Just as their name suggests Da Back Wudz really did seem to come from out of nowhere. Representing Atlanta with a unique swagger, the first single "U Gonna Luv Me" was on MTV2 as Jam of the Week and no one knew where they came from. Limited exposure and media support had the group still searching for their time. That's the very reason they've stepped their game up like their Southern peers. Having knowledge, underground critical acclaim, praise from other MC's, and the backing of superproducer Dallas Austin Da Back Wudz have every ingredient, but they still haven't tasted the pie.

At first glance Da Back Wudz seem like your typical rap group, however they have songs unlike many of their counterparts. They make songs with concepts, whether it’s "Don't Handcuff Her" or "I Don't Like The Look Of It", this group has the "it" factor. Moreover, cousins Sho' Nuff and Big Marc have studied Hip-Hop and contain depth. Sho' Nuff himself studies and writes poetry. Big Marc is the drum player with a gutter flow. The group has versatility; they make anthems, use spoken word, and have the range to work with George "P-Funk" Clinton.

Knowing the movement isn't where it should be, Sho'Nuff and Big Marc spoke with Contrabandit.com addressing their direction and the journey of building up anticipation of their album Work Work. Talking with heavy country accents, Nuff and Marc discussed their influences and early studies, what goes into being artists, and the industry.

JayRich: You have been compared to early OutKast by critics; will you be just as political?

Back Wudz: "As far as being compared to OutKast, they just brought something different. With the Snap Music Movement going on in the South, we're just trying to bring something different too. A lot of people try to go right, that's when we go left. OutKast, Goodie Mob, we just blessed to have our name mentioned wit these dudes."

JayRich: Big Gipp said, "You can tell they study Hip-Hop." Who did you study?

Back Wudz: "LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, you know we came up on varieties and genres of music. We studied the E-40's B-Legit, Mac Mall's, Mac Dre's, 8ball and MJG, and UGK, just Hip-Hop as a whole.

JayRich: Both of you sang in the choir, will you sing on wax?

Back Wudz: "Yeah, you'll definitely hear some of that on the album. We come from a family where a lot of instruments are played and others have had albums out."

JayRich: Performance wise, how do you approach shows?

Back Wudz: "We just sit at the studio where we performing and come up with something that stands out to make the place hot."

JayRich: Most guys collaborate with other rappers and present "hot" singers, how did you hook up with George Clinton?

Back Wudz: "He record where we record; George was there one day we gave a track to listen to and he liked it. (Nuff): You know our parents grew up on George so when we said we did a track wit him my dad thought I was the king.

JayRich: The it thing now in production is sampling; so how do guys get the music cleared like you had with your first single?

Back Wudz: "Early on we had issues, but Dallas (Austin) got in touch with Quincy Jones and got that cleared. On our second single, we didn't have any problems like that.

JayRich: Without releasing a major LP, how did you get stars like Nas and Slim Thug?

Back Wudz: "Nas has a good relationship with Dallas (Austin) and heard our music. You know Nas really don't mess wit too many cats so it’s a huge blessing for him to work with us, give us knowledge, and say that he likes our music.

JayRich: Where does the creativity come from for videos and your songs?

Back Wudz: "It’s a collaborative effort; we all got pieces and came up from something. We like mad scientists, we real soulful, and plus we got passion for this. We can hear a beat and write; write and then put it to a beat; (Nuff) I do spoken word cuz you know I studied poetry, so the music comes from everywhere.

JayRich: Advice for artists...

Back Wudz: "Stay in prayer and grind. They told Nelly his stuff was whack. They told Jay-Z his stuff was whack. So go for what you know.

JayRich: State of Hip-Hop...

Back Wudz: "Love it; the South, we doing our thing right now. The Snap Movement is good, but a lot of artists down here are different.

JayRich: What's missing?

Back Wudz: "We feel Hip-Hop is going back to what is used to be, songs with concepts and saying something. Love for Kanye's,Lupe Fiasco's, Talib Kweli's."

JayRich: How can you convince the radioheads to play concept songs rather than "radio friendly club songs"?

Back Wudz: "It’s hard; you can wine and dine the DJ's all you want, but at the end of the day they gotta like yo record. So just pray about that."

JayRich: What's the best way to get noticed out of state?

Back Wudz: "We got a deal; that allowed us to go on the road and perform throughout the states. You gotta be in peoples' faces."

JayRich: What will they say about you twenty years from now?

Back Wudz: "They made good music and I still listen to it."

--By Joseph "JayRich" Robinson