DysFunktional Family member, Emcee Schwartz, releases new solo album
Although hit with tragedy, Ryan Schwartzhoff proves his resilience with his new album release.
Schwartz, known in the Athens music scene as Emcee Schwartz, released his album, Altered Beast on Thursday. It’s available free on his group DysFunktional Family’s Bandcamp account or at Haffa’s Records for $5.
The album is a solo effort, partially born from the near-fatal car accident of Schwartz’s friend and musical cohort, Hil Hackworth.
“Originally, I didn’t even know I was going to do a solo thing,” Schwartz said. “Hil and I were working on some songs together, then the accident happened, and I just started doing it on my own. I ended up with 19 tracks in a year and produced and mixed all but one of them.”
Hackworth had a hand in the album despite the accident. He tutored Schwartz on mixing — a step Hackworth claims to be the most laborious in the recording process.
“I have my own way of mixing. I taught him some tricks so he could do it on his own, then I mastered it,” Hackworth said. “It’s good to see him have this, his very first album was on a computer that got stolen from our house about 10 years ago, so I know he’s excited to finally put out a solo project.”
Schwartz has prodigious experience penning lyrics, having written rhymes and poetry for over 17 years.
“Basically, I had cool parents. They weren’t strict with music. I grew up with the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Cypress Hill,” Schwartz said. “The rapping and writing came from being with friends and spitting dumb little flows for fun, but once I heard myself recorded it made me want to take it seriously.”
Schwartz has been busy this year. Aside from Altered Beast, he has been rehearsing with Boomslang in a Rage Against the Machine tribute band called Bulls on Parade. He has also been regularly performing with Sassafraz.
“Boomslang’s its own thing, then Ryan started rapping with us, and that began the RATM tribute band of Bulls On Parade,” said Boomslang drummer Wren Fenton. “It was actually very natural — the rapping fits easily with our funk vibe.”
Schwartz will perform with Bulls Sept. 13 at Casa Nueva, and with Sassafraz at the Altered Beast release party Oct. 10 at Jackie O’s. Schwartz and Hil said that The Hip Hop Shop is set to return to the Union by October at the very latest.
“What happened to Hil was scary. It made me want to go for it and do something big, it was a now or never situation.,” Schwartz said. “As far as Dysfunk goes, we’ve got some stuff cooking so look out. We’re still here, and we’re working.”
sn002310@ohio.edu
