Phoenix Da Icefire Interview

Certified Banger: Tell us about Phoenix Da Icefire - who is he?

Phoenix Da Icefire: The character I have created goes by the name of Phoenix Da Icefire, he is my alter ego, much more fierce and stronger than I show in my day to day life, I feel like I can do almost anything when I slip into the character of Phoenix.

I am also the other half of Higher Heights and was responsible for bringing out the ‘Anathema’ LP by Triple Darkness, I first featured on ‘High Fidelity’ (by M9) on a track called ‘Holy Water’ and a track that I have got for my album called ‘Mental Prisoners’. I put it on there so I could test the waters with the UK scene.

CB: You’ve just released your mixtape ‘Baptism Under Fire’. What else is on the way?

PDI: I’ve got an album coming called ‘Right Timing the Quantum Leap’, it features Kyza Smirnoff, Triple Darkness, 9 Planets, Jah Miracle, Midas Touch, Yasine and El Crisis.

CB: Which words best describe your style?

PDI: The best way to describe my style is “free style”. I don’t believe in being caged behind my own bars like prison, my music is supposed to set me free, that’s why every track sounds different, I can do almost anything but my usual sound would be a cross between Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Wu-Tang all in one.

CB: Who have been your biggest musical influences and which Hip Hop artists have inspired you? Which are your favourite albums? What music were you brought up on?

PDI: I was brought up on The Fugees, Nas’s ‘It Was Written’ for me was one of my favourites, Killah Priest, Canibus for his battle style rap, Talib Kweli, Common and Mos Def to name a few.

CB: When was the first time you rapped?

PDI: There was a sound track to Space Jam, which had Busta Rhymes, Method Man and LL Cool J on it (‘Hit ‘Em High’) and me and my younger brother practised it and learnt all the verses to that song.

CB: Haha, me and my brother did the same thing with the same song! So, who else have you grown with musically?

PDI: There are a lot of talented people round my way - P-Money, Firmer Dee AKA Funky De, Little D, Blacks and AKS - we used to all be in a crew together and now I see everyone branching off and taking it to the limit. It was a garage crew back then and now I’m in a group with AKS as well as J Da Exodus called Midas Touch so it’s funny how it works out.

CB: What are your thoughts on the current state of Hip Hop?

PDI: I think hip hop has now become the voice of the corporate rather than the people now, but these days people are waking up and getting wise to the lies that are being fed to them everyday and they want to hear conscious music because they can relate to the real issues they face everyday as opposed to hearing about the girl they might meet at a club!

CB: What process do you go through when writing a track? Do you start with a beat, a concept, a lyric that you thought of in the shower? What happens next?

PDI: Have you ever used the term vibe? Well that in itself is a subconscious grasp on the fact that everything is made of vibrations - what I do is listen to the vibe or vibration of the track and try to align myself with what I hear. In other words I tune myself into the instrumental, once I’ve done that I get a title and a melody for the chorus if there is any. I believe the instrumental itself and the rapper or singer are two separate halves like man and woman and it’s up to the artist to know whether he/she is the right fit.

CB: Interesting and very different answer! Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years, 10 years time? Is it an achievable goal?

PDI: I plan on being the UK’s landmark for Hip Hop.

CB: Highly aspirational! Any last words?

PDI: To all the artists out there have a clear goal in what you are trying to achieve, make sure its realistic and you are true to yourself and you will succeed in anything and everything.