thus far?

Donkey: We've reached out to some people and have been contacted by others…

Bronze: But we're still free agents.

Donkey: So get at us if you like what you hear!

HHC: Lyrical content-wise, what is Notes to Self bringing to the table?

Roshin: We really like to bring strong concepts to our music first and foremost, so you'll hear songs from Notes that you don't necessarily hear anywhere else, but at the same time the style is equally important. Everyone in the crew can rap their ass off, so when you do hear us on some non-topical shit, you're gonna remember our name.

Bronze: I like to rap with my peoples, that's my shit. Donks and Rosh make me want to be a rapper, a better rapper, these two dudes are my favourite emcees. I've always kind of rapped but these two really got me back into it. They changed the way I approach any song, the way we approach any concept.

Dopey: We be to rap, what key be to lock. 'Cus we're the shit like that.

HHC: The latest addition to Notes to Self is the world renowned DJ Dopey. Dopey, How did you end up connecting with Notes to Self and what are you bringing to the group?

Dopey: I first got down with Notes when I was looking for some talent to put on a mix CD a couple years back. They made me a song called "Live Via Satellite" for the mixtape and it was most def, one of the hotter tracks that made it on to the mix.

Bronze: Hold on Dope, Donks gave you my first 12" at a spot downtown in 2003, and when we officially met at a Baatin performance later that year it was on from get go. Dope and I clicked like flares on a cross-fader.

Dopey: Oh yeah that's right, but weren't you making beats for Baatin at that time?

Bronze: Yeah, but things never really came together properly… but that's how Dopey and I connected, so… thanks Baatin.

HHC: Dopey, outside of Notes to Self, What else are you working on these days?

Dopey: You know, touring quite a bit. I recently joined MTV Live as the resident DJ, they got me on these DVJ's, basically DVD turns, and so I've been working on manipulating video with the DVJ's. But on the real, I've been concentrating on my Notes to Self shit. Bronze and I got some shit up our sleeves for later this year.

HHC: You've recently released, Timbits, a Canadian spin-off of Jay Dee's donuts, and a tribute to the late, great producer. How have you guys been promoting Timbits, and getting it to the people?

Donkey: Timbits is a snackpack remix of Dilla's latest album Donuts. We rapped on 20 of his tracks, trying to use his song titles as inspiration for topics. Dope mashed it up and laid all the cuts using only Dilla samples, vocal and instrumental.

Bronze: Right now you can download Timbits off of our website at http://www.notestoself.net. We also pressed up 500 copies with artwork. We gave it out to our peoples and tried to reach out to artists that had worked with Jay.

HHC: You had begun work on Timbits before Dilla passed away. It's evident from some of the lyrics that Dilla was a strong influence on the whole crew, how did Dilla's death impact Notes to Self and the release of the Timbits project?

Donkey: When we heard that Jay was releasing a new album and that it would be instrumental, we jumped on the idea of rapping on it. We figured it would be a good addition to our catalogue and hoped we could get it to Dilla. We got a promo copy of Donuts and started working on it like crazy. Rosh thought of the name Timbits which was perfect and kind of forced us into rapping on 20 of the joints, you know, a snackpack. When we heard Jay had passed it really hit hard, especially to Bronze who was the mastermind behind the creation of Timbits and probably the biggest Dilla fan alive. We weren't sure if we should continue working on Timbits or not, but eventually decided to finish it in March, a month after he passed away, just as more of tribute release. R.I.P. James Dewitt Yancey.

HHC: Aside from Dilla, right now who and what inspires Notes to Self, musically and otherwise?

Dopey: Babs, and definitely my man A-Trizzle.

Roshin: T.I., and I always check out what Com's doing. That last Cage album is crazy.

Donkey: I say Ghostface. For Bronze, it's definitely DQ. After a blizzard he's ready to rock.

Bronze: Always Jay. Jay Deezy comes first. But aside from him… definitely my man Worm, Lib, Dopey's Dilla tribute set for the DJ awards, and umm, Elzhi. D-Sisive's doing some interesting stuff right now too. Oh, and I flipped out over Just Blaze's myspace freak. One word… Incredible.

Elicser: Can Ox, Pep on that T.A.M.I shit. Right now doesn't exist.

HHC: Elicser contributes the visual art aspect to Notes to Self. How important is Elicser to how the group's image is portrayed?

Donkey: People resonate with his drawings. He helps us stand out from traditional images. He's very important.

Bronze: He is my heart, if my heart could draw. He creates stuff for us that nobody else pulls from him, he draws blood.

Roshin: Word up.

Dopey: Word is bond.

HHC: Elicser, you've also been building a name through the Press Pause art shows. Tell us about that grind and other projects / pieces you're working on?

Elicser: I need to build my name up first, so I permanently stay on the grind. Then I build with Press Pause. As far as Notes, I build a steady visual component for us. I mean Bronze holds down the essential designs but I'm branding Notes with my personal style. Notes'll eventually have an individual release for every component including visuals to go along with musical pieces; we are close to finishing some shit, Kro K shit.

HHC: What is Notes To Self up to right now in terms of collaborations?

Roshin: It's on the low for right now.

Bronze: We're working with Notes' extended family right now, but that'll always be the case, just wait.

HHC: Bronze, are you currently producing for any other artists or are you focused solely on Notes to Self at this point?

Bronze: I've always been pushing Notes to connect with other talent, locally and internationally. This idea allows me to produce for other artists but at the same time I strategically keep it in the family, to allow for the Notes' name to grow. At least every track we've done with an outside source includes Notes in some way. When Dopey's off tour, we end up sessioning almost daily with most of our free time, trying to work out new Notes shot, plus some new Dopey solo shit. Bookworm and I have been consistently working on something new now for close to a year and half, it's exciting, but again, I want Notes involved. I make Notes to Self my priority, I always have.

HHC: Growing up in Toronto, which artists did you guys look up to on the local tip?

Donkey: Meastro, Dream Warriors and Dynasty.

Dopey: 2 Swift and Turnstyles. Big Sox. Dave Serious.

Bronze: Mathematik & Down to Erf for sure, Awkward Why?, Abs and D-Sisive.

Roshin: My older brother Swamp and Equinox were the most responsible for me even rapping so I'd say them more than anyone. Definitely Kamau, IRS, Marvel and Kardi as well.

HHC: Any final thoughts or shout-outs?

NTS: Worm & Oddities, Abs, D-Sisive, Pangea, DJ NV, Won-By-One, Gav, Needillworks, Fraanz N Daanz, J-Tizzle (TTM), A-Trak, Lake City Ent., The QT's, Circle Re, Tweez, Rayhaan, Red Menace, Fundament, DCS, Abezilla, Jade Fox, Straight Chilla, Lola at HHC, Fabian Scott, That Guy, Arowbeezy.