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 Paco of CPV Interview
interview 0036 added 25.10.00 words Caballo Locco
I bet you're asking yourself who's this Paco guy and furthermore what's CPV? Well sit down for a sec, and i'll clear it out for you!! The Violent Poets Club are not only one of Spain's tightest cru's but also pioneers since their breakthrough back in '94 and cornerstones in the establishment of the movement ever since. My man Paco ''King'' is one of the dopest emcees in the six man clique, a pretty-good producer and co-owner of the bands own clothin' line, ''Broncosestilo''.
So aiight matey when did you start in all this?
Well I started out just when the whole ''movement'' was beginning, i was like 12 or 13 and I'm 27 now so....
Any particular reasons why you got involved?
Yeah cos I saw some friends breaking and it immediately interested me so I started listening to the music and got them to teach me and all that; at the end I beat them all!!!!! That was more or less when break dancing really started around here ('85ish). Back then it was mad hard to get hold of music, you had to have contacts. But anyways thanks to popping we met people in Paris and later in London.
Ok. In what musical projects have you participated before CPV?
In ''Jungle Kings'' < an old-school act that mostly participated in some corny rap compilations back in the late eighties>. We got real close to releasing our own LP but we made the mistake of getting at mutinationals instead of independent labels. This (movement) was too new and them big companies didn't understand anything.
What dificulties did CPV have releasing an independent hip hop record back in '94
A hell of a lot of them; all the indie labels were dedicated to punk or rock and stuff like that; it really was the beginning. (Our label at the time) ''Yo Gano'' was this one guy who decided one day to record our LP and setup a ''studio'' by himself. But we didn't get along with him and plus he didn't know how to take care of business so we decided to start or own label: ''Zona Bruta'' and so we began to compose our second CD. But hmm yeah the dificulties before the first one were innumerable. Cos after all, nobody new how the public would react..... But it ended up being the bomb!!
True!! Do you think that ''24/7 La Saga Continua'' ('96), satisfied all the expectations after all that success?
Yeah but what occurs is that a groups first project always impacts more. If somebody didn't like our 2nd cd better it's cos you come out with more rage on your breakthrough. Plus the public liked how ''Madrid Zona Bruta'' ( the1st Lp)sounded when its sound quality was pitiful. We couldn't believe it!! In ''La Saga....'' we worked on it more. In the 1st one we had a lot of old songs, an enormous variation in the production styles and with the lyrics. There were people who were like ''hmm this aint the same'' but you can't stay in the past doin' the same stuff. Anyway i think people in general liked it more.
How'd that '98 collabo with Dompachino (Killarmy Army member) come about?
Oh, we grabbed him by the neck and we said ''look dog either you rhyme sumtig here goddammit, or we smack the hell outta you, aiight? You want us to call our peoples frum Torrejon (in Madrid). Nah it happened cos when we out abroad recordin' or whatever people get interested in your work. Specially them, who are used to hearing only stuff outta the states. They're like ''shit!! Spanish rap exists!!'' Everybody was surprised and this particular dude say'd that he wanted to participate. And he showed up that day and laced some rhymes and that was that. He also wanted some of us to get on his cd but he had to still make it.... (Basically) there was always a good vibe cos after all you don't do anything with somebody you don't dig. Besides these cats aren't stupid; they know they can get a lil' bit of sales in Spain which cant possibly do them no harm.
And this all happened in.....?
At D&D. You always got a bunch of groups and shit there; but i'm not sure if he was there recording some of his material or kicking with the homeys when we was mixing ''La Saga...'' Jeru was there and everyday he arrived with a huge bag!! That dude was one crazy guy!!
Does every CPV record represent faithfully the cru's essence or does one in particular enlighten better where you guys stand?
Each one of the Lp's represents each one of us in each and every one of or ryhmes; and well Nafri and Jota
have had more influence cos they produce more. I produced a couple of tracks in the first disc but not on the other ones cos them two would work faster.
What about your future projects and all that?
Im goin' to produce something for Chojin and began the makings of my first solo Lp.... My plans are to start producing but more seriously. The whole group has plans of solo projects and then getting together to drop a CPV super cd and leave everybody with their mouth watery!! We all are anxious to demonstrate what we can do (even as solo artists) on the mic, on the tables.... With everything and besides that.... well you know get rich!!
4sure. But why do you think Spanish hip hop doesn't sell abroad?
Why? Cos it doesn't reach any other markets. In South America we're known but our shit doesn't get there because of the labels and the distributors. To distribute it abroad would be stupid cos its mad expensive. It'd be better to sell our copyrights to a company in whichever country who could take care of distributing it there.
And why do foreign hip hop records (other than from the US) not sell in Spain?
Probably cos they don't take care of the publicity.
Do you think it'd be hard for an English act to perform in Spain?
They'd have a hard time getting a crowd in; there's very little people here who know how to set a buisness. Actually it should be us and not people outside of hip-hop cos they don't know shit. Just look at what happened with the ''Raza Hip Hop'' . You only got a few exceptions like the people who organized the Alcorcon (Madrid area) festival last year. It was big success.
But what advice would you give to an English group or whatever on how to get some gigs and shit in Spain?
Hook up some connections, see if its posible, do some promotions by radio and on the newspapers too. Cos obviously if people don't know you, it's impossible. But then again thats for a solo a appereance; it'd be easier in a festival although they'd still have to move around and hook them connections.
C.P.V.
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What international artists are you felling at this moment?
These two lunatics , Busta and the whole Flipmode (Rah Digga is blazin'!!), DMX, Jay-Z, Black Rob and Big Pun too even if a lotta people aint diggin' him.
Aiight what about those who may of influenced you back in the day?
Hmm..... LL Cool J, Run DMC, Public Enemy yeah the P.E. And after that people like EPMD. Mostly East Coast cos thats what I grew up on.
Now tell us about Broncoestilo. Where'd that idea come from?
It was Swy who was in charge of the groups merchandising, coming up with the tees.... And he was like hmm I see dough here why not start a brand. He himself starting designing and doing stuff. I got in and here we are < we chillin' at the fellas store in downtown Madrid right now>.
Ok. How do you see the present Spanish hip hop landscape? Do you believe the scene deserves more atention?
It should have much more; cos the ones that haul the crowds in the are the emcees; they aren't acknowledging the buisness oportunity they have with rappers. But it its also true that we got the problem of too many yokels runnin' around that don't know shit 'bout hip hop that could harm our scene. We need more young people to come out hard, and the old cats to not to stay behind; if to perform you gotta go to Chile then go to Chile or start to get noticed in the States or in Europe.
Right now can most artists live off this scene?
Theres some that can but thats really difficult; Spain is a little country (for hip hop sales). Besides the number of concerts is small cos there's very few festivals or spots to perform in and with the number of crews constantly growin' there's a lot of competion.
Hey I believe this is it!! But to finish up what artists besides CPV would you recomemend to the UK hip- hoper?
Hmm.... Chojin, Swy, Jota, Zeta, La Mala, Ari , El Imperio, VKR.... There all friends but its that my friends are the bomb diggy!!
Aiight yo thanks a lot...One L
Yeah and peace to real hip hop head world-wide.
Interview: Caballo Locco with the colaboration of Sir Francis (Tragic 1) and MC Oily Oil for ukhh.com
Translation by Caballo Locco
 
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