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I sat on the patio of a restaurant at Main & 16th, glaring sun beating down. The cold beers in my system started mixing nicely with the subtle conversations I was engaged in, then from beside me I heard those words…. “Hey, you like hip hop?”

First instinct when I spot a stranger on the street with a handful of cd’s and uttering that phrase is to take absolutely no interest. Too many times I’ve been approached downtown by kids flogging their garbage rap comprised of free beats found on the internet, littered with hooks about guns, cars and girls. No thanks….. This seemed different though, especially when re-assured that this wasn’t some generic hip hop. It was something with a message, a conscious outlook. A complete influx of the realness that hip hop is losing. Intriguing. Damn, no money! I regrettably told him a sale wasn’t going to happen, but asked for a myspace or any way or checking their stuff online. “Ya man, just google Main Offenders” I was told and there it ended….. Or so I thought.

Once I reached my house I did a search and came across the Main Offenders myspace and went into it not really knowing what to expect. Almost instantly I was struck. “Damn, this is pretty good. I need to get a hold of these boys.” A quick response through email ensured I would get a sit down with them to find out more about what makes up this East Vancouver crew. Their drive, motivation, future plans and general thoughts on hip hop and it’s progression.

I met up with Zacharia and Aspire at a coffee shop (unfortunately Katch was unable to make it) and was given the 2007 album ‘Depth Perception’, the cd I was unable to purchase when first approached. The first thing I realized about Main Offenders was their passion for hip hop on a whole, you have to have a strong devotion to what you do to be rocking the concrete as a means to get your word out to anyone that will listen and I was quick to learn that this was just a small part of what Main Offenders are capable of. Although rooted in Vancouver with an obvious adoration to the city they call home, they want the whole world to get a taste of what this crew from Canada’s west coast can bring to the hip hop game.

A chance meeting in high school brought these three together as friends, but only after one short year in Vancouver, Aspire was forced to make his way back to Ontario. Just starting to get into rap, he took his new found love and started the creative process, learning and building his art, all the while back in Vancouver Zacharia and Katch were doing the exact same thing as they formed Main Offenders. A short while passed and Aspire moved back out west and since 2003 this line-up of the Main Offenders crew has been going strong, continually developing their craft. In 2005 they self produced a ten song EP and 2007 marked their first full length titled ‘Depth Perception’ which has been put out on their own label House Hold Records.

Main Offenders have strong ties to the local scene and the artists that come out of it. ‘Depth Perception’, produced mainly by local producer Engineer also featured a track by another high school friend and producer Scum Bag, with cuts by Moves, Wunderkut and Skratch Bastid. As much as they support their locals, Main Offenders are more than willing to work with artists all over the map. They’ve created tracks with Wordsworth and Mac Lethal (who Aspire became friends with while competing at Scribble Jam in 2007 and 2008) and are working out plans to work with a producer from the Netherlands and getting their album out to Greece.

When we talked about the Vancouver scene it was like I’ve heard time and time again. It has the potential, but artists have to start working with each other instead of against. Another point that Zacharia made opened my eyes – there is so much talent here, but the community isn’t as willing to support the local artists as much, almost a feeling that because there is so much budding talent for some reason they feel above having to pay to go to live shows. It’s true… We can only blame the artists for the lack of scene for so long, especially when we’re the one’s that are supposed to be supporting it. It’s great having smaller shows at less known venues, but if it’s the same crowd every time how can it ever grow and become what we used to have?

Main Offenders are not ones to bitch and complain about the problems without an idea on how to help resolve them. As well as their label House Hold Records, they have started a promotion company under the same House Hold name with plans to bring the heads out of hiding and away from the same-old downtown clubs. They recently hosted an MC battle at a virtually unknown spot called the Eldorado in East Vancouver. What I found impressive were the goals of House Hold Entertainment, rather than keep that distance between them and the artists involved in a show, they would rather work with the artists and get their involvement to help give these shows a real community vibe.

Although busy with school and work, Main Offenders are also in the development stages of a new album. Where they feel ‘Depth Perception’ was a bit darker, they are leaning now more towards the mid-90’s sound they grew up with. They make it clear that they want a more accessible sound, a more classic hip hop feel while steering clear of the mainstream. As they said “an album you can throw on at a party and will get people to nod their heads, while at the same time if you listen in your iPod with a different mood you would still realize there is still a lot of raw content.”

As it may be a little while until that album drops there are still other projects in the works for House Hold Records – a mixtape with a working title ‘The Grand Entrance” and a compilation of House Hold artists called ‘The Foundation’. They are also getting set to release Jeff Spec & Engineer’s album, Mike Murder and Young Hungry.

Check out Main Offenders on their myspace and if you like what you hear get in touch with them and get a hold of ‘Depth Perception’… Or, maybe they’ll find you if you’re out on Main St., I know I’m glad they found me.

Main Offenders – Corrupted Youth
Main Offenders – Midnight

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