We first caught wind that there might be trouble in PPT's camp last week, when a post over on the DFW Hip-Hop forum hinted at some troubles between the group's members (Pikahsso, Picnic and Tahiti). Then, this morning, came this note from Quick that all but confirmed it (guess it helps when two-thirds of the group also writes for your publication...).
So, yes, in case you haven't heard it yet: PPT has officially broken up.
Why? Depends who you ask.
"Creative differences and whatever musically," Pikahsso says. "You know how it is. I'm still kinda confused by it, though."
As Pikahsso and Picnic each confirm, the break-up happened mutually and during a meeting of the group's minds a short while back. At that meeting, Picnic mentioned some things he'd like to do differently, while also stressing some frustrations he'd been having with the group. Pikahsso and Tahiti felt similarly frustrated, and then--just like that--the group decided to end its run together.
Only, you know, Pikahsso and Tahiti are still performing under the title of PPT.
"I've been around for a minute," Pikahsso says. "It ain't nothing new. I'm always gonna keep myself out there. It won't stop, man. It can't stop. That'd be silly. I think about the business side of it; PPT had a lot of media attention. The show goes on, man."
And that's got Picnic a little fired up. He fears it paints him as the man who wanted it all to end. Which, he admits, is true--but only to an extent.
"It's being put out there as me being the initiator--and I was--but ultimately, I feel like we all wanted it," Picnic says. "I was like, 'I'm not feeling the group,' and they were like, 'Well, we're not feeling it either.' I haven't really had any other perspective on it. We haven't spoken since. And, of course, my phone's been on."
It does seem like a lack of communication is the major contributor to this decision. All three of the group's members have their own solo projects going on, and not necessarily keeping one another up to date on those projects can lead to frustrations, sure. But what made PPT such a force in the local scene was its ability to multi-task. Everyone on the outside knew every member of PPT's role in the group: Pikahsso was the promoter; Picnic was the producer; Tahiti was the video guy.
And yet, with Pikahsso constantly producing new tracks on his own and with Picnic out producing and working with other artists, the line between PPT and other projects seemed to fade.
"They didn't look at it as me in particular being on their team," Picnic says. "I never wanted them to feel like they were left out."
For now, Pikahsso and Tahiti are planning on continuing to working together. Pikahsso, too, will continue establishing himself as the most prolific artist in North Texas (he already has a song on his Myspace page congratulating Obama on being the Democratic Party's nominee). Picnic, meanwhile, will move on as a solo artist and producer.
Says Picnic: "It's a super-unfortunate situation." --Pete Freedman
