DLRN interview in OH DANG! Magazine.
DLRN: Cali rap’s new governors
By Zoneil Maharaj, Photos by Ariel Zambelich
Sacramento is one of California’s largest cities and, in terms of legislature and policy, the most important. But it’s hardly a blip on the music map. While the millennial success of metal acts such as Deftones and Papa Roach gave rise to a flourishing local rock scene, hip-hop hasn’t been so lucky. It’s almost as if hip-hop was shunned from the city. And if you ask producer Jon Reyes and emcee 5th Ave, collectively known as DLRN (pronounced “Delorean” and named after the car), that might be the case.
“There’s still a lot of not-in-my-backyard going on,” Reyes says.
DLRN, alongside a host of young and innovative burgeoning talent, aim to change that. After holding down the city’s longest running hip-hop monthly in their hometown with members of the Neighborhood Watch collective, DLRN gained national traction with their debut, last year’s No More Heroes. At times lush, somber and soulful; upbeat, playful and raw at others, No More Heroes staked the duo’s claim in the west coast rap scene. With their recently released The Bridge EP, they’re sweeping more heads under their campaign.
Photographer Ariel Zambelich and I sat down with the duo at 5th Ave’s Sacramento home to talk about their music, their city, and the obscurity of Sac’s music scene. Say hello to Cali rap’s new governors.
Read the interview by clicking on the photo above.
