Emcee Koncept and producer J57 have been fusing incisive rhymes with synth-driven beats as Koncept & J57 for a couple years now, creating tracks that carry as much emotional weight as they do party bangers. The New Yorkers met in 2008 while working at Fat Beats, a record store that launched many underground rap artists. Both part of the rap collective Brown Bag AllStars, they eventually began to rack up collaborations with Joey Bada$$, Wu-Tang’s Method Man & Raekwon, Ty Dolla $ign and Pharoahe Monche, among others.

The idea behind Koncept & J57 evolved as two friends—one rapper/vocalist, one producer—collaborating, “like a Gangstarr, if you will,” Koncepts said. “I'm also an emcee, but I just wanted to play the producer role in this endeavor,” J57 added. They teamed up to release The Fuel EP last year, where Koncept dug into his past to bring their story to the masses, and are set to release their debut LP Flight this year. Koncept, who describes their sound as “music that will make you feel every emotion,” grew up on hip-hop. “But I'm also inspired by Radiohead and The Mars Volta—good, meaningful, powerful and emotional music that just gives you a feeling. It's what I’ve always searched for in my sound, and what I’ve finally found in these new joints with J57.” It is a sound that, as J57 says, “stadium status.” The dynamic duo talk to Myspace about their roots, this election season and their crazy fans.

Hometown:

Koncept: New York in general is and always will be my home, even when I'm living different places.

J57: I grew up on Long Island, but Brooklyn's been my place of residence since September 2006.

Homebase:

Koncept: Between New York and LA

J57: I currently live in Brooklyn.

You guys met at a record store. What made you want to make music together?

J57: It just made sense; I've been overseeing Koncept's solo endeavors, I've been producing majority of his solo stuff for almost 10 years now.

Did you both grow up in musical households? What gave you your musical epiphanies?

Koncept: I grew up in Queens with a neighbor, who was like an older brother—he put me on to hip-hop. He was a graffiti writer and he gave me the name Koncept when I was seven. Which went from my writing name to my DJ name and then, ultimately, my everything name. Also, my Mom was always very supportive and bought me my first albums. She bought me Michael Jackson Bad on cassette. She got me Wu Tang 36 Chambers, Nas Illmatic, Biggie Ready To Die—all on the days they dropped. She wasn't too happy hearing the skits on Ready To Die. [Laughs]

J57: I didn't play an instrument until I started making beats at age 20, but my parents always played music in the house on the weekend and in the car any time we ever drove anywhere.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

Koncept: Nas, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu Tang, Radiohead, De La Soul, Redman, Royce da 5'9, Mars Volta, Michael Jordan, J Cole, Kendrick, Drake, Timberlake, Gangstarr, Atmosphere. Honestly, everything I hear, and that's around me.

J57: Danny Elfman, Dangermouse, J Dilla, DJ Premier, Moby, Jesse "Belief" Shatkin, Kanye West, Alex da Kid, Mark Ronson, Jay Electronica, Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, AFI, Queen, RJD2, Kid Cudi, Timbaland, Mike Shinoda, El-P. I'm a mix of all of them blended together but with my own twist on it all.

Why is your EP called The Fuel?

Koncept: The fuel is your passion, your heart, and everything you'll do for it.

Any favorite songs off the EP?

J57: For a long time, my favorite song was "Crazy Is Beautiful," but now it's "Patience" featuring the good homegirl / long-time collaborator, Denitia from Denitia and Sene.

What's a piece of gear you can't live without?

Koncept: Tacos.

J57: My Akai MPD 32. I love it. I use it to trigger sound from Propellorhead Reason like a midi controller.

Who would you love to collaborate with?

Koncept: Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Sia, Black Thought, J Cole.

J57: I'd love to collaborate with Sia.

Trump or Drumpf? What are you feeling this election season?

Koncept: Oh man, this is bad.

J57: HA! Drumpf! They all suck, but I like Bernie.

What's the craziest thing that’s happened to you as musicians?

Koncept: This dude’s girlfriend tried to make out with me while her boyfriend was taking a picture of us. Pretty ridiculous. I declined. [Laughs]

J57: On our European tour, we had a lot of fans say they drove or took a train cross-country for 4-6 hours just to come to our shows. Beyond grateful for that.

If you were a hashtag, what would you be?

Koncept: #Koncept #KonceptandJ57 #TheFuelEP

J57: #ImTheJ57

Do you have an awesome Myspace-related story as a musician?

Koncept: Kanye West had me in his Top 8.

J57: I heard of Tenacity, a very good friend of mine and Koncept’s, on Myspace for the first time in 2005. Became a fan and remembered the name, then linked up with him in 2012, then realized he was the dude I was a fan of from a bunch of years back—all via Myspace.