KMS / Open Eyes - Sad Love Song / Riot Gear - 1997

 

12" - 1997 - Righteous Elohim Entertainment 

Back in 1997 with this 12" coming straight from North Carolina and released on Righteous Elohim Entertainment. 2 songs only are pressed on this wax, "Sad Song" (Original & Instrumental) on the A-side performed by KMS featuring the duo Grey Matter comprised of Zef & Blaqwatch, and "Riot Gear" (Original & Radio Edit) on the B-side performed by Open Eyes. 

The founding members of Open Eyes were KMS, Sublime (a.k.a Zef Lesson) who produced both tracks of the 12", Black (a.k.a Blaqwatch), Koop D Ville (a.k.a Koop) and Bamboo. They later added DJ Big Mike (a.k.a DJ Izzynice), Strongarm and Shist. 

I recently talked to KMS and I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions... Here is the interview : 

- Where did you all come from exactly ?

KMS : "Mostly from Fayetteville NC. Koop was from Brooklyn, Shist was from Panama City, Florida and Bamboo was from Pittsburgh,PA." 

 

- How did the connection happen between all the members ? 

KMS : "We met at Seventy-First High School. Sublime, Bamboo and me previously were in a group called Dialectics (that also included Rhymes Galore) which were a part of a click called Mental Dimensions or MD’s.  KMS, Sublime, and Bamboo ultimately left to form Open Eyes while Rhymes Galore remained with Mental Dimensions.

While an internal disagreement over the direction of the group caused the split, Open Eyes and MD’s still remained friends and supported each other. Black later met Big Mike at Fayetteville Tech. "

- When did you form the group exactly ?

KMS : "We formed the click in 1996. The original name of the click was called "The Open Eyes Movement" which later evolved into "Open Eyes". I came up with the name and today I have a nonprofit called The Open Eyes Project which is dedicated to fighting poverty." 

- What were your hip-hop music influences at the time ?

KMS : "KRS ONE, Nas, Wu-Tang, Bootcamp Click, Snoop, Dre, Tupac, Redman, Biggie. My biggest influence and favorite rapper, however, was fellow click member Bamboo. I had only been rapping for 3 years and he was the illest that I ever heard so it had a major influence on my style."

- Where does the name 'Open Eyes' come from ?

 

KMS : "The Open Eyes Movement (Open Eyes) was about consciousness and raw lyrics. The open eyes represented all that we can see externally and internally 3rd eye being the mind. Awareness of the world."

- Who did manage Righteous Elohim Entertainment ? 

KMS : "Sublime's 2 older brothers Kenny and LaVelle managed the group."

- The Elohim Ent. Compilation album "Bless the Mic with the Gods" was supposed to come out after the release of the 12" in 1997 but it has never saw the light of day. Could you tell me what happened ?

KMS : "Bless The Mic was only in name. It was supposed to be a collaboration of songs from each artist on the label, but due to the toxicity within the click the album was never finished and Open Eyes split up.

There was never an official song list for the project. Each artist has access to their original music and I’m sure some music was lost."

 

- Is there any chance to see some unreleased material released one day ? 

KMS : "I have an unreleased album called “Talk to Me” that should have been a follow up to "Glory" but was not released due to recording issues. I would be open to releasing my album. I cannot speak for any other artist. I just released a new album on March 23rd called "SELF" now streaming on major platforms."

DJ Big Mike a.k.a Izzynice uploaded on his Audiomack a batch of unreleased material recorded by each individual artist or group affiliated with Elohim Entertainment at the time. Check the tracks, everything is mad dope !! 

I wish I could give you more throwback photos of the group members but unfortunately this was the 90s and this promo photo of the duo Grey Matter (Zef & Blaqwatch) is certainly the only one available.

Mad Props to KMS, thanks for your time !