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 Beans Interview
interview 0257 added
14.11.04 words: Nikesh technical:
QED
Beans, the infamous rapper from now-deceased
avant-garde Anti Pop Consortium, has been making moves on the underground scene
for a hot minute, releases electronic-Mantronix-influenced stabs of experimental
rhythmical Hip Hop that has kept the scene in with bleeps and gloops for a while
now. From an album last year backed with a full album of alternative takes and
remakes, Beans is now back on Warp with his new offering, the more substantial
“Shock City Maverick”. I caught up with him to chew the breeze and shoot the
fat… or something…
Introduce yourself….
 Hello, listeners! He's cold chill'in. Ladies and Gentlemen, Beans!
Tell us about "Shock City Maverick" and how it evolves your sound
from the last release.
It's a natural progression of developing my own voice by having the music more
immediate and uptempo. People know I came from all that poet shit like Mos and
Saul, and I’ve done that. Now I’m on to a more immediate style.
Lyrically, what are your influences and sonically, what was inspiring you
making it? It seems very electro-clash in places.
E.E. Cummings, Ted Joans, Lawrence Block, and Rakim. My music is in the
tradition of Hip Hop as I know it to be. Not electro-clash. I mean Mantronix,
Whodini, they are the dopest but not electro-clash… come on.
As an abstract lyricist, what do you hope people get out of your words?
My lyrics are introspective and relative to what's happening with me at that
moment. But there is stuff to connect with for everybody on there, family,
deaths, sex, tickling. I out the lyrics in the album sleeve this time 'cos people
do ask.
You've mentioned in the past that you hope to have 2 releases a year. What is
your next one going to be?
An EP called “Cancel your Grin," which I will begin on in January. I have lots
of the beats already but want to be careful and precise with the rhymes so it
should be out next summer. The next album will be called, "Thorns". I don’t know
when that will be out but quickly after the EP, probably start of 2006. I work
quick, Warp always tell me to slow down and I have done to an extent but my
mind’s got it all mapped out for years ahead.
Do you ever feel that Anti Pop Consortium maybe had one more project in them
and maybe your split was premature?
Yes, we definitely had one more album in us. Things were hitting the zenith,
sales were coming the live shows were firing. We had just played Sonar in front
of 4000 but the strong personalities in the group just pulled in different
directions.
"...Rap
is too congested with bullshit..."
You are more regarded and renowned in the UK and Europe than in the
States. Why do you think this is?
I don't think that's true. I got love in the states. I think I sell more records
in America than anywhere else. France I think is next biggest. Besides, that's
always been the tradition of black experimentation since Charlie Parker to Jimi
Hendrix and Derrick May. Europe develops things and sends it back for
commercialisation to America.
What are the peers currently inspiring you right now?
Roots, De La, El-p, Kanye, Prince Po, Mos Def, Ghostface, and MF Doom.
You're different to most experimental MC's like Doseone where you actually
flow and rap and are quite rhythmic over the beats. What do you think makes a
good rapper?
Consistently being good over a period of time and delivering every time.
"...Europe
develops things and sends it back for commercialisation to America..."
Where do you hope your sound will be in 5 years time?
I have no idea. I really don’t. I got the next few years planned but after that
I really don’t.
Where are you favourite places for clothes shopping in the UK?
 Burro, Size, Zoltar, Duffer's.
One of your lyrics is "Too many MC's not enough listeners". Do you feel that
underground rap has less fans than musicians. How hard does this make it for you
to get your stuff out there?
Rap is too congested with bullshit. That's all. Underground stuff gets out there
but maybe to not as many people as the artists would like. The tour we are doing
in Europe with me, Mike Ladd, rob Sonic and Busdriver shows there is love for
the underground.
You are warp, warp and you... why warp?
They support me. And I am proud to be an MC on Warp. I always loved Autechre and
thought they were just a natural progression of what Mantronix were doing. It
doesn’t feel strange to me.
What would your autobiography be called?
Night eats Day
What is next for you?
Touring until March mainly in USA and Europe. Dates in Australia too. Then
finish the new EP and get ready for the release of that.
Any shout outs, shameless plugs to end on?
 Sure. My new website.
www.adoredandexploited.com And look out for Beans live dates all over the UK
in November!
-
Nikesh Shukla
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