For six years Emcee Nomi(Mario Demira) and DJ Deetalx (Devon Callahan) were a part of the Hip-Hop quintet Oddjobs. They toured the country, making friends and enemies alike. Sleeping on floors and random beds, driving from state to state in a van that was more like a pirate ship. Those were great times but the fat lady sang her glass shattering verse, and it was time to bring it to an end. Kill the Vultures was born, and Dj Deetalx and Nomi created Power Struggle.

HHC:Does this mean that Kill the Vultures are no longer together?
NOMI:NO NO NO NO....We are actually going to be touring Europe in December. I think that after spending time on a record everyone needs a little break. For me doing the Power Struggle thing was taking a break (from the vultures) and focusing my energy on other subjects and issues. And vice versa, after working on the PS record, I will fly back to MN and work on some new Kill The Vultures material.

HHC:Is Power Struggle Signed if so tell us about the label that you sined to?
NOMI:We got picked up by New Disorder Records out of San Francisco, they have been putting out punk records for the last ten years. They are distributed through Revolver (plug). It's cool... it's a small operation, but it's nice not having to deal with a bunch of people to get a strait answer, or to get things done. I like the owners politics.
www.newdisorder.com

HHC:Being that you have lived in other states do you rep them or MN?
NOMI:I represent my mama'z crib. After you have toured and living in as many places as I have, it all starts to look and feel the same. Americana

HHC:What is your favorite venue to perform at in MN?
NOMI:First Ave and the 7th Street. Bon Appetit (were head spin use to be). The Wiseman (U of M 1999)

HHC:Give us some of the major differences between the Mn Hip Hop Scene and other major scenes?
NOMI:MN hip-hop within its self is very diverse. You have the uptown (west of 35W)click that is very bohemian and Euro trashy. You have the South Side that is very grimy. You have the North Side with it's gangsta gangsta and has a history of political rebellion (as does the south side). Then you have the St. Paul playas, where I'm from. What is the difference, well it seems like the local press does not give equal attention to all different types of rap that comes out of the TC. It's hard to find artists from the hood get mentioned in the local press.

HHC:Do you think for an artist to make it they need to venture out from the Twin Cities?
NOMI:NO... What does making it mean? to me it mean making music/art you can stand by. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that there are some wack ass MC and artists in the world that need to stop wasting electricity. There will be thousands of great pieces if work that will never be recognized and will fall through the cracks of time, but the work will always be genius. I know people that have journal entries that are more beautiful then the Bible. Give us your opinion of the overall Twin Cities Hip Hop Scene (good/Bad what could be different)? It's great... the talent is amazing. I wish more people of color would come to the shows.

HHC:Is there major tour plans for Power Struggle now that the album has dropped?
NOMI:we went out for 2 months this last summer, and out again in the fall (September). After Kill the Vultures get back from Europe, I'll have to call me agent ( dj deetalx).

HHC:Oddjobs Broke up and then Kill the vultures formed and relocated to Mpls tell us what happened there?
NOMI:That shits personal dogggy.

HHC:Kill the Vultures put out a record with a dark feel to it what can we expect from the Arson At The Petting Factory?
NOMI:Life is a constant grind. Living in any big city, you feel like your on a timer...The world is in constant chaos and adjustment. I feel like I have to address the issues that bug the shit out of me. If our expression is viewed as dark, than so be it. I think the title of the record say it all. The people and pets of this world already know that I love them, it's the other things that need to be addressed.

HHC:Are any of the other members of OddJobs/Kill the vultures featured on Arson At The Petting Factory?
NOMI:Just me and DJ Deetalx

HHC:Nomi you also are a part of another group with Toki called Aphrill what can fans expect in the future from Aphrill?
NOMI:A lot of pissed of "minorities" doing the robot in unison.

HHC:What was it like being a part of one of the groups that put MN Hip Hop on the map?
NOMI:Wow... that is a great compliment. I don't know what to say....in 10 or 20 years from now, when the next generation of hip-hop heads are sitting at the puverbial "lunch room table" talking about the UVS and RSE and Sess (RIP) and Little Buddy and whoever else I forgot to mention, remember that there was a FIlipino brother out of the STP that never forgot where he came from, and spent his entire life trying to find his way back home.

HHC:What was it like working with some of MN's greats like Eyedea & Abilities,Atmosphere, and Heiruspecs?
NOMI:Its a trip because in all the cities that I have lived in or visited, it is strange when I see a poster of a group from MN like E&A or Heiruspects, I'm like you were getting no pussy in high school. Now your all James Dean and shit. I'm proud of all those cats. I have a tape of me battling Idea (what up with the E), it's funny after he beat me I punched him. We are still friends.

HHC:What other national artist have you worked with?
NOMI:A lot. I dint want to list them but fuck it I will. De La Soul, Zion I, Lyrics Born, DJ Shadow, Aesop Rock, Snoop Dog. I sold coffee to Queen Lateefa when I was living in Brooklyn, she was so nice.

Power Struggle have a new album that just dropped "Arson At The Petting Factory". You can check out there music or get more info on them @

www.myspace.com/powerstruggle www.newdisorder.com www.powerstrugglers.com