Lawrence.com

Since arriving in Lawrence six years ago, Archetype has been among the most consistent purveyors of innovation and excellence in the local hip-hop scene. The group's sophomore album "Bleed for Them" is a deft 15-song collection of soulful beats, superior production and introspective lyrics that builds on the young-and-hungry appeal of 2002's "Freehand Formula." Producer/lyricist Jeremy "Nezbeat" Nesbitt and chief lyricist Isaac "ID" Diehl stopped by to discuss the new record, the art of self-producing records, the state of the Lawrence hip-hop scene and much more.

Do you ever stop in the middle of the production process and have a little revelation like, 'That's what this song is about...'?

Jeremy: (Isaac) is not that much of a conceptual writer as far as Archetype goes. He's more of a freeform writer. A lot of the time it's over my head, honestly.

Can you talk a little about how you would describe your style when it comes to being a lyricist?

Isaac: I wouldn't describe it, to tell you the truth. If you need some kind of description, it's just a bunch of crap. Pretty much I just write whatever comes into my head and I don't really think about it until then ... If you want to know what a song is about, you just have to listen to it, because I can't tell you.

When you listen to your favorite rappers, do you think you pay more attention to the content or the sound of the words, the rhymes, etc.?

Isaac: Depends on who it is. Some people I listen to what they're saying because they're the type of person that I want to hear what they're saying. Some other people, I know they don't usually say much, so I just want to hear how they're using the words.

What inspired you (Jeremy) to step up and take a larger share of the lyrical responsibility?

Jeremy: Just from feedback from the first album - people thought it was better when we went back and forth on songs ... Next to Isaac, it's hard, because he's been a writer his whole life and I haven't. I just started writing like in the last five years ... He helped instill some confidence in me after the last one and people gave me good feedback from "Freehand Formula" - the one or two verses that I had on there.

What excites you these days in terms of the contemporary hip-hop scene?

Isaac: For me it's in a lot of instrumental music, really. One of the coolest albums I've heard recently is Blockhead's new album, which is just a lot of instrumental beats.

Album Mp3s

Bleed for Them

• "Think of Me"
• "Adru the Misphit"
• "I Got Mine"

More

Jeremy: I would agree. I think instrumental hip-hop - right now for me anyways - is the most inspiring 'cause it's a lot more progressive. There's a lot of good lyricists out there too, but I guess there's only so much you can say. There's a lot more you can do with beats, I think.

Is that disconcerting at all for you, Isaac? The rise of hip-hop without lyricists?

Isaac: No. I don't really think about it like that, I guess. But now that you say that, that is true - maybe I should start worrying.