Abstract Art

Test spins (off CDRs) at previous Abstract Workshops are already encouraging; there's a good response from the hometown crowd, and that, says Cocoe, "is where it's gotta start."

"I don't want to come out typical OC style, like get a couple million behind it and look like I'm a rock star already—though I am a rock star; I've spent more time in the studio than any rock star I've ever known," says Jud. "I'm a moment capturer. That's it. I don't want to have a finished product coming out. I want it to be from the bedroom, glitchy, with the grit; I want them to listen to the bullshit to get to the point! I wanna put the baby pictures out. I don't consider us huge talents," he finishes. "I consider us capable of capturing inspiration. And that's beyond talent!"

Scotty Coats, Jud Nester, Cocoe and Josh One. Photo by John Gilhooley

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More About

• Jud Nester
• Josh One
• Scotty Coats
• Hip-Hop and Rap
• Underground Hip-Hop

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There's no demo coming out—they didn't need one. The demo was eight years of wild turntabling and hustle and promotion, of stitching together a hip-hop club in a pocket of the county where no one else thought there could ever be a hip-hop club. "Abstract Workshop: old enough to remember when hip-hop had a smile!" says Scotty. And now hip-hop has a metal mask or a ghost face or a mouth somethin' like a disco ball—a strange crowd to swim in for guys who, like Jud, remember the very early days of hip-hop in OC: "I remember when cats would stop fighting and breakdance it out—I remember seeing it, and it really striking a chord with me!" says Jud. But like they say—the time is finally right. Is there anybody out there that Abstract looks up to? "Berry Gordy, man!" says Jud. And while everybody laughs, nobody disagrees.

ABSTRACT WORKSHOP PRESENTS: JUD NESTER WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM WWW.ABSTRACT-WORKSHOP.COM. BEGINS FRI.; ABSTRACT WORKSHOP THE CLUB NIGHT AT DETROIT, 843 W. 19TH ST., COSTA MESA, (949) 642-0600; WWW.DETROITBAR.COM. EVERY LAST SAT., 9 P.M. COVER VARIES. 21+.