Brian Hardgroove, Bass, Guitar, Producer, Songwriter, Educator. Interviewed by 14-year-old Amadeus Belafonte, grandson of groundbreaking recording artist and actor, Harry Belafonte: Brian Hardgroove’s musical repertoire spans the genres of hip-hop, soul, rhythm and blues, rock, and reggae. Brian made his name as bass player of internationally renowned, American rap and hip-hop group, Public Enemy. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and honored with 6 Grammy nominations, Public Enemy revolutionized hip-hop, expanding the sonic vocabulary with multiple samplings, sound effects, and a dense collage of beats and rhymes. In addition to Public Enemy, Brian has worked with Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Bootsy Collins, Chuck D, Stewart Copeland (The Police), Supertramp, Slash, T.M. Stevens, and as producer of two of China’s premier punk bands. He cites working with legendary producers Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon) and Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin) among his greatest experiences in record production. Hardgroove is artist in residence at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, where he helped create the program, Artists for Positive Social Change.
