Boom Bap Nation Interview LenZmen
The LenZmen reached out to the Boom Bap Nation and asked us to listen to their album Scientific Community and Magnify Lenz (released in 2005). It’s underground Hip Hop from a group of Rappers probably best described, back then, as backpacker scientists. The topics tap everything from wrestling to video games to comics and the music follows, swinging from boom bap to blip-hop to abstract beats. BoomBap Nation checks in with the LenZmen 10 years later. First up was Dynamics Plus who makes videos, comic books and produces instrumental music as Fallout Shelter.
Boom Bap Nation: Dynamics Plus, you rap and produce on this album. What do you think
about the modern landscape of music and where do you think it’s going?
Dynamics Plus: Downhill, really fast. Not just music, everything. The old thinking was, if I can
just create something incredible enough, I will get attention and then success. Now, the
attention is the success so there’s no need to be excellent, just find a way to get people to pay
attention. And with [attention] spans so short, media is transient and the interest only temporary.
We are continually subjected to background content. It’s all artificial.
Do you think the rise of AI is partially to blame?
When it comes to AI, there’s Algorithmic Intelligence and Artistic Immolation. The good part is- AI
used as a tool or filter, helps take what you already do and increases productivity, and adds a
layer of polish to your output. The bad part is- AI has the potential to rob you of the human
experience of creating. Bringing an idea or vision into existence is transformative. You’re a
different person when you reach the other side. There’s a danger in losing that journey if you
rely too heavily on AI.
If this is The LenZmen ten years later, what do you see in the next ten years?
Let’s follow the pattern. Anything you don’t hold onto is going to go away. Ownership is a thing
of the past. You’re not buying something; you’re paying for access. You literally need to pay
attention to what’s in front of you or it will be removed, hidden, buried and forgotten. I hope we
all learn this lesson before it’s too late. We’re all memories and yesterday’s residue.
We spoke with P.R.O. (Proliphic Rhymes Outloud – Recording Artist + Author) who guest
appears and drops the first 16 in the LenZmen video “Residue”. He had a lot to say about
health and nutrition. With recent passing of cultural icons, his messaging hits home. In
the years since recording “Residue” P.R.O released Young at Any Age, a book about
maintaining health later in life.
Music will always be a part of me, but over the years, I’ve shifted toward helping people get
biologically younger as they age. I realized aging doesn’t have to mean a rapid decline, and that
belief led me to write my second book, Young at Any Age: Secrets to Slowing the Aging
Process. It’s inspiring to see people actually gaining energy and strength as they age. Through
my business, True Iron Will, we work with clients in person and virtually, showing them how to
combine training, the right nutrition, and mindset to feel their best. I’ve had clients in their 40s,
50s, and even 60s moving and feeling better than they did a decade ago. For artists, staying fit
is the key to a long career. Struggling on stage because of poor health just isn’t a good look
Since “Residue”, I’ve taken that mindset and run with it. As a two-time author, personal trainer,
and health span optimization strategist, I’m dedicated to helping people build habits that keep
them strong and vibrant for life. It’s tough to see so many people I’ve known lose their lives
young, and it’s part of what drives me to help others live longer, healthier lives. These days, I’m
always writing about health, speaking publicly or finding new ways to inspire people to avoid
premature aging. My mission is simple: to empower people to stay strong in mind, body, and
spirit for as long as possible.
LenZmen member Centri departed from the dense wordplay for his solo venture Article
15: The Rebel Knowledge Story. We asked the military veteran what inspired the change
in direction.
An Article 15 is a military term for punishing minor offenses. To understand the Article 15 album,
you have to know where I was mentally and emotionally at that time. I’d spent nearly four years
in the military and was unexpectedly discharged just days before my planned exit. It was a
rough experience, driven by some questionable decisions from higher-ups who manipulated
paperwork to speed up my departure. Through this, I saw firsthand the injustices that can
happen within the military.
I connected with a lot of soldiers who’d also been forced out and realized how deeply these
experiences impacted their lives. Many felt silenced, and I felt a responsibility to share their
stories. I even managed to overturn my own discharge, but the process opened my eyes to how
much trauma soldiers carry, especially those who feel let down by a system they once trusted.
What made Article 15 so unique is that 90 percent of it is storytelling, mostly military-related
stories that, to my knowledge, no one had ever crafted into a full album before. This was written
from the perspective of a Black veteran, aiming to give a voice to those who feel the weight of
that trauma, especially when their service doesn’t match the promises they were given.
What are you focused on these days, musically or otherwise?
These days, I’m mostly doing features and focusing more on AI ventures, which has been a
growing interest of mine. At heart, I’m an AI developer, so I’ve been stepping away from Hip Hop
to concentrate on new directions. But I believe my music stands the test of time, and I challenge
anyone to listen and not find something to connect with.
Dokta Strange released the solo project The Plague and since then, has been
active in the Web3 space and involved with NFTs and Crypto. We follow up with
the Dokta.
Since dropping your solo album in 2014, what have you been up to?
Currently, I am heavily entrenched within the Veve digital collectibles community as well
as a brand ambassador for a digital toys company called Cryptoys whose IPs include
Disney, Mattel, and Star Wars. I created a YouTube channel in 2022 called “All Things
Strange” where I cover both digital companies and any other projects that I think the
community may want to have a look as well.
Along with YouTube livestreaming, and learning everything involved with making
prerecorded content, from editing video, to creating overlays and audio mixing – it’s
evolved into me becoming a freelancer and leveraging the skills and experience I’ve
acquired over the years. I’ve branched out to providing services and helping others with
large projects that need rebranding, social media management, digital Ad creation, and
promotions. I’m able to inject my creativity and take advantage of my musical
background and offer services on Fiverr- like composing intro or background music and
instrumentals for live streamers and podcasts. I create custom music for companies or
individuals looking to expand their branding. I can help bring your vision into focus.
Boom Bap Nation ends the interview with Earthadox, LenZmen number four, who has also
built his own studio and released several Christian Rap projects. We needed to know
how he was reborn and reshaped by his faith.
I had a real encounter with Christ in 1997. The music I began producing was infused with
spirituality. Back in the day, Christian Rap was less well-received, but now it’s more accepted. I
had a life shift and music followed which led me to Meditation Music
Was building your own studio a part of this journey?
Yeah, working with Dynamics Plus made recording super-easy, he’s a genius. I moved away
from New York and still had the passion to create music. I began a fresh start in Georgia and
assembled all the equipment I would need to truly express myself. That’s the birth of my studio
97 Productions and my label Koncept Records.
So, what’s the advantages of doing all by yourself and aren’t you worried it’s going to
keep you deep underground?
I’m a low-key person. The LenZmen never cared about the limelight. We are underground
artists. If you want to hear a message that’s free of outside influence and industry expectations,
you’ll need to find an artist making music on their own terms. That’s what we offer.
Boom Bap Nation thanks the LenZmen for their time.
The Works of Dynamics Plus can be explored here: https://linktr.ee/thedynamicuniverse
P.R.O.’s book Young at Any Age can be purchased here:
https://trueironwill.com/books-and-ghostwriting#yaaa
His website is here: https://trueironwill.com/
Centri’s Music available on all digital platforms for purchase and streaming:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/47IRXlM7GzvZUSCPsXQO76
You can make an appointment with Dokta Strange here: https://linktr.ee/Doktastrange
The Earthadox can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4h4C3lpLhsJ0XOlbVVQQDO