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HKB:FiNN - I Am You
interview
0125 added 06.01.03 words
Spyce
The diversity of Hip Hop continues to astound the music industry
and no other advocate for diversity is the seasoned veteran HKB: Finn. On a rainy night in London I met and talked with the interesting deep young man….
UKHH: How did you get started?
HKB FiNN: I got started in music when I was seven years old. I performed with a folk quintet in Jamaica where I lived at the time. The lead guitarist was a friend of my Grandfather, who heard me singing around our house in Kingston, and he asked if I would sing for his band. The band played Mento music which is the folk music of Jamaica. Mento precedes Ska, Rockers, Reggae and Ragga. I later moved on to Dancehall in my early teens. My involvement with Hip Hop, started with the forming of a band called '3 the hard way', with myself, Brainiac & Mad Marga. We later became Katch 22, and our first release was a posse track called "The burial proceedings in the coarse of 3 knights". This was in 1989 so I guess, this was how I got started.
UKHH: What are the best qualities to possess to be successful?
HKB: The best qualities to posses to be successful are: Positive thoughts, Dynamic will, Self Analysis, Initiative and self control.
UKHH: What relevant qualification do you have?
HKB: If by relevant you mean to the music (which is why we are speaking), I'd have to say my experience as a fan of music is my most relevant qualification. Hip Hop is a do-it-your-self art form and as such, all you need is love and dedication to be into Hip Hop. I am not a Hip Hop act, I am a Hip Hop artist. I am also academically qualified with 2:1's in Philosophy, Cultural Studies and an M.A. in film studies. I am also a qualified nutter, bastard and rough neck. I have a PHD in 'fuckry' and an Mphil in don't fuck wid my money sonny. I feel this combination of qualifications make me an ideal candidate and help me to continuously survive the difficult waters of this art form.
UKHH: How much do you want to earn?
HKB: I want to earn enough spiritual points to enter Nirvana.
UKHH: What are the best and worst aspects of being a rapper?
HKB: The best point about being a rapper is I get to become a film director with sound. Seeing the response you can get from delivering a well constructed verse or verses or if your extremely lucky/talented delivering a well constructed and original album is the best aspect of being a rapper. The worst aspect of being a rapper is not allowing yourself room to grow and develop vocally. Many of us, hit on a vocal style and then stay with it a little too long, making us outdated, outmoded and irrelevant.
".... The hardest decision I had to make was: should I make an album in the style of current Hip Hop and or should I draw inspiration from my vast musical experience?...."
UKHH: What has been your biggest hurdle/set back so far?
HKB: Every aspect of life will either make you or break you. One person's set back is another person's opportunity. I have had many opportunities in this life. In particular, on December 31st 1999, I recorded a track called 'What if?'. At that time, Mos Def had recently released 'Black on Both sides'. I was told by my manager at the time, the lyrics of 'What if?' were wack, the music (African meets Reggae meets Hip Hop style) didn't make any sense and I should try to sound more like Mos Def. I thought long and hard on this. I thought, this person has been in the industry for many years. Mos Def is very good. Maybe my idea is not right. Hmm...Then I recognised this was a good opportunity to start afresh. I got rid of the manager, kept the song exactly as it was. And now it's a main feature of my live performances and on my album. This could have been a hurdle, but I chose to see it as an opportunity. I guess the glass is always half full.
UKHH: Who influenced you to be an artist?
HKB: My ancestors, both recent and ancient. Without them, both spiritually and physically, we would not exist. Good or bad are ancestors have contributed to our lives as we are contributing to the coming generations. In fact, artistically and musically, I see inspiration around me all the time. From Bob Marley to Me'Shell Ndegeocello to Mos Def, music is a living thing that outlasts all fads and genres.
UKHH: What has been the hardest decision that you have had to make?
 HKB: The hardest decision I had to make was: should I make an album in the style of current Hip Hop and or should I draw inspiration from my vast musical experience? I felt if I did one, I would invariably be disregarding the other. Eventually and after much thought, I decided to make something that actually reflects who I am, where I live and where I'm going and thought: "To hell with convention. Hip Hop ain't about conformity. I need to show my essential qualities, my...Vitalistics."
UKHH: How do you feel about the current standard of UK Hip Hop at the moment?
HKB: I feel the current standard of UK Hip Hop is good at the moment. There are tons of new crew's coming out all the time and people's production and compositional values are always getting better. These days it's less about a 'wack' tune and more about what hot tune should I buy. It's a beautiful thing to see it grow...
UKHH: Who are you're favourite artist of the moment?
HKB: My favourite artist at the moment is a Malian singer named: Salif Keita. I saw him perform at Union Chappel in summer 2002 and wow! I ain't been blown away musically like this since I saw Stereolab and 'Aerial M' live at the Astoria in 1998. Salif has an album called 'Moffou' out at the moment. It's amazing. As someone who loves reggae, I can hear it's origins in many aspects of Malian music. For those who don't know, Mali is a West African country near the Gambia and Senegal. For me, Salif Keita embodies all the best qualities of good music.
UKHH: Who are your favourite artists to relax to?
HKB: My favourite artists to relax to are Ben Folds Five (any ballad), Charles Mingus, Aerial M, Massive Attack, Leroy Sibbles, Aim, Caron Wheeler, Salif Keita, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Digable Planets, Bjork, Lee Scratch Perry, A Tribe called quest (Midnight marauders album) Miles Davis (Kind of Blue album), Bent, Palladin Ensemble, Me'Shell Ndegeocello (Bitter album), Alice Coltrane and so on. In fact, this list could make a start to an interesting compilaton... Thanks.
UKHH: What 3 words describe HKB:FiNN?
HKB: I am you.
Peace and Love.
- Spyce
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