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 Manage Interview
interview 0276 added 31.01.05 words: Chris Byrne & Syanyde1
technical:
QED
Manage from South London is a man with a reputation
on the UKHH scene for not pulling any punchlines.
With a couple of releases under his belt and collaborations with the likes of Natty and Dwella,
Dark Circle etc this freestyle fanatic family man lets us in on the latest:
Who are you, how long
have you been involved in music & where are you from?
I'm Manage. One part of the Suicide
Farm, also a member of Expect No Mercy and affiliated with many.
I've been in the game since '99, that's when I first recorded a
track. I was spitting before that but it was never like a path I
was leading on for full time, it was just something we did.. A
hobby ..a way of socialising with each other. I'm from South
East London. New Cross is my home right now but I've lived all
round South East, Peckham, Brockley, East Dulwich etc.
How much does living
in South London have an influence on your music?
I think it influences it maybe too
much. Its' very hard to escape the normality of what's accepted
here as day to day living unfolds, so when peeps pigeon hole me
as grimey...or dark, or raw .. I am purely a product of
inner-city life and what I see around me as well as other mediums
such as TV, radio, friends etc but the main influence on
anyone's
art is what they live with everyday Saying that, I find myself
filtering some of the stuff I'm influenced by to be accepted in
the modern hip hop scene . I mean whenever a UK rapper spits
about guns or crack then they're accused of being fake or
attempting to sound American.
But the fact is if you're from the inner-city of the UK chances
are you are very aware of guns and drugs around you. There was a
month towards the end of last year where I saw 2 shootings
outside my window and heard about a girl in my block being
raped, a woman being stabbed to death in the block opposite.
Some of the people I have spent time with and built
relationships with are hooked on crack. It is a very real issue
but I kinda filter it to avoid the accusations of falsehood.
There's been a lot
of focus by the media lately on "urban" music, Hip Hop especially
and it's supposed relation to gun crime and drugs, do you think
this is justified?
Ok, urban music would be black
music I guess. First of all I hate this tag "urban" people act
like there isn't heavy metal, indie, jazz, funk and so on being
made in the city . The link between drugs, guns and "urban "
music is bullshit . I mean for fuck sake people been taking
drugs and killing each other since time began. Only now its
another great form of oppressing the people that speak about it.
There we are again back to the product of environment. We are
bombarded with films of terminators n all the rest with
unlimited guns killing half of New York... and these films are
aimed at the youth, and the fashionable music for a majority of
youth today happens to be the biggest music in the world "Hip
Hop"... on the law of averages itself out of all them millions
of kids there's bound to be some drug taking and some
violence... like every pop culture before it.
"...Fans
from the 80's seem to treat hip hop more as a lifestyle and a
movement, while the jiggier rap fans of nowadays seem to be
caught up in fashion too much..."
The underlying
message of Rise Up is very political. With a lot of people
feeling disenfranchised and let down by both politicians and the
general state of politics across the world, what do you think
needs to be done so this country and the world as a whole, can
move forward?
Hahaha ... OK. This is hard, the answer for world peace? It's
like every different set of power that can rise is gonna be as
twisted as the last and even if they rise with good intentions
that soon flies out of the window when they realise they need to
balance the books. Like, I can state the obvious, we all know
what George Bush did was messed up. He's not fooling everyone,
there's some blind patriots following him but on a whole I think
the world knows what's going on there. And I also notice how the
world only decided to help after a natural disaster etc. or at
Christmas time when they reflect. But in all honesty as humanity
the only way we can be free is for everyone to be equal. But, I
cant see it happening so I guess the struggle for power in every
life situation has replaced the notion of discovery and freedom
within life. Depression is at a all time high, maybe we're in an
era of realisation, people seem to be asking questions more
now... time evolves as humans evolve... maybe we grow wiser, or
maybe we carry on being manipulated. But we wont taste freedom
unless we all are prepared to stand up for it.
The war on terror
seems to have brought with it losses to civil liberties, both
with the Patriot Act in America and the Civil Contingencies Bill
in the UK, do you believe these restrictions are for the benefit
or to the detriment of society in the long run?
 We
adapt. That's what evolving is about, from what we're told the
extra scrutiny upon the Asian communities and low income
neighbourhoods is to stomp out the threat of terror attacks. So
it's like they shake ya hand with one hand and stab you in the
back with the other. So I'm not sure if they will do
either... they will just change how we live, and we will adapt
like we always do. Then they will change the rules again and the
cycle continues. It's kinda funny they're cutting incapacity
benefit for the mentally ill, now a large number of the mentally
ill are people with depression... depression caused by social un-acceptance. I feel like shit that
I don't work for a
living,but then again why the fuck should I? It's my life after
all, and if I wanna sit round in me boxers till 5 pm, then I'll
do that and say fuck the normality you try and push on me.
OK, back to the
music. Being involved in music for as long as you have, you've
obviously encountered resistance. What advice would you give to
these heads starting out that feel like the industry is trying
to lock them off?
The industry is breakable... the proof of this is best of late.
Get your mix CD's together and hit the streets... you don't need
no henched off budget to get into this industry. I mean SkinnyMan for example, one of the
UK's most prolific and well known
Hip Hop artists made a name from touching open mics 'n stages
without even having a deal or bare tracks out for sale n all the
rest. You can break this industry by force, by making them pay
attention to you. If everyone on road is feeling your shit and
talking bout you then the industry media etc. can't hide and I
don't even think they wanna block you. A lot of UK media peeps I
speak to are safe and are more than ready to help you if ya
shit's tight. There are inner circles though that need to be
watched for, I'm not gonna name any names but certain DJ's always
seem to play a select few and not give love on a broader scale I
give props to Disorda here... no matter who you are...if ya tight
he will play your music don't matter if ya friends with him or
not or you met a few times in the club and what not. So believe me
it is breakable by creating your own scene and buzz, then you
cannot be denied. If the quality of ya music isn't up to much but
ya flow n rhymes are sick... then find a producer who got a good
sound. Advertise yaself by hittin' open mics... get on peeps mix
CD's, feature on tracks. The future isn't written and it's all
there for the taking.
What are the shocking lyrics that you performed that
may have to be censored from even the dirty version of the forthcoming Blufoot album?
This is the first I have heard of some sort of censorship on the Blufoot album but it might be the
stuff about Holly and Jessica.
Is there a difference between hip hop fans who
have known and loved the music since the 80's and those who only know the jiggified MTV version?
Yeah there’s a big difference. Fans from the 80's seem to treat hip hop more as a lifestyle and a
movement, while the jiggier rap fans of nowadays seem to be caught up in fashion too much.
Both groups are fans nonetheless and support the music.
Is UKHH in general hostile towards major labels?
Yes, because major labels sleep on UK acts too often. You would of thought after 17 years or so they would
be backing us.
"...In
an ideal world there should be legislation for 60% of music
played on the radio to be home-grown talent..."
How should the government support upcoming artists
in an ideal world?
In an ideal world there should be legislation for 60% of music played on the radio to be homegrown
talent. There should be channels devoted to music from UK, more education on the music business available
etc.
Why is there such
little music on UK TV?
On Sky Digital there is a lot of music – but not so much UK music though Channel U is supporting UKHH.
OK, what's in the
future for Manage? Releases shows etc. and is there any shout
outs you wanna make?
Booooy... I got plans... and my plans change constantly. If I'm
honest I just wanna make as many sick tracks and record with as
many sick people as possible. I'd love recognition and props for
what I do but if not I'll still be here sucker punching chumps
where it hurts. Speakers corner is the night, Snuff my DJ and
myself are running, check it. Shout outs to so many, in order to
not disrespect anyone I'll leave the names blank..... shouts to
my fam you know who you are.
Anything you would like to add?
Mr Manage and King Kaiow EP coming soon!!! Deal Real, Carnaby Street- Open Mic sessions every Friday!
-
Chris Byrne &
Syanyde1
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