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  Strategy of Broke'n'Łnglish Interview
interview 0266 added 12.12.04 words: P.R.
technical:
QED
CAN
YOU GIVE US THE HISTORY ON BROKE’N’ŁNGLISH?
 Well I (Strategy) have
been MC’ing for time, I released my first record with Krispy and
Roots Manuva when I was about 17-18 or suttn like that. After a
few years of going to nuff open mic / freestyle nights in
Manchester I linked up with the already formed Microdisiacs and
put out quite a bit of material over the next few years with
them, putting out a couple of EP’s, a seven inch, a 12” and loads
of guest appearances. Meanwhile my bredrin (DRS) was touring the
world and recording with Good Looking Records (LTJ Bukems
label). He had the more glamorous background definitely. When I
was spitting down some stinky mic in some dumpy ass club in
Manchester, he was touring places like Japan and America
travelling the world and recording. We met at a night in
Manchester, it was a Hip Hop night that DRS hosted and there was
loads of M.C’s down there. Me and Del was spitting back to back
on the night smashing it and a few M.C’s were getting pissed off
that they weren’t getting no love. Basically to cut a long story
short, it kicked off on stage with M.C’s fighting. People fell
on the decks, got thrown off stage, punched up. Basically there
was a sick ruck. That’s the first night we met and we been
bredrins ever since.
YOU'VE WORKED WITH
AND SUPPORTED SOME HEAVY UK ARTISTS, WHO HAVE YOU ENJOYED
WORKING WITH AND WHO'S BEEN A PROPER CUNT?
To be honest we've got on
with most man that we've met over time. That’s a bit weak
really, we should start some beef some time soon. But most
people have been safe and on the level with us. Saying that we
supported Jeru one time, he was trying to go on like he was bad.
That was a let down 'cos I used to rate the guy highly. When we
turned up at the club to do our set at about 11.30, the guy was
sat at the back of the stage eating fish and chips. Yo, believe
me when I tell you, the shit stunk! That was weird. Most of the
Americans I have met have been a little bit off key but they
still go on safe. Xhibit was an alright guy, even the Gza had
time for us when we was chatting to him.
"...When
I was spitting down some stinky mic in some dumpy ass club in
Manchester, he was touring places like Japan and America..."
One time the People
Under The Stairs played in Manchester. The place was pretty
empty to be honest, and we went back stage to blaze suttn. This
was a club that we was in nearly every week, and we performed
there regularly. When we went back stage, for some reason they
started going on all shook trying to get bouncers to move us out
saying “there's some guys back stage man we don’t like the look
of them”. The bouncers recognised us and told 'em to “f**k off”.
1-0 to the U.K!
GIVE US THE INFO
ON THE NEW ESTATE AGENTS EP.
 Basically
this is the second release on Estate. Its main purpose was to
put out a couple more tracks by Broke’n’Łnglish and to also
introduce the new members of the squad that are going to be
putting out material on the label. The new members are MC Bandit
who appeared on the 1st EP (the Nuthin' Will Come Of It EP) who
will be releasing a solo EP in the coming months. He produces
all his own material and is definitely one to watch coming out
of the North. The EP also introduces The Northern Monkees. Brand
new to the scene but they seem like they been round for years,
the have their own producer, Big Johnny Chimpo, and two M.C’s
JSD and Gudz. Their track “Bad Habits” is a good introduction to
them but expect a lot more. Both Bandit and the Monkees will be
putting out solo material on Estate in the coming months and are
definitely gonna make a big impact on the scene as a whole.
ARE THERE ANY
PLANS FOR SOME NEW MICRODISIACS STUFF?
Yeah we got a track due
out later this year on Evil Ed’s album “The Enthusiast”. Its
been a bit since we recorded that but I'm looking forward to it
coming out 'cos I like the track. We recorded it at a funny
time, during a hard hard year. That was one of the tuffest years
I've ever been through. My friends brother was murdered, another
of my friends brothers was sentenced to jail, my grandfather
died and this was all within a few weeks of each other. I think
you can hear that in the track and to me personally it kinda
helped me through a hard time by getting it off my chest in a
crazy way. It’s a powerful track and it kinda marks a big change
that we all went through. Other than that we have got plans for
Microdisiacs in the future but at the moment we are putting out
music on separate projects. Obviously I'm putting out my
music with Broke’n’Łnglish and Estate Recordings but Konny Kon
is putting out music on another Manchester based label called
SkullSnap records with artists like Cappo, Chuck Nubian and
Finimo. Look out for that its heavy!
"...This
album is something I've been working towards indirectly most of
my life and I'm gonna put everything into it..."
IF SO IS THERE ANY
TALK OF IT BEING YNR AFFILIATED, AFTER APPEARING ON YNR VOLUME
1?
I think we will always
have a strong link with YNR, we are good friends with Jehst and
also love working with Evil Ed but to be honest I think if we
recorded any more Microdisiacs stuff, it would probably be on
Estate Recordings, Skullsnap, or a combination of both. But I
would almost definitely say that we will be working with YNR in
some form or another in the future and there will definitely be
some more Microdeez shit heading your way.
WHO IN THE UK ARE
YOU FEELING AND ARE THERE ANY INTERESTING COLLABORATIONS ON THE
CARDS?
 There
are a few interesting collabos on the cards but to be honest im
keeping everything under my hat like Victor from big brother. As
for acts that I'm feeling, I'm into The Northern Monkees, Bandit,
Tonn Piper, Konny Kon, Chuck Nu. Outside Manchester I'm into
quite a few man, probably no one you’ve never heard of though.
I'm looking forward to hearing SkinnyMan's new album.
YOUR TRACK HISTORY
IS POSSIBLY THE BEST TRACK ON THE NEW SUSPECT PACKAGES
COMPILATION. DO YOU FEEL THAT ITS IMPORTANT TO SELL YOURSELVES
TO ONLINE HIP HOP FANS?
Yeah definitely, but I'd
put it more down to the fact that in the UK we cant really
afford to be picky or fussy about who we sell our music to. We
are just looking to continuously put out as much of our music as
possible. Hopefully with some luck that will reach as many heads
as possible whether its internet, radio or whatever.
WHAT'S THE SCENE
LIKE IN MANCHESTER AT THE MOMENT? A LOT OF PLACES ARE STARTING
TO BUILD STRONG SCENES, DO YOU THINK ANY UK CITIES WILL EVER BE
ABLE TO DEVELOP A SCENE THAT COULD COMPARE WITH LONDON'S?
Me personally, Iv always
found it important to stay North and try and build from here, I've
had people tell me time and time again to move to London and
work from there. I love it in London but I'm proud to be Mancunian and I love my city. I wanna build up the scene here to
a level that people wont have to look to London, 'cos there is
already so much on their own doorstep. I think in the past
promoters in Manchester have been overlooking local talent and
bringing up acts from London or even the U.S. to play it safe.
Slowly and surely that is changing.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR
BROKE’N’ŁNGLISH AND ESTATE RECORDINGS?
 Look
out for solo EP’s coming from the Northern Monkees, Bandit, and
Tonn Piper in the coming months. It will be the first solo
project any of them will release and its an exciting time. As
far as Broke’n’Łnglish is concerned we are gonna be working on
our album. We have been working on it for about 3 weeks now and
we've already got a good solid six tracks. This album is something
I've been working towards indirectly most of my life and I'm gonna
put everything into it. With Estate Recordings we are looking to
build and destroy, we are slowly looking to build on the roster
of artists and really build something that Manchester and the UK
can be proud of. Where it goes from there…. Who knows?
ANYTHING ELSE YOU
WANT TO ADD?
Yeah, Make sure you check
www.estaterecordings.com for exclusive tracks, show dates
and info, you can also sign up as a member to the website and
receive free information on what we are doing and where we are
going, and also receive free entry to our shows, free vinyl and
C.D’s and nuff competitions and other good stuff. Go check it
now as soon as you finished reading this! And also you can
listen to the Broke’n’Łnglish rap show, live on
www.unityradio.co.uk Sunday nights 8-10 where we play brand
new and exclusive tracks and have guests every week. Other than
that look out for any Broke’n’Łnglish / Microdisiacs / Estate
Recordings material and buy the shit! We doin' this for you
Fool!
Safe mate - Strategy aka Jack Jones aka John Major - Broke’n’Łnglish
/ Microdisiacs.
 -
P.R.
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