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  Mr Ti2bs Interview
interview 0390 added
19.04.06 words: Lady
Cook
technical:
QED
Mr Ti2bs has been on the scene a long while now
– yet many people may
not know about his solo career after Mud Fam. His new release on Kemet
‘Inner City Rap’ is one of the heaviest tunes I’ve heard this year,
reflected by the video’s regular rotation on Channel U.
Please introduce
yourself to those that don't already know about Ti2bs:
 MT: They call me Mr Ti2bs, formerly of the Mud Fam & 1 crews. I've done
various features and double as a hypeman the godfather Rodney P. I’m the
ONLY RAPPER from the soul - my style is based around reality with
empathy.
LC: Where are you
coming from with this new release?
MT: The record is out now on Kemet, it’s an introduction to my style and
my story. No need to be extra is about style and Inner City Rap is about
my story.
LC: 'Inner City Rap'
is a really strong tune, lyrically and beat wise, what inspired the
lyrics?
MT: That song was inspired by the music behind it. Every song I make is
inspired by my life, the realities can often be dark and intense but
that is how life is often.
LC: My friend
compared the beat to a film score; did you intend it to have that kind
of cinematic effect?
MT: Inner City Rap is actually in a film score (1 man his dog), it was
made by the same lot who recently did 'Rolling with the nines' and is
basically a dark comedy. I believe that a lot of the time what we do as
MC's is social commentary, so it will be cinematic if you’re good at
what you do!
LC: Have you worked
with Dat D Gav before?
MT: Gav is one of my best friends and the producer who understands me
the most. Gav and Firstman have the lion’s share of production on my
album.
LC: You've been on
the scene quite a while, what was it like working on the RZA project?
MT: To be honest it’s quite a distant memory now, but it was a great
moment for UK hip hop and for my solo career.
LC: What was it like
being in Mud Fam, is it very different being a solo artist?
MT: THE MUD FAM WAS CRAZY! But I wouldn’t change anything. I’m a loner
really. I enjoy my own space and being in group situations like that
ain't really for me. However I had to journey through the experience to
realise that, it's all love still.
LC: I know you
hosted a radio show for a while, what is it like hosting on the radio,
did you get weird callers?
MT: Weird callers, stupid callers, lonely women who might as well
of been stalkers! Yep. You name it man went through it all in the name
of MrTi2bs!!!
“...The black man has many stereotypes and stigmas attached to him
but it's also up to him to represent himself properly and break free
from them...”
LC: After working
with RZA are there other U.S producers you'd like to work with?
MT: DR DRE.
LC: If you could
work with any musical artist in the world, including non hip hop, who
would you choose?
 MT: Bob Dylan or Santana.
LC: What was the
first record you bought?
MT: Never brought a record, I’m new school like that!
LC: What is your
favourite tune ever, can you choose only one?
MT: Nah, I’m a student of music and I’m still learning.
LC: Your lyrics
sound very impassioned, do you think the hip hop generation has much
political passion now?
MT: I think the business side of the music has become it's most
exploited side by every one and this has resulted in people not trying to
speak their mind or be creative just make money.
LC: As a Londoner,
I'm very aware that the socio-economic situation is particularly harsh
for young black men, how could you explain this to people from outside
the inner city?
MT: The black man has many stereotypes and stigmas attached to him but
it's also up to him to represent himself properly and break free from
them. So I ain't going down the self pity road I’ll say f**K em!
LC: ' One of your
lyrics is: Grannies don't trust me when I wear my hoodie', what do you
think of the recent media moral panic over the 'hoodie'?
MT: It’s another form of discrimination against people in society the
government are scared of.
LC: If you were
Mayor for a day, what laws would you bring in?
MT: I would never be the mayor. I wouldn’t want to be.
 LC: Where do you
want to be with your music in ten years time?
MT: Retired, successful &content.
LC: Any shout outs,
next release, website links, etc etc.
MT: Judgement ent, 1stman productions, Kemet, my jailhouse massive &
www.myspace.com/mrti2bs.
1 love from the soul!!
- Lady
Cook
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