ukhh.com | features | interviews

Procryptix

interview 0047 added 23.01.01 words 2Hip

The Procryptix have to be one of the most underrated crew in the UK. With an MC going by the name of Naba and a producer named Sparkii they are the formula that has caught the UK's music presses eye. But still very little attention is drawn to their raw form of hiphop, but it has so much appeal. I've known people who don't even like hiphop who love the Procryptix. So this is why this interview is here, to let one half (Naba) speak to you, puttin knowledge into heads and all that. Sit back, grab a pack of crisps and educated your self on one of the nicest UK talents right now.

So then, how did you first get into hiphop?

It was about 83, I came back to London from Queens (Jamaica). My friends and myself were already doing dance routines first, we was the Whizkids named after sneakers. Then we was Sidewalk Crew, we used to battle kids from an all boys school round the way and we had mad girls in our school. I started rhyming in about 79 but this was a Jamaican style of word play. Me an a kid called Jason, by 86 we had a crew called sound storm we could all beat box, spit cyphers the whole nine.

'The Inkyfist Assassin', what a great EP. How long did it take you to put it together?

Verbally I put the lyrics down in five days, Sparkii made the joints like one after the next. He'd be like 'what about this?' he'd play some shit, I'd be like 'it's nice' he'd wipe it or I'd be on some 'oh shit that's poppin check this out.' 'Stink while I flow like piss blahblah'. We'd cypha and niggas knew it would be a track but it took a while to choose like six joints out of say ten, fifteen.

'...On the box I see the same five videos 80 times a day, the radio plays the same shit 80 times a day.'

The tracks are VERY raw indeed, straight up hiphop. Was this the aim, to get back to the Core?

It might sound a little ballsey, but we don't really aim to be raw. I don't listen to the radio that much no more, apart from Shortee Blitz. He seems the most open minded of the few radio options we have in London. Lets say for me hiphops in my life an my peers lives. I make tracks in my dome that won't never come out. Me and Sparkii make mad tunes like constantly, we only really analyse or formulate way after we choose which joint will meet the public.

Your new outing, 'Break Inna 950's Shadow' seems more party like to me, again was this the aim?

For me 'Break Inna 950's Shadow' is just a mental snap shot. Check out 'Spark (00) hundred No.' "sophisticated wordee, qoating in a sea of thirsty nigaz, cypha roun mikefones n liquors". Its live commentary, live music. Few realise we try not to copy a joint we made last week, especially concept wise, an musically its a gong show naameen? Its got 2 seconds to bang then if not 'seeyah, nex one!' Sparkii or even I'll spit sum ideas, Sparks might say 'Nah first sixteen smoke your second sixteen'. I'll squash it, we just love to create, you could hear songs from the same batch and not know.

Can you please tell me as its being on my mind for some time now, what does the title 'Break Inna 950's Shadow' mean?

Break as in break beat, in the shadow of an Akai's 950 sampler, like snake in a monkeys shadow you know, a take of like crack in a junkies shadow

Do you have an album in the pipeline at the moment or another EP? If so can you tell me a bit about it, and when we can expect to see it out?

We could have dropped an album long time ago. Material aint no problem, we got to have the right connections, so the maximum amount of people can hear shit next. I think there will be an EP 'Wurd Wor 3' maybe Jan /Feb 2k1.

Any other project you are involved in we should know about?

We did a hot joint for lucas {the lid of} you will hear about it soon. I'm working on some shit with jazzy jay right now, plus I'm back in Jamaica queens I got so much cats that want to get on with some Procryptix mayhem, watch the grapevine!

Naba, your lyrics seem very playful in the way they rhyme. Your flow and choice of words sounds like you are having fun, so how does it feel when you rhyme, especially when you do shows?

When I rhyme I enjoy word play, when I speak I enjoy word play, not just my own voice. I'll listen to a chick on the bus with some snotty kid "kumeeryalitteltoeragg " you know, any shit you say could be flipped in regular talk, but it sounds ill on wax. As for shows I look at these times to enjoy, an spread that feeling. I know we got funk, I try an draw the same funk outa tha crowd, then we can politic nameen? Its more than a rendition or presentation.

'...We could have dropped an album long time ago. Material ain't no problem'

British hiphop is seeing a rise at the moment with the likes of Raw Materials 2 and Mark B & Blades new album. Do you feel UK hiphop is about to blow up?

I feel hip hop in the UK is ready to be exploited! The talent and level of effort has always been there, but I think apart from a few magazines, that the business side is weak. So mufuckers can blow up, still be broke, while some clown with a radio logo can grab the chump change plus the freebies. I think a more economic stubborn attitude should be taken, you must ask the right questions if its in that much demand. The corporations and industralites should forget the middleman, deal with the real talent then you will see loot from outside your usual region of bullish. Sales in comparison to marketing cost pay must hit the artist and pay must hit a company account not just sneaker money in pockets.

Speaking of blowing up, Iceberg Slimm. What do you think about what this fella is doing for UK hiphop, or not doing if you feel that way?

Sorry dude never heard any of his songs cable and wildest cockblocked my channel surf! If he's weak then all he will do is make the average guy think I can do better than him. If he's dope, other cats will be like inspired. What we can't forget is this, the rap game or hip hop rap, is now pops marketing tool
like windows 98.

US hiphop is taking a slide, probably due to money being involved. Do you ever worry that UK hiphop could do a Garage, and blow up so much it kinda spoils the music's creativity it for the true heads?

That will definitely happen e.g. I'm in queens (Jamaica) now on the box I see the same five videos 80 times a day, the radio plays the same shit 80 times a day. Meanwhile, there's just as much ill shit going on as before the ricosuave jiggy era. But due to the corporate, you will never know. As far as I can see the most important radio stations to the community copy hot97 Mr Cee funkflex, even the show formats like Bucwild, Cocochannel & DJ clue. So I say and you can quote me

'...IT WILL BE GREAT FOR THE UK TO GET THE PROPS IT DESERVES, BUT WE LOSE IF WE DONT SHOW THE WORLD WE GOT OUR OWN FUNK AND GHETTO STARS'

You've been making music for a while now, do you ever feel like you want out?

MAYBE ill stop releasing joints cus really I'm a private person. I love to MC, nobody aint got to hear it if Sparkii didn't sweat me to write again and record backin 96. I wouldn't be doin this shit, I'm a bboy, the rest is unimportant.

What's your favourite track of all time?

One of my faves is 93til souls of mischief

Have I got my wires cross, or do you go down well in Japan? If so why do you think that is?

I learnt Japanese very quickly. My first time I went I could understand basic directions, greetings.
how to be rude or polite. I'm told I am a natural, I have an ear for tone and phonetics.

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years from now?

Running a bboy sniper skool or start a manufacturing company. Don't ask what we gonna make.

Who do you tip for the top in the UK scene right now?

Lucas, Rodney P could do it or Procryptix (Big heads!) or Estelle.

Your house is burning down, the Record collection or the Dog or any other similar bundle of joy? Why?

My porno tapes, my shorty if I'm lucky that night, an then my music.

Who in the world, past or present would you most like to take your bowler hat off too?

My folks, Mom dukes, Pop dukes, Fidel Castro for out living all those political dickheads and any one unfortunate enough to be stuck in a drinkin & herbstokin session with me that survived!

I'd like to thank Naba for talking to me, and for putting up with my incompetence! Also a sorry to Sparkii for not letting him have his say, maybe later! For the meanwhile look at the labels site

http://www.buffrecordings.co.uk/