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  Humurak D. Gritty Interview
interview 0300 added 15.05.05 words: Nikesh
technical:
QED
Humurak D. Gritty is
certainly one of those UK hip-hop cats from the wrong side of
the tracks. Rapping about
poverty, inner-city depression and a whole heap of social
issues, as well as some killer punchlines, Gritty is repping all
areas of the UK he’s travelled to and rested his weary bones.
Under the guidance of uber-producer, Secondson and signed to
SFDB records, the Leeds-born, Cardiff-bred MC is gaining a
fearsome reputation on the live circuit as well as battles all
over the country.
Nikesh caught up with the Gritty one to chat about his
self-assured road to the top, the UK scene and Goldie Lookin
Chain...
Introduce yourself to the ukhh.com
audience.
 My name is Humurak D Gritty aka King Gritty, Baby faced
terrorist, the peoples choice. Half-English, half-Jamaican,
Cardiff breh. Born in Leeds raised in Bradford, moved to Cardiff
at the age of thirteen. To describe myself in one word would
be…'RAGS'.
Tell us about your “Rags to Rags” EP.
What were the lyrical themes and how did you pick your beats?
”Rags 2 Rags” is my debut EP, with production from Jehst, Lewis
Parker, Secondson and P Xain. The A-side “Rags 2 Rags” is all
about how I became the person that I am today. The tune is
catching a lot of attention, including airplay on Radio One and
Vibe FM amongst others. I met Jehst in France performing at a
hip-hop festival. Originally we were going to do a tune
together, but when we eventually hooked up, Jehst made the beat
and I wrote to it. But, my lyrics got quite personal so we
decided I should write a second verse and complete the tune on
my own. The beat is amazing, so bless Jehst for that.
The hook up with Lewis came about when I supported him in
Cardiff a year ago. I linked him, we swapped phone numbers, and
a couple of weeks later, he phoned me and said that he was doing
a record with Secondson and that he wanted me to jump on the
B-side. In return he produced 'My Time' for my EP.
"...The
UK scene for me is the best in the world. It’s raw and is the
voice of the oppressed...."
I met Secondson when I used to smash local MC battles. He said I
was the King of acapellas, and he said that with my verses and
his production that we could kill it. From then I rolled with
Secondson and signed to SFDB.
I linked P Xain before GLC was even big through Secondson. He
played me a beat demo and the beats were dark… totally the
opposite of what he was doing for the Chain, so I chose one and
ran with it.
The public face of Welsh hip-hop is
Goldie Lookin Chain. How do you aim to change that?
 I am actually English so I don't look at the scene in that way.
I see the bigger picture and never intended on being a local
artist. I try not to look at as a UK scene, rather a global
scene. I want my music to compared to hip-hop from around the
World, not just music from where I live. Plus, GLC took
SkinnyMan and me on a full UK tour, then me and Jehst. So, to
me, they’re showing the public both ends of the spectrum. They
even bought my T-shirts, so big up.
What is the Welsh scene like?
Performing at the Lyric Pad hip-hop awards, what were your
thoughts on the UK scene as a whole?
Like I explained above I don’t look at as a Welsh scene, but
there is a lot of talent coming through. As for Welsh hero’s,
none. No one that I really looked up to. Living in Cardiff I
intend to change that, hopefully giving the youts someone they
can look up to so they to can aim higher than just being a local
artist.
I have represented the UK scene for years, there was nobody on
the bill (of the Lyric Pad awards) who I hadn’t seen performing
before. The UK scene for me is the best in the world. It’s raw
and is the voice of the oppressed, something it used to be in
America but it ain't no more. It was good to perform there
though and the feedback was positive. Heads weren’t ready.
"...Create
music you like and can be proud of and if other people like it
then that’s a bonus, blud...."
Your songs deal with the harder side of
life, there's a bleak outlook on a few of the songs. What do you
do for a living when you're not rapping?
I have been unemployed since school. Check my CV, make a living
through shows, battling and my tunes been played on radio and
collecting Giro.
How did you get into rapping? Who were
your heroes? How did you progress from rapping in your bedroom
to blessing beats by Lewis?
My dad ran a ragga sound system, so I’ve always been around
music. I got into rap through “Fuck the Police” by NWA. I
started rapping in school, just messing about, started taking it
serious at about age 17. When I was 20, my demo got played on
Radio One and 1xtra. It gave me confidence for winning battles,
then I sort of stopped battling so I could evolve into an
artist. There is a big difference between the two. As for making
beats with Lewis… thankfully, every producer I have met has
wanted to work with me. Hopefully my hard work has paid off, so
I must be doing something right because we are talking about the
best producers in the country.
What's next for you to do? What is your
5-year plan from here on in?
 Right now I am on a full UK tour supporting Skinny Man and DJ
Flip with my DJ, Killer Tomato. I also feature on a whole heap
of B-sides this year so watch this space. My second EP will be
out in September and the album, 'Still Rags' will be out early
2006.
Watch out for 'Deadend' which is group with me on rhyme duties
and Secondson on production. I intend to make my way to the top
of the food chain and stay there. Hopefully I'll smash the UK
and European scene apart and in five years the journalists will
be hailing me as a legend in the making.
How do you plan to take your music to
the masses and tear up the scene?
My music is already reaching the masses. If you make good music,
no matter were you're coming from people who hear it will like
it. That’s why I've worked with the above producers, been
handpicked for the Skinny man tour and get regular airplay on
1xtra and a whole heap of other stations. I have done shows in
over 40 cities around the UK and never had a negative reaction
because I am from Cardiff. Even London man have accepted my
music. I rap from my heart and emotions and that’s how intend to
smash up the scene.
"...I
rap from my heart and emotions and that’s how intend to smash up
the scene...."
What are the codes and rules you live
by? What advice would you give up and coming musicians?
I live by a righteous code, but other people’s ignorance and my
hunger pains often knock me in to the darkness. I try to live
positive, but it's hard to stay on a straight path when your
bruck pocket and refuse to work for minimum wage.
My advice to any upcoming artists, is to never give up and to
always be yourself. Create music you like and can be proud of
and if other people like it then that’s a bonus, blud.
Any final shout-outs/bigups?
My Mum, Secondson , thanks for getting me off road and in the
studio to keep me out of trouble. Skinny, Flip ands all of the
Mudfam, 'One Mud', Screwface, my right hand man. Watch out for
Blaktrix, he's my bredrin and is heavy.
Last words, check for the EP ' Rags 2 Rags' out May 9th in
VIrgin HMV all them places. Check the video for 'Rags to Rags'
at
www.kinggritty.com. Big up anyone who took the time to read
this far.
"...every
producer I have met has wanted to work with me. Hopefully my
hard work has paid off...."
-
Nikesh Shukla
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