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 Hard
Livin'
Interview
interview 0238 added
24.09.04 words: Nikesh technical:
QED
Every journalist wants to be the one who discovers or covers first “the next big
thing”
and much as I hate that term, I feel that Hard Livin’ are going to be the next
big thing. It was a spring morning when I opened my post, sifted through the
usual stack of promos, demos and CD-Rs I get to come across Sin-Nombre’s new
stuff. I was initially not expecting what I heard. “The Things We Do” by this
group, Hard Livin’, was cool and it was nice and it had a strong beat and some
solid rapping on it.
The B-side though. Oh, my. Oh girl, in fact. “Oh Girl” was the flip, and in this
hip-hop world of speeded-up soul samples and Alvin and the Chipmunks-style
squealing underneath nostalgic sombre rapping, it fit perfectly.
Later conversations with people at 1Xtra all mentioned this song and the amount
of requests it was getting on a daily basis. Hard Livin’ were certainly making a
name for themselves, on the strength of their excellent B-side. So, to S.Kalibre
and Mike-S, two hard’uns from the wrong side of the tracks in Kent, two people
serious about making music for the everyone, trying to embrace an accessible
sound that anyone can get on board with. And that they have done. I caught up
with them over e-mail, to try and get them on record about their record…
Introduce yourselves to the ukhh.com crowd and who should win the mercury
music prize?
Hard Livin is rapper S.Kalibre and producer Mike-S. We make music that we feel
as Hip-Hop heads. Its conscious, real and we touch on subjects that effect most
people¹s lives in the UK. We don¹t care who wins the Mercury Prize award because
it probably won¹t go to the people that deserve it. We would give it to hard
working artists that speak on something positive. Give it to someone like
SkinnyMan, Klashnekoff, Task Force etc etc.
"...People
seem to love singing Smurfs and rhymes about girls!..."
Tell us about Hard Livin', how you met, what is the concept is behind it?
 Mike:
Back in 98' or 99' I used to get my draw from Kalibre. I was bumping Nine's
“Lying King” in my motor when he jumped in to share a spliff. Kalibre was like
“yo, you listening to Nine“, we had a chat about Hip-Hop and checked a few CDs.
We lost touch after that because of a beef between my boys and his boys. Then we
met again a few years later through a mutual friend who knew Kalibre was rapping
and I was making beats, the rest is history.
Hard Livin is definitely a concept. There ain’t no one out there who has an easy
life so everyone is Hard Livin! Our music is a reflection of us and what we
witness.
Where did you grow up? How would you make the UK scene less London-centric?
We both grew up in the Medway Towns in Kent which don’t really have a big
Hip-Hop scene, but we ain’t far away from where Natty n Dwella are keeping the
Kent thing alive with heavy monthly shows at the Forum in Tonbridge Wells. We've
also linked with other emcees from Kent like Gemini, Frisko Dan, Abstract and
Split, who is about to release a 12" and about to put a few videos on Channel U.
As for the question on the London centric scene, most large cites in the UK have
their own hip-hop scene for example Leicester, Nottingham, Birmingham,
Manchester, Bristol etc. The London scene is larger because it is the capital
city and the artists representing London are a lot more organised with shows,
record releases and they have their own tight knit community within the music.
People just need to step there game up because the Londoners have laid the
blueprint for everyone to follow in the business sense of things.
"...People
just need to step there game up because the Londoners have laid the blueprint
for everyone to follow in the business sense of things..."
Who inspired you to make music? Who as a UK peer inspires you to keep going?
Mike: I was inspired by BDP and N.W.A but anything I’m feelin in the UK
just makes me want to carry on. I¹ve met a lot of good people in this game and
this is where my heart is.
 S.Kalibre:
I was inspired by a lot of USA acts but from the UK I¹m feeling people like
London Posse, Blak Twang, Roots Manuva, SkinnyMan, Task Force.
“Oh Girl” has had tremendous play list plays on 1xtra and over the UK, what
is it about that track?
People seem to love singing Smurfs and rhymes about girls! On the real though,
we've had shit loads of emails from people saying they are feeling it because it
reminds them of their failed relationships in the past. It’s basically lyrics
from the heart over a sentimental backing track.
What are your plans for a full album? What lyrical / production feel will it
have?
Before the LP we'll be dropping an EP. It will have hard beats and conscious
rhymes again and will also include features from our label mate Junior Disprol
and a few other UK acts. After that drops we'll put “The Outlook” out there.
This will be our first album and it will be just pure Hip-Hop. Beats, rhymes and
real life!
What is the best UK release you have heard this year?
We are really feeling MFTC 3 at the moment. Chester is definitely one of the
best emcees in the UK.
What is next up for you in the future?
Well, were waiting to see if Channel U will play the video for Oh Girl. Other
than that we are just going to keep the music coming. We are also working on a
DVD at the moment that will feature a lot of UK Hip-Hop heads (peep
www.hard-livin.co.uk
for info), which we will be releasing independently.
"...There
ain’t no one out there who has an easy life so everyone is Hard Livin..."
Have you ever dissed someone on the internet and did your mama teach you
better than that?
 No,
we don't get involved in internet beefs. We would rather make full tracks that
we feel instead of two-minute disses.
Any big ups and shout outs?
Yeah, Frisko Dan, Gemini, Abstract, Split, Universon, Iron Bridge and Human
Vermin, Defcon, the Beats on Toast lads, NGU Crew, Apoc, A Ball, everyone we
filmed for the DVD, Explicit, Ben P, Pedigree Chumps and all the Sin Nombre
artists, Nomad, Order and ICC, DJ Joolz, and all the people we forgot.
PEACE.
The single 'The Things We Do' b/w 'Oh Girl' is out now on 12" and CD. For
further info and to purchase a copy, visit
WWW.SIN-NOMBRE.CO.UK.
Do check out the 12” and look out for these boys in the future. They may only be
one wax deep, but they certainly know how to rock the speaker stacks. Oh girl,
they do…
Respect,
-
Nikesh Shukla
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