Hashland is a Philadelphia-based DJ, rapper, singer, producer, and engineer whom I had the honor of meeting at his DJ residency, Silk City. His personality, charisma, and kindness were so refreshing in an industry that has left me so jaded that I was curious to learn more. In doing so, I’ve become lucky enough to call him a friend and a client. At first, I wasn’t sure what would come of hearing his music or what it would even be like. And then, I had the opportunity to sit down and listen through his new project, 90’s Baby, which completely changed my first impressions of him.
There’s no doubt that Hash is inspired by the ’90s era, hence the name of his newest project. He’s made a creative brand and image behind it, from his style to the songs he samples. While sometimes the ’90s theme can feel a bit played out, Hashland has successfully created an album that encompasses the romantic nostalgia of the era while remaining relevant to today’s trends in Hip-Hop and R&B. In fact, there are quite a few timeless tracks on the project. The album recounts the toxic cycle of breaking up and making up and is meant to be played in order (and then repeated back around) for the full effect. When you listen through the album, it’s evident how mapped out each small detail is, working to contribute to the project as a whole rather than each track. You can take a listen to Hashland’s newest album, 90’s Baby, below.
The album features some familiar faces to Spice on the Beat, including Mike Voss and producer Duvak, who produced Voss’s most recent project, Ain’t Nobody’s Hero. Additionally, you can hear some other Philly favorites in the community, including singer-songwriter Valencii and DJ and producer DJDJ. The album truly is hard to box into one genre as you get a taste of it all, from Hip-Hop to Jersey club, demonstrating the range of Hashland’s talents. But that’s not the only aspect of the album that showcases his skills, as Hash also mixed and mastered almost every track. I was lucky enough to learn more about the thought process behind Hash’s creative decisions as he geared up to release the project, but in order to show just how unique the album is, we decided to sit down and talk about it a bit further in detail to share with his listeners.
Hashland! I am SO excited to finally talk to you about your new album, 90’s Baby. You already know how much I love it. It’s been so refreshing and fun to listen to, and I can’t wait for you to share some more background behind the project and some more of its significance. I’d love to start out with the title. Why’d you decide to go with the name 90’s Baby?
Hashland: “Yo, thanks so much! Honestly, I love nostalgia. I wanted to create something that felt nostalgic with a brand-new twist. I say all the time that a lot of new R&B has taken a slower, gloomy vibe, which isn’t a bad thing. But I also wanted to recreate that warm & upbeat feeling 90’s R&B left on me, with artists like Lauryn Hill, TLC, Aaliyah etc.”
I can definitely see that there are a lot of references to your childhood, especially in your cover art! What’s the story behind that?
Hashland: “The artwork was inspired by a photoshoot I went to very early in the album stage.. I wanted to pay homage to my favorite album from the 90’s, Biggie’s Ready To Die, and also remix that cover to show an older me looking at the baby me. There’s a lot of self-reflection on this project, especially with the older me saying things to the younger me that would’ve helped so much along the way. Hopefully, it can help a listener in need.”
I think self-reflection on a project can be so vulnerable. It can expose your weaknesses while allowing the listener to really get into your head. Speaking of, I know you have a ton of ’90s references littered throughout the project. Walk us through the thought process behind some of them.
Hashland: “There are definitely a ton. The first 20 seconds refers to turning on the TV in the 90s and catching your favorite TV network, this one being HGN (Home Grown Network). Then Track 2 incorporates one of my favorite records from SWV, “Weak.” Track 4 not only samples Monica’s “Don’t Take it Personally” but includes our own spin on the song’s substance, speaking on having one of them days from the man’s perspective with a very smooth feature from Mike Voss.”
Always gotta shout out Mike Voss over here! So with those references in mind, what exactly is the main premise behind 90’s Baby?
Hashland: “The main idea revolves around how a 90’s Baby like myself navigates through the world today, touching on the world I know best, which is Love, People, and Relationships (both intimate and platonic). The album drops you right into the Heat Of The Moment of a newfound love with “SPACESHIP SEX.” Imagine that is your ride right to “WEAKLAND,” where the album and the main character (being myself, Hashland) take you to his favorite place and, by the end of the song, opens up to you like never before. The album is broken up into episodes that truly highlight all the moments and stages of a relationship, from breaking up to making up, through the eyes of Hashland. By the end of the album, you’ll feel like you hit every high, every low, and every bump of this roller coaster of emotions, putting you right back at the beginning where we started rekindling the love from the start of the ride.”
I really love that. It plays out so beautifully when you run the album through from start to finish, restarting it to observe this toxic cycle we’ve all endured. Was there one chapter or stage of the album that resonated with you the most? And any parts of the project that you had the most fun with?
Hashland: “I constantly find myself in the Lover Boy chapter of my life. However, right now is the longest I’ve been single and the most I have been traveling so I’d have to say The Departure Episode is currently playing. Also, “PETTYLAND” & “WEAKLAND” are by far some of the most fun creating music has been. I think it’s something between trying out new voices for the first time and being some of the most vulnerable moments on the project. I go back to those songs a lot post-release. When I recorded “PETTYLAND” I was actually sober and very single at the moment. But I have been through so much pain with relationships and seen some uglier sides of myself enough to really put myself in that mindset, even convincing myself I was drunk while recording the record. It was a lot of fun.”
Now before releasing 90’s Baby, you had released another project earlier in the year, yes? How does What Happened To Hash connect to 90’s Baby?
Hashland: “About a year into making 90’s Baby it still wasn’t ready when I wanted. I had wanted to give the fans some of the songs that were supposed to make the project but I couldn’t find a home for on 90’s Baby. just as the title read it serves as a necessary check-in before they tune into 90’s Baby. We had come so far since the last project; I discovered a whole new sound and side of myself I’ve never reached before and my community needed a trailer before jumping right into the new show, 90’s Baby.”
There were definitely some incredible tracks on that project, too! You mentioned 90’s Baby took some time to get it where you wanted it. Was it because any of those tracks were especially challenging or outside your comfort zone?
Hashland: “Yes almost the whole project, haha. In specific, though, Hash Daddy was a big step outside my comfort zone. This was the first track at the time that I didn’t rap on at all, just a new singing voice almost exclusive to that record. Every time I played it for someone, I had to explain that before it played, haha. Also took me until after the album was released to like my voice on “Just One Of Them” with my homie Mike Voss. it started to become easier. “All To Yourself” and “Attention” were recorded in the same week in January 2023 and came to me so naturally that by the time I finished the beats, I already had the hooks and verse ready to record.”
Honestly, when I first heard the project even I was taken back by your voice, but in the best way possible! You can tell how much effort went into contorting your voice in different ways to make every track just a little bit different. But that wasn’t all you did on the project! Besides lead vocals, what other roles did you take on for 90’s Baby?
Hashland: “Almost every role. I produced 9 out of the 14 amazing tracks. I recorded myself almost every session, mixed every song except “Can’t Stop Callin’,” which was mixed by Krispy. Mastered the whole project. And am currently booking shows and handling the marketing campaign. I also wanted to give a shoutout to Jokesontheworld for making the incredible cover art.”
That really is so admirable. At least it seemed like you had a blast making this project. Was there anyone you had the most fun collaborating with?
Hashland: “This is a tough one. I was blown away during the Mariah session for “Selfish.” Anytime I collaborate with Valencii has always been so effortlessly fun and smooth. You can feel the incredible chemistry on “All To Yourself” a lot in her verse, with the way she tells the woman side and how we harmonize.”
And while you were jam-packed with amazing features, where there any that didn’t make the cut?
Hashland: “Yes, there were a couple sessions I almost got Close Cash to hop on “Dream Of,” but we are working on other projects. After listening to post release, I heard some fits like Miles Chancellor and Rae.Dianz. Noel Scales was almost on it too.”
Now I know you’ve mentioned a few times that this project is how you’ve always envisioned your sound. What specifically on this project demonstrates your growth as an artist?
Hashland: “This whole album sounds like a major growth spurt from anything before the WHTH EP. The past 2 HGN projects have moments where some of my new voices and flows shine through on a couple songs with some stand-out moments for sure. But for this album, I went into it wanting to knock down some walls I had built. I even went back on some tracks a whole year later to make some lines more personal and add some more emotions and vulnerability. “WEAKLAND” is one of those records. It was technically the first record created for the project, and that inspired a lot of it. However that breakdown/whole second half of the track was created weeks before the album was released.”
Well I’m glad you added it in! I know that track is your baby. And I know the album as well as a few other projects released under the HGN that you mentioned. For those unfamiliar with Home Grown Network, how does that play a part in your album?
Hashland: “Every time I hear the references on the records, I smile like crazy. In 2020 I officially made HGN and Alias online, and on Discord. I was able to make its own server, which felt like a place we could all go to. Remember in 2020 basically nothing was open, so having a place we could all go to to keep up was everything. Now, besides it literally being my Entertainment Company that I released the album through, it’s also the name in Philadelphia responsible for a lot of sold out shows and parties celebrating what we call Organic Art, Music and Individuals. And as independent artists, many of us understand that a lot of our income is made from our public appearance opportunities, whether that be a show, release party, pop up Etc. HGN is the community that constantly Puts Love Out and Gets Love Back in hopes of making a city that has had a wild past couple of years a warmer place, like home.”
Well said, Hash!! We all need something like this to help the arts flourish in every city. Now what can listeners expect next from Hashland and 90’s Baby?
Hashland: “Some of the greatest live performances ever. I already have some more visual content on the way. The “PETTYLAND” video should be out by the time you’re reading this. I don’t want to spoil too much, but you can look forward to a 90’s Baby Short Film in February 2024. There are also some fire gems that didn’t make the album I’m hoping to release soon when the time is right.”
Hash, thank you for talking to me about your latest release! How can fans keep up with you?
Hashland: “I’m always updating the fun experience on my website hashlandave.com. My handle on everything is @hashland.”
Spice on the Beat 
we love hashland ! great article
LikeLike
Yes we do🥰 thank you!!
LikeLike