Following in someone’s footsteps is always difficult, especially when the background you come from is practically musical royalty. Take the MTV reality show Rock The Cradle that aired earlier this year for example. The basic format of the program was to have the offspring of Rock & Roll legends compete week in and week out in order to garner themselves a record deal.

In the end, Crosby Loggins (son of Kenny Loggins) managed to make his way to the mountain top by singing past people like; Landon Brown (son of Bobby Brown), A’Keiba Burrell-Hammer (daughter of Hammer), Chloe Lattanzi (daughter of Olivia Newton-John), and Jesse Blaze Snider (son of Dee Snider from Twisted Sister). Even though the children have literally grown up in the spotlight of their famous parents, it’s not always guaranteed that they will have the same success.

Rock The Cradle isn’t the only show on MTV that features legendary musicians and their families, because Run’s House gives you an almost identical visual with a little extra. The little extra happens to be parts of the family pursuing their own endeavors other than music, but the person who picks up in th at department is Joseph “Jojo” Simmons. Hoping to carry on the name while making one of his own, he along with childhood friends Zach and Reggie formed the trio known as Team Blackout.

Signed to Latchkey Records (in association with KOCH), their album aptly titled Lights Out will feature production by beat maestros like Rockwilder and Ron Brownz, with the reverend serving up as the executive producer. Now upon learning all of this information, phrases like, “They only have a record deal because of the show and Rev. Run” are most likely to be thrown around whenever they go, but threesome are not phased by any negative remarks that might be ushered into their direction. Sounds like they’re learning how to deal with the media already, and only time well tell if everything else falls into place.         
 

How did all of you first meet each other?

Zach: Me and Jojo known each other since the 1st grade, and we’ve been going to school ever since.  Then we met Reggie when we got to high school, and that’s basically how long we’ve known each other. Then we had formed the group back in 2003 when New York went through that blackout, and that’s how we got the name Team Blackout. 

What can people expect to hear from your album Lights Out?

Reggie: People can expect to hear a lot of fire and a lot of lyrics. We’re going to bring that good vibe, because a lot of people might doubt us, you know what I’m saying? But once people hear it, they’re going to know that we’re going in.

Speaking of being lyrical, right now a lot of the younger acts are being criticized for not being “lyrical” enough. Is that something you guys think about?

Zach: Well I think we definitely bring the lyrics, we know how to make songs and we know how to rap. We just have the full package…

Reggie: Yeah, exactly… 

With the success of the show, and the musical history you’re all surrounded by, does that add any pressure to you guys?

Zach: There is a lot of people looking at us, and have high expectations for us because of who we’re affiliated with—just like you said with Jojo’s pops being Rev. Run. But as far as that goes, we just do our thing, and we don’t worry about the haters or what people think. We just go in and make music and do what we like, while having fun with it.    

What do you say to the people that think you guys were only put on due to the fact of Rev. Run’s influence?

Zach: Well people are always going to say something, but it doesn’t matter because we’re going to do what we do. It’s pretty cool now, because a year ago we didn’t have people talking about us at all. So now I think it’s a good thing for all of us.

Reggie: Once people criticize, that means that you’re doing something right; you know what I’m saying?

Zach: Exactly… 

Jojo: We put in a lot of hard work. We would go to the studio in Queens, and pay for it with the money out of our own pockets. It’s been a lot of hard work, and a lot of time spent to get where we’re at. But we love the hate; it just keeps our engine running.

Were you guys usually on the same page when it came to song concepts?

Zach: We were all on the same page when it came to the concepts. We all came with crazy ideas, put them behind the beats, and it all clicked.

How would you describe your music to someone that wasn’t familiar with it?

Jojo: Um, it’s all swagger and confidence. It’s definitely about our swag, so that’s what the people are going to be in for. 

Who are some of the artists that influence you guys?

Jojo: People like Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, and Lupe [Fiasco]. Just artists like that who are out, and doing their thing. 

Zach: Yeah, people like Juelz Santana, and the people like that… 

With this being your first official album, how was the creative process? Was it difficult at times putting everything together?

Reggie: There was a little pressure, but it ain’t nothing, because we have the music to back it up.

Jojo: It ain’t a problem…

Zach: Yeah, I’m around some talented artists, so there’s no way we can fall off. We’re here to give the people what they want…