The knowledge-of-self aspect of Hip-Hop has always interested me. Unfortunately, this important element is constantly being overshadowed by, society’s need to obtain money, cars and other worldly things. And in our quest to acquire these things, our reality gets distorted and we lose our sense of purpose.

Today, urbanites all over the world are continuously striving for a better quality of life. Thinking that we can only find it in the various major brand names out there. What we, the consumer often fail to ask is, what these companies stand for and how there products can actually enhance our lives and our environment. Graphonic is one of few labels that represent universal consciousness. Peep the interview with Bronz of Graphonic. 

When was Graphonic born?

In the summer of 1999 in an apartment in Brooklyn NYC.

How did you come up with the name, what does Graphonic mean?

Graphonic is basically a combination of graphics and phonics, which is sight and sound. Initially I thought I made it up but Graphonic is an actual word. 

It refers to the visual graphic representation of the phonological system of a language, which makes reading and writing possible. The phonological system is the smallest distinguishable unit of sound in a language, which helps to convey meaning. So basically it’s all about communication which is what I’m trying to do with the line.

What’s your mission, why should heads check out your label?

Our mission is just to put out something with a little substance. There are a lot of great brands/lines out there. And there are just some out there, that’s straight garbage. We try not to rely on logo driven designs and prefer having graphics that are more spiritually and politically conscious. We are also mindful of the planet, which is why we try to incorporate hemp and organic cotton whenever we can.

Your t-shirts are made out of cotton and some hemp. Seeing that some companies running a strictly hemp line. Have you ever thought of following the same route?

Most definitely, we started another line called the Most High Creations line and it’s pretty much all hemp and organic cotton. Watch out for its full range of products soon. We also use organic cotton in a lot of Graphonic’s line as well.

Your designs have strong Rasta influences. Is the Rastafarian religion/way of life your major source of inspiration for you when creating?

My background is Jamaican so it’s hard not to draw inspiration from that. Any chance I get I love paying respect to my roots. Unfortunately there are so many companies out there now that have incorporated Jamaican-theme designs and use the red gold and green simply because it’s the latest trend and not because they have ties to Jamaica. In the very near future we will be working with some Jamaican organisations and charities to help give back to the nation that has inspired the WORLD!

Other than your gear, you also have a Graphonic mix CD out. Tell us a bit more about that. Can we expect another mix CD with more international artists such as, Asian Dub Foundation and Dreadzone coming out soon? (I’m just mentioning them cause there are some my favourite groups.)

Anything is possible. Right now we are about to release another CD which is strictly reggae mixed by Portland’s number#1 selecta DJ UNI-T. The CD artwork was done by my man Chris from positive creations in Montreal and it’s INCREDIBLE! The CD should be out soon as well as our fall/winter 04 line. So check it! We will be working with the drum goblin again who will continue putting out his Graphonic sound series and we do have some plans to work with some dub and hip-hop groups as well. We have a lot of big things planned for the next season and new year. So stay tuned. Blessings!

Interview by KOLD STONE

www.graphonic.com and www.themosthigh.net

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