UPTOWN MAGAZINE
Mood Ruff - Mood Ruff celebrates 10 years behind the mic
by STEVEN ADAMS

It's hard to believe Winnipeg's premier hip-hop duo has been tearing things up for 10 years already. And it's been a long and eventful road for them.

In the last decade, Mood Ruff have started their own record label (Slo Coach Recordings), performed with everybody from Mixmaster Mike to Wide Mouth Mason to the Pharcyde, released two full-length albums, secured national distribution from EMI for their forthcoming third release, and founded one of Canada's most prominent annual urban music festivals.

Yet, despite all the duo's incredible successes, Odario, one half of Mood Ruff, remains as humble, good-natured and down-to-earth as ever. "We don't let anything go to our heads," says the 27-year-old MC, known to his mother as Garfield Williams. "I think we've built a foundation here, but there's still so much more to do. And not just for Mood Ruff - but for the whole city."

That's just the kind of guy he is. He and his partner in rhyme, longtime friend Spitz (a.k.a. Eli Epp), have not only driven themselves to succeed; they've driven Winnipeg's entire hip-hop scene to succeed. From their wildly popular CKUW show, Six Degrees, to their record label, to the ever-expanding 'Peg City Holla festival, Spitz and Odario have moulded, nurtured and educated the city's scene into a great deal of what it is today.

"I don't put any other city above Winnipeg for the support of hip-hop culture," says Odario (who's also an actor, most recently featured in Sean Garrity's award-winning feature, Inertia). "When the scene seemed dead and boring around '96 and '97, we really felt we had to fix what was lacking. That was 'Peg City Holla. And the people and businesses got right behind us." The urban music extravaganza is now in its fifth year, and is slated this summer for the last weekend in August. And while it's a hell of an accomplishment, it's not quite Odario's proudest moment. "The highlight of our career has got to be opening up for Public Enemy," he says. "It was just amazing getting to sit down and talk to Chuck D, one on one. He's definitely one of my idols." Odario lists the duo's appearance on MuchMusic's RapCity for a two-part special on Winnipeg's scene as a close second. "They approached us for that, so it was a real honour," he recalls.

But it wasn't always interviews and icons for the Ruff. "I remember our very first show in early '94 was this social/birthday party for these two girls we didn't even know," Odario explains. "But I guess they liked our music so they decided to hire us. There were maybe 27 people there and I think nine of them applauded when we were finished."

Another war story sees them on their first road tour in 1995. "We were playing at this club called the 360 in Toronto and there were all of nine people there, five of which were from Winnipeg," laughs Odario. "It was so, so bad."

To make matters worse, another act they were playing with wanted to use their equipment. "Now, we didn't know it at the time, but a lot of guys share their gear," says Odario. "But we didn't know these guys, so we didn't want to give them our stuff. They got pretty pissed."

No crowds and raging stage mates - not something the Ruff has to worry about any more. After positive responses to their debut CD, Night.Life.Types, in 1999, and its followup, Politic Different, in 2000, the two were playing sold-out shows all across the country. "Whether we sell 10 CDs or 10,000 CDs, it really doesn't matter to us. We're really just enjoying our time making music." And music is definitely always on their minds.

"There's this uncomfortable feeling when we're not talking about music, or something related to the group," says Odario. "I mean, we live together, but talking about cleaning the bathroom or doing the dishes are the last things on our minds."

The "brothers from different mothers," as they tend to be called, have also recently contracted out their DJ duties to Odario's actual younger brother, Kevin, who goes by ICQRI (pronounced eye-seek-ur-eye). "We love playing with language and phonetics," says Odario of the group's style. "Anything to do with English, poetry and literature. I once took a creative writing class from [Winnipeg author] Catherine Hunter and she always told me to write not just for the people I know, but for all people in general."

Mood Ruff will perform at the Avenue for their 10th anniversary and CD release party on Saturday, May 25. Tickets are $5 at the door. Antarctica (Cold Cold World EP) is in stores Tuesday, June 4. For more information, go to www.moodruff.com