These Nebraska natives are not your average Cornhuskers, Says rapper Nick Hexum. “We’re sort of subversive but Omaha standards.”
On a bright New York afternoon, Nick Hexum and P-Nut of 311 sit backstage a few hours before showtime and flash their stash.
“You gotta smell this,” says Hexum, producing a reeking purplish bud. “It’s got a real flowery aroma.”
P-Nut holds a cake of black hash. “This stuff flakes off beautifully,” the bassist smiles.
311 are ready to burn, but this isn’t the only heat they will generate before the night is over. They’ll whack a full house at New york’s Academy Theater with an intense set of material from their Capricorn albums; Music, Grassroots and the self-titled third release.
“This album is the quintessential example of what we’re trying to do,” says Hexum, who along with Count SA, does the rapping. “We took a lot of time to write and rehearse this one. We had twenty-ine songs, so we had seven extra to play with after we finished the album. Usually, we just make as many songs as we need for the album. We really kicked ass this time We’re really satisfied with it.”
Several of the extra tracks have been donated to causes, such as “Who’s Got The Herb,” a cover of the Human Rights song written by Bad Brains’ HR, which will appear on the NORML benefit album, Hemplation. Another song will support the New York-based Music Against Racism and Sexism.
311 can rap with the best of them, but they don’t like the downside of rap, offering a conscious message instead, “Guns (are for Pussies)” is a Hexum throwdown aimed at the hardcore crowd. “The title says it all,” he says, “In the world of rap, everybody’s talking about their guns and how hard they are. I want to go on the record saying people who carry guns are basically pussies.”
311’s eclectic mix of rap, funk, reggae and hard rock has earned them critical praise and invite comparisons with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Urban Dance Squad and Rage Against the Machine, but the group’s sound is an unique amalgam of influences. Currently based in Southern California, their roots are in Omaha, Nebraska, where the members – guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton, Hexum, P-Nut and Count SA – grew up and met each other after playing in the local scene.
“We’re from Omaha and we might as well wear it proudly,” explains Hexum. “We were making out own kind of music there, blending reggae and hard rock. Omaha is a great place to be from. The entertainment industry is totally lame, but the people are great. We’re sort of subversive by Omaha standards.”
“There are too many Rush Limbaugh fans,” adds P-Nut. “That’s why we had to break out.”
As P-Nut breaks up the hash, drops it in a pipe and ignites the down, Hexum offers his view of pot prohibition. “The trend we see is that young people know marijuana is safer than alcohol,” he says. “It’s just a matter of time before these people grow up and old politicians who aren’t educated die out and people who know how relatively safe marijuana is take their place. We never thought we’d see the fall of Eastern bloc. If the Berlin Wall can come down, if South Africa can vote a black man president, I certainly think we can legalize marijuana.”
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