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 Scorsayzee Interview
interview 0087 added 01.11.01 words LadyCook
Scorsayzee hails from the Nottingham-area crew 'Out Da Ville' and if you haven't heard of them yet you will have soon...
I arranged to interview Scorsayzee after meeting him at the Hackney Volcano Festival after Out Da Ville had just performed an absolutely blinding set, showcasing their constantly improving MC skills.
I was actually a bit 'hmmph' about Scorsayzee - solely due to his name! BUT whilst some MC's talk Deep, in fact fly it as a friggin flag in their press releases, Scorsayzee IS DEEP full stop.
This lengthy interview is actually a pared down version of the myriad of topics we covered, I hope it does him justice...
WHY the name?
It was a name everyone knew, and I've seen the film 34 times (probably more by the time you've finished reading this)
Okay, so what's your favourite line?
'What you mean I'm a clown?' With the name, at the time I thought it sounded bad and everyone was talking about gangsters back then. I ain't one of those MC's to have a name that means the universe and everything. Everyone calls me Dean anyway or Muhammadin.
So how did you get into rhyming?
I've been writing since I was 12, then when I was 14 I went round to Trevor's (ODV manager) with Lee (Ramsey) because I wanted to rhyme over beats and it went from there. Trevor used to rap but at first I was kind of jealous of Lee because he's a natural, the most naturally gifted rapper I have ever seen.
What are your first musical memories, like way way back?
I could do the moonwalk! With socks on lino!
Are there any rappers who have inspired you?
Nas - He's a guy looking at things, studying things. As a kid I wanted to sound like him, I looked up to him. It's like he talked to you; he touches a lot of people, which I think a good MC should do.
What was your first time on stage?
When I was about 14 - 15, a little community alldayer in St Anns, Nottingham. Then the next thing was Snenton Festival, I didn't even feel nervous or anything, I just went on and surprised everyone.
How did you surprise them?
No one knew I could rap then, but my lyrics were all about how bad a rapper I was. Now I'm coming away from that and going into deeper lyrics like 'Too much boasting, I think the Devil almost got to my lyrics'. I'm not a teacher, I would just like to enlighten people.
With what?
When other kids were going out with their mates I was in the studio writing lyrics. You feel kind of different; I don't feel like I'm in the same race as everyone else for the car, flat and all those things. All poets feel different, like outsiders I suppose. I'm just narrating what I see, how I see it.
So what do you see around you to write about?
I just try to cover what's on my mind at the time, say it's some druggies I know from when I was younger. Whatever I'm feeling and seeing. Like when 18 Pub Man wearing the same shirt and shoes, I see the link and the mathematics there. It's like when people are talking about guns it's nothing to do with me so I'm not bothered, people talk about guns and everyone wants to be a gangster or get close to a gangster. If there's X amount of rappers talking about guns, there's a link there. It's like humans, we want to be more powerful, get one over on everyone else. It's like a link running between people, we want to be more powerful, It could be a guy in the Middle Ages making a sword and his is bigger than everyone else's, that's what people are being like about guns.
People say that gangster rap doesn't affect young people's minds but I've seen when a tune comes on in a club, everyone reacts in the same way, because it touches them in the same way.
How, negatively?
More than people admit. Like 'Cold As Ice', it reflects the times we're living in, a chorus like that reflects the hearts of the people listening. If someone's as Cold As Ice in their heart, can you really trust them? I reckon that's why it got in the charts; music always reflects the culture of the people.
Yeah, you might have a bit of a logical theory thing going on here, any more?
Eminem's E thing, I think you have to take him seriously when he's popping pills, or even fake pills on stage, to me that's a serious action even if people don't take him seriously.
I find the whole mass media take on that a bit dodgy, it's like they demonise him superficially but actually elevate him and make drugs look glamorous again.
Basically I believe that if weed was legalised it will lead to a lazy and depressed nation. It'll send some people nuts because they'll be thinking deep too much but not doing anything. It is addictive; I don't care what people say.
Well the Government win either way, either they nick people for a bit of puff and ruin peoples lives from a young age or sit back and profit out of us ruining our braincells. But I know you've chosen to use your brain a bit more. What made you convert to Islam?
It's called revert, as we believe everyone is a Muslim naturally. I've always had a natural belief in God, my Grandmother used to tell me about religion, she was a Catholic, but I found it confusing that she worshipped objects and Jesus. I used to pray to God and ask what's the right religion, and he answered my prayers and led me to Islam. I read books on it for 2 years and 1 day just thought I'm here for a reason, I don't believe in Evolution and know that God created us all.
So what is Islam? Can you define it?
Islam is submitting yourself to the will and obedience to God. Basically: A lot of people believe in a creator, a force that exists in a realm beyond their senses, that's a belief in God of a sort. With Islam, there's the Rules that he set mankind to do (for example) to realise that there is no God except Allah. I would never push it on people, that is truly one of the ways of Islam, because that may create a bad impression of Islam. Islam is an intellectual religion, we think about things, for example I know now that the real reason that people look in the mirror is to feel good at the clothes they're wearing, but they should feel good already? I'm stripping down everything and analysing it.
What about the bigger picture?
I think Islam is the biggest threat to capitalism in the world.
Why would you say that?
I think that if the whole world was Islamic then how would Governments and companies make money? One of the pillars of Islam is to give a proportion, 2.5%, of your earnings to charity.
Do you?
Not every single month. If I was on a proper wage I would regularly, you give out of the means you have.
Okay, closer to home geographically, what's Nottingham saying?
My areas an average council estate with normal working class people.
Is there much of a scene in Nottingham?
There's gigs every month or 2, a U.S act or DJ. Supernatural played, he's talented.
What about home-grown talent?
Mr 45, he put Nottingham on the map with 'Ya Get me', A producer called Joe Buddha, he just did L Fudge's album. The P Brothers - that's Paul S, DJ Ivory and Cappo. Cappo's going to be on my E.P, It's all Bronx (This is apparently Notts slang for heavy?). DJ Fever who makes beats for us. Mickey Blue Eyes does a lot of nights and brings the U.S acts over. Styly Cee is an emcee and producer; he's good.
What's happening next for Out Da Ville?
We've got a new E.P called 'Notts Property', and our 12"s 'Why Is It' and 'Life' are still out there.
Now I've heard a lot about this Out Da Ville video, what happened there?
'Blood, Sweat and Tears' it was on MTV base and MTV Raps - which was a dream come true for me! I'd always wanted to be on MTV Raps. We met the director while we were on a documentary for BBC2. We gave him a lot of ideas, how we wanted it to look. It was filmed in Battersea Power Station, so it's gritty but smooth at the same time, there's bits of a grand piano and open fires. It's like light and dark, North and South, night and day.
You lot are busy!
Our album will be coming out early next year, and my E.P called 'The Criterion'.
Which means?
The standard of distinguishing between good and evil.
Massive Thanks to Scorsayzee, and of course Trevor for fitting the interview into their hectic schedule.
Minutes after the interview Scorsayzee was on stage with the rest of his crew - absolutely f.in blinding, my mellow interviewee metamorphosed into an absolute whirlwind of spitting furious lyrics, even freestyling accapella!
To me as a Londoner, Out Da Ville's Nottingham accents are initially off-putting but after the first listen, the accent actually gives their tunes strength and reinforces the Britishness of their identity. Their inclusion of female MC's and singer also give them that extra edge and solidity, which is blatantly missing from many all male crews. Please note also that there is no tokenism involved in Tempa and C-Mones inclusion, they absolutely rip it live.
Scorsayzee is everywhere at the moment. Check Wordlab2, Styly Cee's EP on Son, The P Brothers Volume II, Kela's 'Crop Circles' on Jazz Fudge and everything recent by Out Da Ville, especially the excellent track with Sophie Johnson Hill which is on a white label available from Disorda
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