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Willo Wispa Interview
interview 0501 added 12.03.07 words:
MadRox
technical:
Spoon
According to Willo’s dictionary his namesake means he is elusive, very elusive
So elusive infact, not even his own label can find him half the time. Being the drunken enigma that he is means he also manages to get down some of the most polished and original sounding UK tunes in the business, having taken the solo route for a short while away from his former Colony bredrin, Madrox caught up with Mr.Wispa to see exactly what is Willo on?
The Colony were one of the fastest rising groups out of the UK for some time now, but for heads who don't know you specifically - Would you care to state your name, where your from, and what you’re about?
My names Willo Wispa from Ilford, East London. I’m all over the place right now. Also known as Wizkid, Blenda Mouth, Barley lanes best, Brillo pad, Captain Cark, and Daniel.
What’s good mate? Yeah, I know, I've been long to do dis interview. I apologize, I got a song on my album dat will explain it. I’m a good kid, I love music, writing, I've been artistic since I was born, ask my mum, I would put my hand in my nappy an’ finga paint wid shit on the walls, an’ draw picture on da Mona Lisa level blud, I swear down! Used to make comic books, film script’s, singing songs, all of dat, I was creative.
Firstly then...You have a new release on the way, I say release because I'm told it was approached as more of a mixtape than an LP, but instead containing entirely original tracks...I believe the name is 'Wot's Willo On!?!'....so then......What exactly is Willo on? haha...and would you care to share any details about the release itself...Producers? Guest artists? Track concepts?
Yeah, it’s like a ‘the best of Willo’, the greatest hits you know? The definitive collection, even though its my first release.
One song might be recorded in ‘03, then another in ‘05. I thought before I do anythin’ else, you can hear some old music first. Colony’s on it, Dan Mizuri, Nutty P, P.L.O., Metabeats, one of Excalibah’s betta beats are on it. Haha, all the big dogs.
Being as this is your first solo release, is it daunting in any way without the other 3 guys to back you up? Or do you actually enjoy flying solo more?
I enjoy working solo because…I like working alone. Hahaha, I can do whatever. But its all good collaborating cuz I like recording with other people. Hahaha. Sometimes it bring a out different side of me ....
How are you feeling about working with Associated Minds at the moment? Is it a different work ethic or pretty much same old same old?
I like Associated Minds enthusiasm, they genuine people there. There is talented emcees ‘n producers an with da art work, its all about if man can see a bit of your vision, not all, but some and compliment it.
Word has it that alongside this new LP, you've just finished touches to a new Colony Mixtape - Care to spill any beans?
 Yeah, Kidney beans, they’re good for you! I’ve been told.
Colony Mixtape - Bootprints ‘n Fistmarks featuring Stronghold from NY - OUT NOW. I got a track on it wid Shabbam Sadeeq, you know da breh from the ‘Simon Says’ remix…
Having done a lot of recording of late - who do you think is the best person you've collaborated with thus far...and what made the experience/track stick out to you?
So far, I’ve worked with Malarchi, Champions of Nature, we went to Notts and met up wid Big Trev, and we done dis track with Outdaville and Colony with no hook, no order, so you got Grim, then Lee Ramsey, then Smurf, then Scorzayzee. All together about 12 emcees. I don’t know where it is? I think Grims got it.
Someone mentioned on the UKHH.com forums that the Colony had worked with Lewis Parker before he jetted off to LA, what ever became of that? If it's true at all...
Yeah, it’s true. One song called ‘Blue Print’ another called ‘What You Gonna Do‘, (weren’t it NY anyway?)
That brehs a true musician. Anyone can learn to make decent beats after a while, but dat brehs on a next level. All the Champions of Nature, you can feel da vibes in the studios.
Ghosts got good taste in beats. Lewis ‘n Doom ‘n Rza.
Where did you get your name from?
Its something I came up with on the spot ‘n it stuck. In the dictionary, ‘Willo the Wisp’ means elusive. There, but not there, which I am. Willos also a midget wid magical powers in a film. My flows magical so... Plus that ghost in the forest is like a narrator, so am I, of life so...
HHC once quoted from your verse on the Dubstates Mixtape and mistakenly named it as a Lowkey verse - Did that annoy you? Or did you just find it amusing?
 It’s amusing, they’re no good wid names, but at least they know good lyrics when they hear it! Haha, I think they should just give me the front page next time and it all square, hahahahah (no joke, I’m serious) hahaha
Speaking of Mixtapes - How did you go about getting on 'Bless - The Mixtape'? And did it help you to get noticed initially?
I knew DJ Excalibah before he was on 1xtra we wos on his pilot that was on Radio 1, I’ve been played on his show quite a bit , I knew ‘Dat Sound’ a while as well, we’re all cool. They was working on Bless, I had lyrics, I would pass by and spit. And it has helped me, coz more people den usual got a glimpse of the beast.
If a big hip hop genie came down right now in a dodgy Barry White voice and said he'd grant you three wishes - what would you choose? And no cheating by asking for more wishes!
Haha. I’d start spitting a verse. Wish to take over being a hip hop genie who’s free and I don’t know then. Chill out knowin I could do anything.
Who are you feeling most right now in the UK - and are there any old skool heads you still can get on with nowadays?
IG Culture is on dat legendary level where he’s sharpened his craft like dem grand masters. He could Send man out to empty his rubbish ,and you'll do it, thinkin you might learn something.
Taskforce, Skinnyman, Ophkea, Foreign Beggars ,TB, Roots Manuva, Seany T, too much people.....Roald Dahl, Jimmy Cliff, Popeye the sailor, Audley fights…
What made you first get into hip hop, were you inspired by personal issues or by a certain MC?
I’m no good at remembering, maybe my cousin Alvin, he used to have bare RnB and hip hop cd’s. He used to make me cassettes with Slick Rick, Wu tang, Biggie, then Chante Moore and H-town on the same mixtapes.
I guess I was always on writing stories about people getting struck by lightning, and me and my brother used to watch bare cartoons and films a few people know, just coz my mum would watch dem.
What pisses you off most in the world?
 When you buss your little toe on the cupboard and you’re barefoot.... and its cold.... yeah dat.
What’s the best live show you feel you've ever been a part of? and Why?
One of the spontaneous ones where I’m in the crowd wid a beer, you’re lean, I get up there on da stage, get deep, n’ start speakin in tongues, people are entertained.
I get the crowd chanting “WILLO, WILLO, WILLO“. The Colony’s there. Cardiff was good, HOME, Leicester, Manchester, Norwich, Cambridge, Notts, I like all of them. Performing live is one of my main strengths...
I gotta do it more...
What’s your favourite film...and again...Why?
Right now it’s some kung fu film called ‘Thundering Mantis‘, which is like some Jackie Chan film, till the end, then his teacher n’ dis kid he moves wid gets killed and all the bad guys are laughing at him while he’s chained up and he switches. He flips out and starts making these weird noises, starts biting everyone. ‘City of God’, I seen dat again after time. They fly.
You're allowed to collaborate with any MC from America...dead or alive...Who would you choose?
Doom, Sticky Fingaz ,Biggie, Wu, Royce 5’9, ODB, Outkast, many more.
If i gave you a million quid right now and said you absolutely had to spend it on a beat for your new LP, who would you choose to produce the track?
 I’d pretend I didn’t hear you and buy a yard off. Then get a good beat off an up-coming producer. But for the sake of da question, MF Doom, Timberland, Quincy Jones, Al Green n’ the Isley brothers and Madlib.
Lastly then, any shout outs or thanks yous you'd like to give?
Everyone who knows me, we catch up in a bit. Shouts to Nuty P and Dan Mizouri, I’m on Mudmowth’s 12” coming late spring and then ‘Wots Willo ON!?!’ out summer ‘07. Check myspace/willowispa. Colony ‘Bootprints N’ Fistmarks’ mixtape out now. Thank you for your time, I’m gonna make this shit interesting.1.
So that’s what Willo’s on, the ghost-like figure seems to be having a lot of stuff to look forward to. I’ve heard a tune from the new LP and let me tell you. Absolute fire. I, for one, can’t wait. You can keep your beady eyes on Willo’s progress on his myspace page. Now all I need to do is hire a decent private detective for the next time we need to track him down. Hope you enjoyed it. Peace.
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Madrox
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