With a slew of mixtapes flooding the streets, a national radio show on Sirus/XM’s Shade 45 and now with a third studio release under his belt, Statik Selektah needs no introduction. In addition to being a well known DJ, Statik has also carved out a niche as a producer, bringing the raw and gritty underground sound that hip-hop fans always pander for. HHS recently caught up with Stat during a break in his European Tour.

HHS: So you’re currently out in Europe. What do you have going on there?

Statik Selektah: A few different tours. One with Saigon, one with Term and one me DJing clubs. I DJed in Beirut . It was crazy.

HHS: How do they like hip-hop out there? How was the scene in Beirut?

Statik Selektah: It was real crazy. They have a lot of passion for underground hip hop. Immortal technique, Termanology, Reks, Skyzoo… groups like that are huge out there.

HHS: They seem to have more of a following for underground hip-hop than people do here in the states. Why do you think that is?

Statik Selektah: They don’t care about all the glam & BS that’s in the mainstream music. They relate more with the underground.

HHS: Your new Studio album “100 Proof – The Hangover” dropped about a month ago. Tell us about it.

Statik Selektah: I got some of the best MCs in the world on it. Styles p, Kweli, Bun B, Freeway, Sean Price, Saigon, the showoff crew etc, to name a few.

HHS: Dope, I heard the “Do It 2 Death” track with Fame, Havoc and Kool G. Rap, on my way to work one morning. Seriously, I went nuts. It’s great to hear such a nice mix of emcees.

Statik Selektah: Thanks man.

HHS: Can you talk a little about Showoff?

Statik Selektah: Yeah. It’s me, Reks, 82 (Term and me), JFK and Kali.

HHS: What do you have in the works now after the album release? I’ve seen that you have a few mixtapes out now; one with Joe Scudda and another with Reks. Is anything else dropping soon?

Statik Selektah: I got the 82 album with Termanology dropping this summer. [Working on] Rek’s album and I’m doing an album with Sean Price. I’ve got a whole bunch of stuff coming soon.

HHS: Do you prefer doing a studio album or the more raw uncut stuff like mixtapes?

Statik Selektah: Studio. Mixtapes have less value.

HHS: How so?

Statik Selektah: The word mixtape has been so over used. It’s cliché now. Too many people did it. The work I do on my albums and other peoples albums gets recorded into history. Mixtapes don’t always.

HHS: True, it seems that mixtapes were a lot more difficult to make and came out less often in the late 80s and 90s. Now with all of the access, internet etc, it’s a lot easier for a lot of djs to do it. Do you think that’s saturated things?

Statik Selektah: Yeah completely.

HHS: As emcees move through their careers, their albums evolve as they mature as people. With this being your third studio album, I think, would you say that you’ve grown or changed in any aspect of your music?

Statik Selektah: I’ve grown a lot and this album shows that. There are lot of morals in it; the consequences of drinking, relationships etc.

HHS: with your music now, are you more geared toward that? Sending messages through the emcees and through your beats? Or do you want to bring it more raw?

Statik Selektah: Nah, I’ll get more raw/dirty. That was all music from early last year on 100 proof. I’m on to the next, (laughs).

HHS: Haha. I’ve noticed that on your tracks, specifically the ones you cut on, you display top notch wordplay on the hooks. I see it as kind of a throwback. Can you describe that for us? Also a DJ, do you see that as giving you a voice along with the emcees?

Statik Selektah: Yeah… Premo is my biggest influence, so I learned by listening to the best. Not many people still do cuts like that.

HHS: The influence shows. It’s definitely appreciated. I’ve got one more for you. The digital music age has changed things a lot, as far as music goes. Do you think it’s for the better or the worse?

Statik Selektah: We’ll still have to see. I miss having music as an item to collect though. Vinyl, CD, whatever.

HHS: Serato must make your life much easier as a dj. Not having to break your back with crates. Do you still dig?

Statik Selektah: Yeah. Once in a while, but I’m allergic to dust so I do a lot of digital digging too. Once in a while I hit the sound library or shops on tour.

HHS: Dope. Well thanks for your time man.

Statik Selektah: All good man. Thank you.

HHS: Any last announcements or things you want to say to the people?

Statik Selektah: Look for 82 and Reks droppin’ this summer! One!