Rob Kelly Interview with HIPHOP is AWOL

Recently I interviewed Rob Kelly where he talked about missing deadlines,new projects and more.
Check it out over on HIPHOP is AWOL

Split Prophets (Interview)

Today we got an interview with a group im sure your going to hear alot of very very soon. Their new video is out at the moment called "2 Kids"

Truly dope video, and as i couldn't find much information about the guys i thought i'd try getting intouch and asking them a few questions.

Alright Guys how you doing today?
Upfront: yeh not bad
Hi res: yea all good

Where you guys from?
SP: Bristol, both from south of the river, Bedminster ways.

When did you first start getting into Hip Hop?
HR: I started getting into hip hop when I was about ten, eleven, when I started skatboarding. That was when I really started rinsing it.
UP: started listening to hip hop when I was at secondary school , pt gave me
a mp3 with loads of sick tunes on an I was on it from then.

How did you 2 guys meet and when did you start making music?
SP:  We met when we were 14/15
HR: I started spittin when I was around 15/16 but never really ever took it seriously. I never really thought id do something with it or people would be feelin what I was doing. Fuck noes, there was a lot of leen up bedroom freestyle sessions, but it wasn't until we met Badhabitz, one half of krate krusaders, that I thought something could happen with it.
UP: yeh I started spittin a bit after everyone else in the crew an doing it at
first was just something fun to do,meeting up and spittin new bars And
hearing new verses and beats. Meeting Badhabitz really opened my eyes to
the fact that people were feeling the vibes, which gave us a push to get
ourselves out there and make tunes.

Now your at the moment promoting your video "2 Kids" have you been getting much feedback on it?
SP: Yeah it seems we're getting some good feedback. Theres always gonna be hate and theres always gonna be haters, we just dont give a fuck about either.

Will this feature on some sort of release?
SP: Yeah we're dropping an Ep with Krate Krusaders, late September, called Scribbled Thoughts. Thats including 2kids, aint amused and a few other bangers haha. Also a couple of other artists from Bris and around the Uk.
Check out Demorus a couple of those boys are on it and some other heads.

I Have been checking the other videos on your youtube page, the other videos are upto the exact same standard and show yet more beats by Krate Krusaders, How did you get hooked up with them?
SP: Boyo! He's the hook up man. He knew Badhabitz before us and mentioned he had some mates who were getting on the barring, and got us some beats. Then we all got introduced and it went on from there. Cheers bredda.

Me and a mate were discussing your music, and came to the decision that your style is easy listening, yet still lyrical, so youve been able to make your vocals sound laid back but still been able to add some thought provoking statements, Is this a style you will continue to go for?.
HR: personally I think so, I mean theres different tracks that styles are gonna sound different on, and were gonna sound different on. Ive never really thought about our style. I think that's jus us though, we aint some hyped out kids trying to look bad as fuck and both of us are pretty conscious. It just comes how it is haha.
UP: yeh, I mean style isn't something I really worry about when I write.
I just write what comes, sometimes there is a sound we want to get but
the main thing to me is that every bar is real, so I don't need to chat about
certain things or act a way that isn't who I am, or who we are.
I think that's were our style comes from.

Ok have you been involved in many open mics, or gigs?
SP: naaa not really. Weve done a couple of little things, we did Big time festival down in Pauls, that was about six of us and that was alright, jus a little cypha track. But nothing properly organised under the name split prophets until the show with gen and stig, and a dj and soundman that actually knew what they were doing. It was joke, we got chucked out of a club we were supposed to be doing a set in cos some of us didnt have id.

10.You seemed to come at me out of nowhere witha  video into my inbox with not a great deal of information about you as a crew, and after trying my hardest in the research area, yet still not very much. One thing i did find out though that your supporting Akil The MC at The Croft in Bristol. Now they said this on the page. "Bristol Heads will know about the uprising of Split Prophets and the massacre when they supported Stig and Genesis a few months ago". Now this tells me that you absolutely killed it, How did it go for you guys?
UP: yeah was a good night, got a good reception and a nice amount of people turned up for it, personally it was good for me to get the first big set done, made me want more shows and to push to get our sound out.
HR: yeah it was heavy. Big ups to luke from Rhyme and Reason cos these nights are fucking sick. And there bringing good heads down to bris and puttin us on the map. Check it out. And as far as info about us, you guys are getting that out there for us so nice one.

What are your influences? (This can be mc's, but just anything that influences you to make the music you do)
HR: as far as Mc's go theres too many to mention. But my surroundings, mates and what I get up to are probably my main influences. Walkin around late at night getting my hands dirty haha.
UP: my biggest influences are the people around me and the things i've seen
happen, the world we live in and the life I live influences me to do what I do.

Ok before i go Dyou have any shoutouts?
SP: yeah, shouts to you guys for hooking this up,Krate Krusaders, Evermoor sound, the Se fire boys,B'tol, all the demorus heads, all the rest of the split prophets collective, Pt, Prime Mc, bill next, all the sub slags breahs, vince from south blessed, lou for putting up with us, anyone who supports us And All the real heads staying true to this. peace

Go check these guys out.

Loki (Interview)

Today folks we take some time out and have an interview with one if not the most influential Artists in the relatively small hip hop scene we have here in Scotland.

Loki

Alright how how you doing today?
Today I'm doing ok. Tuesday is usually the day I begin to resemble something slightly more human, hence my reasoning leaving the interview till yesterday had passed. How was I doing yesterday? Yesterday was a No Way Back kind of day.

Where you from?
I'm from a little place called The Universe....and so I apologise if this encroaches on anyone's territorial issues. I was born in Glasgow and dragged up in Pollok.....a housing scheme in the South Side famous for a shopping centre called The Silverburn and the motorway slicing through the large public park directly adjacent to it. Pollok was one of many 'schemes' created in the late 18th Century to help deal with the population boom caused by the Industrial Age.

Describe your music in 3 words?
Andy Fucking Kaufman

When did you first start getting into Hip Hop?
I was about 14/15 when my friend Sammy introduced me to rap. It wasn't until my late teens I became aware that Hip Hop itself was a cultural movement. Hip Hop not only gave me a creative outlet but also a spiritual focus. Without both I'd most probably be dead... with 'Sorry for being so shallow' being my epitaph.

Ok now you've been involved in the scene now for many years, and have been an influence for many MC's up here, How does it feel to have been held in such high regard for all these years?

I'm held in high regard? I wasn't aware of that. I do hear my influence though in lots of music. People seem more politically inclined these days as they become aware that every aspect of their lives is the consequence of a political decision. Everything from what you're allowed to say to decisions about your housing benefit. I despise apathy, although I do show many symptoms of it from time to time. I try to use my influence to illustrate that hyper masculinity is actually very gay when you break it down. Real men cry....and write about crying. Apparently the chicks love it. And I hold the chicks in the highest of regard. I used to feel pressure to compete...but that was just the last remnant of the boy I used to be trying to hold on to his Ego. I am shown far more respect and appreciation outwith the Scottish Hip Hop scene and over the last year have enjoyed the opportunity to experiment not only with writing.....but other people pre-conceptions. It's a fun place to be. I once made a heckler eat a whole phone!

You've not only been involved in music you also do alot of Community work, Namely nowadays Volition. What made you come to the decision to start this off?
 Community 'work' is not a choice....it's an obligation. It can take many forms so some people are probably doing it without realising. This site is a community enterprise so on behalf of the community I would like to thank you for tending to it. I was raised during tremendously turbelent political times and so it's in my tiger blood. Economically, Pollok was the poorest data zone' in Europe....relatively speaking.....and so to live through this is to be forever altered by it. I'm just thankful I can cope with the scars I bear....and I hope those who couldn't are resting in peace. As for Volition.....(meaning of your own free will).....this was a concept I had been refining for many years. It predates my facination with rap in actual fact and it's based on addressing 3 fundamental problems with Community Arts.

1. At what point are the participants involved in the decision making process. The decision making process is lucrative indeed whereas the participants are almost always suffering some sort of deprivation. Why hasn't anyone realised that the participants themselves posses all the knowledge required to get things moving.

2. Most projects are designed to run for a specific time period. This is counter productive. The resources are available to create and sustain a project indefinitely...this infomation is being kept from the public though...in order to preserve the vast wealth and security afforded to the Arts Organisations and their subsiduaries. Some young people rely on community projects simply to sustain some quality of life.....it's cruel to end something like that so abrubtly. My view has always been......get rid of the funding monopoly's by making a strong case that young people can do most of the work themselves....they just need support and more imprtantly.....a sutained source of inspiration and encouragement.

3. It's always been a Big Society. Now seems like the perfect time to call everyone's bluff and see just how serious the soundbytes are about Communities taking responsibilty for their own affairs. We quietly go about our business and offer one another support.....because we are all deeply flawed. It's this acceptance that defines Volition. It's really about Love and Respect. Working towards shared vision will usually bring about these two things. My function in Volition is not simply to challenge the Political structure that's grown up around us....but more importantly....to challenge the Community itself. Nobody is gonna do this shit for you....so pull your socks up and let's get down to fuckin business.



Another part of your life has also been "The Being Emcee's", obviously a crew based in Glasgow that can't really be touched at the moment. Do you get alot of inspiration from Crew members?
Who is Scottish Hip Hop could claim not to be inspired by The Being. We set a new precedent....in which we are The Present Presidents. If anyone's Ego has a problem coping with that.....please report to your nearest battle to be processed.

Now you recently re-released the Do Not Disturbed project, with over 40 minutes of extra material. How did this come about?
 I wrote Do Not Disturbed to help launch the Volition club night. Now a year has passed....I feel it's time to share the album with everyone else. I'm proud of that piece of work. It's me at my most honest.....therefore dangerous. The best feeback Ive had has been from Poets and Comedians. Most women enjoy it too.....albiet those of a joyless feminist persuasion have perhaps misunderstood the sentiment of some songs. I was attempting to depict the downward spiral induced by a loving relationship falling apart through alcohlism. For me that's ironic.....because I have always written about being the vitim of such a relationship.....but this time round....I have become the perpetrator. It's about denial. Hence all the songs with me claiming to be the best rapper in Scotland. I hope you all enjoy...or at least appreciate it.

What acts have you supported so far?
Asian Dub Foundation, The Pharcyde, Rahzel (fat wank that he is), Royce DA 5'9, D12, Blade, The Girobabies.....god....there's been a lot more....but I can't remember to be honest. Lot's of great acts have supported me. It's been a pleasure watching them grow. Louie's on the cusp of becoming the perfect artist. Once he hits that stride....everyone will have to shut up....watch and learn. Trust me.

Out at the moment you have the "Remind Me EP" with Bill Breaks, what kind of feedback have you been getting from this.

 As for 'Remind Me'.....feebacks been positive. We made that project in a day. It has a distinct 'Breaksian' feel to it....which definitely brought out a more reflective mellow side to my performance on it. AT 23 minutes long.....you have no excuse for not checking it.

What are your influences? (This can be mc's/producers, but just anything that influences you to make the music you do)
Influences? Production wise my crew is mostly in house so we're spoiled a lot. I think because of this we can be inward looking....which may come accross like we don't listen to other people. The truth is though.....we have such diversity at close quarters so we're always going through creative shifts whether it be writing, delivery, production, performance, battling etc etc. For me....Mog and Louie are not only a continued source of inspiration....but also a reminder to me about the type of writer I am. They remind me of how I should be sounding.....how I used to sound.....how I will sound in future. These days I don't listen to that much Scottish Rap. It has to be original to catch my ear....and originality only comes with experience. We're going through the 4th wave of Scottish Rap now....so naturally.....many of the artists are young and still figuring out who they are. Sometimes though this isn't present in the music. I'm drawn to vulnerability.....not braggadocia. I show my love and respect for scottish hip hop by dedicating my life to an intitution called Volition....not by downloading every rar file posted on the forum. Remember.....you're not a rapper.....you're a writer. Take on 'writer' as your sense of identity and the rapper will animate itself! Do it the other way about and I will probably fall asleep

Ok before i go Dyou have any shoutouts?
Shout outs go to everyone I know and who knows me. Shout outs to all the followers of the music. Product you can hold in your hand is coming....I promise. Thanks for your patience. And a big shout to Raymond Simpson. We think about you every day mate. x

Thanks to Loki as always for taking the time out to do this.

You can get a hold of the Remind Me EP with Bill Breaks and the extended Do Not Disturbed project below.

Remind Me EP
 Remind Me EP by BilL Breaks

Do Not Disturbed
 Loki Do Not Disturbed Album (Plead the Sheridan EDITION) by volitionglasgow

Ghost 67 (Interview)

Today we done an interview with Ghost from England who talks to us about his life and music.


Check It Out

Alright Man, how how you doing today?
I’m good thanks, a little tired but good. I got a lil tipsy at the weekend for my boy’s wedding so I’m feeling tender.

Where you from?
I’m from Stratford On Avon, a small town in the Midlands, UK. It’s the birthplace of Shakespeare so we get mad tourists every day of every damn month. I like it though, I don’t get on well with crowded city life.

Describe your music in 3 words?
Deep. Honest. Funny.

When did you first start getting into Hip Hop?
I got into it when I was at high school. I started listening to Ice-T and just couldn’t believe some of the shit he was saying. I absolutely loved that he could put his rawest thoughts on a record and actually get it heard... and make money from it. Then I heard Cypress Hill and it pretty much went from there. The more I listened, the more I fell in love.

How did you first start getting into making music?
I started writing verses as a way of expressing myself. After a while I figured I’d see what the recording game was like so I went to a basement studio and laid down 7 tracks. They were awful!! The production was great (because I had no part of that) but my flow was horrendous. I remember I didn’t write any choruses because I literally had no idea how to, I had no idea how important the hook or chorus was in a song so I just left them out! After that I reassessed everything but mainly focused on my flow. As far as beat making, I’ve never had any part of that, aside from the back-of-the-room comments I throw at producers now and then.

Now at the moment your promoting your new debut album "Footsteps of an Angel of Sin" , What can we expect from this man?
Man, this album is pretty much my life. The album as a whole is based on a 2 year period in my life that I really struggled through. I think there’s only one song on there, it’s called Regular Guys and features Blade, which was written before the 2 year period started. Footsteps represents the period in someone’s life when they are completely lost, they don’t have the answers for how they’re feeling and they turn to thing’s they normally wouldn’t in order to get them through a tough situation. I listen to a lot of music and some of the stuff I was hearing was so focused on trying to impress the listener that I felt the artist lost the honesty that I was so used to hearing. So I based my approach on that honesty, I sat and started writing down exactly how I felt; be it happy, sad, aggressive, suicidal or whatever. I made a promise to myself that I’d write the album like I was writing a book, like a diary of fucked up events throughout the 2 years. I would say to anyone wanting to listen to the album, you can expect to feel like you’re gonna know me a lot better after listening to it than you did before. Honesty is my thing man, I’ve tried to keep everything as honest and straight up as I can, without upsetting those close to me. It’s been tough writing some of the stuff that you know your parents and loved ones would definitely not wanna hear... But I made that promise to myself and so they have to hear it; they always listen to a new track first though so they can prepare for what others are about to hear. There’s a mixture of songs on the album, some very funny, some very sad, some very angry and some just very chilled. It’s my life man.

And when roughly were you hoping on putting it out?
It was meant to be out the start of 2011 but I’m still putting the final touches to it. I’m waiting on one more verse to be sent to me and then it’s a wrap. The first single, Angel of Sin was released about 2 weeks ago and is available to buy on all major online stores (iTunes, Amazon, Tesco etc)> I’m hoping for an autumn drop at the moment. The second single which is called Land of the Lost and features Celph Titled is the next focus and then it’s the album itself.

Ok have you been involved in many open mics, or gigs?

No. I’ve had many opportunities to perform but in all honesty, I hate the attention. I don’t get a buzz from it whatsoever and figure I couldn’t give the fans 110% if I didn’t enjoy it. So I stick mainly to studio work. I set up studio tours where I’ll fly to NY and Detroit and work with new artists... But I leave the stage stuff for those who really enjoy it. The studio is my home, that’s the place I feel most understood.

Do you feel you may be missing out on some new fans, as you don't do live shows?
Yeah definitely. It was something I weighed up quite seriously in my head but at the time that decision was made I was playing rugby every weekend and training most nights, as well as writing music, recording, working and trying to have a personal life. I did originally start off with a view to do live stuff but the deeper I got involved with rugby and music, the more I ignored the important people in my life. The girl I had at the time, I felt was constantly being let down by me because I was either playing rugby, weight training or writing and recording music. The music itself could never be replaced and nor could the training and rugby so I evaluated it all and figured I would just never do the live thing, that way atleast I was at home with my family and friends instead of on stage somewhere with a bunch of strangers infront of me. I do travel and I have no issues with performing for people or meeting new emcee's and working with them, infact I literally this second just got off the phone with an airline to book up another trip to Detroit to record with my boy Solystic (check him out, very talented).... it's just I enjoy leaving the studio and shutting off, walking around my home town where everyone knows me as Chris and living a quiet life. It's a big weigh up but at the moment the reclusive lifestyle suits me very well.

What acts have you worked with so far?
I have collaborated with many talented artists. On the Footsteps of an Angel of Sin album you can expect to hear Celph Titled, Nightwalker, Blade of Mark B & Blade, Face of So Solid Crew, Mr CRF, Wordsmiff and a great singer called Sophie Sheppard. I’ve also worked with a bunch of others but you can check them out on my website. I’m in talks with 2 or 3 very good emcee’s at the moment about featuring on the next album and everything is very positive right now so hopefully the next project will be equally solid!

What are your influences? (This can be mc's/producers, but just anything that influences you to make the music you do)
Musically, my influences are very widespread. Pink Floyd, John Denver, Mike Oldfield, Led Zeppelin, Blade, Ice-T, Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Springsteen. Life wise, my influences are my family and friends. I take friendship extremely seriously and only surround myself with people I feel I can be completely comfortable around. Once I feel comfortable I generally talk a bunch of shit to see what makes people laugh, cry etc.... I then use those reactions to help with what I write about. It sounds deep but it’s not, I basically say offensive dumb shit and if people laugh then I know it’s gonna work in a song. If it offends people then I know I have to dumb it down a little so the average human doesn’t start hating on me.

Links to check?
www.ghost67.co.uk
www.reverbnation.com/ghost67
www.myspace.com/ghost67
I’m also on facebook but you can just google me for that.

Ok before i go Dyou have any shoutouts?
Big props to everyone who bought the Angel of Sin single, I really appreciate you spending that hard earned money on my song. I really do, I feel blessed that you’d spend the time to do that. All the fans I’ve picked up along the way that stay true, make videos for me, plug my music, spread the word and do their bit to keep me moving. The handful of artists that I am very close to and speak to for advice – thankyou! Oh and strippers.... I wanna thank every stripper that’s entertained me! Mad love and big peace!

I wanna give a big shout to Ghost for taking time out to do this, Big Up to him


And go check for his music people, believe me it's dope.

Kulez (Interview)

Standup Worldwide were lucky enough to catch up with Kulez about his latest EP, available now to get your hands on.

He's also on tour at the moment too, links are in the interview to check it all out.

SUW - What's Happenin Kulez, Good to see were finally gettin this interview done (All My Fault) but were doin it now, can you introduce yourself to the people that may not have heard of you?

Kulez - do ur research, I have a heap of battles I won and lost. 2 mixtapes deap, on da stand vol 1, vol 2 and a recent e.p out under the alias Kuda brown. That's the official shit, check the freestyles and remixes aswell. I do it all myself, from the management to the bookings to the promotion to the graphics to the press write ups (a hint of journalism there) to some of the production to some extent. Looking to start doing some videos soon. I'm currently going on tour, don't think that's some agency, that's me. 9 U.K dates confirmed, 2 in Europe, looking for more!

SUW - That sounds dope man, so do you feel it's better taking a stand and doing your own thing rather than letting someone take care of your shit?

Kulez - Yeah, I like to see every thing, have full control. I'm currently booking pusha t from clipse for a date in the uk on the 24th of September. I have a p.r and press company working on his p.r for the next 3 months but I still want to screen every thing and work with them closely rather than hand over the links and let them do their magic.

SUW - Ok now how did you first start off in the hip hop scene, did you just start by battling?

Kulez - As dumb as it sounds no. I started making music at like 14 in a crew called empire then moved to a duo called v.o.t.e standing for voice of the east, east being east anglia. Before that I attempted the guitar, played piano, my older brother schooled me on the drum kit and my mum made me sing in church. - it sucked that's y I don't go no more.

SUW - Dyou still work with the guys, and do you plan on using your instrumental skills on making your own backing music?

Kulez - Yeah, I wanna make all kinds of music, not just underground hip hop, that's why I have Kuda brown for my most sincere fan base.

SUW - What happened during 2009 and 2011, you kind went off the radar a bit?

Kulez - How did I go off the radar in that period? I got off the battle radar. I did alot of dubstep hosting at major raves in London. My live P.A show count was over a 100, fully paid events. I dropped a Mixtape sponsored by shmack clothing, had RA the Rugged man live at the vibe bar, t shirt printing, stickers, building the following, a bunch of festivals, not to mention the 10 bags from the BBC. Started getting featured on BBC Introducing Norfolk which led to some air play. Broke twice as many laws and didn't get caught. Freestyled enough verses to last 66 albums. I branched off into loads of other things like events promotion, built up my skills up as a producer, a lot of planing and thinking stuff through and picked up on other technics. Just all round growing up as well, which is always good outside the limelight - come on I was classed one of the top uk freestylers by the age of 16. And that's what turned into reality, alot of plans do fall through in this industry alot of money gets lost, it's not about the losses it's about how you overcome them...

SUW - Now the whole Scribble Jam thing musta filled you with high hopes cos it's a great thing how did you think you would get on at the time?

Kulez - Yeah i won the uk qualifiers 5days after not winning a single battle in the world rap championships. Got put on national radio, loads of press, and got flown out to america to try winning 5000 dollars to insult people. I'd love to go back and do it properly. I flew out the day they had terrorist scares in London, all fights where delayed, had no sleep, missed my transfer from Detroit but the weed I smuggled in my aerosol cap made the touch down in ohio so much better! shame it's stopped, iv always dreamt of resurrecting it in the U.K or something similar.

SUW - Now there was only one video i could find from you time at Scribble Jam, which was you and Deuce Leader, Mad slept on in this battle man there was very little to no crowd reaction on this, What's your thoughts on it?

Kulez - Yeah I wish I won and went further. Reef the lost cause was battling, I wanted in! They had the 1st 3 way battle at scribble that year. Plus illmaculate, thesaurus, nocando. Brother Ali did a live P.A. Iron soloman tlking about he is about to battle Jin. The pizzas...american portions! And ur changing pounds 2 dollars - 06 scribble was big! Check the parking lot battles vs big mox, ikon the mic king was around, the BBQ the next day, where I battled a few heads, tryna find a strib club in cinncinati, the marble bathroom floors in the hotel! Zoop! Zoop!

SUW - Your new EP, you got any surprises in store for us?

Kulez - It's an alias. Kuda brown. I wanted to always have a raw underground avenue to put stuff out even if I do decide to make other kinds of music in the future. The E.P is just an introduction, there is more to come from Kuda brown, as well as more to come from Kulez. Kuda brown is based on the completely stereotypical underground rapper at rock bottom.

SUW - Where can we get a hold of your new EP?

Kulez - Http://www.kudabrown.tk but it is currently sold out! Moved a lot of units in the 1st week. No digital copies, didn't want it to be a this one time at band camp story, it's some underground raw shit which u can only get on compact disc. Nearly put it out on tape only...catch me on tour or make an order and you will probably get it 2 months late!

SUW -You Got any shoutouts for people?

Kulez - My DJ holding it down on tour! My dealer who Kuda brown owes a tick to.

Big thanks to Kulez for doing this interview with me, its taken a while to be put on the internet but it's here and that's the main thing.

Go get the Kuda Brown LP, from his site, it's dope

Peace

Standup Worldwide

R.A The Rugged Man (Interview)

R.A. The Rugged Man Interview by Scotland Stand Up Blog

Cyrus Malachi Interview

I recently had the chance to catch up with Cyrus Malachi and heres what he had to say.

CB: Thanks for taking the time to sit down with Certified Banger, can you fill in those who may not be aware of you with some history?

CYRUS MALACHI: yeah man no doubt, i first was heard on m9's debut mixape ''High Fidelity'' which dropped in 2007, i then was introduced further to the game with the Triple darkness debut album''Anathema'' which dropped in 2008, later that year i was heard on numerous cameos off the M9 sophomore mixtape/project 144,000, the following year in 2009 i was part of a group some were deeming a supergroup Orphans of Cush, we dropped a mixtape ''White Noize'', then in july 2010 i dropped my first solo mixtape ''The Isis Papers'' vol 1, which will be followed up by a Vol 2 in March 2011, then the following month my solo debut L.P ''Ancient Future'' will drop 11th April...

CB: The new album "Ancient Future" is out on April 11th how does this differ to your previous work and who have you lined up for production and features?
CYRUS MALACHI: It fundamentally differs firstly because its the first album ive ever done solo, so people are gonna get to know more about me as an artist, also i touch on some very personal life experiances, a side no one has seen much of, it is insanely lyrical,ridiculously concentrate hip hop steeped in symbollism, positive thought, knowledge and wisdom, the horrors of street life but at other times
its simple,clear,relatable,understandable, emotive and powerfully moving...feature wise there is a strong American Prescence on the album, something i know some over patriotic fans might not like, but i dont share the belief of fuck the yanks, i wave the uk hip hop flag all day, coz thats how i came up, but the world is much bigger than this island and we have to realise that, and above all America gave birth to this music we love so working with the finest emcees from over there is an honour regardless of what some people may say, and as well as that i have a least 10 tracks on my album which only feature myself so i dont think anyone will be able to say i couldnt hold it down solo, i got The Wisemen on there a siick detroit based Wu Tang branch off group led by the lyrical and production mystro Bronze Nazereth, i got one of hottest rappers on the US underground Ruste Juxx reppin Duck Down records, the Wu Elements producer and Emcee Darkim Be Allah and the late great Killa Sha R.I.P which was a special honour coz i grew up listening to that guy , man....UK got Kyza Smirnoff, Melanin 9, Iron Braydz, Cipher jewels, also got a hot US female vocalist on there by the name of Letia La'rock....beats, Beat Butcha, 7th Dan, Diplimat, Anatomy, Noize Theivery, Endemic, Jon Phonics and Morph.

CB: You and No Cure Records in general have been making a lot of moves in America lately, considering most artists this side of the Atlantic struggle to make an impact there what do you think has been key to this success?

CYRUS MALACHI: I think the key is its real hip hop first of all, people recognize real shit wherever you are, also i rap about the street instead of glorifying it, i show the horrors of it and brothas can relate to that, people say i have a deep baritone vocal which has quite a lot of force to it, i came through the same mystery schools of thought a lotta American rappers have, and i make very traditional hip hop not anything derrivitive like some weird funky house electro shit with bars put on top of it just good pure hip hop, and one more major factor is the very astute work of No cure Records owned by Endemic, who has the business acumen,drive, passion,connects and networking skills to make big things happen for his artists.

CB: Is there any plans for a tour to coincide with the release?

CYRUS MALACHI: Not as of yet, but i would love to tour man especially for this album..

CB: Okay youve worked with some great artists,is there anyone you would like to work with in the future?
CYRUS MALACHI: For sure man, erm, Raekwon, Roc Marciano, Sean Price, REKS, Slaughterhouse, Vinnie Paz, Rass Kass, Shabazz the disciple, Killah Priest, GZA, RZA, Tragedy Khadafi, Black Milk, Apollo Brown, Black the Ripper, Klashnekoff,Phi Life Cypher, Chester P, the P Brothers and he legendary Hackney based Uk crew 12 Stone, to name a few

CB: So whats next for Cyrus Malachi?

CYRUS MALACHI: What ever the universe throws a me bro, all i know is in the last few months iv had some shit happen to me that made me realise I was born to do this, i truly believe that.

CB: Is there anything youd like to add?

CYRUS MALACHI: nothing much, just KEEP HIP HOP ALIVE...

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Rewd Adams Interview

In the week of the ‘Rewd Awakening’ release we caught up with Rewd Adams to talk about everything from the history to the future, Radio 1 to religion and Prison to Plan B……….

For people who don’t know your history can you please tell us where it all started for you in terms of first putting the pen to pad?

I tried a little bit of drum and bass mcing when I was about 20 under the name Creeper. It kind of got semi serious to the stage where I was performing at some up and coming jams in London. I went away for a bit ‘on a holiday’ then when I came back I was less into the drum and bass and more into UK hip hop. Some guys that I was running with put me onto guys like Jehst and Taskforce. From then I thought yeah I want to be doing this. It was about 2004 when it all started.


Im not a fan of labelling MCs into categories. I much prefer to hear where they came up from and let people build their own assumptions. Please tell us your background in music in general?

I don’t really come from a musical background at all. I grew up listening to DnB, jungle UK music and my Dad was banging out a lot of rock and roll like Cream and people like that. I grew up on UK stuff. Right now I listen to a lot of soul and old RnB. Things like Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers and Earth Wind And Fire.

Going back ‘Project A' was your first official release and saw you putting your vocals to beats by the already well established producer Chemo. How did this connection come about?

I met Chemo through Manage who was my next door neighbour back in the day. Chemo was engineering for Manage and Wordsmith. From there we started recording....

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE

Genesis Elijah - Interview

Genesis Elijah speaks on his come up in the industry and explains some of the reasons behind his content and approach to his work. Giving some insight into his background and how he hopes to question the powers that be from a laymens perspective. Codeemphasis provided the visuals for this candid interview shot in South London.

Instance Interview #2

"I think properly blowing in the UK would present any underground artist with a dilemma. Do you want to make serious money out of music or not?"

The second Certified Banger interview with rapper Instance was about due and with a new free EP just dropping and a long player just around the corner, now seemed like a good time:

Certified Banger: Yo Instance. What’s going on? What’s been happening since the last time we interviewed you?

Instance: Hello sirrrrr, good to be back, it’s been a while (early 2008 I think). Things have been sweet man. Since we last spoke I dropped my last LP ‘Demographic’, and got on the grind promoting that out of Leeds. We had the usual problem of getting a decent distribution deal for the physical product. We thought f**k it so and me and Mike D from Subterrania rinsed the North with street promotion, think we sold/blagged/traded to the tune of 2000 copies. Since then there’s been another 2 free mixtapes; ‘Collision Course’ and ‘Heavy Rotation’ which were pretty unconstrained and lots of fun. Apart from the studio stuff, I put on a few hip hop nights in Leeds. Despite having a few run-ins with the council and environmental health our nights were always packed and live-o! Big up to everyone who came, even if you did graff up the toilets! NOTHING compares to the nerves you feel before you hold an event that you’ve put £1000 of your own money into - your balls are on the chopping block as a promoter! It’s a different sort of rush though! Erm, what else? I’ve been expanding my design portfolio, including a handful of album art work covers namely for Defenders of Style and Northern Hostility. I’ve made some more links, burnt a few bridges, but that’s life.

Click here to read on.

emceeKilla Interview

"I think with whoever gets in power, we will still be in a war, the economy will still be down and slowly picking up, our taxes will be raised and the poor will still be hit the hardest. All views aside I would like to see Liberal Democrats get the vote just to give them a chance, what have we got to lose?"

Politically-minded MC emceeKilla featured on the very first volume of 'On The Radar'. Since then he's gone on to release his debut album 'Mind Of A Tehranist'. I was reading his blog and realised that he had a lot to say, and people with things to say get interviews:

Certified Banger: For those who haven’t heard your music; introduce yourself and describe your music:

emceeKilla: I’m emceeKilla; a rapper originally from North London but have lived in the sticks and Nottingham too over the years. My music is conscious, deep and heartfelt and focuses on the reality of social pressures and political issues and many other types of high rank buggery. I am versatile though and do like to move away from that when I can and want to.

CB: What inspires you to write and record?

eK: Everyday situations are the main thing that inspire me; anything that I feel is interesting to rap about I tend to rap about. I’m not really a materialistic person so fashion and jewellery aren’t things that inspire me to write - I write a lot more about the ups and downs of the life we lead whether it be through my eyes or another person’s. My surroundings also play a big part, I live in the city and gain a lot of inspiration from just witnessing things walking down the road but also have people in the countryside I see which again inspires me to write as things are seen from a totally different perspective there. Beats are also a great inspiration.

Read on to find out his top 5 of socio-political tracks and what he believes is happening behind closed doors in this country

Mystro Interview

"If you do constantly write you end up saying the same thing and that’s what you hear from people who claim they write all the time."

On Saturday night Mystro graced Leeds with his presence as he performed at the Golden Mic Challenge's first round. With a less than adequate sound system (no monitors) Mystro rocked the stage, the crowd and everything else with a set combining old and new material (really dope new material) and afterwards agreed to do an interview with Certified Banger:

Certified Banger: Ok, we don’t need the basics; everyone on the site should know who you are already.

Mystro: Hopefully!

CB: You’ve just come back from Australia and New Zealand. What’ve you been doing there?

Mystro: Just causing more trouble really man. I had to do a festival called Splore in NZ and around that we managed to hook up a few more gigs in Auckland, Wellington. We flew to Australia to do Sydney, Brisbourne and Melbourne just to make it more of a trip. You go all that way, man, it’s gotta be done. I did a bit of writing too but I was just thinking of you lot in the snow really! I went there and did a tour, promoted the ‘F.D.T.’ EP and it went well man. I got some interest for future releases later on in the year to get out in NZ and Oz in terms of distribution and licensing so I’m definitely happy about that.

Click here to read on to find more about his forthcoming EP ('Digmund Freud'), album ('Mystrogen') and loads more!

Diversion Tactics Interview

"We make hip hop, it’s not local and the drums smack."

If you hadn't heard, Diversion Tactics are back with their album 'Careful on the Way Up'. Zygote, Jazz T and Chubby took time to answer my questions about the LP, the label and life:

Certified Banger: Whasup? Let’s begin with introductions: Who are you all and what part do you play in the Diversion Tactics machine?

Chubby: Frontman. Emcee. Recovering alcoholic.

Jazz T: Deejay. Producer. Promoter

Zygote: Producer, Engineer, Deejay

CB: Tell us about your new album. How would you compare it to your first album? What did you want to achieve with this release?

Jazz T: We toured hard off the first album so it was time to drop the new ish. Some of the tracks were performed live over the years anyway. As me and Zy had done our solo projects we all wanted to create another D.T. classic.

Chubby: It's a testament to keep doing your thing, making music your way and staying true to the culture. A little nudge to those that were full of it and ahead of themselves when we came up and ain't about no more. We got to remind people we still here in spite of all the Boot releases from the last eight years. We grown up. The music grown up. And still we proceed.

Zygote: The first album was sort of 15 years in the making; it was a lot of stuff we had to get off our chests. The new album has hints of the style of the first but also hints of maybe where we are going as well as where we are from.

Click here to read the rest

Skandal Interview

"...curb your ego, listen to criticism and take it on board, especially if its one of your peers or someone you rate."

Man of the moment Skandal has just dropped a mixtape which had the honour of being The Independent's album of the week. CB wanted to show support for an original 'On The Radar' artist so we got this interview done:

Certified Banger: What’s up Skandal? How are things with you?

Skandal: Things are s**t bruv - my macbook just died on me! Imma jump off a building in a minute, I may have lost near 3 years of work and rough songs.

CB: Man that's bad - hope you revive it, then you can get a PC and transfer all the files! You’ve just dropped your mixtape ‘Hunger Pains’ with the mighty DJ MK. How well is that being received?

S: It's doing really well, to be honest. I knew it was a solid release due to the work we put in but it's done well; it got album of the week in The Independent newspaper!

CB: High praise indeed! Tell us a bit about it – is it a collection of stuff you’ve been working on over a short or long period of time? Are there original beats or dubs? How would you describe its overall sound?

Click here to read on.

On The Radar Artist Interview: Vee Kay

"Sometimes I use a mic to record vocals, but most of the time I rock some headphones through the input so I can keep it grimey."

Sometime around the time when 'On The Radar Vol. 4' dropped, UK Hip Hop producer Vee Kay let himself loose on the Certified Banger stock questions. It is only now that I have come to terms with his lack of respect and decided to blow the dust off the Word Doc for your public eyes to see:

Certified Banger: Can you tell us your necessary background details so we can build on basics for the rest of the interview? For example: who you are, where you are from, projects you have worked on, people you have worked with.

Vee Kay: I'm Vee Kay, I make Hip Hop and trans-atlantic-speed-bhangra. It's a fairly new genre, but it's coming on with quite a following - so far there's about 14 people into it!

CB: How would you describe your sound? Is there any one track that would best define your style?

VK: My sound is a mixture of Rice Krispies and chocolate. Oh, sorry, that’s Krispy Cakes. Well then my style is just whatever it comes out like at the time of creation - sometimes I'll make a beat with an artist in mind and we'll go from there, otherwise it's whatever sound I find that inspires me first.

Click here to continue with the madness.

Phoenix Da Icefire Interview

"Have you ever used the term vibe? ...what I do is listen to the vibe or vibration of the track and try to align myself with what I hear."

Having recently dropped his 'Baptism Under Fire' mixtape it was time that Certified Banger dusted off the old interviewing flex in order to get a few words from the man known only as Phoenix Da Icefire:

Certified Banger: Tell us about Phoenix Da Icefire - who is he?

Phoenix Da Icefire: The character I have created goes by the name of Phoenix Da Icefire, he is my alter ego, much more fierce and stronger than I show in my day to day life, I feel like I can do almost anything when I slip into the character of Phoenix.

I am also the other half of Higher Heights and was responsible for bringing out the ‘Anathema’ LP by Triple Darkness, I first featured on ‘High Fidelity’ (by M9) on a track called ‘Holy Water’ and a track that I have got for my album called ‘Mental Prisoners’. I put it on there so I could test the waters with the UK scene.

CB: You’ve just released your mixtape ‘Baptism Under Fire’. What else is on the way?

PDI: I’ve got an album coming called ‘Right Timing the Quantum Leap’, it features Kyza Smirnoff, Triple Darkness, 9 Planets, Jah Miracle, Midas Touch, Yasine and El Crisis.

Click here to read more!

'On The Radar' Artist Highlight: Delusionists Interview

"...humans aren't one dimensional, so music should reflect that."

After initially impressing me with their debut EP (which then went on to get a good review in HHC), then serving up a hot exclusive for 'On The Radar Vol. 4' and just generally having something going for themselves I had to get the inside info on this fresh UK Hip Hop duo:

Certified Banger: Can you tell us your necessary background details so we can build on basics for the rest of the interview? For example: who you are, projects you have worked on, people you have worked with.

Ben Black: Ben Black aka Beanz aka that rapper/producer out of Delusionists. We dropped our debut EP 'The Prolusion' earlier this year, which was a strictly in-house production. Off the strength of that we're starting to link with some other heads so we've got a few remixes and collabos bubbling beneath the surface... Some of it has come off the back of being on OTR4 so big up to Certified Banger for that!

Click here to read the rest of the interview.

'On The Radar Vol. 4' Artist Highlight: Lunar C

One of West Yorkshire's, and indeed the UK's, most promising MCs is Lunar C. Period. Check out what he has to say for himself:

Certified Banger: Can you tell us your necessary background details so we can build on basics for the rest of the interview?

Lunar C: Yoyoyo, I’m Lunar C - an MC from Missing People and Sinoptic Crew.

CB: What are your current or upcoming projects? ie albums, singles, tours, guest spots…

LC: I’ve been working on quite a lot of projects this year. A few months ago me and Missing People released our debut EP ‘Glossop View’. I’m just about to release my debut solo project ‘The Lunar CD’ which should be out in the next two months and will only cost £1; so get your squid out! It’s gonna have roughly 20 of my best tracks on there and some sick features from West Yorkshire’s finest MCs and producers.

Also the whole Sinoptic crew (Lunar C, EXP, JND, Angry Nik, WYdeboi, Neverlearn and Angela Bellis) have got ‘The Badger Sex mixtape‘ coming in the next few months too which is just gonna be all of us killing it.

This year I’ve featured on JND’s ‘Working Classics’, Mastermind’s ‘Cut n Paste mixtape’ and I’ve just laid a verse down on a remix of Wu-Tang’s ‘Criminology’ track which is gonna be 6 MC’s: Me, Jack Flash, J Simple, Joker Starr, Spida Lee and Gen for Gen’s ‘Forbidden Jutsu mixtape’. Me and WYdeboi have been collaborating with a sick beatmaker from Leeds called Bridgens. I’ve collabed with No Pretense, Adverse and Immranimal from Shedmen, Leady and maybe more which I might have forgotten.

I’ve also got a crew of about 6 14 and 15 year old MCs that I’m kinda mentoring and they know all about Hip Hop which is rare for young UK MCs these days. I truly believe they are gonna shock alot of people with the skill they already have - they freestyle and write everyday and are about to do their first track soon so look out for Kontraband, Kid Nem and Sinister!

Click here to read on

'On The Radar Vol. 4' Artist Highlight: The Riddlah

Here's my interview with The Riddlah, a producer and MC who featured on 'On The Radar Volume 4', who took a second to answer some questions about being who he is:

Certified Banger: Can you tell us your necessary background details so we can build on basics for the rest of the interview? For example: who you are, where you are from, projects you have worked on, people you have worked with.

The Riddlah: Cool, yeah, I grew up listening to many different types of music. From as early as I can remember I have been surrounded by music around the house, back when I lived at my mum’s, with my older brother heavily involved in the underground metal scene in Scotland and my older sisters’ love for musicals and plays. I’ve always had a passion for music and kinda wanted to do something. Once I got to the age of choosing a genre so to speak, Hip Hop was what I had grown to like the most. I grew up in Leith, Edinburgh, and went to a prominent Leith school, made lots of friends due to my outgoing side, and Leith became my ‘hood’. Once leaving school time came, when I was 16 (in ‘98) I started to show more interest in writing rhymes and I wondered if it was possible for Scottish people to rap. Things have moved on in massively over time, and I’ve now worked with a lot of the biggest names in the Scottish Hip Hop scene, and I continue to try and push our Scottish sound further south for listeners. I’m always contributing beats and rhymes to projects artists are working on, and you can find quite a lot of my work on local releases, but I also release my own UVBeatz Volumes, on free downloads and printed CDs with covers, these releases are proving to be quite popular with them getting downloads from other countries too, not just in the local scene, im currently putting most of my energy into the LP I’m working on. It’s gonna feature artists from all round the globe but still dominantly Scottish. Release details will follow in the near future with it being a more proper/professional release.

Click here to read more about how he works and who and what he works with

'On The Radar Vol. 4' Artist Highlight: Leady

Having featured on 'On The Radar Volume 4' with his track 'Travelling Man' it was time that Leady got the Certified Banger interview treatment. See what he has to say for himself:

Certified Banger: Can you tell us your necessary background details so we can build on basics for the rest of the interview?

Leady: My name is Leady and I have featured on Mixtapes such as UK Runnings, HHB Radio Mixtapes, Certified Banger 'On The Radar', I have worked with the likes of Filthy Rich, JabbaThaKut, Beit Nun, Baron Samedi, Joe Gutta, Lunar C, WydeBoi, EXP, and plenty more.

CB: What are your current or upcoming projects?

L: Currently I'm working on my solo project 'Toxic Nonsense' as well starting possible joint projects with the likes of Manchester based Producer X-FIRE or Huddersfield producer Kegzi. Obviously I have a track featuring on the current Certified Banger 'On The Radar Vol.4'. Also I will be featuring on a project that will be released by E.L.D.E.R.S, a coalition of MCs from the states, Canada and the UK put together for working together, and promoting each other as well, so with that said, keep eyes open for the debut from E.L.D.E.R.S - 'The Black List'.

Click here to read the rest of the interview

Also check out:
www.myspace.com/mrleady
www.reverbnation.com/leady
www.youtube.com/leady
www.youtube.com/Illuminatielders
www.myspace.com/illuminatielders