Gimme Five! Juan Huevos

The likelihood of telling a story about a cancer-surviving butcher who spends his free time throwing down beats and spitting rhymes is, I would think, incredibly rare, like bleeding, bright pink filet minion rare.  Puns aside, it’s also the incredible true story of Juan Huevos, a hip-hop madman who’d probably rather be known for his stage presence than his medical history or side occupation.  The only problem with that being that it’s hard to separate that dim past from his gregarious stage presence and bright recording future.  Anyone can struggle, but only certain people can come out of something like that vowing to party and providing the soundtrack.

That aggressive creativity has so far produced two full lengths (2008’s MC People Magazine and 2009’s Treasure Bath), an EP (Golden Shower: High Class Demos), and a fliptape (which he describes as an evolution of the mixtape). On the latest, Treasure Bath, Huevos shines at his most earnest yet—which for him translates as a dizzying display of beat-conscious bravado and wit with a healthy dose of self-awareness thrown in.  He’s as likely to offend with dirty jokes, as he is to stun with the intimacy of his reflections. Mostly, he provokes— humor, disgust, amusement, thought, dancing.  On record and live, he is nothing if not present, in the moment, and in your ear insisting you party while he supplies the tunes.

And now the answers to these five mind-boggling questions:

1. If your music were a fashion accessory, what would it be?
Larry Blackmon from Cameo’s red codpiece because I’m cocky but I blush easily.  Can’t I be shy, too?

2. What does it mean to be a briefcase rocker?
Being a Briefcase Rocker means you are going to find yourself in crev situations on a regular basis, which can be a curse or a blessing depending on your mood.  But the best part is having people all over the world that you get to collaborate with, play shows with, party with, crash with … some of whom you may have never even met in person until that moment.  We got a lot of talented artists in the crew who deserve serious attention, I’m stoked to be in their company.

3. Describe the last time you totally jammed out to a song.
I was working on a song with Missy Thangs and we were laying down keyboard parts.  We were super hype on what we were coming up with and we couldn’t stop bopping around.  We haven’t worked on the song since, but we were dancing our asses off.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?
I think most of my influences and inspirations are painfully obvious.  Once, in 1999, I wrote a poem about Kirsten Dunst.  I had just seen The Virgin Suicides and I thought she was super cute.  I wanted to send it to her.  Maybe i can post it on her Facebook page?  Just kidding, I’m over it.  KD doesn’t do it for me anymore.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)
For a week I wanted to be a professional football player.  I was a Chicago Bears fan and I wanted to be like Walter Payton.  Seeing as how he raps and dances in the video for The Super Bowl Shuffle, I guess it came true.  Even if I look more like Steve Fuller.

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Check here for more on Juan Huevos’ music and upcoming shows.  And please, do give the man a high five when you see him!