Jeremiah Edmond: A Favorite Gentleman and Hip-Hop Convert

“I’ve been on the road for years listening to sad emo bullshit,” Jeremiah Edmond laughed. “A lot of that music I love and think is brilliant but I just wanted music that would get me driving. I can only listen to Saves the Day‘s Through Being Cool or Rancid albums so many times.”

Edmond, who runs Favorite Gentlemen Records, spent five years as the drummer for Manchester Orchestra before stepping down earlier this year as the supporting tours for the fuzz induced Mean Everything to Nothing ended. Tired of the road and the complications it brings to a marriage Edmond decided to pursue a more stable life and cultivate the label frontman Andy Hull and him started.

Those keeping tabs on Edmond have witnessed an addition to his online updates through Twitter and Facebook since staying local; on top of promoting the movement of the label’s artist he takes an excited tone to talk about his love of hip-hop.

“Hip-Hop has been this in and out thing for me,” Edmond explains, as it once existed as a phase, not unlike being really into metal or hardcore for a month. But he’s catapulted way past that into not only a passion but also something to study for the sake of business. His first real interest came when hearing the collaborations of late singer Aaliyah and her producer Timbaland. “I remember hearing those songs on the radio and being completely drawn in, shocked and inspired.” He recalled with a smile.

As an engineer he was not only in awe of the production side of the songs but fascinated trying to figure out how tracks were constructed. Thanks to his then girlfriend — now wife — he was pointed in the way of artist that inspired him to step beyond the methods of indie-rock. Though a mix CD he discovered Common, Blackalicious, deep Outkast tracks, and Cannibal Ox.

While in the van going from show to show Edmond began delving deeper and deeper into hip hop, escaping from what he calls the “downer” of sad-bastard music — or least that’s how it felt hearing the same music in the venue and on the way to the next one. He gave Lil Wayne a second chance, already having written him off. He listened to the infectious Tha Carter III in the little time he had before heading to Europe. “It was not what I expected at all. It’s different. His flow is different. Whatever arguments you want to make against it… it struck a chord with me.”

From there it was a few web searches and the drummer had discovered the world of mix tapes, in the case of Wayne a fuck-tall mountain worth of experimental releases in between the official major-label backed albums. He spent the week before tour downloading all of Wayne’s music he could find, for free. “I don’t have money I’m a touring musician,” he smiled defending the internet actions reserved for those who don’t run labels. “Wayne’s got money so I don’t feel bad about it.”

Now Favorite Gentlemen has jumped into new territory adding rap outfit Vonnegutt to the family, sharing them with Big Boi‘s Purple Ribbon Records. You know that crushing chorus to Big Boi’s ‘’Follow Me”? That’s Kyle Lucas and Neil Garrard of Vonnegutt. Being involved with this up and coming act has given Edmond his first honest glimpses into the business of hip-hop and the varying differences it has with selling indie-rock.

“In general the hip-hop scene seems to have more entrepreneurs. Like hip-hop artist aren’t real artist, they’re entrepreneurs. They’re hustling. They’re trying to be an artist and trying to build a business, or maybe they’re just an artist who are like, ‘Shit. If I’m going to do this I’m going to make money off of it. This is my business and I’m going to treat it as such.’”

On the other end of the genre spectrum he sees that same devotion and long-term thinking lacking. “Bands they don’t get it,” he explains. “No matter how many times I tell a band ‘You’re not going to make any money until you get your merch shit together and treat that as a separate business.’

‘Oh,’ his voice drops lazily for the impression; ‘ We had some drinks at the bar and then sat by the merch table and sold two CDs and a shirt.’ You’re not going to make any money other than that. There’s ten people at your show and you’re not going to make any money at the door.”

He continues pointing out the empty venue/empty cash box problems that plague bands who get an album on iTunes and immediately see an opposite coast tour as their manifest destiny to never work a day job again.

It’s not all praises for the hip-hop community. There’s been some misguided hustling as far as Edmond is concerned. “There’s things to me that don’t make sense at all, especially on the media and online side. They could be doing things that could be so much more beneficial to them but they seem to be six-months to a year behind technology wise.”

In the end though being current on the web and keeping a band’s business in line doesn’t secure anything without a solid plan. “People always ask me ‘What did you guys do with Manchester to make it work in the beginning?’

“We we’re strategic. Everything we did had a very specific purpose. You got to start out small markets and build from there.”

Favorite Gentlemen will be hosting The Stuffing on Wednesday the 24^th throughout the CW Midtown Complex (The Loft, Center Stage, Vinyl). Close to every band in the FG family will be taking the stage, including Manchester Orchestra, Bad Books, Dead Confederate and All Get Out.

Photo Credit: Christy Parry