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  Ric Branson Interview
interview 0512 added 20.06.07 words:
2Hip
technical:
QED
Most of you will have blindly come
into this interview out of mild curiosity as to who the hell Ric Branson
is. If I told you not only did you know him, but he was once part of
one of the most consistent UK crews in the last 5-6 years, would you
still be any the wiser? Well, Ric Branson was Ricochet of Universal
Soliders and now he drops his debut release as a solo artist. What comes
after, may be a bit of a surprise however…
First and foremost,
why has Ricochet re-manifested himself as Ric Branson?
 Change is inevitable, nothing ever stays the same, not in this lifetime.
From when Uni Sols folded I felt that I wanted to show a definite break
with the old and reinvent myself for a solo project ‘cos the focus was
gonna be different on this one. The whole package was different so I
needed a new title for myself, a new persona if you like.
What does the name
mean?
Ah-ha! The million-dollar question... I know that’s baffled nuff people
but my fam understood the concept from the start. When I first came out
with Uni Sols on Street Vets it was all about Ricochet the emcee getting
his shine on. All I wanted was to show man my technical ability and
ting; rhymes, patterns and flows, that’s the essence of any good emcee
you get me? For ‘Slanguage’ now, me and Velli got deep into that road
shit. I mean deep! To a level where we could’ve lost nuff listeners I
think, but that was the world of Juggla Redz ‘the hustler’, that I put
on them tracks, serious tings no joke. Ric Branson’s the entrepreneur.
The guy with the ambition and focus to make something of himself, the
guy who’s trying to see the bigger picture, who knows where he’s come
from and what he’s gone through but strives for something better. That’s
where I am right now and that’s why I called the imprint ‘Grand Vision’,
‘cos that sums up my philosophy perfectly at this point in my life.
So Universal
Soldiers are no more. How come you decided to stop releasing tunes
together?
Boy, nuff people don’t know this but Uni Sols was only ever supposed to
have a one-off release you know! Me, Velli and Fly planned to use it as
a springboard for our own individual careers. A way of gaining exposure
for our shit, but never as a defined group with any kind of longevity.
It just sort of happened along the way. We recorded too much material
for just one EP, so it became two, then a compilation CD and next ting
we’re working on an album! Anyway, I knew it was over before ‘Slanguage’
had even dropped. I got a vibe from Velli that he weren’t feeling the
struggle no more, his hunger had faded and to be honest, I felt that
mine was fading too. The pressures of having to record and release
material on our own was slowly killing us. We never had no financial
backing or support from anyone, we done this shit standing on our own
two and when Velli went away for 14 months it was just me. Hiphop
started changing across the water and music scenes were evolving here to
a point where for a while I didn’t even feel relevant anymore. We didn’t
fit into the UK rap scene, we didn’t fit in with the garage/grime scene,
it’s like we didn’t have a home. All we could do was fly the flag for
our corner, that’s why ‘Slanguage’ was the perfect way to sign out as a
group I reckon.
“...We never had no financial backing or support from anyone, we done
this shit standing on our own two...”
I was really
surprised to hear you wouldn’t be releasing anymore as a solo artist
after the Mixtape. Has Ric Branson had enough of Hiphop or do you just
feel you need to concentrate on other things?
 When you’ve spent over half your life perfecting an art form I don’t
think it’s that easy to just let it go, so I couldn’t say off the cuff
“I’ll never record again” but I think I can say “I’ll never release
again” ‘cos the business of putting out independent Hip hop has to be
the most unrewarding, frustrating ting I’ve ever experienced in my life.
Plus I don’t trust any other label in this country to put out my shit so
boy, I think that kind of speaks for itself! On the flipside I love
spitting but I ain’t too sure where I’d take it from here if I was to
continue. My focus is different now and I’m trying to move away from
certain negative aspects of my life that have overshadowed my outlook
for a very long time. Rhyming don’t really have a place in my immediate
plans for the future (although that could change). Who knows? Either way
I figured the best way to officially retire was with new product ’cos at
least that way there’s no confusion, it’s kind of like a clean break.
If this does indeed
end up being your final release, “Evolution” has to be the strongest way
to finish any music career! Did you think it was so important to finish
on such a strong, emotional note?
Without doubt. I’m proud of that tune there ‘cos Sundragon blessed me
with a beautiful beat, Melissa killed the chorus and I spoke about some
tings that I could’ve said a long time ago, but then maybe I wasn’t
ready. That’s some shit for my critics, for those that think all I’m
capable of doing is spitting some ignorant road shit and nothing else. A
lot of Uni Sols tunes are like mini documentaries on a personal tip, but
Evolution’s more like a general biography on what it means to be young,
hungry and black in Britain. I’m talking about me but I’m also talking
for that guy on the corner who was there before me, you get me? Life is
ultimately a struggle - but at the end of it you should expect some kind
of result or achievement - whether it’s financial, spiritual or
psychological ain’t really the point, just the fact that you’ve made the
journey. That’s the evolution right there.
“...the business of putting out independent Hip hop has to be the
most unrewarding, frustrating ting I’ve ever experienced in my life...”
So you’ve no plans
on doing a Jiggaman and coming out of retirement?
Allow that! Besides, Jigga can do what he wants - he’s worth half a
billion and I’m barely worth half a mil, ha,ha,ha...
You may not be
planning to release any more material, but do you think you’ll always
consider yourself an emcee or do you plan to cut the whole thing out of
your system?
 Impossible. You know what sometimes I think about never spitting again
and I swear it feels like my heart’s breaking. I could never deny my rap
career in that way. I’m just evolving from it, that’s all.
What’s the reaction
been to “No Pressure” and what it lays out on the table?
I’ve been bowled over so far bruv, trust me. Bare man have told me that
I’m their favourite emcee to have ever come out of this country and
probably the most underrated too. That part don’t bother me really, I’m
just glad that I took the opportunity to put out shit. Not everyone who
deserves to has been able to do that. This time around I think I nailed
it with the variety, I think I’ve proved that I aint no one-dimensional
emcee. That I’ve got the ability to talk about anything and make it work
for me. Conceptually a lot of people cottoned on to the project this
time around plus there really was no pressure in putting this one
together, I just did what I felt and I think that’s why it sounds a lot
more natural than anything else I’ve been involved with. Bottom-line I
felt that I had to do it and everyone who’s heard it so far has agreed.
Are you planning on
doing a tour with it, or are you setting a deadline on the live shows
too?
Nah. I’m officially retired as of June 4th when ‘No Pressure’ drops. Why
promote the fact that I’m retired? Besides, I got other projects that
need my attention now.
“...sometimes I think about never spitting again and I swear it feels
like my heart’s breaking...”
What’s your most
memorable moment of being an artist?
Doing that Uni Sols show that lifted the roof off WKD Café in June
2001... Putting up my first record on the living room wall... Killing
freestyle cyphers on the road... Signing autographs in Edmonton Green...
Doing the Street Vets photo shoot and half the manor coming out to
support us... Boy! Couldn’t pick a single one.
For anyone starting
out in the game, what would your advice be? What pitfalls would you
avoid the second time around?
 Be realistic in your expectations, don’t be scared of criticism and
surround yourself with good people who got your back. I wouldn’t say
there were any specific pitfalls I would’ve avoided, obviously we made
mistakes but that’s how you learn.
What would Ric
Branson, the artist, like to be remembered for?
A killer flow, the realest rhymes and mad charisma.
Any final words or
shouts?
Super size shout out to Evil Ed, Sundragon and A H Fly for having faith
and believing in me, even when I didn’t. Nuff love to anyone who’s
bought, played or propped my shit. Nothing can stop the movement, Grand
Vision for life.
So as they say, that’s all folks. Whether or not that does indeed
spell the end for Ric Branson the emcee, only time will tell. But one
thing’s for sure, in a week where all the talk has been about Golden
Balls returning to McClaren’s shoddy ship, nothing is ever over and I
for one, would welcome Ric Branson back with open arms.
-
2Hip
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