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  Lethal B Interview
interview 0401 added
06.05.06 words:
Kane
Supplementary Images:
Benny Chung technicaL:
QED
Having
come to recognition towards the end of the traditional Garage era, as
part of More Fire Crew, Lethal Bizzle then had to deal with the
disappointment of being dropped from a major label in 2002. Since then
he has had his tracks and live performances banned from clubs as well as
falling out with fellow MC’s. But he has since shown the strength of
character to come back and launch a highly successful solo career which
includes top ten and twenty hits, as well being a seminal figure in the
‘Grime’ scene. Killer new writer Kane got busy n’ caught up with Lethal
to hear his views on Hip hop versus Grime, beef with fellow MCs’, and
ladies.
K: So what’s going
on at the moment then?
 L: I’m just trying to finish off my crews’ album. That should be out in
the summer some time, then I’m going back into the studio to work on
another solo album, that should be out towards the end of the year. I’m
just really trying to keep it fresh, try some different stuff, I enjoy
experimenting with my music.
K: Like this
‘Grindie’ thing, what’s your thoughts on it?
L: Well that’s just a phrase Statik coined. I’m not sure if that will
stick. But personally I just want to try new stuff. That’s something
I’ve always maintained throughout my career, and always will. Like ‘Oi’,
when that came out there was nothing else like it, the same with ‘Pow’.
It was just completely out of the blue, combining all sorts of musical
elements.
K: Coming from a
similar area of East London, and growing up here, there didn’t seem to
be too much going on UK Hip hop wise at the time. Everyone listened to
the American stuff and Garage really. What did you listen to?
Lethal: Well it was kinda of mad, I was really open minded to all sorts
of music really. But what first got me into music was probably Drum n
Bass, and obviously a bit of pop and some early 90’s Hip hop; De La
Soul, Salt N Pepper, A Tribe Called Quest. And what’s that guy..what’s
that tune he does.
K: (I take a ball
park guess) Arrested Development, Mr Wendal?
L: No, ohh.
K: The conversation
goes off onto a slight tangent, as I recall something that was bugging
me from earlier in the day. Who sang the sample you used recently, ‘It’s
a shame..’ I was trying to remember but I couldn’t?
L: Originally it was Stevie Wonder.. But the cover was by a female
artist, erm.
Lethals’ manager reminds us both that it’s Monie Love.
L: But yeah I mean musically I was really into Drum N Bass and Jungle
growing up, I liked the energy of the raves and was particularly into
Ronnie Size, Shy FX was running it then, Skibadee. Although from an
MCing aspect, obviously Hip hop people as well like Nas, Biggie, Wu
Tang.
“...I just want to try new stuff. That’s something I’ve always maintained
throughout my career...”
K: So do you
appreciate that sort of Hip hop then?
L: Of course! That’s what I grew up on. I mean sometimes I get people
who ask me ‘do you listen to so and sos’ mix tapes’, what do you think I
listen to. Wu Tang are one of the biggest musical influences of my
upbringing. Also Nas, Gang Starr, Biggie, Tupac.
K: So what’s your
feelings on this Grime verses Hip hop debate, is there one?
 L: I don’t think there should be one if there is, we can help each other
out. I think there are artists from both genres who are really doing
some good stuff and I think if we were to collaborate with each other
more we could move the whole scene, or scenes forward. It can only be
good for the two musically.
K: Yeah this country
needs to because were not really putting enough time and money into our
own.
L: Exactly bruv, there’s no need to be hating on each other, there needs
to be more support. We need to try and spread the music, both Hip hop
and Grime. Open doors, it’s not just doors that are getting shut on the
artist but also on whoever is coming through next. I wouldn’t say there
is a debate between the two, and if there is then people need to look at
the bigger picture and realise the progression of the music, how far
it’s gone and how far it can go. I think it can go all the way and
there’s no reason at all why we can’t compete and even overtake the
Americans. But if we don’t support each other it won’t happen.
K: I think it can
really progress and compete with the Americans, when both scenes are
able to drop their complexes about how they should sound and combine the
best of both worlds. I mean if we talk about them as two separate
entities is there anyone from English Hip hop you’re particularly
feeling or would like to work with?
L: Well Sway and me are always talking about doing something together
but because were so busy it’s just a matter of finding the time.
Klashnekoff is cool, they’re my main two. Skinnyman’s my boy and there’s
this new kid, Loudmouth, in fact he got me into Wu Tang back in the day.
K: What’s this
clothing line about then, ‘Baller’ and the TV show. Are you trying to
create a Lethal brand or something, L-Unit?
L: Ha, ha. That’s what I’m saying, it’s not even mine you know, it’s
Wale Adeyemis’. He’s abusing our position, we struck a deal with my
label where he would sponsor us, give us clothing, etc. It’s an idea,
because I go into shops and see pictures of myself wearing ‘Baller’ it’s
not even my line. Maybe that’s an idea!
“... musically I was really into Drum N Bass and Jungle growing up...”
K: So is that the
sort of thing you’d look to be doing?
L: That’s definitely in the pipeline. Its getting more of a thing now as
well, because there’s kids who look up to me and see what I’m wearing
and are like…
K: And if you can
make a bit of money out of it…why not?!
 L: Ha, ha. Yeah I can make a little bit of change from it!
The conversation drifts a little with this last thought.
K: So obviously
you’ve got the TV show as well then, Rolling With the Bizzle. How did
that come about?
L: That was just an idea that my manager and me came up with, we were
talking about doing a TV show for a while. And we’ve been filming
throughout the whole promotion campaign for my album, Against All Oddz,
the initial idea was a DVD, but then Channel U pitched it to us that
they would like to do a series similar to the Westwood show. Its
basically just me going around, shows, interviewing people, etc.
K: Didn’t you
interview Raekwon?
L: Yeah, he was cool.
K: OK returning to
the whole Hip hop-Grime thing, dose it get to you at all that you
haven’t been fully accepted by a Hip hop audience?
L: No, not really. No, it might come down to the whole your not proper
Hip hop thing but that doesn’t really bother me to be quite frank. The
Grime scene has really developed over the last few years whilst I’m not
sure if English Hip hop has as much. It use to be Garage which had
various influences and now it’s developed into this thing called Grime.
K: Well that’s it, I
mean what’s happened to Garage, they sound similar to me.
L: To me it’s still Garage, I’m not really sure where this Grime thing
comes from, I think the media came out with it.
K: That’s another
thing why do you think East London has such a monopoly on it?
L: I think it comes down to the support man, we need people to support
the music. Beyond London, all over the country.
“...people need to look at the bigger picture and realise the progression
of the music...”
K: How do you think
it’ll get the support?
L: I think stuff like the Grindie thing is an avenue for support,
because it opens more doors because the majority of radio stations play
Indie music so now there’s the potential for a cross over to a whole new
audience. Radio play, clubs have been the biggest downfall because
there’s no events anymore. The media, we’ve done enough now for people
to start taking more notice there’s been top ten and top twenty hits!
K: For a newcomer to
Grime what would you recommend they listen to?
 L: Right now, Statiks’ doing this whole Grindie thing which is combining
two genres of music together. Re-mixing fairly well known Indie songs
and getting MC’s to spit over it so that’s well worth checking out. Fire
Camp stuff obviously, Jammer, Skepta and Wiley are obviously doing their
thing also.
K: Would you care to
comment on this reported tension with Roll Deep?
L: It’s kind of hype… and I don’t know, I’m over it. But Wiley kid, he
doesn’t know what he wants, sometimes he says he wants to stop it and
then he wants to carry on. But yeah its one of those where if you
mention a little bit of negativity towards someone it’s going to spread
quickly and build up into something a lot bigger. I don’t really care to
be honest with you, I just want to focus on stuff that’s going to
improve my career and you know, make some money man! I couldn’t say were
the best of mates, it’s not like I’m gonna go round his house and have a
cup of tea, but we see each other and say ‘hello’, it’s fairly civil
now. The main thing is that we both want to be the best innit and I
suppose were both part of the two top crews.
K: Healthy
competition then?
L: Yeah I ‘spose that’s it. We both want to be the big boy, the pioneer
of the music.
K: A few quickfire,
or more fire (excuse the pun) questions. Blonds or Brunettes?
L: Brunettes.
K: Bottoms or
Breasts?
L: Ahh, hard one man.
K: I’ve got a good
theory on this.
L: Breasts, has to be.
“...its one of those where if you mention a little bit of negativity
towards someone it’s going to spread quickly...”
K: My theory is
bums, because it’s all about structure. It’s like a good tree, it’s all
about the foundations, a nice bum sets the body up.
L: Yeah, seen. You know what can I have both bruv?
K: Ha, ha. I’ll let
you have both. Right, Dizzee or Wiley?
L: You are having a laugh (he looks genuinely puzzled) ahh, Dizzee.
K: Grindie or Indie?
L: Errm, I suppose I’ve got to say Grindie.
K: Grime or Garage?
You’ve answered this one already but…
L: Garage. I don’t know why the f**k it’s called Grime.
K: Any last words?
L: Big up everyone who bought my album, the Fire Camp, my whole team,
look out for the Fire Camp album. It’s titled The Great Fire of London.
-
Kane
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