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Logan Interview

interview 0391 added 20.04.06 words: Madrox technical: QED

From the depths of Essex a very distinct growl can be heard. Some put it down to the local brass. Others? ...others know about what may possibly be UK hip hop's best kept secret and saving grace. Having had little limelight so far, the man some call Mr. Zulu has been a busy boy of late. Madrox caught up with him to see just what. May I introduce, Logan...

“...It's hard work trying to work out how the media can call some of the stuff they do music e.g. 'Baby Shambles' or whatever they're called, rubbish. Too much effort to think about the media sorry...”

Ok. I, of course, have had the pleasure of working with you before and know exactly who you are, where your from and what your about. Would you care to give a brief introduction to those who have not had the pleasure as of yet?

Logan: Why not? Logan, porn magnate, MC etc... etc. More like a part-time rhymer because I work full time. I'm from Barkingside, Essex, East London if you like, but I was born in Africa. I moved when I was 7. I'm a scholar of rap music, it's not what I live it's more what I feel and do, I have a great love for it.

Excellent. Moving to England when you were 7. Do you remember the transition well? Do you think spending the first 7 years of your life in a different country gave you a different view of this one?

Logan: I don't remember the transition, after Uni my memory's not so good. I think coming from a strict African background definitely drove my format years, that and the fact that my parents beat the shit out of me, with good reason may I add.

Wow. care to elaborate or shall I move onto the MC'ing?

Logan: Haha , just to add that I fucked up at school quite a bit, I would have failed school and been a bum, but my folks were there to correct me, it helped a lot I'm thankful.

“...I'm a scholar of rap music, it's not what I live it's more what I feel and do, I have a great love for it...”

Haha, where would we all be without our folks? So you got yourself on the straight and narrow. How did rap come into the greater scheme of things?

Logan: I went to North Wales Uni, spent a lot of time boning obviously, studying etc. got Fruity Loops and started making beats around '99 I think. Listened to lots of hiphop, Eminem got me writing rhymes, wack rhymes at that. I made a couple of tracks and as time went on hooked up with some good people, got better at rhyming and thus the story so far.

Do you feel fully comfortable admitting Eminem as the inspiration behind your original decision to rhyme? Haha, and where do you think it became serious for you?. Like, the moment you realised you could do this shit for life, or do you still not think that?

Logan: Not at all I think Eminem was a great MC, I mean he is a great MC. I just like how he came out, he's got mad skills, (name drop haha). He was just being him and I think he came along at a time when I was really appreciating and taking notice of the musical element. I just wanted to reach out and touch the music back. I never thought I could do it for life at any point, the writing/rapping element was little more than a hobby. Its just kind of grown into a little more. Don't get me wrong, I love it to death but it's not paying my long list of bills.

I took a little break but I'm back writing now. I think I've got an album worth of tracks easy but they get old so quickly, its kind of annoying when you're trying to stay on top of things, managing time is a nightmare for me. I'm just not good at it. I've re-done some older tracks and with any luck they may drop some time later this year, I'm also pushing for a couple of new vids for the summer.

“...I find it hard working with other people, mainly because I just don’t get the free time, 9 to 5 baby!!!...”

I find it hard working with other people, mainly because I just don't get the free time, 9 to 5 baby!!! I produce a little when I can but my boy S-Type, surface pressure records and Slim Jim have been doing good things for me. I trust and respect both of them and they make it easy for me to get my material finished. They both have a lot of talent.

Logan I represent Rap Cavaliers and Low Budget TV, so you might see some of me on some DVD mixtapes and documentaries. I featured on the Choong fam track 'Injury Time' and in a few of their videos, that's fam right there. I'm really looking forward to working with talented folk, too many to mention so I don't want to offend any peeps, have them diss me.

But I hope later this year I can get C-lone on some shit, that cat is too ILL. I don't know, we'll see. Look out for a concept EP and may be an album for the later part of the year too.

That's awesome, so lots to look forward to then? haha Asides from mixtapes, you've also had some luck with a certain video on the infamous Channel U. What did you think of that whole thing? Was the video fun? How do you think it fares amongst the grime filled veins of Channel U?

Logan: Low budget TV did the video, I thank them for taking the time. It was unplanned, they basically kidnapped me, beat me up and made me do it. But man, that vid got me lots of love, kids were coming up to me in the streets and at shows saying what's up and giving me props. I was like "This is what it must be like to be famous", obviously on a small scale. It didn't get me laid though, which is a bit rubbish, so if there's any chicks out there... LOL, nah, jokes.

I've see some good videos on channel U and also some rubbish ones. Mine did what it was meant to, I'm happy with that. At the end of the day, the hiphop heads, the grime heads we're just doing our thing, you don't have to like it, you don't even have to respect it.

“...Low budget TV did the video, I thank them for taking the time. It was unplanned, they basically kidnapped me, beat me up and made me do it...”

Amen to that. Speaking of audience reaction How have live crowds reacted to the newer material? Any memorable gig experiences of late? Also, care to mention where heads can catch you live next?

Logan: The newer material... I don't know, outer-London they're kinda feeling it. Inner-London, I'm just getting air. I did a gig the other night where I spat some new material and the crowd just went quiet. Seriously it was strange it was like I'd just told the crowd the Queen asked me to go down on her or something, the crowd just looked baffled. I don't know when the next live show is, but peep the myspace for updates I guess.

All good man, airing new shit live can always be testing. Ok, so how do you feel about the currant state of UK Hip Hop? Are you happy with the way the media is slowly waking up to its inner city urban rumblings or do you think we're still being heavily ignored? And does that affect the way you approach your rhymes?

Logan: The mainstream media is pretty cynical. 'UK hiphop' isn't serious to the majority of people anywhere, especially not in the UK. Its hard work trying to work out how the media can call some of the stuff they do music e.g. 'Baby Shambles' or whatever they're called, rubbish. Too much effort to think about the media sorry. It's real when someone you don't know on the street comes and says I felt that track you did about... That effects the way I approach rhyming at times.

No doubt, no doubt. Nothing like hearing it from the horses mouth so to speak. But that's love man. You know most MC's feel they have something differ to offer the people from your average Joe. I'll openly admit right here and now you are my favourite MC in the UK. I have no idea why I'm drawn to your rhymes but I just am. Do you feel like you hold anything specifically different to the next man? I know it exists...but can you explain it?

Logan: Haha well thanks man. I really just wish I could translate what I see in my head to the people who listen to my 'music'. But I'm still learning, still tryna work out just how I can put it down best, thats the best part of the writing process to me is when you write it down and from any angle the meanings are clear as day if that makes sense.

“...kids were coming up to me in the streets and at shows saying what’s up and giving me props. I was like This is what it must be like to be famous obviously on a small scale. It didn’t get me laid though, which is a bit rubbish...”

That makes a lot of sense mate. Is there anyone else your feeling a lot in the UK right now? Hip Hop or not.

Logan: Yeah Chico, Chico time's the shit, proper. Lol.

Hahahaha, I'm sure he'd be pleased to hear you think that. Before you shoot off mate. Is there anything you'd like to say to the good people out there? Any messages or shout outs. Plugs? haha.

Logan: Just thanks for the support, Big up the true heads, DJ's, labels, MC's and magazine heads. Thanks to S-Type and Slim Jim real producers, real music for letting me do my thing. Low Budget TV obviously major props.

Thank you greatly for your time man. It's madly appreciated. I hope you get to where you want to be in this scene because it's evident you have a lot to say. And a very articulate way of putting it across. Good luck with everything man. Peace.

Logan: Much respect man.

So there we have it. Lots of writing done, thoughts processed and EP's, LP's and DVD's on there way to you soon. Logan has a lot to say. And I hope those words find there way to the right peoples ears soon, so the boy can give up his day job. You can find everything you need to know about Logan @ www.myspace.com/boxofpleasure. Support good hip hop. Peace people.

“...I did a gig the other night where I spat some new material and the crowd just went quiet. Seriously it was strange it was like I'd just told the crowd the Queen asked me to go down on her or something, the crowd just looked baffled...”

- Madrox

Related Links:

www.myspace.com/boxofpleasure