The Cleptoz CD Release Show, featuring special guests Cursed for Manners, Batalyst and Mic Sol
Thursday, Aug. 17, 9 p.m.
The Vogue Theater
Tickets: $5 with student ID, ladies in free before 9:30 p.m.
More information: cleptoz.com

Defying the haters, Hum-V and crew keep pressing

With five years of experience under their belt, a time in which they’ve filled venues large and small with the passion of hip-hop, the Cleptoz have taken their game to the next level with an album worthy of their live shows.

Called Back At It, the disc features the three members of the Cleptoz — Greg “Hum-V” Humrichouser, Brandon “Dizzy-Yung” Waggoner and Brandon “B.C.” Curry — channeling the sounds of hip-hop’s golden age with a contemporary twist.

Recorded at various locations over the past 12 months, Back At It was a growth experience for the Cleptoz, Hum-V says.

“We’ve grown so much over the past year. We’re more true to ourselves and more true to our influences than ever before,” Humrichouser says. “We tried to keep it commercial enough to where we could get some songs on the radio and have broad appeal, while keeping it true to our hip-hop roots. We went for an analog feel, the grimy sound that we love so much.”

While they’ve consistently been one of the most popular live acts in town, the Cleptoz went into the album in a bad mood. “We were in a shitty management contract and we finally got out of it. You can hear some of the venting on the album,” Humrichouser says.

“I feel like we’ve proven ourselves time and time again,” he says. “People used to say, ‘Oh, they only draw people because they’re from Butler and it’s close by.’ Well, we’ve all been graduated for three years and there’s maybe 50 Butler faces in our crowd. I feel like we have a bigger audience and we shouldn’t keep having to prove ourselves.”

Humrichouser says he’s frustrated somewhat by the detractors of the Cleptoz and the local music scene in general for its lack of solidarity.

“We’re on the radio, we’ve opened for more national acts than anyone in town except the Mudkids, so we’ve been really pissed off. I saw an interview with DJ Top Speed the other day where he said that nobody supports each other in this city. Take Rhymefest. I think there were more people here who wanted him to fail than wanted him to succeed. It’s kind of fucked up. We’ve got love for everybody who’s out there grinding and hustling. I love to pop in the Franchize’s CD, or the Virgin Millionaires. I wish them all luck. We definitely won our respect on this album.”

Pegging the Cleptoz as just a college band really gets on Hum-V’s nerves. “The last show we did at the Vogue, in April, we did 800 people. It’s not all Butler kids. There’s lots of people over 40 and lots of 21-year-olds. Our audience is mixed in every way.”

The Cleptoz took form at Butler in 2001, when Humrichouser, Curry and Waggoner met in a music class. The three started recording together and soon became a top draw on campus and at frenzied shows at the Patio.

The music on the new album is more pointed and direct, as opposed to the straight-up party rap that once defined the Cleptoz.

“There’s so much hard work and grinding on this album,” Humrichouser says. “We used four or five different producers on the album, as opposed to two on the last one. I think we’re really going to win people’s respect with this one.”

He says, “There’s still a few songs with the party element, but I feel like we attack more important issues on the album. We talk about the hating and how hard it is to get respect. We’ve got a hot slow song called ‘Getting Tired.’ We just talk more about growing and the experiences we’ve had touring the Midwest over the past four years. It’s definitely a mature sound.”

“Crack The Window” features an opera singer’s voice looped over the hook. The single, “Move,” features Jamaican rapper Sas and represents the club audience.

Noting that both Waggoner and himself grew up playing in punk bands, Humrichouser says the new album has a harder edge to it, one more true to the music they grew up listening to, such as the Beastie Boys.

Humrichouser, who turned 26 on Sunday, says the band is more motivated than ever before. “We’re serious about just wanting to get down to business. We’re really going to work our connections on this one. On the last album, we kind of put it out, gave it to our friends and put it in a few stores. That’s different this time. We’re doing everything on our own. We’re more in control. We’re putting all the money into it, doing all the legwork and I like it a whole lot better.”

Still, the Cleptoz remain a group that lots of people love to hate, and Humrichouser has a message for them. “I hope that the nay-sayers, the haters and the people who talk bad about us continue to talk shit. I hope that continues for as long as we’re around, because that’s what happens when you’re doing something right. Most of these cats who run their mouth, I’ve never even heard of them, but they’ve all heard about us. We’re doing our thing, man, and people know it. People show up to our shows and we make money. We’ve been doing it so long that we can set a price. We don’t just get the door anymore. When people are talking bad about you, you know you’re doing something right.”

Humrichouser says he understands some of the negative talk about the band. “We all went to Butler and we don’t have a thug background. We’re not really from the streets. But I think that’s what makes us unique. We don’t have to be hard or talk about guns and we still have credibility.

“I’d love to get signed, but we’re making music because we love it. People love coming to see us. I’ve never heard a person leave our show and not say they had a fucking blast. That’s the bottom line. That’s why we make our music.”