“Binkis Recs was created due to the lack of creative and honest hip-hop music”, is what the Binkis Recs mission statement claims. The thick beats and energetic rhymes have all of the creative power that today’s independent and underground hip-hop needs. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Binkis Recs (also known as Binkis Records) consists of Killa Kalm, Jax The Axehandler, and FluxDaWundabat (aka Flux). The word “Binkis” is an acronym for “Before Ignorant N*ggas Killed Intelligent Songs”. Like Jurassic 5, Prophetix, and The Roots, Binkis Recs have gained a strong following for rocking live shows with that old-school loving feeling. On Day By Day Entertainment (home of MF Grimm, Prophetix, Rodan, etc), the debut LP from Binkis Recs, “The Reign Begins” has just been released. While most of the production is handled by Binkis, John Doe also contributed to their new album. Songs like “Bullitt”, “Wundaluv”, “Testimonial”,“Out The Box” and “Spinacapita” are all tight, energetic, hip-hop songs that possess both fun and a serious love for the culture. Still, the members of Binkis Recs have released solo albums by themselves. Flux released “The Many Moods Of Mister Flux”. Jax released “J.F.K. (Jax Forever King)”, “Observ LP” as well as “Sharp Images” CD. Binkis Recs also have a compilation CDs “How Many Lumps 1” and “How Many Lumps 2”. There are loads of songs and albums that you must catch up on!  Binkis Rec On a cold January evening in 2004, I had a chance to talk to Flux and Jax of Binkis Recs. Their reign has begun.

T.JONES: “What goes on?”
JAX: “Just starting the new year off right, working on joints.”
FLUX: “Word real!”

T.JONES: “The new album is called ‘The Reign Begins’. Tell us about it?”
FLUX:; “A whole lot of experimenting.”
JAX: “It is our first offering as Binkis, the group. We focused on rhymes and beats. We wanted our foundation to be that we are emcees before any thing else.”

T.JONES: “What is the meaning behind the title ‘The Reign Begins’.”
JAX: “The title ‘The Reign Begins’ simply means our reign in music begins with this album. It will only get better from here on out. We have a starting point in which to build from.”

T.JONES: “Do you have a favorite song on the new album?”
JAX: “My favorite joint is ‘Testimonial’. The rhymes are dope. That’s one of my best beats. The Phil Collins sample at the end just put it over the top.”
FLUX: “Mine? Maybe ‘What’s the Purpose’. The mood is real.”

T.JONES: “What song took you the longest to do? Why? The shortest? Why?”
JAX: “There was not any that gave us problems. We did songs almost every weekend. We would write them on Saturday and record them on Sunday. I think ‘Bullitt’ might be the one that took no time at all.”
FLUX: “‘Wundaluv’ took us the longest because we weren’t sure what we were gonna say. But once we wrote it, the recording time was short!”

T.JONES: “How and when did you hook up with Flux, Jax and Killa Kalm meet and form Binkis Recs?”
JAX: “I knew Flux in high school. When we came to Atlanta, we met Killa Kalm. They were in a group called Neblos. They pulled me in, and we recorded for years. Once that situation fell through, Binkis was started and those who wanted to still try and pursue this as a career, came aboard.”

T.JONES: “What is the meaning behind the name Binkis Recs?”
JAX: “Binkis Recs is short for Binkis Records. We came out as more than a group. Our mind-state was one of a label. Binkis actually was just a slang word we used to describe anything in the world. It was catchy so we ran with it.”
FLUX: “It also means ‘Before Ignorant N*ggas Killed Intelligent Songs’ as an acronym.”

T.JONES: “What is the meaning behind each of your names?”
JAX: “My name actually stood for ‘Jedi’s Always eXist’. I’m a Star Wars fan, and I did not want to get sued by calling myself Jedi. Now it just means Jax, plain and to the point.”
FLUX: “Flux just means flow, a constant flow. Wondabat was just a nickname Jax gave me, which evolved from ‘Fluxwondaful’. Now, the science is flowing without sight yet still being able to see.”

T.JONES: “When making hip-hop songs, do you go into the studio with pre-written rhymes, lyrics, and themes or do you hear the beat first and write then and there?”
FLUX: “Both!”
JAX: “Recently, we started doing both.”

T.JONES: “Since there are 3 people in the group, what is the song writing process like? Who makes the hooks? Who thinks of the themes?”
JAX: “We all bring ideas to the table. It has to be a compromise. Whoever has the best feel for the song usually leads it.”
FLUX: “That’s the truth. It changes almost every time.”

T.JONES: “How did you hook up with Day By Day Entertainment?”
JAX: “Jon Doe hooked us up. His group, Prophetix, put an album out with them, and we needed a home for ours. He suggested Day by Day, and they were with it.”

T.JONES: “John Doe did some production on your album too. How does his production style differ from Binkis?”
JAX: “I’m not sure. His joints sound a little more full sometimes due to the real orchestrated chops. I normally find straight up loops. That’s how I learned to produce.”
FLUX: “Jon’s beats sound real smooth. Flows like water to where Jax beats are more like the rhyme style. Choppy and changing.”

T.JONES: “When did you first begin rhyming?”
JAX: “I wrote my first rhyme in the 6th grade. I did not get serious until I was moving to Atlanta in 1994.”
FLUX: “I wrote my first rhyme in the summer of 1988. Wrote a couple more then stopped. Didn’t pick it up again until 1994.”

T.JONES: “What song made you fall in love with hip-hop?”
JAX: “Anything in the early 80’s. I think it was ‘The Message’ or Run- DMC.”
FLUX: “I really don’t know! There are so many. I must say ‘T.R.O.Y.’. Till this day, that song gives me chills. That’s the first time I felt that way about a Hip-Hop song.”

T.JONES: “What emcee/group would you like to collaborate with in the future?”
JAX: “Any person that makes me step my game up.”
FLUX: “That’s real!”

T.JONES: “What producer would you like to collaborate with in the future?”
JAX: “Just Blaze and Kanye West.”
FLUX: “Madlib and those too.”

T.JONES: “What has been in your CD player or on your turntable recently?”
JAX: “Beat CD’s, ‘The Black Album’ by Jay-Z, E-40, Best of Chicago, 90’s hip-hop.”
FLUX: “Kanye West, Mary J Blidge’s ‘My Life’, Sade, D-nice and a couple others.”

T.JONES: “Where do you guys grow up? What was it like?”
JAX: “I grew up in New York City. It was the truth. Hip-hop was new and I was little, so I saw most of the phases of the music from the early graffiti, break-dancing, and styles. That influenced me to this day.”
FLUX: “I grew up in Laurelton Queens, N.Y. Running the back blocks all day. Every block was like a different world. Being little, I caught everything last. So, it took a while to catch on. Everyday was a small adventure.”

T.JONES: “What advice would you give to a new hip-hop group?”
JAX: “Do it for yourself, and if people like it then, you concentrate on getting it to them. Also, do your homework on old school music.”
FLUX: “Don’t wait on anybody to do it for you. Just put your sh*t out. You never know what will happen.”

T.JONES: “What was the last incident of racism you experienced?”
JAX: “Cops harassing us, my job, probably stuff I don’t see.”
FLUX: “This girl told me to forget everything that happen to Black people in America and just be merry. Like what happened here doesn’t affect us today. That’s about it. Also, this dude told me Elvis created rock ’n’ roll.”

T.JONES: “Abortion – pro-choice or pro-life?”
JAX: “I can’t even say. If I was in that situation, I may react different then I think.”
FLUX: “That’s a ‘have to be in that situation’ question. I want to say pro-life.”

T.JONES: “Death Penalty – For or against?”
JAX: “I’m not real sure about that either. I think those who killed maliciously should receive the death penalty.”
FLUX: “That would really have to depend on the person. Some people can kill and make a complete 360 from it. That’s tricky. You would straight have to judge that person. “

T.JONES "Where were you on Sept. 11th (The World Trade Center Terrorist Attack)? How did you deal with it? How do you think it has affected music?"
JAX: “I was getting ready to go to the podiatrist. It messed me up to this day. I could not call my mom and dad and I was shook. It has not affected music. People are just trying to party their life away so they don’t face reality.”
FLUX: “I was at Word in the stockroom. Somebody said that a plane was flown into the World Trade Center. I didn’t believe that sh*t until I went in the back and turned on the news. I still didn’t believe it, even when the buildings went down. I just wanted to make sure my people were not hurt. One of my cousins died there. Another one was suppose to be there but she was late. So by the time she got there, it already started. I thought sh*t was going to end. I think it has affected the music because a lot of people’s mind frame changed. Now you have mad n*ggas in the rap game that just started rapping yesterday. Everyone is in hustle mode like there is nothing to lose.”

T.JONES: “What was the most left-field or weirdest song you ever did, released or not?”
JAX: “Man, probably ‘Gray Beards’ on 'How Many Lumps 2'.”
FLUX: “‘Blazey Blah!’”

T.JONES: “Word association time. I’m going to say a name of a group/emcee and you say the first word that pops in your head. So, if I say ‘Chuck D’, you may say ‘Revolution’. Okay?”

T.JONES: “C Rayz Walz.”
JAX: “Freestyle.”
FLUX: “Crazy.”

T.JONES: “Eminem.”
JAX: “Paid dues.”
FLUX: “Rap Elvis.”

T.JONES: “Nas.”
JAX: “Lyricism.”
FLUX: “Sharp.”

T.JONES: “50 Cent.”
JAX: “Relentless.”
FLUX: “New household name.”

T.JONES: “Common.”
JAX: “Emcee.”
FLUX: “Growth.”

T.JONES: “Del The Funky Homosapian.”
JAX: “Boo boo heads.”
FLUX: “No Need for Alarm.”

T.JONES: “The Coup.”
JAX: “Funky.”
FLUX: “Still repping.”

T.JONES: “Phife Dawg.”
JAX: “Japan.”
FLUX: “Funny.”

T.JONES: “Wu-Tang Clan.”
JAX: “Blueprint.”
FLUX: “Forgotten.”

T.JONES: “Jay-Z”
JAX: “Consistent.”
FLUX: “Successful.”

T.JONES: “Gil-Scott Heron.”
JAX: “Poet.”
FLUX: “A good bad singer.”

T.JONES: “George Bush.”
JAX: “Puppet.”
FLUX: “Fraud.”

T.JONES: “What do you think hip-hop or music (in general) needs these days?”
JAX: “It needs to lose the separation and it needs to be policed so everyone can’t do it.”
FLUX: “It needs commercial variety.”

T.JONES: “What is the biggest mistake that you made in your career?”
JAX: “Doing songs with some people who tried to use my name to sell there joint.”
FLUX: “Turning in late projects.”

T.JONES: “What are some major misconceptions that people have of you?”
JAX: “They probably think all I do is rap.”
FLUX: “On some all day long sh*t!"

T.JONES: “If you could re-make any classic hip-hop song, what would it be?”
JAX: “‘I Don’t Care’ by Milk and Giz.”
FLUX: “‘Nobody Can Be You But You’ by Grand Puba and Pos. K or ‘Skilled Trade’ by Nice and Smooth.”

T.JONES: “How has your live show evolved?”
JAX: “It’s more fluid, not as much stop and go.”
FLUX: “A much more controlled loose energy!”

T.JONES: “What is your favorite part of your live show?”
JAX: “The routines we come up with.”
FLUX: “The last song, when we get extra hype.”

T.JONES: “Favorite movies?”
JAX: “The Warriors, Memento, Coffy, mad others.”
FLUX: “Transformers, Beat Street and some other shit.”

T.JONES: “Drug of choice?”
JAX: “Beats, the studio.”
FLUX: “Art.”

T.JONES: “Do you want to be cremated or buried?”
JAX: “How will I know what I’d be?”
FLUX: “There may not be a choice!”

T.JONES: “What do you want on your epitaph?”
JAX: “Maintained an excellent reputation.”
FLUX: “No one can be him better.”

T.JONES: “As a career, what do you think you would be doing if you weren’t making music for a living?”
JAX: “Marketing for a company.”
FLUX: “Definitely doing Graphic Design.”

T.JONES: “Will you guys be doing solo albums?”
FLUX: “Of course.”
JAX: “We all have solo albums now. I’m working on a few projects now.”

T.JONES: “What kind of tension do you guys experience since you are a trio?”
JAX: “Nothing major. We are grown men so we do what we have to do, sometimes, if we agree with it or not.”
FLUX: “That’s real.”

T.JONES: “What is the lowest or dirtiest thing you ever did for money?”
JAX: “Worked a temp job drilling concrete, and cleaned a soccer stadium for $85.”
FLUX: “Worked for $4 per hour building a store.”

T.JONES: “What will the next Binkis Recs album be like?”
JAX: “Better and not the same. We will always do different then the last.”
FLUX: “Broad, out there.”

T.JONES: “What is next in the future for Binkis Recs?”
JAX: “Mad releases this year. We will have Binkis Records a legitimate label in the next few years.”
FLUX: “World tour dates. New companies.”

T.JONES: “What collaborations should we look out for? What are some future projects for Binkis Recs?”
JAX: “We have an EP out of the Album now on stancerecords.com. We have an EP coming out in London. A few collabos and 12”’s that should keep our name out there.”

T.JONES: “Any final words for the people who are reading this?”
FLUX: “Thanks and keep checking for us. Peace.”
JAX: “Check www.binkisrecs.com for our old releases and pick up some t-shirts to. Thank you to you for the support. Peace.”