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  Respek Ba Interview
interview 0411 added
20.05.06 words:
Madrox
technical:
QED
Not a lot of English ukhh fans will go out of their way
to peep the sounds emerging from Scotland’s hip hop
scene. One such artist decided he wasn't gonna wait
around for a revolution and made his way down to London.
Dropping a few jaws with his punch lines along the way.
He's back home now and still making just as much noise.
May I introduce to you... Respek BA.
Madrox:
Good evening Mr.BA. Heads in Scotland and London should
know you well by now, but for those of us in between and
anyone who hasn't caught you battling yet - would you
care to state your name, where you’re from, and what
you’re about?
 Respek BA:
Yeah, what's up? This is Respek-BA AKA Djinn Truf, from
South Scotland now residing in Glasgow city, and I'm
about making heavy hip hop.
Madrox:
That’s what I like to hear! Alrighty then, so I’m gonna
ask it straight away. Which is better, Glasgow... or
London? And why?
Respek BA:
Glasgow, because I'm Scottish and I'll always love
Scotland. That's the way it goes with everyone, nothing
can fuck with your homeland! And all that other
Braveheart shite you lot are probably expecting to
hear... hahaha.
Madrox:
Hahaha, glad to hear it... not being much of a fan of
London myself. Of course the reason you were in London
asides from assisting the ledge that is Blade on tour -
was to do some hardcore battling. What made you decide
to first sign on the dotted line for jump off?
Respek BA:
Well first of all let me say I love London, and I've
been shown a lot of love in London. And I'm a fan of it!
It's just Scotland is my place. There was no
dotted-line, more me just showing up for a few Jump Off
competitions back in 2004, and they kept my details... I
got to the final in 3 separate tournaments and lost in
all 3! But they must have thought I did ok 'cause Scarrs,
who is the Jump Off talent agent and host got back in
touch with me when they came to Glasgow for the Street
Battle tour... which is where things properly took off.
Madrox:
Very much so. Your a regular feature in the Jump Off
roster now. I have to say... watching 'Spin the mic' was
awesome. So how did it feel to be in it?
 Respek BA:
Yea, 'Spin The Mic' was heavy... I was quite nervous
since it was my first battle outside of Scotland, but I
thought as long as the crowd didn't hate on me for my
nationality, they had to recognise the skill.
Madrox:
And they did! You got to the final in a London based
tournament full of Londoners, when your not even
English! That’s a rare thing, haha. So stickin to
battling, what has been your best battle to date and
why?
Respek BA:
My best battle was either me Vs Stig in Glasgow, or me
and Stig Vs Arkaic & Kulez in London.
'Cause against Stig was my first street battle, and he's
one of the illest freestylers and battle MC's in the
world. I like the tag team battle cause I think me and
Stig are a good team... and it's a sign of things to come
in this Tag Team Battle League Jump Off are starting
soon.
Madrox:
Please... do tell more...?
Respek BA:
Well it's starting on the second of July. There will be
two leagues of six teams, running simultaneously in
London and New York. The winner of each league will meet
in the Grand Final later this year on some international
tag battle shit! Go to www.jumpoff.tv to find out more
information, and go to the street battle section to
watch my battles if you're interested.
“...the
crowd didn't hate on me for my nationality, they had to
recognise the skill...”
Madrox:
Wow! that sounds fucking awesome. So we could end up
with some shit like BA & Stig Vs Solomon & Syanide?
Respek BA:
Well, if all goes to plan... possibly.
Madrox:
Lookin forward to it man! Ok - moving away for a bit.
What was it like on your tour with Blade? You went to
like 15 countries right? Tell me about it... Did you
have a favourite? Any interesting anecdotes?
 Respek BA:
Yeah, touring with Blade was dope. A lot of times it was
under tough circumstances, but it's just tour bullshit
you get over. My favourite gig was Hip Hop Kemp in the
Czech Republic two years ago... it was dopeness. I've got
loads of funny stories too, but none of 'em are getting
discussed on here!
Madrox:
Awwwwww! Savin it for the next LP? haha. Speaking of
which... what have you got on the way? Guest
appearances? Mixtapes? EP's? What can we expect to drop
from your camp next?
Respek BA:
Right, well there's a few things I'm working on right
now... and when I say a few I actually mean a shit load.
The main project I'm focusing on is my album with Marrik
Layden Deft, on Street Cypher Records, an EP released on
Kriminal Recordz, plus a whole bunch of other
stuff... look out for a few DVD’s later this year as
well.
Madrox:
DVD’s you say? Of your battles?
Respek BA:
That information is currently classified. Hahah... it'll
have a lot of stuff on it. Whether or not it has some of
my battles is up to the Jump Off really... but there'll
definitely be some exclusive shit on there for the
battle heads.
Madrox:
And some home made porn for everyone else? hahaha.
Respek BA:
Damn straight. I've got ho's from 40 different countries
sucking my dick on there!... just joking.
“...nobody is willing to back or fund our projects...
and we're all skint basically...”
Madrox:
Hahaha, ok... here’s a good one. I've known you for ten
years - and in that time - hip hop and in particular UK
hip hop - has changed very much... How do you feel
about the industry as it stands? Especially coming from
a place that has had even less exposure than most?
(Scotland)
 Respek BA:
I feel like it's got a lot worse. It's always been bad,
industry in itself is bad but over the last ten years it
really has chewed up hip hop and shat it out. It's so
diluted now, you can't tell which genre a track is in
till the artist who made it tells you! I make hip
hop... old fashioned style. In Scotland, nothing has
changed. There was no industry for hip hop back then and
there is none now... we're all still fighting to get our
names out however we can because nobody is willing to
back or fund our projects... and we're all skint
basically. There's so much music in Scotland that's dope
that's gone un-heard over the years because of lack of
funding. It's bullshit... that's half the reason I
started battling. Nobody even knew I existed outside of
Scotland until I went to London to battle... because
nobody checks Scotland for talent... well, not many do.
But that's their loss anyways.
Madrox:
Indeed man. Couldn't have put it better myself. Bringing
it back to battles for a second. Do you have a favourite
punchline that you've spat?
Respek BA:
That I've spat? I dunno... better off asking an outsider
that one!
Madrox:
Hahaha, How about the best line used against you?
Respek BA:
"Those clothes ain't his, because he robs mans / Fuck
second hand, they've been through every tramp in
Scotland!" - Kulez in the tag team battle against me and
Stig.
Madrox:
Haha, does it annoy you if you lose a battle?
Like... does it get to you?
Respek BA:
The only battle that got to me when I lost was my only
street battle loss against Arkaic... cause I genuinely
believe I won that. Any other time I've lost I didn't
care... but I was proud of my street battle record! Hahah,
but maybe he did deserve to win and I'm just being
biased.
“...I like the tag team battle cause I think me and Stig
are a good team...”
Madrox:
I always pictured it being a bit like boxing you know?
Some take it easy, others give you a sucker punch after
the match haha. Alrighty... you mentioned DVD’s
before... do you have any videos in the pipeline? Or are
you gathering more material first?
 Respek BA:
Nah, no video's. I'm just focusing on the DVD's. As for
the release of them... yeah, we're waiting to record more
footage before we do it... so they'll come out at the end
of this year hopefully. But everything else about them
is top secret right now!
Madrox:
Hahaha. Is there anything else you've got going on that
you'd like to mention?
Respek BA:
Yea look out for me collaborating with Stig, Blade,
Whas'hisface, Possessed, Loki, Marrik, Mac-G, Mr Quiz, D
Face, Blu Foot, Big Div, Blade... and a whole load more.
Watch this space, and go check out
www.myspace.com/djinntruf
to keep yourselves updates with what I'm up to, and
www.jumpoff.tv for the battle shit. Plus a "Top secret"
project me and a few other people are working on.
Madrox:
Hahaha, your starting to sound like a secret agent...
Respek BA:
I fucking am! 'Cept I hate the fucking
government... it's an anti-government secret
agency... or something like that.
Madrox:
Hahahaha, ok... pen-ultimate question. If you could
collaborate with any artist, alive or dead, who would it
be? and more importantly... Why?
Respek BA:
Dead - Big L... he was the dopest! Alive - Canibus...
he is the dopest!
Madrox:
Hahaha, OK. Short and sweet. So finally then... Any
shout outs? Dates of up coming gigs? or any shit you
just wanna say...?
 Respek BA:
Yea shout out to my crews, Kriminal Recordz, The Ghosts,
The Tinmen, Being MC's, Freestyle Masons and the SIN
Army massive! Shouts to everyone that supported my shit
from a while ago and shouts to everyone doing so now!
Also, everyone send me money and I’ll make an album. If
anyone wants to throw me some doe I’ll go record one!
hahaha. PEACE!
Madrox:
Hahaha, it's been a pleasure, peace mate.
So with many a treat in store, the man they call Respek
is hard at work in the lab, and on the streets makin a
few easy pounds battling. You can peep his tunes and
videos @
www.myspace.com/djinntruf and
www.jumpoff.tv.
Thanks for reading. Peace.
-
Madrox
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