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Dirty Harry Interview
interview 0099 added
12.04.02 words Matt G
Big Smoke Magazine's editor gives Matt G the lowdown on the freshest magazine in British hip-hop.
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Big Smoke Promo Issue
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MG: What spurred you to create Big Smoke Magazine?
DH: Just being a creative bod and looking at other magazines at the time (1997), I remember Downlow which was a great magazine but you couldn't really read it and obviously there was HHC. Big Smoke was a gap in the scene, more of a home grown focus, collectable vinyl looking simple well designed some next level type shit. The music that really spurred me to create Big Smoke was Twang, the early Low Life series, Krispy, Cash Crew, L Parker, Skinnyman, The Brotherhood, London Posse, Roots, Skitz, Funky DL and Silent Eclipse. Also there were DJ's coming through like MK, Shortee Blitz, DJ Kofi, Pogo, Disorda and the Scratch Perverts. Radio shows like the Number Man (DJ 279), Jenny Francis both on Choice FM and the Max 'n' Dave show on Kiss 100. I remember going to Notting Hill carnival six or seven years ago at the Westwood stage and seeing a young Lee Ramsey, Blak Twang... I think Fallacy also got on stage - it was just basically going to a lot of live events. All this inspired me with coming up with the magazine but also before that rap music in general had been hitting me on the head since 88/89 time. Some where between now and then I started to collect records and DJ and do mixtapes etc. Then in 1996 I started studying at Croydon College and hooked up with a cru of DJ's. From there, Big Smoke was a possible reality and in the sweaty summer of 1999 I took the blueprint to Mr Bond at Deal Real Records and it all started from there.
MG: There are several other hip-hop magazines out there, what would you say sets Big Smoke apart from the rest?
DH: The size, the content, the design, the photography, the packaging and the truth.
MG: How great do you think the need is for a magazine with a focus primarily on British hip-hop?
DH: The same great need as for good artists, mixtapes, radio shows, live events, websites, clothes shops, videos, record companies and fans! If you have a need or a demand for these then why not a magazine?
'
...It's a record? No it's a magazine...it's definitely a magazine!...'
MG: Has it been a struggle getting the magazine in the shops and into the hands of the average hip-hop head in the street?
DH: I would be lying if I said it wasn't a struggle getting it to the heads but getting it done on time is the main labour. The main struggle is mainly the distribution to HMV, Virgin, Tower Records and all the independent shops outside the smoke. After every issue things get better.
MG: So what has the feedback from fans, artists and industry heads been like so far?
DH: "It's a record? No it's a magazine...it's definitely a magazine!" People are shocked, blown away with the unusual format, design and content but mainly shook! More shook than Mobb Deep!
MG: Each issue has been packed with interesting interviews - which has been your personal favourite?
DH: Its hard to say... Moorish Delta, The Villains, Krispy and M.S.I were all great days but mainly cause we got out of the smoke for a road trip. We did the Krispy interview and at the end realised the tape didn't record any of it... whose fault was that? (Mine) The funniest interview but the hardest one to sort out was the chubby kids, Big Ted & Shortee Blitz... bare laughs.
MG: What needs to happen before we can say that British hip-hop artists are truly blowing' up?
DH: What needs to happen is kill, kill, kill. Kill all rap artists from all over the world... apart from this country! Some one should make a blockbuster film and call it "Rap Killers" maybe starring Skinnyman as the lead role? People in high places in the music industry need to stop employing suits that just do coke and employ people that will take it serious and know what the time is, if you naa mean!
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Original Big Smoke
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MG: Many people keep talking of a big breakthrough for British hip-hop, where do you predict the scene will be a year on from now?
DH: Hopefully it continues to move forward with more quality artists releasing records, more records being played on radio, more shows & tours, more mixtapes, more press, more fans, more independents, more records companies and more big smoking!
MG: ... and where will Big Smoke be in all this?
DH: Hopefully on issue 10!
MG: Finally, any shouts?...
DH: Yeah shouts to the whole B.S. Cru, Bro, Bai, Grammar, D.Allen, P.Real, T.Dot, C.Brown, DJ Pager, D Rogers, Porn, Phil Knott, Josh Cole, Julie W, Nat, Bill, Blokey, Matt Battman, D-One, P Bailey, Bandit, Disorda, Hold No Hostage Mag, Dharma77, E, Ant P, Skinnyman, Reveal, Fou 1, MG, Natty, Dave Paget, Zico, Big Ted and Bonafide Records.
Big Smoke Issue 04 out summer 2002.
MG: Thanks to Dirty Harry for his words and a big thumbs up to the Big Smoke team for all their
endeavours.
Matt G
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