Light and dark.  Good and evil.  Sweet and sour.  Ying and Yang.  Sometimes it takes two to keep things interesting.  For the past ten years the dynamic duo hailing from Atlanta known as the Ying Yang Twins (D-Roc and Kaine) have kept the musical landscape colorful while simultaneously helping to place southern hip-hop on the map with their witty, creative, and insanely catchy hits.

Club bangers like “Get Low,” “Salt Shaker,” “Wait (The Whisper Song),” and now “Drop,” from their forthcoming album, Vote for Ying, Vote for Yang: Ying Yang Twins for President, paint a picture of two rappers with nothing but sex, clubs, and fun on their minds.  Yet, there’s much more to the Ying Yang Twins and on their new release, they aim to let it be known.         

Sixshot caught up with the two as they talked the lack of positive messages in hip-hop, why Kaine hates the club songs they produce, his upcoming solo album, D-Roc’s decision to stop drinking hard liquor, and more.

What’s the meaning behind the album title, ATL Holes?

D-Roc:  Well actually the name switched to Vote for Ying, Vote for Yang: Ying Yang for President.

Was the new title chan ged due to the intense focus on the presidential election?

D:  No, not so much of that.  On this album we want people to not skim through to their favorite songs, but listen to the whole album.  We do have some serious songs that be on the album.

Speaking of that—you guys did an interview last year with DJ Boogaloo where you discussed the lack of messages in hip-hop and the focus on materialism.  Please speak to us about those views you expressed. 

Kaine:  We wanted to touch on all of that.  We want these grown-ups to start back being parents—teach your kids.  Politically we want people to get out there and do good—not shoot themselves down.  Not everybody has to be doe boys and street thugs.  You can have class about yourself and still be cool.

Kaine, in that same interview you stated that you actually don’t like the club music that you guys make--

K: Hell no!

So for someone hearing that it seems like a contradiction because you make club hits.

K: I’m making money.  Music makes money.  Hit records make money.

So then how do you handle having to compromise your personal views with that.  Is it ever frustrating?

K:  I record my records that are very aggressive.  Although we go for the club record and the fun s*** I still record my street record, and kept it to myself to keep myself going.

What’s the status of your solo album?

K: Oh man its looking good.  There’s no date yet.  I'm gonna put a mixtape out.  I'm gonna put out one to show these other rappers that I don’t know if it’s gon’ be more serious than mine—cause mine for real.

What issues are you looking to delve into on the record?

K: All the real common people issues.  I don’t care how much money you make or what your status becomes—you still gotta keep to your people that had you before you got what you got.

D-Roc how do you feel about him not liking the club music you both make?  Does it lead to creative differences?

D:  Nah, how could that—everybody has their differences.  Everybody don’t have to like the same thing but the world still go round.  If you didn’t have good and bad what would you have?  A boring world.  So that’s the difference between Ying Yang.  That’s what keeps us motivated.  Even though he don’t like it, when we do it it’s fun and that’s music.

I remember reading that you both feel as if people only knew your club hits.  So do you both feel respected as lyricists?

D:  I feel respected.  Why would I feel disrespected?  That’s the way he feels.  We don’t have to feel the same way.  I ain't gonna get mad at him cause he feels that way—that’s ludicrous.

K:  That’s what the symbolism is about: the balance of peace and war.

I think you misunderstood me on the last question.  Bur I want to know what do you respect most about the other person?

D: That we got as much love as we have for each other—for the same reason you asked me that question.  It really don’t matter cause that's the way he feel.  We have differences but it don’t matter.  That’s like a relationship—it has differences but you make it work, right?

Kaine, what about you?

K:  That goes for me too.  The same shit he just said about me—that’s why we work together.  It is a respect thing—nobody is above the other.

No, I was asking one thing--

K:  We are both individuals that are a unit of one.

I understand that but my question was what do you admire most about him?

K:  He gives me the drive to want to rap cause he’s hype when he raps.  He’s hype like a teenager and his energy is always like when we were seventeen from way back.  I don’t do that.  I’m like an old man.  I write what I want to write and say what I want to say.  I don’t like club s*** that much ‘cause the club s*** ain't but one subject.  How many different ways can you talk about it?  Oh you can't answer that question that you asked Ying Yang, cause we the only ones that make club records and our hooks be outside of the norm.

D-Roc I heard that you stopped drinking liquor.  What led to that change?

D:  Instead of drinking hard liquor I drink a couple of beers and be alright.  When I drunk it [hard liquor] I did it all the way.

How has your outlook changed as a result of not drinking hard liquor anymore? 

D:  Alcohol takes a toll in the morning with headaches and I don’t have them spells no more so I feel great.

Each one of your albums has been an evolution.  How is this album part of that pattern?

K:  People are gonna see what the twins are capable of and have been capable of since we started rapping.  It ain't nobody but me and D-Roc.  So now we have the respect of a ten year track record and two CEO's that already know.

What other projects do you guys have in the works?

D:  Me and Kaine working on some TV shows and what-not.  We got that in the works.  The alcohol Ying Yang Vodka still in the making.  So we got a full little project ahead of us.

Any closing words?

D:  I  want to thank anybody and everybody who loves us—without ya'll we wouldn’t be here.  We trying to stay in here and let ya’ll know we gon’ keep it going like haaaaaaaannnnnnnnn!

For more information please visit:
http://www.yingyangmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/yingyangtwins