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 Colossus
Interview
interview 0362 added 10.01.06 words: Chris Byrne
technical: Spoon
San Francisco electronic lounge music label Om Records are now branching out into hip hop. Their first signing is English ex-pat (now Oakland, California resident) Charlie Tate (former member of King Kooba). Bay Area MC's Capitol A, Azeem, Regi B, Delphi (alongside quintessential modern Englishman Roots Manuva) all join him on his new album West Oaktown. C Byrne caught up with him on the interweb for the latest info.
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I think that the Reverend Hammer has got enough on his plate at the moment. He’s from all accounts making much bank preaching the word of the Lord
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What is 'urban jazz'?
I suppose it’s just a reference to the fact that West Oaktown was primarily where this LP was composed, It’s a pretty raw neighbourhood, and it’s pretty fair to say that the record has fairly heavy jazz overtones. That’s what I see it as being!
Is ‘boom bap’ hiphop dying out?
Nah! It’s just having a little rest!!
Is San Francisco like Brighton but in America?
I suppose it could be construed as such for the obvious reasons, though I see Oakland and San Francisco as being more like the North/South London thing… Arsenal/Chelsea. I’m strictly an A’s fan. I got no love for the Giants.
Is America a better place to make music than Europe?
No, I wouldn’t say so, though I do think your environment does have a profound effect on the material you produce. I would say the sheer number of second-hand record stores here definitely sent West Oakland in the direction it went!
I managed to get a really terrible vinyl habit going again!
Why no collabos with Jello Biafra and / or Hammer? Surely the best lyricists of the past 20 years in San Francisco?
I think that the Reverend Hammer has got enough on his plate at the moment. He’s from all accounts making much bank preaching the word of the Lord. Who needs to sell records when you can get people to easily part with their cash by offering salvation?! As for Jello - where he’s at? Dunno if he even lives in the city anymore.
Are many people eating from hip hop alone in S.F?
For sure!! The scene here is pretty healthy at the moment… I think the whole Bay area is definitely on the up!!
Do you know the whereabouts of the Winston's drummer G.C Coleman (creator of the Amen drum break)? Someone must know whether he's alive or dead...
There’s probably some heads out there who might know. But for many of those old players, I expect that they’re all broke. Most of them hardly got paid a cent in the first place, let alone any royalties. It’s a pretty bad scene really!
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I see Oakland and San Francisco as being more like the North/South London thing
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How does net piracy affect a label like Om Records?
It’s definitely had a detrimental effect on the amount of money that labels put into a project, especially touring! In the past you could set tour support against future sales, but if you know that your recordings are gonna get jacked, then it’s a tough call to make! Though’ it’s fair to say that the volume of online sales has been steadily increasing, maybe things will level out eventually. Time will tell!
The album 'West Oaktown' by Colossus is out now on Om Records....
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Chris Byrne
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