His persona blends the audacity of Dana Dane, the decadence of ‘Diddy and the playful swagger of The Fresh Prince with the smut of Lil Kim - And yet, in spite of these seemingly innocuous influences, this “Dangerous” chap is unnerving more “real” Heads than a supergroup comprising Necro, Big Lurch and Luthor Campbell ever could. If you’re curious, read on and Johnny’ll reveal all..
So who’s ukhh’s latest interviewee? He’s Gon, he’s from the windy city – and, frankly my dears, you should give a damn. Picking up where a pre-stardom Common left off, Gon’s densely-packed observational lyricism, notable for a remarkable linguistic nimbleness, merits favourable comparisons with Slug, Braille, Murs and even Sage Francis. Pootle emerges from hibernation (and no net connection) to find out more about the perspicacious wordsmith and his plans for 2007.
March 2007 is a month of several anniversaries which ukhh.com is eager to mark. Mindful of Dead Prez’s message, "it’s bigger than hip hop", We had to think long and hard about which artist was best qualified to fill the monumental 500th interview spot and who could then best render the bigger picture from this position… Who better than Immortal Technique to lend us some perspective? Here’s what happened when Pootle asked ‘Tech about almost everything other than Rap.
Each new year serves hip hop a fresh round of highs and lows and this year, no scene has enjoyed bigger gains nor been dealt harder blows than the city of Detroit. What’s more, no Detroit emcee is able to bestride real life’s mix of comedy and tragedy with anything approaching the fierce flamboyance of Paradime. Paradime offers ukhh.com his take on the year and his hopes for the future…
If well-deserved respect was bankable currency, this idiosyncratic multi-instrumentalist emcee-producer would have become a zillionare years ago. Dwight Farrell has worked with many a giant of modern jazz and legend of underground Rap - and yet, his riveting (and heavily bootlegged) rough’n’ready records still, somehow, remain absent from too many heads’ collections. Here’s what Pootle found out about The Count’s creative process, professional goals and attitude toward the record industry...
No matter how much you think you know about it, hip hop is always ready to lead its most avid followers on a never-ending wild-goose-chase of discoveries. You want proof? It’s thanks to Connecticut-based, Puerto Rico born emcee Emilio Lopez that ukhh.com is able to bring its latest interview with a UK artist. Cruelly shunned by his compatriots, West-London producer Q’ Tones bypassed the petty bickering of the UK hip hop playschool and has gone straight to working with the big boys of the US Tru Skool. Q Tones speaks freely with Pootle about his trail-blazing career path and how he turned that UKHH frown upside down.
The story of Darren Cudjoe-Cole is the story of a performer whose fortunes continue to swing from staircase to stage and back again. The Barbara Spekes Stage School Alumnus and professional street-dancer is probably more familiar to most for his TV appearances but since the late ‘90s, he’s been determined to make something of himself with his first love, hip hop. Now in the autumn of 2006, this West London emcee/producer is on a quest to consolidate eight years’ of groundwork to establish a presence beyond that of mere local hero –and where else to come to get that ball rolling but ukhh.com?
Do you remember the last time Rap groups strove to both move and improve the crowd? Do you remember how a trio of visionaries from New Jersey Banded together and blended Dancehall’s party spirit with boom bap brazenness across four consecutive classic albums? The Poor Righteous Teachers may have been on sabbaticals for nearly a decade but their emcee is now older, wiser and back with a smashing second solo album. Pootle gets “Ghetto Political” with Timothy Taylor about Live8, cover artwork, the new album, the new label and the rise and fall (and envisioned resurgence) of socially conscious hip hop...
Del tha/the Funkee/Funky Homosapien is not only a proof-reader’s nightmare but also the name of one of those inexplicably unlucky, inexcusably unappreciated emcees. Despite being a DIY Indy-hop trail blazer, despite possessing an ear-catching flow, despite exuding oodles of character, despite his recourse to a dressing-up-box-full of characters and, despite over fifteen year’s of influential longevity in the Rap game, Teren Jones remains unjustly under-rated and overlooked. Pootle was granted a few words with Deltron Zero and this is what the original voice of The Gorillaz and The Handsome Boy Modelling School had to say for and about himself...
Everybody knows about Michael Jackson, "King of Pop". All too few people however recognise Michael Jackson as a contender for the title “King of beats”…yet. So far overshadowed by the fame and acclaim of elder sibling Madlib, Oh No’s been working as hard as an ox to fast stack up an Impressively Immense (and immensely impressive) catalogue of work both sides of the boards. Here’s what Oh No had to say about himself and his contemporaries as he got set to drop one of the most exciting albums of the year...
dead prez and The Outlawz - these two superficially dissimilar collectives have collided and have released what is set to be but the first of many collaborative albums and mixtapes. At the end of July, Pootle was granted a three-way interview with representatives from both camps so what follows is what Young Noble and stic.man had to say about their differences, their similarities, their collaboration, their influences, their ambitions, their politics and the lowdown on everything they’re up to in 2006...
The name probably means nothing now but given the company he keeps, notably Apathy and the Demigodz and the music he’s putting out, it wont be long until Mr Lopez becomes a household name among Hip Hop heads. Whilst you were enjoying the sunshine of this summer’s historical heatwave, Pootle was busy Pootle doing this interview during which Emilio Lopez reveals his influences and sets out his plans for the future...
Rack Lo works as the charismatic Thirstin Howl III’s indispensable right-hand-man both on and off the mic: helping to found and run both Spit Factory and Skillionaire Ents. Having just released a joint double header LP and with loads more released on the way we thought Pootle should being you two separate indepth interviews with these hip hop Lo Lifes...
mates call him “Riz”, fans know him as “Eastborn” and the Glasgow City councillors who tried to slap him with an ASBO probably had a few other names to call him. No matter what his name is, he’s made a name for himself for putting in mad work: both on his own behalf and for UK hip hop’s international profile. Pootle managed to catch this globetrotting Glasgow mic gladiator for a few words and here’s what he had to say in both an interview and feature...
Like James Brown says, “This is a mans’ world.” Fans of US hip hop will be familiar with “man”s like Method Man, La the Darkman and Redman. UK hip hop devotees should at least know of “man”s like Darkman, Lil Angryman, Caveman and Skinnyman. Well now the UK hip hop fraternity needs to make room at the top table for the latest big man on campus, South London’s Illa Man. Here’s what the moshpit mic checka had to say to Pootle about that and this...
It's Independence Day, which is a good coincidence because our latest interview is with a truly great legendary independent - man of many monikers, producer and MC extraordinaire, the man behind the metal mask, and with producer of the moment Dangermouse is half of Dangerdoom, Pootle grabbed some words with MF DOOM
As one half of the Artifacts, el da Sensei made two much-loved albums of quality party music from which reverberations are still being felt today. As a solo artist, El da sensei continues to build an impressive CV of solo releases and constructive collaborations. Pootle speaks with this quintessential Tru Skool Eastcoast party rocker about touring abroad, collaborating, Common, Backpacks and the growing rift between young and old hip hop fans...
It’s easy to forget how, not so long ago, emcees were all about swinging swords, spitting darts, and unleashing all kinds of mystical martial arts merry hell to lay waste to rival temples. Former Wu Tang affiliate and Sunz of Man frontman Killah Priest has been declaring lyrical war for over a decade and now it looks like he might finally be securing the rank and territory for which he’s been fighting for so long. Pootle asked KP about reincarnation, religion, Professor X and the Black Market Militia and this is what he had to say about all that and a little bit more...
He’s been a Perverted Monk, a Black Prophet, a Supa Human, The Frustrated Nigga, a Renegade Slave and even a pimp called “Zilch” and he’s always been dope. His illustrious rap career has seen UKHH’s latest interviewee assume many guises whilst always retaining his uncompromising candour and indomitable flow - and fifteen years on in his career, he’s coming harder than ever before. From amid the splinters, sawdust, protruding nails and exposed wiring of a half-built New York recording studio, Kendrick Davis offers ukhh an insider’s insight into the world of DIY hip hop. Read and Heed the sage words of The Damaja ‘cus he aint no Tool Man. Can he fix it? Yes he can...
Funky DL30.05.06
At the time of release Funky DL’s unassuming debut album gave the then flagging mid-‘90s UK hip hop scene a much-needed kiss of life. Sadly however popular and critical acclaim of Dl’s oeuvre was short-lived. Exile from the UK hip hop limelight didn’t however stop DL from pushing on with a prodigious career overseas for the last decade. Pootle conducts a long overdue interview with this remarkably meek self-made, international hip hop trail-blazer to find out where he’s been and what he’s been up to...
Dominant G28.05.06
This former member of acclaimed UK group Psychic Phenomena is about to wake UK hip hop the flump up with his debut solo album. Pootle chats with Dominant G to find out where he’s coming from and where he’s @...
Hoodz Underground27.05.06
We recently asked forum users to say who they wanted ukhh to interview next and you told us so your wish is our command. They’ve got love for their city’s scene, they’ve got Love behind the boards on their beats and now they’ve got a second interview on this site. Pootle was sent to speak with Menace and Atcha, two members of Hoodz Underground, to find out why the second half of that Sheffield group’s name looks fast set to become a misnomer.…
Daz Sampson15.05.06
Ukhh.com is just like any other mean gang. We maintain a strict blood-in, blood-out admissions policy and if you want in, you’ve got to prove you’re prepared to get your hands dirty. Our latest writer Pootle had to prove he’s no mere puppet on a string by having a bit of a ding-ding-adong with lyrical Boom-bang-a-banger Daz Sampson. So Pootle… 'What, did you learn today?'
Doyen D 28.11.04
If you’re tired of all the wack BS and all the BS’ing wackness, Then Doyen D’s your man. His style is unorthodox yet devastatingly effective. He’s “unorthodox” because he makes reality rap that’s actually grounded in reality and “devastatingly effective” because the punchlines he issues pack the full force of the unembellished truth. In the month that Doyen D released what is hoped to be the first in a planned series of albums gathering together the best of his unreleased and unknown material, SuMoKaPlUnK got in touch with Mac Diesel to find out what he’s been up to since the release of End Game - and what the future holds for him and his fans.
Evil Ed 22.11.04
He’s worked with an impressively diverse number of UK hip hop artists ranging from Taskforce through to Junior Disprol and continues to receive well-deserved praise from everybody in between. Brighton deejay/producer. Evil Ed’s been around for a fair ol’ while but this month marks the publication of both his debut album and his first ever ukhh.com interview. Formerly the quiet man of UK hip hop, a little help from Sumo gets Evil Ed to crank up the volume a notch in preparation for his time in the spotlight. As well as explaining the making of The Enthusiast, Ed offers some interesting views on digger culture, growing old, networking and keeping sane.
BC400 06.11.04
Pretty much every member of London-based genre-defying outfit BC400 is multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-talented. Drawing together rappers, singers, producers and classical musicians from all over the place, BC400 are a formidable force that wows on stage and record alike. Sumo Kaplunk caught up with three of the crew for some indepth interviews
Oh No 27.10.04
Chances are, the name "Oh No" doesn't ring any bells just yet. That's finefor now. But read this interviewe and after you see with whom he's worked,with whom he's down and with whom he shares DNA, the name Oh No should meana whole lot more to you. Here's what the guy had to say about writing,producing and smoking when SuMoKaPlUnK added another trans-Atlantic call tohis phonebill
7L & Esoteric 24.10.04
Here's the second in the series of interviews with the brightest talents onBabygrande's books. This time, SuMoKaPlUnK caught a few words withproducer/deejay 7L and his emcee partner Esoteric. In the process ofgetting the Bostonite duo's thoughts on beats, eats and treats, it emergesthat ukhh.com may be being used as the latest battleground for an ongoingwar - So check out what they had to say and watch out for the shrapnel.
Junior Disprol of the Dead Residents 20.10.04
By day, he's a mild-mannered graphic designer free to wander unnoticedamongst the bustling Cardiff crowds. Place a microphone in front of himhowever and by night, ukhh's latest interviewee transforms into arampaging legion of wildly dissimilar voices, styles and subject matterhell-bent on providing monstrously amazing rap. SuMoKaPlUnK got on thephone to the unbelievably good (and surprisingly meek) Junior Disprol tofind out where he's been and what he's been up to since the Fleapit split....
Outer Space Interview 04.10.04
When their label is Babygrande, when Celph Titled and and Esoeteric are close allies and when their mentor is none other than Jedi Mind Tricks’ Vinnie Paz, there’s little room for confusion as to what Outer Space are all about. Far from the super scientifical fantasists their group name suggest them to be, the philadelphian duo of Crypt tha Warchild and Planetary are hardened hardcore boombap battlers. They’ve got rugged rhymes, rugged beats and rugged mates and when all this ruggedness convenes on the one CD, the outcome is a bloodthirsty rampage of keep-it-real fight music. In his first of a few interviews with the great and good signed to Baby Grande Records, SuMoKaPlUnK chats with Crypt and Planet about who they are, who they’re down with and where this bad lads’ army is headed.
PackFM Interview 29.09.04
For the third in this trio of interviews with emcees from the QN5 family,SuMoKaPlUnK talks to another member of Extended Famm. This time around,it's the turn of highly-decorated battler and punchline perfectionistPackFM. It's a short'n'sweet interview but should help to fill in some ofthe blanks between the answers of Kno and Tonedeff
Kno Interview 29.09.04
ukhh.com’s latest interviewee could not come more highly recommended. His work as one third of superbly witty trio Cunninlynguists has earnt Kno plenty plaudits from The Source, Urb and XXL. His production work for some of the great and good of hiphop (including KRS, Rahzel and Jugga the Bully - to name but three) has made him one of the most in-demand beatsmiths of the moment. In light of all this acclaim and adulation, the eve of release of The Cunninlynguists’ third album seemed like a great time for an interview.
Tonedeff Interview 29.09.04
Regrettably few emcees understand that what an emcee says and how they say it should be considered as one and the same and not as optional alternatives. Whereas most rappers are mere technicians of mechanical rhyme structures and formulaic wordplay, the witty emcees that form Extended F@mm have serious chops as consummate songwriters. There’s plenty rappers who can rap at high speeds but it takes Extended F@mm to take that raw technique and apply it to writing an incredible song where words are but the blocks forming the lines in a game of Tetris. For the first of a few interviews with members of the QN5 crew, SuMoKaPlUnK chats with label founder and Extended F@mm member Tonedeff about Friends, Famm, competition and greatness
CALM Urban Games Interviews 27.09.04
From Sumo Kaplunk's feature of the CALM Urban Games event staged in June he brings you a series of interviews with a wealth of artists who appeared at the event: Inja, Si Phili,Skinnyman, & Blade...
Juggaknots Interview 17.09.04
In the wake of release of the highly anticipated follow-up to their much talked-about debut album Clear Blue Skies, New York outfit The Juggaknots were up for speaking to ukhh.com. Here’s a tiny interview with The Juggaknots.
Earl Zinger Interview 09.09.04
Never heard of Earl Zinger? What about Rob Gallagher from Acid Jazz group Galliano? What about the guy who’s been travelling up and down this country (and a few in Europe) to explore and celebrate the power of the word in music, poetry and fiction? What about the guy who’s just dropped an album that turns Shoreditch chic inside out without ever resembling some sick cross between Mike Skinner and a Guardian Arts column? Still none the wiser? Well whatever the case, here’s an interview.
Fat Club Interview 05.09.04
First Rule of Fat Club: everybody should be talking about Fat Club. Second rule of Fat Club: when Turroe and The Bullet Proof Monk are speaking, you need to be paying close attention to the pearls of wisdom they are imparting. Third rule of Fat Club: recognise this duo as the masters of outrageous lyrics and cut & paste production they so clearly are. Fourth rule of Fat Club: stop watching me flog this dead horse that is this tenuous Fight Club parody and instead Check out what this Bristolian duo had to say when SuMoKaPlUnK bought the first round.
Murs Interview 27.08.04
Modest man of the world Murs is special because he knows he’s not. This Mid-City LA emcee utilises an unassuming everyman persona to highlight the universal truths of everyday experience. His extra ordinary repertoir of brotherly advice and locker-room candour epitomises the values for which the label 'Reality Rap' was meant to stand. Problem is, whilst those that have heard of his work love his work, these people in the know remain in a deplorable minority. Hopefully this interview will change this sad state of affairs...
Aspects Interview 23.08.04
When ukhh first caught up with the outrageous, open-hearted Bristol-based group in 2001, they were a ragtag quintet born from a crew of many more..In 2004 they’ve settled down into a firmly united quartet but no matter who or is not in the group (or who is or is not now signing their cheques) The Aspects remain as merrily pissed off as ever....
John Smith Interview 08.08.04This teenaged Winnipeg emcee made a bold mark on hiphop when, in 2000, he fronted the group Parklike Setting and their utterly edutaining Schoolday 2, Garbage day 4 concept album. Refusing to rest on his laurels having forwarded this dazzling hiphop curriculum, Smith has gone on to apply his talent for poignant narratives and piquant critiques to several more critically acclaimed releases full of thrilling twisting tales and chilling caustic commentary. In this, the fourth in the series of interviews with artists from the consistently impressive Peanuts & Corn crew, SuMoKaPlUnK speaks with their youngest member about privacy, being pissed off -and something called “the Smudge Fee.”
Gift Of Gab Interview
25.07.04
In most discussions concerning Rap’s GOAT, names like Cube, Kane, Nas and 2pac are far more likely to be advanced than ukhh’s latest interviewee. However, anybody who’s popped a Blackalicious album in the deck will know that Gift of Gab’s reputation flags far short of his talent and achievements. Having recently released his solo debut, the man responsible for many dope tracks (including the mind-boggling, lung-bursting Alphabet Aerobics), looks set to claim some of the props his talents merit. Sumo grabbed a few quick words with the Blackalicious frontman to talk about: The State, the state of the music and the music Quannum are making....
Birdapres Interview
25.07.04
For the third in the ongoing series of interviews with members of the Peanuts & Corn family, Sumo has a quick chat with Birdapres about his name, his history, his networking and complaining....
Cryptic One Interview
17.07.04
Back in 2001, SuMoKaPlUnK went to Manhattan and hooked up with a gang of talent including members of The Atoms Family. It’s now the 2004 summer solstice and slowly but surely, members of that once clandestine collective are stepping into the light with their solo projects. In the wake of release of the magnificent The anti-Mobius strip theory LP, Sumo once again hooked up with Atoms Family’s titular leader for a forensic breakdown of this ambitious debut album covering: its complex composition, its tremendous concepts, its intense content and its problematic consumption...
Approach Interview
30.06.04
The guy conducts new interviews more often than most people change their underwear - so change those skanky pants and check out
Sumo’s recent conversation with The Mid-West’s best kept secret, Kansas emcee/producer
Approach.
Secondson Interview
23.06.04
Already arguably one of the hardest working beatsmiths in the United Kingdom, the ripening fruits of
Secondson’s labour are about to prove that he is also one of the best and most productive producers making hiphop in the British Isles. He’s been relatively quiet over the past year but that’s because the SFDB head honcho has been hard at work behind the scenes; making connections and hooking up beats for your favourite emcees.
Sumo managed to catch Secondson for a quick telephone interview that should explain what he’s been up to since the last ukhh interview and what he hopes to have achieved before the next one…
Pipi Skid Interview
22.06.04
Inspired by the example set by the most prolific and consistently dope label out there, Sumo has become a non-stop interview machine. In the second of a series of interviews with members of the peerless Peanuts & Corn family, Sumo gives one-man militia Pipi Skid a grilling about change, commitment and complaining....
Jemini Interview
13.06.04
Headliners at the recent Solexism gig Sumo caught up with Jemini to find out what he's been working on since Ghetto Pop Life...
Prince Po Interview
13.06.04
Caught on the recent Lex tour to promote his new album the former Organized Konfusion man speaks to Sumo Kaplunk...
You Must Learn Charity Event
Interviews
30.05.04
From Sumo's showcase of his You Must Learn
charity events staged in Sheffield he brings you a series of interviews
with a wealth of artists including: Clev
Cleverly, Deprogrammed,
Hoodz Underground,
Gran Cassa,
Cappo &
Diversion Tactics...
Vast Aire Kramer
Interview
26.05.04
Back in 2001, Sumo went to New York and interviewed a gang of talent including the then largely unknown Cannibal Ox who were about to release their debut album. Now it’s 2004 and back in April Sumo caught up with one half of that group on the eve of release of his debut solo album to chat about the resurrection of horror movies, the richness of language and the reported Cannibal Ox split.
Mcenroe
Interview
23.05.04
In the first of a series of interviews with artists from superb Canadian label Peanuts & Corn, Sumo chats with maestro producer/emcee/label boss Mcenroe about his business moves, his beat building and being at the helm of one of North America’s most productive and impressive collectives.
DJ Signify
01.04.04
As we feasted on unicorn and broccoli stew, I wanted to tell Phillippa Forrester and a disembodied electric-blue baby head “This doesn’t make any sense!” But no words came out – no words knew how to form to come out.
Slug
29.03.04
Sumo finally managed to grab Slug guy for
a few words when he arrived in London this week to promote Seven’s Travels.
Sumo asks the emcee half of legendary Hip Hop group Atmosphere about his
groups, his lyrics and his feelings about that charming chap Defari...
Soulplasma
22.03.04
Sumo
finally managed to catch up with the up-and-coming Seattle-born, Portland-based
emcee, Soulplasma. They talked about his plans, God’s plans and the
dreaded C-word.
RJD2
14.03.04
He’s shared stages with David Lynch, The Roots and many members of the Definitive Jux camp of which he is now a member. He’s been one half of Ohio’s Mhz but is now one half of Soul Position.
Sumo talked to RJD2...
Paragon
09.03.04
Paragon are the Battersea cousins Rap6 and Jiff. Their music offers a breath
of fresh air into the musty cellar in which “UK Hip Hop” cowers. If their debut
album The Long Road, is to be taken as any indication of things to come, Paragon
look set to not only rise head and shoulders above the pack...
Malik Ameer
07.03.04
Please enjoy what Malik Ameer had to say as he spoke to
Sumo and covered much ground concerning: his ascendant career, his
volatile reception, his colourful patchwork of influences, Russell Simmons and
“kill whitie” rap among other topics...
Soulstice
06.02.04
Late last year Soulstice from the windy city released his debut album
North by North West and finally Sumo caught up with this already
remarkably self-possessed rapper late last year and the following interview is
the outcome...
Fuse One
05.02.04
Delaware emcee Fuse-One was that of a regular reviewer and forum fixture
over at hiphopinfinity, now a couple years on and Fuse-One is back with a debut
album. So, please enjoy what he had to say to Sumo about drugs,
depression, criticism and space exploration.
Zion I
02.02.04
Sumo's telephone interview with producer Amp and rapper Zion from Bay Area crew
Zion I took place early one Saturday morning back in November. He hopes it will get you a little more interested in Zion I than you were before reading the following transcript...
Buck
65
16.12.03
Sumo caught up with Buck 65 for another
chat to find out what he has been up to in the last year and a bit...
Sage Francis Interview
08.11.03
Surely by now the most interviewed artist on this site, Sumo caught up with Sage Francis at the recent Scala show to catch up on things since we last met, notably the Non-Prophets album on Lex...
Boom Bip Interview
08.11.03
Sumo grabbed Boomus Biptodus at the recent Scala show for his first interview with ukhh - a full and frank discussion by this usually quiet and hard to pin down musician
Maclethal Interview
18.10.03
Somewhere out his tree, off his rocker and totally on point... That's what Sumo reckons anyway... Read on and see what you make of MacLethal
Louis Logic Interview
18.10.03
A lot has happened in Louis Logic's life and career since the last time Sumo collared him. Catch up with him as he discusses his numerous creative allegiances, ghostwriting, ignorant rap - and of course drinking.
Ayentee Interview
18.10.03
Sumo went to California…came back from California…and only then decided to conduct a follow-up interview with Californian Emcee/producer/Satirist Ayentee.
Wonky Wax / Headcase Ladz Interview
14.10.03
Those who
already own the records and who have had the pleasure of seeing them live will
know that the Wonky Wax family can be trusted to always offer a mesmeric lo-fi
carnival of grotesque excess on wax complemented by a no less bizarre, yet
captivating, fit of absurdity on stage....
Breez Evahflowin Interview
22.09.03
Sumo caught up with
Breez Evahflowin of New York's Stronghold collective after an arm wrestling bout
with a cartoonist to bring you his usual in depth treatment...
Edan & Insight Interview
30.08.03
Edan has been a consistent vocal performer for the last couple of years through his cuts on Lewis Recordings. Sumo caught him and fellow MC Insight after their show at the Lexoleum launch party...
Tes Interview
30.08.03
New York MC Tes has had his profile raised over here by releasing his 2nd LP 'X2' through Lex. Sumo caught up for some words after his show at the Lex compilation launch...
Creative Control Interview
04.09.03
Swindon based Creative Control are making noises with their first LP. Sumo liked it so went to check them out...
Redcloud Interview
28.05.03
Red skies by night / Redcloud interview on this site.
Sumo caught up with kickass emcee
Redcloud – no, not that Redcloud, this Redcloud – to discuss honouring life, traditions and the spirit of the Underground
>
Aspects Interview
05.05.03
Never one to spare the
words, Sumo returns with another massive interview with the
Aspects….
Celph Titled
22.04.03
Here's a
chat Sumo had with
Celph
Titled - not only a solid producer and dope rapper but also someone with a talent for finding Double-entendre where ever he looks.
Secondson
& Hostyle
08.04.03
At ukhh.com, we remain determined to keep as many eyes on the proverbial ball as possible and so we've been waiting and watching to see if there is life after Fleapit.
Sumo met SFDB Records' head honcho and multi-instrumentalist producer behind last year's best UK hiphop album to find out what exactly happened, what he did next and where Secondson hopes to go in the future.
Doyen D
22.03.03
Sure, there’s
probably other artists out there worth covering that the ukhh team have,
not yet got round to interviewing for the first time, however, every now
and then there comes along a charismatic figure whose music and
reputation justifies subjecting them to repeated probing. Doyen D is a
mysterious figure who no matter how many times the guy is interviewed,
his enigmatic character always seems to be concealing as much as he is
pushed to reveal...
Nomadic The Poet
07.03.03
Sumo phoned up Imran, aka Nomadic tha traveller/the poet from The Planets to chat about where he's coming from and where he and his group, The Planets are headed.
Yo yo, this is Nomad bigging up ukhh.com - keeping that authentic hiphop going.
Josh Martinez
18.02.03
Having taken a little winter break off from the features pages of this site, Sumo returns with a pile of minidiscs to be transcribed and interviews to be formatted. First up is an interview with Vancouver emcee Josh Martinez...
"Bad things happen when fat people stand on chairs" An interview with Sage Francis. No matter whether it's your local hero or the next big thing on the international platform, we at ukhh endeavour to keep bringing you the biggest exclusives straight to your VDU. Well, here's an interview with Sage "Mullet" Francis conducted by UKHH's very own Good cop/sleepy cop duo minutes after Sage's first ever UK appearance - enjoy!
Sumo finally caught up with Noah23 last week to talk about brave new worlds, bionic folklore and the alignment of Andy
Warhol's chakra system...
Benefit is back! He's got his own label, a new website,
but remains as reclusive and as reluctant to go anywhere near the limelight as before but
Sumo managed to coax him into dropping a few words for ukhh.com...
Sumo, Lady Cook and a whole host of
passers by get Buck 65 to answer questions after his first UK gig...
Fleapit
13.06.02
Sumo learns the art of the Woodchoppa with Secondson and Junior Disprol...
Gruf The Druid
28.04.02
Following the release of his Phenomenal solo album, ukhh.com thought it was worth Sumo chasing down the most elusive member of this Canadian collective and here's the results.
Our big hitter talks to America's
heavyweight political MC and discusses global terror and his recording
career to date in a lengthy investigation..
Doyen D
04.04.02
Sumo took a break
from uni to catch up with Steel-Town's finest Doyen D to talk about South Yorkshire
Police, Tim Dog, music journalism and much-much more...
Sumo brings you another in depth feature, this time with the members of the
Rek Records team from Sheffield...
One day someone else will get an interview in on this site, but whilst Sumo keeps dropping gems we're not fussed. Here he gets down with Rodney Smith in Ninja HQ to get answers to the questions the wealth of 'proper' interviews have skipped over or ignored...
Sumo drops the interview of the year...an absolute epic getting into the nitty gritty with the Aspects...
The last of the U.S. side of things for a short time now as Sumo talks to Halifax MC Kunga 219...
Even when he's not in the U.S. Sumo can't help but hook up interviews anyway, California MC & producer, Ayentee, step up...
And the finale of Sumo's NYC interviews culminates in a chat with Sixth Sense from Westchester on another lovely sofa...
Sumo couldn't wrap up his visit to NYC without speaking again to Aesop Rock to catch up on whats been happening since the last interview...
No, not our own Jehst but rather another interview from Sumo with an Atoms Family cohort...
An interview of two parts with Alaska and WindNBreeze, collectively the Atoms' Families 'Hanger 18'...
Cryptic One 05.07.01
Sumo's New Yawk series continues with a chat with Atoms Family all-rounder Cryptic One......
C-Rayz
Walls
20.06.01
Featuring more of Sumo's exclusives from New York here is interview number
three in the series also featuring Omega Moon...
Blockhead 11.06.01
Sumo discusses working with Aesop, wack hiphop and Mark B & Blade...
Cannibal Ox 01.06.01
Sumo has just come back from NY with a dictaphone full. First up a crew that have been receiving a lot of attention - Cannibal Ox
abtekwon
19.04.01
Rapidly
following on, Sumo also caught up with
Labtekwon. Finding time in his busy schedule between flinging out
LPs they cover music, belief systems and Academia.
The second of a pair of interviews from SuMoKaPlUnK, this time around he managed to hook up with Deep Puddle Dynamics,
Greenthink, and Them member
Dose One.
SuMoKaPlUnK speaks to ex-fermented Reptile emcee
Pip Skid for the second time about his new album, gun control and the recipe for success..
Still plenty of Anticon affiliates to cover so Sumo's not resting....here's one with a name we could be hearing a lot of - Sage Francis
SuMoKaPlUnK speaks to Canada's Mcenroe and John Smith about schooldays and garbage.
Sumo continues his exploration of the other side of the pond's underground and this time manages to get a few words from Louis Logic...
Paradime 14.11.00
Sumo continues treking through the American underground with an interview with Detroit MC Paradime
Murs 27.10.00
More beef in this interview as Sumo talks to U.S. MC Murs, one of the Living Legends crew, about beefs with Elmo, Will Ashon and Ryu....
Buck 65 13.10.00
Anticon and on and on....Sumo's latest interview of a member of the Anticon stable
Frek Sho 06.10.00
Sumo Kaplunk continues his tour of America & Canada's finest underground artists with an interview with 2 of the MC's from Freksho of Winnipeg, Canada
Dose One 17.09.00
More Anticon action as Sumo talks to Dose One and his cat...
MC D 17.09.00
First new interview for a month, but this one is an essential read. Sumo chats with MC D about the past, present and future and in doing so gets the award for the most mentions of 'Richard Blackwood' in an article ever.
Sole 16.08.00
The 6th interview of the month, and we're only halfway through it. Sumo talks to Sole about Anticon, action figures and some other stuff beginning with A...
AesopRock 15.08.00
Its the second in what will probably be a nice little run of interviews dropping onto the site... Sumo Kaplunk asks AesopRock about the greenhouse effect (!?) and ghouls n ghostwriters...
Mike Ladd 03.08.00
Sumo's second up in as many days, we held it back for as long as we could, but now we're unleashing it... Damn, we have too many interviews its scary...
Necro 02.08.00
Sumo treads on Necro's grave and pays the price... Nah, just joking, this Necro is a really nice guy, the type you'd be proud to introduce to your family...
Wicked Nut 12.07.00
Sumo goes searching for more underground non-UK acts and finds Wicked Nut, one half of Canadian crew Fermented Reptile
Taskforce 06.00
Our last interview for June and what a cracker. Sumo metup with Chester P. Hackenbush & Farma G. in Bristol to discuss what this fascination with the countryside is all about.
Braintax 06.00
As a prequel to the Taskforce interview, Braintax talks about why he signed them to Lowlife and what his future plans are for the label and his solo material.
Blak Twang 06.00
Sumo caught up with Tony Rotten to find out about the third LP, the first LP and a budding star of the future.
Braille - Interviewed by Sumo Kaplunk 05.00
Our first featured American MC is New Jersey based Braille, whose "Lifefirst" CD got some favourable reactions when it was released recently.