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Fresh with their second LP, Michaelis Constant rip roar through the pages of ancient text and into your ear drums with Gondwanaland. These boys really are something, and they have a lesson to teach, its really up to you if you wanna listen. I was curious and went to check them out…
What did the bible teach you the most? - Riz | profile
© ukhh.com 2002
interview 0101 added
21.04.02 words Riz
So for those who dont know Michaelis Constant, can you introduce yourself to the readers of UKHH.com:
Mike: Michaelis is a three and a half year old dribbling wordsmith, blessed with a wealth of beats and obscure haircuts. We are presently working on our fourth release on our own independent label Temple Remote Records. Were available for weddings, funerals and barmitzvas.
Joel: Me, Rich, Jonny, Mike and Log all hooked up in 1998 here in Birmingham. We rap in English, Spanish, German and Pigeon Latin. We have sabotaged our own shows by playing toy guitars, blowing the tune of Come Clean into whiskey bottles and singing Mary Poppins numbers. Our dj, Log, is working tonight. Hes probably painting a canvas.
He's a freelance artist.
Now no doubt you get a lot of people labelling you due to your religious beliefs, how do you see your beliefs and your music merging?
Mike: Kippers and Marmalade?! Rappers always chat about KEEPING IT REAL. Our music should represent who we are and the things that are important to us rather than how dope we are. Ultimately, we want to worship God through our music and give back hip hop as a form of creativity to the ultimate creator.
Joel: Riz, this might sound corny, but music is the language of the soul. Rap music is one of the great-great-great grandchildren of the African-American spirituals. These were songs that expressed both the deepest sorrow and the hope of heaven, so as lyricists who share their faith, I think we feel a closer affinity with our musical forefathers than most of our peers do.
Jonny: When you listen to really good emcees you get a sense of what they're like as rounded individuals. Its natural that we would demonstrate through our music who we are, and our faith is bound to come through in our lyrics. Its natural. You'll see other interests coming through as well, like football, movies, our friendships and marriages, and other stuff. When you listen to Michaelis- you get to know us. There is also a degree in which we will deliberately challenge people to think about Jesus' message. All rappers have an agenda they look to get across. Think of Jeru encouraging a balance of positivity and negativity, or Guru saying 'find your direction through introspection'. These statements are vague, and ultimately almost meaningless- Jesus offers real hope, and a tangible practical way to live on the back of that.
What do you think is the worst thing about UK Hip Hop?
Jonny: The Ruthless Rap Assassins split in the early 90s.
Rich: I think we should stop focussing on what's bad or wrong with the scene and instead focus on our own projects and reveal our love for our art forms.
Joel: I used to be in a crew in the US and although some of the Stateside hip hop scenes are amazing, the inferiority complex in the UK is just unhelpful. 80% of our American peers are going through the same stuff as us. Its 2002,
I'm in the land of super-creative, quirky, take-the-piss, often vulnerable rap music and
I'm honestly excited by it.
Rich: We want to build UK hip hop through our contribution. Everyone can be infected by your up-for-it-ness. There was a time when the UK was more famous for it's music than its mad cows, let's go back there.
'
...
Its natural that we would demonstrate through our music who we are, and our faith is bound to come through in our lyrics...'
What's your local scene like?
Mike: Brum has always struggled to maintain any steady hip hop community for whatever reasons, I dunno. Success only seems to occur if someone simply does a lot of hard work in phoning people. Heads are lazy including me!
Joel: In terms of talent, Brum has got some flippin amazing artists. I think Ranx of MSI&Asylum is incredible.
There's individual crews doing their our thing. The only person I know of whose recently worked on connecting hip-hop folks is Cipher of Moorish Delta. Urban City Records shop is potentially a pivotal meeting place for Brum heads.
I'm working on getting a rap collective together, made up of a real eclectic mix of emcees. I hope its gonna bring folks together. Birmingham clubs have put on a fair number of hip hop nights recently, which is really encouraging, but most venue sound systems cater for djs, not emcees.
Now your Album Gondwanaland is now out. Can you explain the title and the thoughts behind it?
Rich: The first time I heard the name of the new album I thought it was called "Gone to Wonderland", I don't really understand the geophysics behind Gondwanaland, but it seems to be a plausible proposition for the early days of our planet. It actually symbolises something Joel can tell you about.
Joel: Well, in the same way that Gondwanaland, the super-continent, broke up and drifted apart, we humans are living a more and more fragmented and malicious existence where we communicate through curses, security systems or bullets. This album is basically us asking If we humans are
what's wrong with the world, if it is our corrupt nature which ruins every environment it touches, like in The Beach, is there any hope for redemption?
Jonny: A lot of people will happily acknowledge that society's mashed up, but point at others to shift the blame. We're saying, yes, society's mashed up and we've all got to take individual responsibility for that.
Joel: The thing is were pathetic. Were doomed to repeat the same mistakes as our parents. We seem to be great at destroying each other. I tell you what: racism, sexism, genocide and corruption are here to stay. The phrase, How could this happen? Its the 21st century! is stupid. The sickest things are happening right now, not in some ancient or medieval time period.
Jonny: The reason why we decided to make an album around this concept, and not go and slit our wrists, then, is because into this depressing picture, we believe God took the initiative, and came to earth as a man to sort the problem out and heal the rift by being punished for us. I think you know the story...Its funny cos lots of people talk about keeping their options open as regards to religion or faith or philosophy, but if you acknowledge that man is deep down a pretty nasty piece of work, then Jesus is the only person who's ever claimed to be able to forgive him and change him. All other paths ultimately revolve around self-help, and bringing out your inherent goodness. Anyway, I'm probably veering from the question, so that should do.
What books do you read out with the Bible?
Jonny: I've just finished 'The Trial' by Franz Kafka, and am reading through GK Chesterton's Father Brown detective stories with my wife at the moment.
Rich: Unfortunately I don't read many books these days...I have been reading "Lazarillo de Tormes" for a few years now.
Mike: A Brave New World, Lord of the Rings, A Taste of the East (recipes)
Joel: Foucault Pendulum by Umberto Eco, Pale Fire by Nabokov and
Chesterton Orthodoxy
'
... You think we have a plan? Well, I suppose we have a kind of plan, and basically it revolves round the fact that we're a bit skint....'
You are releasing CDs first then moving on to vinyl, what is the reasoning and the plan behind it all?
Jonny: You think we have a plan? Well, I suppose we have a kind of plan, and basically it revolves round the fact that we're a bit skint. We brought out the Cds first, cos they're cheap to press up, then when
we've made enough money back we're going to press up a Gondwanaland EP, with some remixes and new tracks, as well as album stuff. This will hopefully be out in June. Of course, we do have the 12" off the last album which is nice.
Who did you all grow up listening to?
Mike: Bon Jovi, John Williams, Kylie
Jonny: As regards to hip hop, forgetting my Roxette and Paula Abdul fascination, I grew up listening to Public Enemy, and De La Soul, but was introduced to home-grown rap through Hijack and Ruthless Rap Assassins.
Joel: Herb Albert, Prince, Chaka Khan, Bach, Disney records
Rich: When I was a nipper I would hear my brother continuously playing his Eagles records.
Who is your ideal role model?
Rich: Earthly role models are hard to come by...I'm quite inspired by Bob Geldof
Joel: My dad
Mike: Gordon the Gopher
Jonny: I think I'd have to say the only person who came close to a role model was Chuck D- I remember seeing PE live, and he came across with such authority, but in a way that, rather than intimidating you, drew you in. He seems like a cool guy. To be honest, though, I don't know much more about him and I don't really want to, cos with all human heroes its the same, the closer you look at them, the more cracks you spot. From a distance though I admire his authority, sincerity, and integrity.
If you could do a tune with anyone, who would it be?
Jonny: Umm....Technotronic
Mike: the Chipmunks, Darius and James Brown
Rich: The Corrs
Joel: DJ Vadim
Has there ever been a situation when you couldn't or wouldn't do a track with someone due to their beliefs/lyrics?
Joel: Yeah, once. I simply bowed out of the tune. The collaborators were fine about it, they thought I was a bit weird, but there were no hard feelings. Were planning to collaborate with these guys this year in fact.
If you could send one person to the Hell fire, who would it be?
Rich: I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy
Joel: In fact, as Christians were pleading with people to make peace with the Creator and escape hell. Hell is total eternal separation from God, right? I think that would be our definition. Well, its amazing that so many humans consciously decide to separate themselves from
all that is good, just, pure, creative, beautiful.
Jonny: There's a God. I owe Him everything.
Joel: Grace. It is what makes the Christian faith unique.
Rich: Miracles can happen.
Mike: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his
soul?
Last words or shout outs for our readers, guys?
Jonny: I'd like to publicly commend Haribo sweets for their Starmix selection, which me and my wife particularly like. Peace and blessings to ya, black.
Mike: Eat egg and be merry
Joel: Mat C, the Zion Noiz collective, Oliver Poole and the Urban City Records chaps, your love for this art form is baffling.
Rich: Peace, love and healing...and learn a foreign language.
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