story by Spencer Lokken
photo by Terry Richardson

Handsome Boy Modeling School is Dan "The Automator" Nakamura and Prince Paul, two gentlemen responsible for creating some of the most avant-garde music ever put on wax. Paul is most well known for his production of De La Soul's classic 3 Feet High and Rising album, and Dan for his collaboration with Kool Keith on the Dr. Octagon project in the mid-'90s. Both men are wildly imaginative and have consistently kept urban music fresh by being involved with a multitude of conceptual projects and forward-thinking ventures.

Paul's affiliation with Gravediggaz, BDP, Stetsasonic, Big Daddy Kane, 3rd Bass, and countless other hip hop notables propelled him to legendary status long ago, and his Prince Among Thieves album will go down in hip hop history as one of the few times where a producer has dared to create his own identity - while watching the majority of his peers stick to the same tired trends. After the success of Dr. Octagon, Nakamura beefed up his resume with production credits for The Eels, DJ Krush, and Primal Scream, amongst others. It was his work with Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Kid Koala on the Deltron 3030 project, however, that helped him gain his widest audience. And those wicked animated creations the Gorillaz? Yep, Dan was the brainchild (along with Blur frontman Damon Albarn) behind that concept as well. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves though…

PRINCE PAUL'S INNER VIEW "One of the main goals we had was to open up a vineyard, a vineyard that's run by naked women. It's part of the goal process and we're almost there. We've got the women in bras and panties now."

Dan and Paul hooked up as the 20th century came to a close and formed the Handsome Boy Modeling School (a reference to an episode of the Chris Elliot sitcom, "Get A Life.") In 1999 they released So…How's Your Girl?, a mixed bag of trip-hop, hip hop, and turntablism with a superstar guest artist list three miles long. The album was well received by fans and critics alike, making their newest record, White People, a refreshing listening experience for those of us in search of something a bit off the beaten path. When Chicago Innerview got a chance to catch up with the duo, Dan and Paul were nowhere to be found, although I did get the chance to speak with their slick alter-egos Chest Rockwell and Nathaniel Merriweather. Note to self: keep the Monday morning interviews reserved for ugly people. Handsome folk need their beauty sleep.

Chicago Innerview: I've always considered myself to be quite the handsome fellow, but I feel like I could benefit from your teachings. What will I get by paying the required $60 fee and enrolling in the Handsome Boy Modeling School?
Chest Rockwell (Paul): It's the gift that keeps on giving. You know, a promotion at your job, you might get a brand new car…it's amazing how things happen. First and foremost though is hygiene. No matter how good you look, or no matter what your game is, if you smell bad and you're not clean, it's not working for you. Also, fashion is always important. We've got to make sure that it's always appropriate for the area you live in. You can't just walk around wearing leather chaps.

Chicago Innerview: Clearly. Now, how did the whole concept of the Handsome Boy Modeling School come about? Did one of you have to sell the other on the idea or was it a case of style recognizing style and you two were a match from the get go?
Chest Rockwell (Paul): See, that's perfect. You just answered it, it's exactly that. You know, you're traveling, you see this gentlemen in the same circles, and you're like 'wow, why are all these women around this one guy?' I mean, I had seen him at this poker tournament and then in Milan the week before, I had seen him at Hugh Hefner's parties…you realize your powers are similar. It's almost like the Justice League of America. You want to pull them together. You don't want to work against each other because you're out there for a common cause: to work against the foes.

Chicago Innerview: It's been awhile since you asked how my girl is (by the way, she's fabulous), but it seems that in your time away from making music together you've gotten to meet quite a few other handsome individuals. Can you tell me about any special or memorable moments you had recording this album with the slew of guest artists you chose to work with?
Nathaniel Merriweather (Dan): I think everything was a special moment.

Chicago Innerview: What goals did you have going in to the creation of this album?
Chest Rockwell: One of the main goals we had was to open up a vineyard, a vineyard that's run by naked women. It's part of the goal process and we're almost there. We've got the women in bras and panties now.

Chicago Innerview: Whoa. I hope to some day learn where this vineyard is located. Now, the hip hop community and really just music lovers in general have a lot to thank you two for. In general I think we're all just appreciative to you guys for keeping things fun and fresh. Other than the Handsome Boy Modeling School, I'm curious to learn from each of you what your proudest career moment would be.
Chest Rockwell: Hmm, well…The Handsonium Institute. The original is located in Palm Springs. If you're down there and you've got an extra 60 bucks, you need to go visit. Other things we're proud of? I think one cool thing is the making of the Handsome Boy signature Bentley.
Nathaniel Merriweather: I'm really proud of entering the Guinness Book of World Records for the first 17-some.

Chicago Innerview: Nice! I top out at 15, I guess I can't beat you.
Chest Rockwell: Hey man, if you do you've got to log it. No pun intended.

Chicago Innerview: What drives you as producers? What inspires you?
Nathaniel Merriweather: I think life inspires us. Being handsome, all that stuff…that's our life. Making music and being inspired by just day to day stuff…
Chest Rockwell: Like the 'Celebrity Fit Club Marathon'. That was on last night.

Chicago Innerview: Speaking of what was on last night, I actually saw your video for 'The World's Gone Bad' on MTV2's 'Subterranean'. Del, Alex Kapranos, and Barrington Levy on the same track and it works perfectly. Is this because they're all graduates of the school?
Nathaniel Merriweather: Well that has a lot to do with it. Once you're a graduate, you've polished off all the rough edges. It all kind of goes together.

Chicago Innerview: So how will the tour work when you used so many guests on the new album?
Chest Rockwell: We've got a combination of everything. We have DJs, we have visuals, we have some live performances as well…we're not going to say exactly who yet. We can't get everybody, because since a lot of people graduated they're doing print ads and runway shows. We couldn't get everybody but we do have some key people involved. There's going to be a lot of makeovers and frontal nudity.

Chicago Innerview: Can either of you give me a quick overview of where you think hip hop is going?
Nathaniel Merriweather: A quick overview? How about...to hell?

Chicago Innerview: Works for me. I think a lot of up and coming producers would love to learn a few of your secrets. Would either of you care to describe your creative process in the studio?
Nathaniel Merriweather: Well, I would say this. The main thing that our making a Handsome Boy track would involve is a lot of interaction. We have dinner parties, we get together, we hang out...a lot of wine, women, song, music, food. It's an organic process in the sense of it's a social gathering where we kind of like, talk politics, women, business, whatever. It kind of forms a bond and forms the way that we go on to make the record.

Chicago Innerview: You two gentlemen have undoubtedly traveled to some pretty amazing cities. What's the most handsome of them all?
Nathaniel Merriweather: That would be…not Chicago.
Chest Rockwell: But that's okay, that's why we're coming there.

Handsome Boy Modeling School :: House of Blues :: April 9.

Listen to an mp3 of Handsome Boy Modeling School's"The World's Gone Mad," courtesy of Better Propaganda.