It is becoming more and more difficult for a hardcore band to make a name for itself in the California music scene. Heavy bands are multiplying rapidly, making the genre an area staple. Just ask Orange County-based (hed) planet earth. “We’ve been doing this longer than most of these bands, you know – like six years or something – and it’s becoming, like, almost clich‚,” says (hed) p.e. guitarist Westyle. But the hip-hop infested (hed) planet earth feel it has successfully set itself apart from the other hardcore bands by using both its hip-hop influence and wisdom. “One thing is [frontman] Jahred is really strongly into the hip-hop thing, and I think the whole band is so deeply rooted in that,” Westyle says. “We’re not just doing a guitar riff and then just talking on top, which [hardcore music] sometimes gets to be that way. It’s more from the heart and soul.” Westyle also attributes the band’s success to when they were mostly playing to skaters and surfers in their hometown of Sacramento, Calif. “There’s a lot of artists that do a lot of that shit, there’s a lot of art in that area,” Westyle says. “It was good people to bounce music off of. I like the vibe they’re creating there.” (hed) p.e.’s sophomore record, “Broke,” is already making waves and expanding the group’s fan-base, something Westyle says is beautiful and evident in recent shows. “Now that it’s been out, it’s going on it’s third week, and it’s exciting to see how within three weeks of going out how much it’s done for us,” Westyle says. “So it’s been really cool, we’re excited.” Produced by Machine (Shootyz Groove, Pitchshifter), “Broke” is filled with all sorts of heavy beats and hip-hop lyrics, punctuated with the occasional yell and scream. Westyle says this album was written in the back of a bus – they hadn’t even played some of the music live as a band. Machine was able to come in and work out those songs and make them what the band wanted them to be. “I brought a lot of creativity to (hed),” Machine said in a recent interview. “The songs communicate better. They’re melodic. I did some arrangement work. I come from doing remixes. There’s no programmer in the band, though they all dabble in it. I had a nice hand creatively in the programming side of it, adding sounds, psychoacoustics, break-beats. We did a lot of creative stuff with drums and loops.” “Broke” differs from the band’s self-titled debut because of obvious things such as increased band unity and musical maturity, Westyle says. But he also made sure the band learned from mistakes it made when recording the first album. “We tried to develop areas of the band that we liked, and there’s not a song on this record that we don’t like,” Westyle said. “It’s a fucking record, it’s the second time we’ve done it – and we’re not rookies anymore – so I think we’re a little more on top of it.” Fresh off the summer’s “Tattoo the Earth” tour, (hed) hit the road with fellow Cali natives Papa Roach for a club tour and a handful of headlining dates by themselves. “`Tattoo the Earth,’ which as far as who we played to, is one of the better tours we did in our history,” Westyle says. “Now we’re playing clubs we’ve played before, but this time every show has been sold out.” But the guys of (hed), including DJ Product, BC The Mizak Diza on drums and bassist Mawk, are no strangers to touring. They have constantly been on the road since the release of their first album, zigzagging through the U.S. on the “Ozzfest” tour and sharing stages with the likes of Korn, Slipknot and System of a Down. Westyle says the band is thankful for the lessons it has learned through years on the road and emphasizes the group’s new drive to keep itself in tip-top shape when touring. “It’s so obvious, pretty much don’t do stuff you’ll regret, like getting too drunk and acting like an idiot or getting in a fight with a band member or whatever,” Westyle says. “You want to make sure you’re not always pounding yourself with bad shit but getting back with some good shit. Even your diet, I’m not even fucking kidding, `cause if you do this every night . I don’t know, there’s a lot to learn on the road.” (hed) p.e. has seen MTV play help their peers in Papa Roach succeed in an ever-changing industry. However, Westyle says the most important thing is making music you love and not to compromise that. “We’ve all seen dope shit on MTV – there are great bands that are on MTV. If we could be a great band and we’re happy with our presentation, then fuck yeah, we’re down for it” Westyle says of achieving mainstream success. “As long as you’re keeping it real and you’re good and you’re true to the art and you’re representing some dope shit, then fuck yeah. “If you’re like some ground-breaking rad artist on MTV, then that’s cool,” he adds. “And who knows if we’ll ever be that. But if we could be, we’d be down with it.” Another resource (hed) is tapping is computer media. The band has three different official Web sites, and Westyle says in this day and age, it’s all necessary. “You’re fuckin’ yourself, in any sort of business, if you’re not utilizing the Internet,” Westyle says. “We enhanced our CD, it’s a little more fun. Kids can go in and get a free track off our CD if they go to our Web site and find, like, a password.” Westyle says he isn’t entirely sure about the future direction of (hed) p.e. He does say they are constantly writing new music but are focusing on rocking every crowd they perform for. And since it’s (hed)’s second time around, Westyle is cool and confident. “Whatever happens, it’ll be all good,” he says.