Urban Vault caught up with Munich, Germany based DJ/producer Edward Sizzerhand to ask him some questions about life after Square One, his love of Bee’s, & more…

Beats and Bees are important ingredients in the life of Edward Sizzerhand! Born in Brooklyn, New York, he received worldwide recognition in the late 90s with his rap crew Square One. After the crew split, the DJ and Producer engaged in beekeeping and acquired professional skills in honey production for several years. Now, Sizzerhand is not only masterfully working on the controls but has also acquired the BA master beekeeper at a university of agricultural economics. Edward loves bees and beats, this is reflected in his instrumental composition about the individual flavors of honey and the new video ‘The Forest’.

What is your name?

I go by the name of Edward Sizzerhand

You were part of the legendary Rap group Square One and received worldwide recognition with the album ‘Walk Of Life’ in 2001. Tell me about that release and why the crew went separate ways shortly after the release of this Underground Hip Hop classic?

Our music was very much influenced by the Eastcoast Hip Hop from the early 90s. The goal was to go to New York and release some stuff there. But everything turned out differently, cuz we got a major record deal here in Germany with Showdown/Warner, which we did not expect. For us as a crew, it was a big thing back then. We got the opportunity to develop ourselves as a crew and released two successful singles. Showdown was convinced and we got an Album deal. The result was the so-called classic ‘Walk Of Life’. The entire thing was peppered with good beats, rhymes, and cuts. Every element was well represented. The split of the crew was caused by different things and I think every Member got his own opinion on that. We were 4 different personalities. It came to disagreements among us, which was ultimately the reason for the split and everyone went afterward their own way. Ali died in 2010 but I’m still in a good relationship with Scott and Iman. We still Fam.

After the Square One split you engaged in beekeeping and acquired professional skills in honey production, can you tell us more details about that?

My studio had been always set up at my Grandparents’ farm where I did grow up. After my Grandparents died, I returned home and formed an Apiary. I started with 3 colonies. The situation for bees here is excellent. The whole surrounding is a nature reserve and I was fascinated by how much honey bees can enter during a season. I had the possibilities to build an Apiary on a professional level, so I decided to do an education in beekeeping in 2016. Two years later I acquired the BA master beekeeper at a university of agricultural economics. If someone had told me that ten years before, I would have to call him crazy. I live here on a former farm surrounded by 4 million bees and my Studio. Beats and Bees. These things are complementing one another. It sounds crazy but that's the way it is.

Beats and Bees are the main ingredients of your current instrumental album ‘A Taste Of Honey’, explain the concept behind the project?

During my education in beekeeping, I learned a lot about sensory analysis of honey flavors, because there are many varieties of honey. Although the varieties are entered by the same bees during the season. Similar to this I do make beats with different moods, because of different circumstances. I think the comparison is quite credible. Honey is not only sweet, but there are also varieties that are spicy or bitter, others are flowery, fruity or malty. Honey is not just about the taste; the look also plays a big role. Let me give you one example. The Track ‘Alpenrose’ is a very chilly spacey instrumental on the Album, very smooth with trancey fillings. The Bees get the Nectar from Rhododendron flowers for this special Honey. It can cause intoxicating conditions for humans. That’s a perfect description for a beat like this. If you transfer these characteristics to music, you can easily pack the beats into certain tastes. Chestnut had a bitter finish. Other tracks are dark with a toasted malt flavor like the Forest or sounds fresh and punchy as Colza. Get it?

The album will release digital and on vinyl. How important is it to you, not just saving the bees but also vinyl?

I come from a time when Vinyl and Mixtapes were the tools for a DJ. We spin Vinyl back and forth on the Turntables and Mixtapes were made. I didn’t have a use for CDs at all. I think it’s great that even today there are lovers who collect Vinyl and Cassette Tapes. I still collect Vinyl, so of course, it is important that Labels release on this format. It is also a persistent format for more than a hundred years now. Vinyl has survived CDs and MP3. Those Formats are almost dead. Save the Bees! Save the Vinyl!

What do you think of the music industry in 2019?

Music is constantly changing. You can notice that since the 80s and it’s a good thing. Every time had his heroes. It’s a lot more commercial nowadays but I think the Instrumental-Scene that came out of it is pretty cool. Today you follow Playlists instead of Albums, therefore you find a lot more Artists with a similar style at the streaming portals but you still have the opportunity to buy the stuff on Vinyl, which gives you back the good old days. Instrumentals are a timeless format for me. I still can listen to those short interludes from the 90s, those little instrumental skits on the albums. They could also have been produced nowadays. As soon as someone raps over it, then you have the timestamp because you have certain flows in the 80s, 90s or just in 2019, which makes a track always associated with the time. Currently, I follow the Instrumental Scene but I always keep my eyes open to some good Hip Hop bangers.

What have you got planned for 2020?

In spring and summer, I am busy with my bees and honey production, I have approx 4 million honeybees flying around. In autumn and winter, I start going back to the studio to make beats. There are some plans on collabos but I cannot talk about it yet. The most income of my releases will be reinvested in my beekeeping project sizzerbees.com, so making beats will save the bees! I keep you posted.

Any upcoming shows, DJ sets or tours?

I will do some live shows and beat sets and I will play some tracks of my Spotify Playlist ‘Honey Flavor Beats’. I still like to rock that Beats live on the turntables and cut to them. Playlists do not replace a good DJ!

What’s your favorite track at the moment?

I still got mad love for the Underground. At the moment I rock Paydroo. He got some hot tracks like ‘Crooks’ or ‘Body Snatcher’. Check them!

Which do you prefer, Facebook or Twitter or Instagram?

I use Insta and Facebook

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

The real Scene nowadays lives on platforms like this, you can find the most treasures thinks here.  I once run a similar page in the late 90s (hiphopnews.de). It’s a lot of work. Much respect and I hope you will stay here for a long time!

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music….

I keep my eyes on Bees & Beats for sure! Thanks for your time and for having me here.

Edward Sizzerhand – A Taste Of Honey via iTunes/Spotify

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