Instance Interview #2

Certified Banger: Yo Instance. What’s going on? What’s been happening since the last time we interviewed you?

Instance: Hello sirrrrr, good to be back, it’s been a while (early 2008 I think). Things have been sweet man. Since we last spoke I dropped my last LP ‘Demographic’, and got on the grind promoting that out of Leeds. We had the usual problem of getting a decent distribution deal for the physical product. We thought f**k it so and me and Mike D from Subterrania rinsed the North with street promotion, think we sold/blagged/traded to the tune of 2000 copies. Since then there’s been another 2 free mixtapes; ‘Collision Course’ and ‘Heavy Rotation’ which were pretty unconstrained and lots of fun. Apart from the studio stuff, I put on a few hip hop nights in Leeds. Despite having a few run-ins with the council and environmental health our nights were always packed and live-o! Big up to everyone who came, even if you did graff up the toilets! NOTHING compares to the nerves you feel before you hold an event that you’ve put £1000 of your own money into - your balls are on the chopping block as a promoter! It’s a different sort of rush though! Erm, what else? I’ve been expanding my design portfolio, including a handful of album art work covers namely for Defenders of Style and Northern Hostility. I’ve made some more links, burnt a few bridges, but that’s life.

CB: So, what’ve you got coming to us?

Instance: I got two musical projects dropping, a free EP called ‘Fly EP’ which is a slick little 5 track ish to remind everyone I’m alive and kicking! It’s basically 5 tracks which I’ve had hanging around for a while, they didn’t quite fit into my album but they are still seriously dope and need to be on your ipod! Once that’s hit your ears, I reckon the heads will be primed and ready for my second album, ‘The Superegular ‘.

CB: Do you think your style has changed over the last couple of years? Will the new release have a different vibe?

Instance: I think I had to evolve. Demographic was heavily influenced by my time hosting DnB raves. Back in 2007 Dubstep had only just blown and grime dominated the UK, that first record reflected what was going on at the time, things are different now. Like ‘Demographic’ ‘The Superegular’ is also eclectic, but it doesn’t have those electronic or dub elements that I put on the last LP. I’ve also designed this record for ipod and portable players, so I guess we’re more aware of how music is listened to as well. Style wise it’s more of a celebration ofHhip Hop and sticks more within the genre. I’ve spent a lot of time choosing the right beats that work, there’s boom bap, Triphop, RnB, 3/4 and glitchy Flying Lotus type steez. Despite the variety I made sure it all fits. Lyrically its content-rich and not too self indulgent. At times it’s spooky, at times it’s smooth but I guarantee its nothing less than my best bars.

CB: If someone only had time to listen to one track from it, which one should it be?

Instance: Errrrm that’s like choosing a favourite child man, I’ll randomly say ‘Lucid Dreams’ as it’s a track you won’t get to hear unless you buy the album; a deep New Yorkshire Hip Hop joint with Mike D on the beat! It’s about how negative aspects of my life used to come out at night in the form of dark dreams… lyrically dope! If you don’t fork out for the album you’re likely to hear ‘Keys Open Doors’ with Jack Flash, again, sick!

CB: There’s a couple of cool hook ups on the album – tell us about them and how they all came about?

Instance: Ok, I have three well known heavyweight UK producers Wizard, Mike D and Kelakovski who have contributed to ‘The Superegular’ as well as Organised Mess who you should also check out. These boys more or less have it all covered. I go way back with Mike D and record at Subterrania so he has the most slots! The Defenders of Style introduced me to the production of Wizard from Hastings and Kela from Brum, we used to cipher over their beats anyway. In terms of MC features I got Jack Flash who is one of the best MCs and my friends the Defenders of Style who standardly hold Leeds down as well as SonnyJim who I first met along with Kelakovski after I booked them to play my night in Leeds (big up Sonny that afterparty was jokes).

CB: Last time we talked a lot, it seems, about Lil Wayne! Who’s on your rap radar right now? Who’re you listening to?

Instance: Ha! free Weezy! I was on that before everyone jumped on it! I wanna give the biggest props to the UK underground and people who keep it true! UK wise I’m definitely feeling Trellion, check out the ‘Judas Clock’ and ‘Dive By Night’ EPs and Bradford artist Lunar C who I think is one to watch up in Yorkshire! Others who I rate are Jack Danz, Chief Wigz, No-Change, Lowkey, Stylah and Devlin to pick a few.

CB: Which chart MC (ie Tinie Tempah, Devlin, Dizzee etc) do you rate the most and why? If you could do what they’re doing would you?

Instance: I call it ‘swagger pop’! Would I make it? I don’t think so, but who knows? It’s hard to say until you get an opportunity. I dislike the UK scene for constantly saying artists are selling out. I think properly blowing in the UK would present any underground artist with a dilemma. Do you want to make serious money out of music or not? Do you wanna keep a certain sound or do you wanna play the big festivals? I think some swagger pop artists have earned their stripes and probably deserve to blow. You could diss Tinie all day, but this guy was dropping tunes like ‘Wifey’ which were getting rinsed out in every rave without ANY help from the majors. I guess you could hate but I wouldn’t simply write off these guys as puppets of manufactured music. They hustled the music game 100% harder than most to get on the radio and I have to rate that. Plus Devlin is gonna be ill even if he’s commercial, you’ll see!

CB: How does the music around you, not just Hip Hop, inspire you? How easy do you think you’d find it to make music if you never listened to other music?

Instance: I don’t watch much TV or even films, its literally all just listening to music and making music for me. I’m a music fan firstly, but a fan who makes Hip Hop. Everything inspires me even the wackness inspires me to keep the style ill. You could listen to solely mid-nineties east coast all day and yeah probably perfect a certain style related to that. Personally I think you’ll become a better artist by listening to as much as possible. It’s the best way to innovate. I’m into boom bap, but how are you gonna take these classic formulas and add to it, bring a fresh twist to it, and set your music apart from everything before. For me keeping people guessing about the next steez and being multi-dimensional is key to staying relevant, my new record will prove that. Be brave, explore and do your thing.

CB: Is it true you’ve moved to London? What’s all that about then?

Instance: Yep its true! I felt like I needed a change and a fresh perspective on things. On the surface things looked OK but it was time to apply the brakes and remove myself from a negative situation. Leeds will always be home and I’m there a lot, but I reached a stage in my life where I had to make certain changes to get to where I wanna be. Apart from some amazing friends and strong links with the Leeds scene, I felt like I wasn’t investing time effectively enough in myself. Right now I’m keeping out of mischief, meeting new heads and doing random stuff like learning Spanish and going to museums, which is cool! My dad once said I should live in a place where I’m constantly learning things. I was providing too many answers and not asking enough questions. London gets a bad rep but it’s an inspiring city and things are going well.

CB: The end – anything else to add?

Instance: Big up yourself cos this site remains tough! Click the Fly EP download link – IT’S FREE: http://instancevx.bandcamp.com/ My second LP ‘The Superegular’ will be out soon - buy it and help support all the underground artists who keep the scene dope. Shouts to Mike D, DS, Crackhouse, Speak to the Streets, Fresh Jive and the Leeds Fam! Visit www.myspace.com/instancevx and subscribe to my youtube channel ‘instancevx’ for exclusives. Peace!

emceeKilla Interview

Certified Banger: For those who haven’t heard your music; introduce yourself and describe your music:

emceeKilla: I’m emceeKilla; a rapper originally from North London but have lived in the sticks and Nottingham too over the years. My music is conscious, deep and heartfelt and focuses on the reality of social pressures and political issues and many other types of high rank buggery. I am versatile though and do like to move away from that when I can and want to.

CB: What inspires you to write and record?

eK: Everyday situations are the main thing that inspire me; anything that I feel is interesting to rap about I tend to rap about. I’m not really a materialistic person so fashion and jewellery aren’t things that inspire me to write - I write a lot more about the ups and downs of the life we lead whether it be through my eyes or another person’s. My surroundings also play a big part, I live in the city and gain a lot of inspiration from just witnessing things walking down the road but also have people in the countryside I see which again inspires me to write as things are seen from a totally different perspective there. Beats are also a great inspiration.

CB: Why do you think many people are not interested in politics and the events going on around the world?

eK: People have enough on their own plates to sort out so the last thing you want to try and concentrate on is another person’s struggle across the world, we like to spare that sympathetic thought but will then subconsciously drift back into the world of you and what you are going to do to eat and live. Sometimes I feel fear also plays a big part, people see it as daunting, maybe because they don’t fully understand it or aren’t able to look at the bigger picture to see what the effects are when certain events happen or decisions are made. I don’t want to be patronising to anyone because you are your own person but maybe when things are presented to you it could be blocked out because it’s seen as preaching.

If this is my opportunity to silence that thought then here goes: I never want to preach that what I think is best - my main purpose is to at least bring something to your table which may not have been there before and allow you to make your own decision on it. These are only things I have concluded myself or through my own research, that’s not to say its gospel, it’s just an idea. You may then take my idea and turn it into something else, if that’s the case then my job is done.

I didn’t start rapping about political issues to fill a gap in the market or try and revive a market that may have been dormant since Public Enemy. I’m solely writing about what I want to write about which is what Hip Hop has always been about. Not G-Rap, Political rap, Ganster rap, G-Funk…just Hip Hop as a whole; that’s where I am.

CB: Your dad must be an influence? Tell us about him:

eK: He’s an influence on so many levels. He’s lived a mad life. He left home when he was 17 to get an education. My Grandad thought learning was for pussy’s so told him to either join the armed forces or leave so he left with no support from his family and managed to get a uni degree in London. He was also part of the communist party in the UK and fought with them in the Brixton riots against the fascists, he lived on Electric Avenue. He then began a career as an investigative journalist which led him to uncover huge scandals within Mi5 amongst other things. That’s just a very brief description of the things he’s done.

The effect this has on me is that I’m able to look up to someone who has constantly fought for rights of people in this country and for himself. He’s also taught me a lot of things in life and supported me in whatever I chose to do. I was never a school person, my grades showed as someone who wasn’t intelligent, who was a failure I suppose I constantly battled to get into colleges and uni was just a waste of time so I dropped out. I still didn’t lose support from my old man because he just wanted to see me be happy and if that meant following my own dreams then he was there to help me with that by showing support, this also goes for my mum too. Intelligence isn’t about remembering facts to write in an exam its about grasping things and understanding them and using them to aid you in being successful in life, schools aren’t the be all and end all of that, so due to my parents I’ve seen that you can be clever in other ways apart from an academic way.

CB: What are your ‘top 5’ occurrences (for want of a better phrase) that have shocked you and provoked you to write?

eK:

1. White phosphorous being dropped in Faluja and other places in Iraq by American soldiers, leaving scores of women and children dead and blackened by the chemicals. White phosphorous is a chemical which burns your skin and pretty much melts your entire body whilst leaving clothes in tact, a substance banned at the Geneva Convention.
2. British colonialism – the most recent of empires with a dirty hidden agenda. What is taught in schools about this is far from the truth so please read into exactly what happened in Ireland, The Americas and Africa to name a few.
3. Britain and America’s Middle Eastern adventures – We are using the most amount of oil that can be consumed by all humans at one time (peak oil) meaning the only way to go is down, unless the west secures new sources of oil for a cheap price. You do the maths.
4. 9/11 & 7/7 – Isn’t great having abbreviated terms for such atrocities? We can now pass these events off as a bunch of numbers. As much as its been spoken about and is still being spoken about, anyone of my generation will always remember those days and so will your ancestors so to say they didn’t shock me would be a complete lie.
5. Israel and Palestine – The trouble that’s persistently happened over there has shocked me and provoked me to write a lot of time. Again this all started from western military tactics of divide and rule. Give a nation a reason to fight each other which will then allow you rule that land unprovoked. It happens everywhere even in Britain. Politics was only ever meant to divide us.

CB: Do you think we will ever know exactly what goes on behind the government’s closed doors? There’s a fine line between truth and conspiracy theories…

eK: The only possible way we would know what exactly happens is if we were to break into Downing street ourselves, or root through the years of cover ups in the Vatican vaults. Things are protected for a reason, the Catholic Church has hidden a lot of things to protect its identity and I’m sure other religions have too. I don’t think we’d ever get to the bottom of what really has happened over the years and even if we started to we’d open up so many cans of worms.

I’d love to see people using the words conspiracy and theory in a more positive light, we all conspire on a daily basis. If your girlfriends acting strangely, you’ll start to conspire she’s cheating on you, even though she may not be. If you’re not getting served at a bar you start to conspire that the barman/lady doesn’t like you, we all do it, in a way its called using your brain and thinking a bit deeper into something, whether you’re right or not is besides the point, the fact is you’re exploring options which aren’t laid out in front of you but are behind closed doors. Conspiring doesn’t have to be a bad thing, we should all embrace it more than anything and appreciate someone going down that route. Shall we all just blame life or co-incidence every time these people fuck something up? Do you not think we should credit ourselves as human beings a little and think the unthinkable…? Many people do but then they’ll find themselves falling back into their daily routine. Strength is found when you explore the un-explorable.

I’ve got people who strongly believe that the Haiti earthquake was a government thing, I won’t go into detail or say if I agree or not but I’m not going to tell them to grow up or be real because if they have reason to believe that or have figured it out in their heads then I want them to enlighten me and I’ll listen to them. Things like that interest me.

CB: What needs to happen in your opinion on May 6th?

eK: Nowadays things are all too much the same when it comes to our own politics, you’re pretty much voting for minor differences in referendums/manifesto’s but the main aim of each party is all in a very similar stance. 30 years ago, Labour was a party for the socially aware, the people who wanted an equal society and believed that the rich should be taxed more than the poor, they stood up for so many people with a similar view but ever since New Labour formed those ideologies have gone, I was brought up a Labour supporter so I don’t ever really see things another way. I think with whoever gets in power, we will still be in a war, the economy will still be down and slowly picking up, our taxes will be raised and the poor will still be hit the hardest. All views aside I would like to see Liberal Democrats get the vote just to give them a chance, what have we got to lose?

CB: Who have been musical influences to you? Which Hip Hop artists are you currently listening to?

eK: My main influences have been The Clash, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, The Pogues, Public enemy, Wu Tang Clan, 2 Pac and Biggie, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Eminem, Nas, Task Force, Jehst, Karizma, Scorzayzee, Roots Manuva, Blak Twang…these are all those I can think of straight away but there is more….I just feel I heard these artists at certain times in my life when they did inspire me, a lot of UK rappers don’t want to bow down and accept inspiration came from people in their own country but I’ll hold my hands up and say thanks to all those named for making music and influencing me in one way or another.

People I’m listening to at the moment is Cee Banger – ‘On the Radar’, Krate Krusaders (‘Psience’ is an amazing track), Cappo, Foreign Beggars, YT, Mad Skillz, Large Professor, the Inkrument, The Elementz….I’m a bit behind with new stuff mainly because nothing is really grabbing me at the moment but I’m always open to hear new music.

CB: Give us a top 5 of socio-political tracks from any genre to get us thinking:

eK:

YT – ‘Wicked Act’
Damien Dempsey – ‘Colony’
Peter Tosh – ‘Here Comes the Judge’
The Clash – ‘London’s Burning’
Pink Floyd – ‘Another Brick in the Wall’

CB: Finally what will the future hold for you as an artist?

eK: For me, I’m currently working on an EP to be released through the same label hopefully. At the same time have started recorded some mix tape type tracks with well known beats to try and add some variation. My next project is set to be completely away from the world politics of my last album and I’m aiming to bring it back a little and keep it raw, maybe get some features on there as well.

I’m also working with Damien Dempsey (mentioned earlier) who is an Irish Folk singer from North Dublin. Have started on a remix of one his tracks called Patience which should hopefully pave the way for some new tracks as well. I’m also looking to work with as many people as I can so get in touch if you think things can work.

I’ve got a blog site which I try and update as much as possible so please check there for new projects etc. www.emceekilla.blogspot.com

Bane of Don't Talk To Strangers

Certified Banger: Yo man, how’s it going?

Bane: Good thanks, you?

CB: Yeah thanks. We’ve got loads to talk about because there’s so much going on with you right now. Begin by telling those who don’t know about DTTS, who are you, where are you from, what your mantra is:

Bane: Put simply, Don’t Talk To Strangers is an artist run independent record label and wider collective of creative individuals based in West Yorkshire and slowly working our way into Europe and the rest of the world!

We’re basically three crews merged into one, the original DTTS heads, 9-Livez and Brutal Artistry, each keeping its own individual identity but releasing music through one label; strength in numbers as it were. Over the last couple of years the focus was on getting the DTTS name into people’s minds but now its time for the individual acts and artists to get recognition in their own right and shine!

CB: So first of all, tell us about the new DTTS record label, how did it come about? What’s been the set up process and stuff?

Bane: It was always our intention to independently release our own material it just took us a little longer than we expected for one reason or another, usual bullshit really, 9-5s, real life and various other issues I won’t go into kept us unorganised for years but we finally got our s**t together in 2005 and started making the label a reality. We dropped ‘Disabled Blue’ and ‘WY’ last year and that laid the foundation for what’s to come both financially and creatively. Since then we’ve spent a lot of time securing distribution deals, networking and generally turning our ideas and concepts into reality.

CB: What will your aims be? Is it going to be just local music, just Hip Hop…?

Bane: The one and only aim is to put out high quality independent music, nothing more, nothing less! Initially all the planned releases are hip hop but that will expand into other genres such as Soul, Gospel, Hardcore (the guitar kind not that s**t they play at Wigan Peer!) and Electronica in the future. Basically if we think it’s fresh and original we’ll put it out! We’re not just releasing local stuff either, our first non-Yorkshire signing is a US artist called Turtle Hands who is extremely dope and will be releasing an EP through DTTS in the New Year. The priority now is to keep the momentum up and literally drop release after release until we all get where we want to be.

CB: How is your independent label going to be different to a lot of the others?

Bane: I think the main reason we’re different is because we’re fully artist run and artist funded. Its also a none exclusive sort of set up so if a DTTS artists wants to release on other labels too they have the freedom to do so. There’s no one person who calls the shots, each artist is fully in control of their own creative process and the label just acts as a platform to actually get the material out to the public.

CB: Is this gonna be a full time job for you?

Bane: Ha, yes but I wish it was my only full time job! I’d love to say that I’ve been able to quit my jobs and eat off the music but that isn’t the reality. I work full time at one place, part time at the next and all of my remaining time goes on the music, all the DTTS heads are pretty much in the same boat, we all work far too much!

We put everything we make off the music back into the next project so to date we haven’t lined our own pockets yet. We’re very focused on pushing the label, the music and the DBC clothing line forward so personal financial gain comes second to that for now! Don’t get me wrong, we’d all love to get paid off this ish and that time will (hopefully) come soon but we’re in no rush, the label is priority.

CB: So, what releases have you got coming out? First, tell us about your own that is out soon.

Bane: First up’s the ‘Self-Harmonic’ single which features Cage and is released on the 31st of December 08 on download followed by a limited 7” zombie green vinyl release in the New Year (props for the dope review by the way!). It’s the first single off the album me and Mury Poppinz have done under our collective name No Pretense which is almost completed and sounding sick!

In February 09 we’re dropping a double a side 12” single with our label mates Knew Jeru’slum (Jonny Alpha, Watson G and Belinda Hards), the A side is their track called ‘Hibernation’ which is produced by Brutal Artistry and features Pigeon John and the AA side is our track called ‘Elevation’ which is produced by Eliphino and features the legend that is Prince Po from Organized Konfusion!

After that, probably round late summer we’re dropping our debut album ‘Music & Mouthwords’. The whole albums produced by Eliphino and as well as Cage and Prince Po it features Chief Wigz, Proptic, Spida Lee, Belinda hards and a few other peeps too on guest vocals, we’re going for a full blown worldwide release on double vinyl, CD and download so hopefully it will do well! Oh, and the cover’s designed by Alex Pardee who is a SICK artist from the states who’s done ish for Cage, El-P, Hurleys, Upper Playground etc, you should check his website Zerofriends.com and cop some of his fine produce!

Last but not least we’re dropping a No Pretense and Brutal Artistry ep called ‘Horror Epicz’ which we’re currently working on. Horror Epicz is a 6 track ep produced entirely by Miki B and is basically a horror themed concept record. We’ve recorded the first two tracks and their sounding DARK! It’s on a totally different tip to the album, a much more hardcore vibe and a taster of the next ish to come!

CB: And who else has got stuff coming out on the DTTS label? Can you unleash any more of your plans?

Bane: Yeah man, there’s the Knew Jeru’slum album ‘Jeru’s & Gentiles’ which is a Gospel hip hop release dropping hopefully the same day as ours and so far its sounding big! Most of the Beats on it are done by Brutal Artistry and Eliphino’s done a couple on it too, it features guest vocals from Man Child from Mars Ill, Pigeon John, Chief Wigz and Naryckin. They’re releasing the track featuring Man Child as a download single in the very near future too so we’ll make sure Certified Banger gets that ish first!

Chief Wigz is dropping two EPs and an album in the New Year, again Brutal Artistry is handling most of the beats and from the tracks I’ve heard it’s going to be HUGE! In my opinion it’s the best Wigz material so far and should give him the recognition he deserves and solidify his place as one of the best MCs the UK’s ever produced. He’s got collabs on there with me, Spida Lee, Proptics, Jack Flash, J-Simple, Jonny Alpha and a few others across the 3 releases too.

TCB (Live Wire and Space Hed) are going to be dropping their ‘Taxman’ track on 7” vinyl early ‘09 which is heavy and should make a lot of noise, followed by their debut album which will hopefully be out next year too. Megamouth and Live Wire are still on with their ‘Fuck a Mixtape’ album which should be out next year too. Turtle Hands will be dropping his ep for DTTS; our new signing 3Demonz will be releasing a mixtape produced by US production team News Ent and another produced by Miss Tofelees. We also have an ep/art collaboration with El Don Badgerino(Plug) called ‘Attack of the Flesh Eating Badgers’ which is currently in the development stage along with the Knew Jeru’s and Naryckin ep and a No Pretense LP with new DTTS producer and Wakefield’s secret weapon, Jig-One.

The dope thing is, because we’ve spent a year or so off radar working on new material we have all the releases for 2009 locked so as we promote that lot, the next ish will be in production for 2010! (Including our soon to be infamous ‘Superfriendz’ project!)

CB: What will your priorities be? How will you market your music etc?

Bane: Our main priority is getting the music to as many people as possible to give us the maximum exposure and the maximum possible sales. We’ve got a worldwide distribution deal in place which we’re really pleased about and other than that it’s just putting a lot of time (and money) into promotion and trying to find fresh new ways to get us noticed. We want to give our audience a high quality product both sound and packaging wise so they’ll be loads of coloured vinyl, cassette tapes, Data Stick releases, promotional clothing from DBC and as much other interesting ish as we can possibly get out their to keep the existing fans happy and bring new ones in!

CB: Is there anything else you need to tell us about the label?

Bane: Nothing apart from hit up myspace.com/dttss, check out all the artists and show us some love! I won’t say keep your eyes open for the new material cos if I have my way they’ll be no escaping it!

CB: So, you’re a rapper and a label owner? Loads of people in UK Hip Hop do so many different things for the scene – is this a good thing?

Bane: I think it is yes. Aside from been a rapper and label (co-)owner I also make beats (me and Deadboy produced all of last years Disabled Blue ep and most of the DTTS tracks on WY) and do graffiti too. I don’t think it’s just in the UK that heads do that, most people I meet who are actively involved in the hip hop scene are multi-disciplined and I put it down to creativity breeding more creativity, in Europe its crazy, its like none of the elements ever started to fade over there and each is as important and respected as the other. I think a lot of people enter the culture through one discipline, discover the others and find they may be gifted in another area too so they run with both and maybe try even more. I’d encourage anyone who’s interested in the scene or those already involved in one area to explore it all, rapping, djing, graffiti, break dancing, beat production and beatboxing, its all hip hop, its all dope and you may find something else you love! Hip hop plays a massive part in my day to day life, its gives me a reason to get up on a morning, to go to work, to stop taking drugs! The motivation I have to succeed at this shit has got me through my darkest times and I can’t see that ever changing, I know the rest of my people feel the same way and whether we’re successful or not we’re here to stay!