Boognish Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the World of Boognish

After graduating from York University in 1995, I came up with this sweet little idea to start a fanzine so I could keep my hand in “music journalism.” The main influence of the ‘zine was warped rockers Dean and Gene Ween. I named the ‘zine after Ween’s larger-than-life muse and oft-used happy-face symbol, the Boognish. The first issue even featured an interview with lead singer Gene Ween, as well as interviews with local film-o-phile Reg Hartt, music selector DJ Jarkko, and Halifax hick-hop trio Hip Club Groove. There were also music reviews, poems and original comics; and each issue featured a theme, beginning with Battlestar Galactica for Battlestar Boognish. Each issue that followed used a similar formula, with interviews from indie scenesters, hip hop artists and electronica DJs, all under one unifying theme. By issue number six, my interests were becoming more hip hop and a new title was picked – N.W.S.A., meaning No Wack Shit Allowed, was bitten from Buck 65. Boognish (and later NWSA) was the spark that ignited the idea for Hand’Solo Records, especially through interviews with Halifax hip hop artists like Hip Club Groove, Sixtoo and Stinkin’ Rich. They exposed the need for something like the Bassments of Badmen, and Hand’Solo Records was born. In this section you will find the interviews that were important in the evolution of the first (read: Halifax) phase of Hand’Solo Records.

Thomas Quinlan
-interviewer and CEO of Hand’Solo Records

ISSUE LIST

  1. Battlestar Boognish – Gene Ween, selector DJ Jarkko, Hip Club Groove, Reg Hartt
  2. KISS My Boognish – Redman, Tristan Psionic, Thrust Hermit, Mower Queen
  3. The Amazing Boognish – treble charger, Sugar Daddy Moth, Stinkin’ Rich
  4. Boognish 90210 – Radioblaster, Cub, Supervillain, Sixtoo
  5. Pee-Wee’s Big Boognish – SIANspheric4, Grasshopper, The Cogs, Witchdoc Jorun
  6. N.W.S.A. – Chixdiggit, Monoxides, Mr Dibbs of 1200 Hobos
  7. N.W.S.A. (Bassments of Badmen special) – Sebutones, Hip Club Groove, Nathan the Alien
  8. N.W.S.A. (Canadian Hip Hop special) – Rascalz, Michie Mee, Frankenstein

These issues are black and white photocopies and can be ordered from handsolo@handsolorecords.com.