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 Late Interview
interview 0173 added 27.01.04 words: Ghost
technical:
QED
So you’ve got the release
of “International Rhyme Spittin” dropping in the next month on “Wolftown
Recordings” we’ll talk about later in the interview, but I want to start
from the beginning, when did you first get into Hip Hop, and what
artists do you remember checking when you first started listening, and
how did those artists influence you?
 I
saw the video for ‘3 Buffalo Girls’ around 1982/1983. I thought the song
was shit but the video was sick, with the graffiti and break-dancing. As
soon as I saw that that’s when I started taggin and doin throw ups. At
school High Timez, (a close friend and MC on our label), had family in
New York so he used to get the Bambattaa Soul Sonic Force tapes and used
to hit us off. I used to buy all the Electro’s, but when Ice T and
Public Enemy came out that was it I was hooked. Back then Hip Hop was
just Hip Hop, no pigeonholes, and no sub genres. You would buy Eric b & Rakim album one week, then the week after buy a NWA album. I brought it
all From the Geto Boys to Just Ice to Da La Soul.
Those were the days, you
know I sometimes miss the way it was back then, Hip Hop was just Hip Hop! So how did you transform from being just a listener to taking an
active role in the culture, was there like a moment when you thought ok,
I’m gonna go write some lyrics and become an emcee?
It was just a natural progression from buying records and wanting people
to hear them. Playing on pirate radio doing club night promotions with
Tricksta, DJ’ing in clubs. I was into the graffiti side of things as
well as breakin’, so rapping was the only element of Hip Hop I hadn’t
mastered. I started rapping in 1993 but didn’t really take it seriously
until 1996 when we formed Villains and the label Wolftown Recordings.
Rapping to me is expression thru a creative artfrom, just like DJ’ing,
Graffiti & Breakin’. Now it’s my full time job!
So how did the wolftown
thing come about? Did you just want to take care of business on your
own? And who exactly is Wolftown, give us a breakdown of the crew…
We always had the vision of owning and running an independent record
label as getting signed to a major label was never an option, as we knew
the best way on how to promote ourselves and our music, what artwork
would work etc. We were making music and just wanted to get it out there
and start building. Our first release dropped in December 1999 after
Wolftown Recordings was set up by myself and Tricksta fundamentally in
1996 but officially in May 1999 when we landed a distribution deal.
“...Nuff love to all
the people that have hated on us you have gave us drive to do this even
more...”
On the roster now (January 2004) we have got a whole bunch of talent
ready to bust. There's "High Timez", he's been there since day one we
all grew up together, "Jai Boo" she's rolled with us since the early
nineties, The "Vicious Circle" mans who we met when TRICKSTA moved into
a block of flats (the one pictured on the Villains 'Welcome To Wolftown'
album), that's 10SHOTT, SIZE8, WAYNEY, CONMAN, LEE DEE, 10Shott and
Conman are twin brothers Size8 and Wayney g are bothers and Lee Dee is
their cousin then ya got DASS who's JAI BOO'S cousin, STAXX whose HIGH
TIMEZ brother, Early B who is Jai boo's brother, plus whole heap of
affiliate's waiting in the wings. In 2003 we also signed our first ever
turntablist and mixtape DJ, DJ AMO for a CD release in 2004. We have
known him since school too! So as you can see we roll tight. We also got
Cee-Rock "The Fury" who is an artist from New York, who is like our
American cousin and we also put a 12" from DL INCOGNITO from Canada (the
video for DL Incognito 'Spit Forever 2' is rocking now on Channel U,
text 671 to 89800).
So the crew roll’s deep
then! I got a lot of respect for you guys cause you run your business
correctly, and your on top of your game, how do you think that running
your business so tight has helped you in terms of the music, on the
Wolftown side of things, and for you as an artist, I think your feedback
would go a long way to helping people thinking about setting up there
own label’s, and explain what exactly It took for you to do it
successfully….
 Yeah
thanks its good to get props, on the business side its exactly that a
business you have to work hard, but you have to enjoy what you are doing
so it doesn't seem like work, we enjoy creating projects and seeing them
come together. At the end of the day we don't do any thing else it's a
full time job from recording, performing, promoting, righting the
magazine, making videos doing the websites running the label looking
after all the artists the list goes on and on. I think its very hard for
people who are coming in this game who have got a full time job to do
this cause we do this from the minute we get up to the minute we go to
bed that's why Wolftown mans smoke excessive amounts, but then again if
you aint got a job its an expensive game to get into. You have gotta
want to do this, its gotta come from the heart and you have to make
sacrifices I was in the studio Christmas eve until 2am recordings cause
I was offered the studio time.
Yeah I agree, it’s hard,
people don’t know how hard it can be, but if your dedicated….. So I
guess you might have been down the studio recording your solo E.P!?
Which is called “International Rhyme Spittin” and is due for release any
time now, tell us about the EP, who’s on it, and what you wanted to get
across with this release. I wanna know your inspiration for putting the
whole package together….
Nah I was working on some new shit, the INTERNATIONAL RHYME SPITTIN EP
is finished and pressed up and ready to hit the shops in February, its 9
tracks long, but the last track is over 22 minutes long and has 50 mc's
on it, it’s more like an album that a E.P, we like to give our fans
value for money. It features. Valu, Daddy Ash, Cipher Jewels, Oshin AKA
Nomad, Kripsy, Doyen D and DJ Amo, K Rino, Problem 13, Kuwait and Miami
Mac, SD3, Lyrical Lizzard, Coole High, Lil DVS, Cee Rock 'The Fury',
High Timez, Concept & Undefined from Crisis Center Pro, Mr. D.O.G,
Pique/PQ, 10Shott & Size8 from Vicious Circle, Musical Sniper, Ceaser,
Antidote & Genie from Thee Absent, P.A.C, Creamo, B Sharp, Wayney G,
Conman, Bullet, Khevlar, Arjay, D'Veezion, Jai Boo, L.O.V.E. Allah,
Eastborn, Eddie Crew & Kool Aid from The Pro Shoppe, Xeno, Kidd X, Spesh
K, Dyce, Lee Dee, Lord Roc, TA Guerreo, Meres, Dass, Staxx, HKB Finn,
Taa Hum, Ca$hino, D'Black, Early B and Tricksta
“...It’s sad there’s
all these artists in the UK making all this quality music and we haven’t
even got a 1 hour show on radio 1...”
What I've done on this project is collaborate with people on the
independent scene from all over the world. As I’m into all different
styles of Hip Hop so that's what I’ve done. On this project I took it
back to when Hip Hop was Hip Hop and not segregate the different styles,
I’ve embraced it, with artists from the East coast, West coast, Midwest,
Northwest, Dirty South, UK, Jamaica, Canada, France and more, it's a
dream come true working with people who's music I listen to. People
might hate and say "Hows that LATE’s E.P if he's got guests on every
track" but it's a concept I wanted to do and I’ve done it, and it came
out exactly how I wanted it, I’m very pleased with it. No one has ever
done a project like this before and if your not feeling it ya gotta ask
your self are you really into Hip Hop. It's produced by Tricksta & Pez
and they've smashed the beats, Tricksta knew exactly what type of beats
I needed for each track. It's a project I want to keep going as well as
recording new WOLFTOWN COMMITTEE material and my own solo album as well
as loads of other projects.
So how long did the whole
thing take to record from beginning to end?
 We
started recording it while we was recording the Wolftown Committee album
Legendary Status, it all came together in about a year, but that wasn't
the only project we was working on, the posse track alone took 3 weeks
to mix down. If we had just been doing that project it would of taken
about 3 to 4 months, we’ve always got about 10 things on the go in the
studio. We wanted to release in November last year but we’ve decided to
wait until Feb 2004 cause of all the Christmas crap that comes out like
like, "Now that's what I
call shite music 709" But we’ve had it available to buy on the website
since December and its going really well.
You know there probably
past that volume of now that’s what I call music! Aight cool make sure
people go check the website and watch out for the full release. I wanted
to ask you about the Hip Hop scene in the Midlands, how’s things going
up there right now, and how do you feel about the scene in the UK right
now, do you feel it’s segregated between North and South, or London and
not London, I always hear a lot of chat about this so called divide,
what’s your take on it?
The problem is most things are in London like radio stations like Itch
Fm, Xfm, Bassline fm, Kiss fm, etc, Pressing plants, Major labels,
Records shops that sell mainly Hip Hop, U-music, club nights the list
goes on but its only 2 hours away so it ain't that much of a problem what
we miss out on is the opportunities to network. I suppose there’s a few
people that think anything passed Watford is the country side But that's
what New York mans used to think about the west coast and dirty south.
The midlands has got a healthy scene there’s a lot of crews doing there
thing and releasing good music, there quite a few regular club nights to
go to, shops like Profyle Urban Clothing in Wolverhampton who are
backing UK Hip Hop (IF YA GOT AN ALBUM COMING OUT CHECK THEM OUT THEY
WILL SELL YOUR CD'S). The thing about not livin in London is that you can
get more focused and not get caught up with all the politics also its
not hassle to park ya car and ya can get good weed and a ya can get a
pint for 99p. People love to just segregate things, its all Hip Hop.
No doubt about the
segregation, but you know at Itch we always support all homegrown talent
where ever it originates from. How do you feel the UK scene is doing
now, in 2004. And is there anything you would like to see happen to help
the artists currently involved and to help those wanting to become
involved?
Of course we know ITCH fm is backing it we cant wait to get back up
there and do another show, The scene is looking good, A few cats have
jumped on the bandwagon now garage is done buts that's all cool, majors
still don't know what to do with us yet but were getting there as soon
as they see us selling some big numbers they will soon want a cut. But
they gotta realise they cant sign artists they gotta sign labels, we’re
street mans they cant handle us. I would love to see some middle class
man who knows nothing about our lifestyle try and tell our artists what
to wear and what to do in a video, that shit that would be funny as they
have no concept how this Hip Hop thing works, and how certain things can
finish your career and your whole credibility. We’ve got an industry
that is building now with things like ITCH fm, U-music, RAGO MAGAZINE,
Undercover magazine we just need some investors, U-music has come along
and blew MTV Base out of game, that shows that peeps want this UK Hip
Hop music.
“...A few cats have
jumped on the bandwagon now garage is done buts that's all cool, majors
still don't know what to do with us ...”
But we still got a long way to go, for example most radio DJ's are only playing
Hip Hop that works on the dance floor, but there
is a lot of Hip Hop that is home listening music and for the walkman or
car which is heavy and that shit doesn't get no play, which doesn't
happen in other genres like indie music, pop music, rock music, etc..
artists like Coldplay can make a track that's depressing as fuck and
they will play that shit on the radio and TV and it charts, UK Hip Hop
only gets play if it's a club tune. Its like there trying to silence Hip
Hop where people have got opinions on things and just push r&b style
rap. I’ve got nothing against r&b but that ain't the be all of Hip
Hop.
It’s sad there’s all these artists in the UK making all this quality
music and we haven’t even got a 1 hour show on radio 1, we got 1xtra I
suppose but that's a few years from being in everyone’s yard. It’s hard
to believe but not everyone got satellite and a computer yet but its
getting there.
That’s some good
thoughts, I appreciate you dropping some knowledge on these subjects,
you know Ghost likes to get into deep into such topics. So what’s the
forthcoming plans for Late, and for the full Wolftown crew for the next
year and beyond?
 Well
I got the INTERNATIONAL RYHME SPIITIN EP out February so I will be out
on the road promoting that, I got my Underground Exposure mixtape series
too. I've just finished volume 5. Tricksta does UK RUNNINGS and I do
Underground Exposure which exclusives from freestyles and bootleg mixes
from UK & USA artists you can get them from our websites
www.wolftownrecordings.com &
www.ukrunnings.com
And on Wolftown bwoy. there whole heap of things happening. We got
Canadian MC "DL INCOGNITO" whose got a 12 inch "Spit Forever 2" out now.
You can check out the video to that on U-Music by texting 671 to 89800.
Then we have the long awaited CEE-ROCK"THE FURY" album "Bringin the
Yowzah", which is coming soon to. We got the label's first ever
mix-album by the talented DJ AMO album coming, 10shott from Vicious
Circle and Wolftown Committee is working on his EP with Birmingham
producer JT, as well Dass working on his EP the 'Dass Roots EP'. We've
just had a track used in an American porn film called 'Phatazz Volume 5'
and just had a track licensed to Bushwick Bill's new compilation
'Different Styles Organisation'. we are just about to launch
www.fileunderrHip Hop.com too. check for that.. I could go on for
ever and ever here, I really could. but for up-to-date info ya just
gotta keep checking the website.
RAGO Magazine is going to be doing a lot of damage in 2004 also. We have
RAGO Magazine Issue 6 also that is on road now. With a whole bunch of
superb interviews and features. Phife Dawg, Bushwick Bill, LATE, DL
Incognito, Cee-Rock "The Fury", Wolftown Committee, Crisis Center Pro,
Kuwait, Mister Marlon, DJ Amo, D.A, UTI Records, Independent Hype DVD
series, C.O.V, Black Britannia, Profyle Urban Clothing and more, plus
all the regular singles, mixtape, album and DVD reviews. Issue 7 is
currently being written and has got some sick stuff in it. The new
website for RAGO Magazine is
www.ragomagazine.com so be make to check that out. Any man on
independent labels need to get 2 copies of their stuff over, it's
essential! We support the underground and our prices are super cheap
street prices. Plus we are the only magazine in the UK that is 100%
Hip Hop and it's FREE! UK readers can grab a copy of this magazine FREE
by sending in a 40 pence stamped self addressed envelope to RAGO
Magazine, FREE Copy, PO Box 1668, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV2 3GW.
Overseas customers are advised to contact us at
info@wolftownrecordings.com.
Cool, well It’s been a
pleasure as usual, I gotta big you up for doing the interview, and big
up Tricksta and the whole Wolftown Crew, Is there anything else you
wanna add, any shout out’s etc…..
Big up yourself and respect for asking questions that I've enjoyed
answering,
When we gonna do a
collaboration???
Just big up all the Wolftown mans, Wolftown affiliated members and
everyone that has supported Wolftown over the last few years, Nuff love
to all the people that have hated on us you have gave us drive to do
this even more. Big up all the artists that represented on the
"International Rhyme Spittin ep" they have all got projects out so check
them out, Keep checking our websites for all the latest info
on Wolftown and all its artists.
LATE..
-
Ghost
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