When did you get into the hip hop culture?
Before I became an MC I was a poet at UCT and my friends heard me reciting and judging by my poetry they could tell that I can rhyme, and then they asked me to join them.
What is your definition of an MC?
An MC is some one who is brave enough to represent what they think, it is some one who has an awareness of what’s
Around them and is also fascinated by the expression of self.
What inspires you as a hip hop artist?
Everyday life, conspiracy theories and the history of South Africa
Since you started rhyming how many albums have you recorded name them?
Smiley's Place
The junk inside wood
Red bacteria vol 1 and 2
Schizophrenia
And under achievers with Jomo 5219 and Beef 37
What keeps you sane?
Music keeps me sane I once dropped out of varsity to pursue music.
Do you think hip hop and poetry in East London is under developed?
Not really just that too many artists expect hand outs and the unfortunate thing is that they are lazy.
Was your music so important that you had to quit school in order to pursue it?
I started rhyming when I was still a student at UCT and I realised that I was spending more time outside of class than inside.
This was due to the fact that I was learning more about myself and life through my interest and exposure to hip hop. So, eventually, I did drop out to follow a career in hip hop. Unfortunately, I was not as wise then as I hope I am now in life. The industry and relations with people taught me some serious lessons about hard work and dedication.
I realised then that nobody was going to just hand over a recording deal to me no matter how good I thought I was and I needed a plan for what I was going to do.
Are you where you want to be musically?
In terms of ability, I think I’m in a very good place as there isn’t much that I am afraid to try and I do not doubt myself anymore. But as an artist I can never allow myself to feel with where I am due to a fear of becoming complacent.
I feel the five albums I have done are a dress rehearsal for the greater things to come. Once I have setup my own studio and started distributing my music in a way that I feel doesn’t compromise my sound, then I will feel that I am almost where I want to be.
Which artists, both national and international, inspire you?
There are too many to mention, but a few significant ones in terms of development are:
Internationally – WuTang, Company Flow, Cannibal Ox, Micronots, Blu & Exile, The Specifics, Mos Def, MF Doom, Madlib…
Locally – Groundworx, LifeForces, UnderAchievers, King Daniel and a whole lot of other peeps who haven’t given themselves hip hop names yet.
What was your life like before you started rapping?
Before hip hop, I was just another nice guy with lots of women friends, but no woman. Now, I am still a nice guy with no woman, but a whole lot more in tune with who I am.
Rhyming helped me stop expecting life to hand things to me just because I was a nice guy, but instead to go after what I wanted and take it.
And growing up?
I grew up in boarding school from age five to age thirteen.
I thing I owe a lot of who I am to these eight years as I learned how to be myself and not be scared to express myself and experiment creatively and also to appreciate learning through reading. Only later did I incorporate experience as a great way to learn.
Are you still together with UnderAchievers?
UnderAchievers are still going strong, since its really about three friends doing their thing.
It isn’t about recording and performing, it is about hanging out, painting, hosting shows (Purist Form with DJ B One) and enjoying life.
So far we have recorded one 10-track LP and we plan a full album soon.
What project are you currently working on as a group?
Right now, one of us (Bief 37) is working on a solo album, so we are all on board helping out.
Also, LifeForces is working on a reunion album and two UnderAchievers” are LifeForces members so we are involved there too.
The again, some time soon, in a galaxy near you, the UnderAchievers album will drop.
Is it true that you tagged indoors at the Imbizo Jazz café?
Tagged? What is tagging again? (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it)
Are you romantically linked?
Romantically linked? No, not that I know of, but I do love nature.
What is the one thing that people do not know about you that you mind them knowing?
If I really minded, I don’t think I would tell even you, but since you asked… I don’t think I hate Will Smith as much as I pretend to (I cried during Seven Pounds). |
