I found myself chatting with Himanshui and Victor of the controversial new rap duo, Das Racist, today – the eigth anniversay of the World Trade Center bombings. Unlike most days in recent history, these bohemian Brooklyn’ites, recalled exactly what they were doing.

V: I was doing push-ups, listening to Big Pun’s Capital Punishment when my parents came into my room like “YOOOO!” I went to school, left early, went to work, left early, kicked it at my girlfriend’s house.

Himanshu: I was in my video production class at Stuyvesant High School, a couple of blocks away. Hell of suits were walking by in a hurry. By the time the second plane hit I was watching it on the news in a classroom and out of a window AT THE SAME TIME. The FBI said the buildings won’t fall so the safest place to be is inside of our building. Then they fell. We got evacuated. 3200 of us had to go to school in Brooklyn for a month while our high school was used as a triage center.

While America continues to heal from a huge laceration in its homeland security, underground hip hop is quietly being transformed. There was a time, not too long ago, when every rap act sounded the same. The change in attitudes since 9/11 have effected the sounds and lyrics of those who were too embarrased to be different. Not these two. Not anymore.

Listen and Download – “EK Shaneesh”

Photography by Ben Rowland

Das Racist feature story coming soon on Stay Thirsty Media.