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  Genesis Elijah Interview
interview 0327 added 12.08.05 words: Nikesh
technical:
QED
Genesis Elijah, a.k.a.
Nathaniel Winston Joseph Bygrave,
was born in Brixton in 1981 to a Jamaican Preacher father and
his Dominican mother, both of whom were teachers. He has been
rapping and writing rhymes since the age of 11 and has been
heavily involved in the U.K. Hip-Hop scene since 15 years of
age. He has performed alongside the likes of Blak Twang, Big Ted
& Shortee Blitz, Jehst, Phi-Life Cypher, Semtex, Rodney P, Task
Force, Tommy Evans and many others. There is an honesty and
integrity to Genesis’ gritty rhymes and this has resulted in a
lot of hype for his album as well as accolades from a number of
his peers.
If Wordsmith’s
“Roadman Showcase” was the wider UK hip-hop audience’s
introduction to Genesis Elijah (for those who may have missed
his countless mixtape appearances) and his rhyme for rhyme fight
with Wordsy on “Trading Bars” showed a brand new talent, then
surely “Jah Bless”, his incendiary single with Klashnekoff was
the jump off. Now the album, “Deh Pon Road” is out and it’s an
honest look at the social problems faced by Genesis and the
people around him and how they roll on up to wider concerns with
the government and global structure. It’s a conscious album with
an ultimately uplifting vision.
I tried to meet up with Genesis Elijah twice for this interview,
but both days ended up being days London was bombed/nearly
bombed and transport was thus chaotic. We decided that we needed
to capture Genesis in the midst of all the hyper surrounding him
and at the cusp of unleashing his potential on the world, so we
settled for an email interview. Here is what Genesis had to say
about conscious rappers, his favourite bible passages and the
album he’s so ardently pushing.
Please introduce yourself and tell us
your favourite passage from genesis.
 Wa gwan world?! My name is Genesis Elijah, a.k.a. Nathaniel
Bygrave.
My favourite passage has got to be Genesis 6:1-4: When men began
to increase in number on earth and daughters were born to them,
the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful and
they married any of them they chose. It goes on to say: The
Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterwards -
when the son's of God went to the daughter's of men and had
children by them. They were the heroes of old and men of renown.
That to me is one of the most fascinating things written in the
Bible. I think it opens the door so many big mostly unanswered
questions.... but let's not get into that now.
Tell us about “Deh Pon Road.”
Deh Pon Road, out now on Broken Souls, was put together over the
space of a few years. So, in theory, it shouldn't really have a
consistent sound. I think the reason it does is because during
that period I was leaning towards the harder sounding beats.
When it comes to choosing beats, I usually go with my instincts.
So, if a beat doesn't hit me straight away I wont use it.
Lyrically, I was just out to prove I could roll with the
heavyweights. There are a lot of good rappers out here and
lyrically I feel I'm among the elite, I know I might be coming
across a bit 'Kanye' right now but I feel I can back it up. I
touched on a few subjects but for the most part I didn't go into
detail. I'm saving that for the next couple of albums. I've
still got a lot of things that I need to get off my chest but I
didn't want this album to feel like all I was doing was
preaching.
"...I don't have all the answers, none of us do but until we
actively seek answers we won't find them..."
You deal with a lot of social issues on
the album, especially that of gun crime. What solutions would
you propose to the government to tackle these issues?
 Nothing. It's not the government's problem. They are not dying…
we are. They are not losing friends and family, we are… so it's
our problem. The sooner we realise that they really don't give a
fuck about us, the quicker we can stop blaming everybody else
and take responsibility for our own actions. As soon as we blame
someone else for our condition then we're saying that they have
control over the situation and we have no control. If we have no
control over our own lives then we're fucked. The reason that
we, for the most part, feel so powerless is because we have been
systematically programmed to give our power away. One of the
most powerful things we have is our mind and the ability to
think individually and independently. This power is eroded on a
daily basis. We are force fed false information and false public
opinion, which reinforce a uniform way of thinking which in turn
turns us into the robots we are to day. We need to wake the fuck
up and change what we don't like! Sorry about that I can go on
forever.
How did you get into rapping? How did
you hook up with Wordsmith / Klash / Caruana?
I started rapping when I was about 11. It wasn't really a
conscious thing, it just seemed natural. I find it weird that
people can listen to Hip-Hop and not want to make their own. I
didn't get real serious till I was about 17 or 18, which is when
I decided I had to do this for a living. I met Tom Caruana about
6 or 7 years ago through my brother Terra Slim who met him
through AC. I did a few tracks over his beats which never came
out but it was cool learning how to make and lay down tracks and
getting pointers on the production side of things. I met
Wordsmith through Tom and being from the same postcode we were
just on a level straight away. Being around Wordz really got my
lyrics to the level they are now cos you can't be around an MC
like that and not step your game up. Lyrically he'll destroy
anyone you can name. I met Klash when Answer and me were putting
together the mix CDs. So, when I was ready to do “Jah Bless” in
2003, I hollered at him for a collaboration and he was big for
it. Working with Klashnekoff is the highlight of my career so
far. Not a lot of rappers get to spit on tracks with their
favourite rappers.
"...I think artist are beginning to realise that it's ok to be
who we are and we don't have to copy or try to be like the
Americans to make good music..."
How did you find Glastonbury?
 It was cool. A bit muddy, but cool. We did a really early set so
there wasn't many heads about but those who were there seemed to
enjoy it. Hopefully next time they'll give me a better set time
and I'll rip it up. I saw Task Force later that day and they had
a massive crowed and absolutely killed it. That inspired me to
work harder so that in the future I can be in that position
where everyone knows my music and people come from far just to
be part of the live experience. It's a beautiful thing.
What are your plans for touring the
album?
I am trying my hardest to get that off the ground right now. I'm
contacting booking agencies and promoters trying to get
something started. I'm still doing shows here and there so all
you promoters out there, get your cheque-books out and holler at
me! (Email management
imz@brokensouls.com or visit my website for other contact
details).
What are your thoughts on UK Hip-Hop?
I love it. I think there's a lot of shit out there but there's
also some really inspiring stuff. I think artist are beginning
to realise that it's ok to be who we are and we don't have to
copy or try to be like the Americans to make good music. We're
just doing us right now and it seems to be working.
"...One of the most powerful things we have is our mind and the
ability to think individually and independently..."
What of your peers are you feeling
right now? What has been your favourite album (of any genre) of
the year?
 Ah there's to many to mention but I'll try... I'm feeling the
whole Terra Firma camp I feel they're setting the standard right
now. I'm feeling Wordsmith's new stuff, I know I'm biased
because they're all fam but him, AC & Terra got some heavy shit
out now. Apart from them I'm really feeling what Sway is doing
right now… he's big right now! I'm listening to Joker Starr's
new mix CD at the moment and I've been spinning my home made
Dubbledge mix CD non-stop. You know what… let me just list what
is on the iPod: Poisonous Poets, Jehst, Parky, Akala, Roots
Manuva, Ty, Karl Hinds and Unorthadox Styles. As for album of
the year, I can't choose one favourite cos I think these two
albums are both sick and they are SkinnyMan's 'Council Estate Of
Mind' and Swiss' 'Pain 'n' Music'. To me, they represent what UK
Hip-Hop should sound like.
A lot of conscious rappers offer up a
lot of problems without highlighting any solutions. A lot of
your stuff has an uplifting element to it, as well as some
positive solutions. Is this a conscious thing?
Yeah man. Me telling you the problems we face is pointless cos
you already know them. You live the same life I do and you see
the same things I do. Obviously we need to highlight problems to
those who don't live where we live but we also need to offer
some solutions. I don't have all the answers, none of us do but
until we actively seek answers we won't find them.
"...Working with Klashnekoff is the highlight of my career so
far. Not a lot of rappers get to spit on tracks with their
favourite rappers..."
What new projects can we expect from
you in the future?
I'm releasing 'So Hip-Hop', on Broken Souls, on 12" for all you
vinyl junkie's out there. The remix called 'Not Hip-Hop'
featuring Dubbledge aka The 5 Star General is also on there plus
a new version of 'The Movement' which is a track that isn't on
the album but has been floating about for bit. I've also got a
free download-only E.P. called 'Pimp Principle' that should be
on my website mid-August. There is also a video to accompany 'So
Hip-Hop' (http://www.ukhh.com/features/video/genesis_elijah-so_hip_hop.html).
And can I just say to everyone who's been asking me when the new
Answer mix-cd is coming, the answer is very soon!
Shameless plugs/weblinks/shoutouts...
The album “Deh Pon Road” is out now on Broken Souls, It was the
Undercover Magazine 'album of the month' and Blues & Soul
Magazine stated it is one for the UK Hip-Hop history books so go
get it at all good record stores. Big up Disorda and all the
Boombox Distribution staff. Keep you eyes on
www.GenesisElijah.com and
www.BrokenSouls.com to see what's coming up. Blessings.
It’s been a slow year for album releases from UK hip-hop
heads, but “Deh Pon Road,” along with “Roadman Showcase” and
Roots Manuva’s “Awfully Deep” set, sets a standard for strong
passionate music this year. Pick it up.
-
Nikesh Shukla
- Photo credit: Brave New Music Ltd.
 
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