It's all about respect in the music world and for one reason or another rap/rock has seemed to loose a bit of it. What was once a cutting edge idea that started back in the early 90's by bands like Biohazard; Beatsie Boys and Faith No More has become as main stream as Brittany Spears and bubble gum. Most up-and-coming bands who blend hip hop with hard rock come off stale and dated, sounding exactly like the rap/rocker before them who sounds just like the rap/rocker before them. It's like a photocopy of a photo copy, it just keeps getting worse. There is no creativity, no substance, no depth and no talent. Labels are signing rap/rock bands like hotcakes hoping to make millions off the TRL sheep that will buy what ever it is Carson Daly is selling. But, what about bands that aren't necessarily hopping on the bandwagon? Bands that are rap/rock, but are true to the art form? Who believe in the music they create? Well, Trik Turner is one of those bands. The Phoenix-based sextet have been putting their hearts and soul into the music since they first formed in 1999. Both front men [David Bowers & Doug Rid Moore] have deep roots within the Phoenix hip-hop community and earned their bones as emcees. When the 2 hooked up they decided they wanted to experiment with a more diverse array of styles. As they brought in musicians to flesh out their vision, they realized that the players' combined musical chemistry had created something beyond expectation.

The band soon fell in love with the notion of blending the two genres and pursued an all out career performing there brand of rap/rock. They signed with RCA in 2001 and released their self-entitled debut soon after. The first single off the album entitled "Friends & Family" became a huge cross-over success and even made the Billboard top ten. But, with every success story there is always a backlash.

As Trik Turner earned a name for themselves within main steam America the underground heads lumped them in with all the other rap/rock acts that they hated and declared the band as 'Soft.' Since then, Trik Turner has been on both sides of the spectrum and everything in-between. They shared the stage with everyone from the Wu Tang Clan to Coal Chamber and always held their ground. Their skin is thick and they are anxious to win over the masses and prove that they are more than "Friends & Family."

I had the opportunity to speak with Dave Bowers about his take on rap/rock and what he thinks of all the negativity in this particular musical genre.

You seem to really want to get away from the whole "Friends & Family" vibe.. Have you guys been stereotyped as a result of that tune? Is it a problem?

BOWERS: Naa.. It's not a problem or anything.. The only thing we had to overcome a little bit was when people only know us from "Friends & Family" and then when we come out on stage they get a little crazy and hostile and act a fool and stuff.. I mean we win them over by the third song, but..

Cool, How do you win them over?

BOWERS: A lot of crowd interaction.. We just go out and give it all to them.. Show them what we got.

Why do you think so many people have all these negative feelings toward rap/rock all of a sudden?

BOWERS: I have a couple of different points, but bottom line is a good song is a good song. Now, there have been some groups out there that have come out and have actually given rap/rock a bad name because it was done poorly. One thing I can't stand is when you have a garage band that all of a sudden decided to drop some beats and start rapping.. It's just not true and that's what makes it bad and I'm sure that's what gave it such a negative tone on it. In the same respect, I say what about all this pop-punk that's going on right now? Are they gonna put that aside and diss that now too, just cus there's a lot of artists doing it.. Its just stupid.. Bottom line is a good song is a good song.

It doesn't get any more simple than that. A good song is a good song, you're absolutely right. "Friends & Family" is a good song and as a result it just took off and became a huge hit. Did you ever expect that tune to become as big as it did?

BOWERS: Umm.. Naaa.. Not really.. See, there's two ways to look at it.. There's the business side and there's the artistic side. When RCA said they wanted to release "Friends & Family" as the first single we were a little bit weary about it..

Really? That wasn't you first choice for a single?

BOWERS: Well, in all honesty that tune doesn't represent us. I mean, it's kinda different and it's on a bit of the softer side than the rest of the record, so we were kinda worried about being pigeon holes and what not. We knew it was gonna be a good radio hit, I mean, it was already tested in our local market. Yeah, that song got real hot real quick. When something goes up that fast there's only on place it can go from there and that's down. That was scary.. But, I don't even think that the label was anticipating getting the big buzz it did so quick.. But, we're definitely thankful for it, it got our name out and everything and now where gonna be moving on to some different singles that represent a little bit more of the record and especially what we do live.

Cool, and what will be the next single?

BOWERS: It came out June 3rd and it's called "Sacrifice."

Why did you decide to go with "Sacrifice?"

BOWERS: Well, it bridges the gap from getting away from "Friends & Family" and gets more into the heavier cuts.

Yeah, and the vibe off "Sacrifice" seems to be about someone at a cross-roads.

BOWERS: Exactly.. Kinda overall on the whole record we all come from the heart and a lot of it deals with personal stuff and "Sacrifice deals with some personal stuff that myself and Doug [Rid Moore] have actually gone through.. And this tune definitely bridges the gap and with every single we put out we'll start getting harder and harder.

Currently the boys are gearing up for the big summer tour with Jay-Z, 311, Hoobastank & Mos Def. For tour info check out www.trikturner.com

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