1. Pharaoh Sanders - You've Got To Have Freedom

The first song you've chosen is Pharaoh Sanders' You've Got To Have Freedom from his 1980 album Journey To The One.

Pharoah Sanders is a jazz legend and Ornette Coleman once described him as probably the best tenor sax player in the world. This is one of Pharoah's signature tunes, a prime piece of hard-bop that goes up-tempo and redlines with beautiful sax work by Sanders and amazing keyboard virtuosity by John Hicks. What made you choose this track?

People who perhaps have got into us in the last 10 years through all the breaks stuff and recently with all the 4/4 styles would not be aware that Aquasky use to be termed Jazzy d&b!!! Arrggghh, still makes me sick writing that genre name! Such a lazy term for what was a fantastic period of d&b. Before Aquasky I use to make hip hop / trip hop and during that period thanks to the likes of Giles Peterson, Kevin Beadle, Patrick Forge & Snowboy I discovered folky, spiritual jazz. This was one of the ones that always gives me goosebumps. That chorus ‘Gotta have peace and love’ still resonates and I find myself thinking of the tune when on long distance flights for some reason! A class act, a class tune and it would not do anyone any harm looking deeper into that style of music

 

Aquasky - Deep Fried Frequencies EP

The trio are back after a year locked down in the studio creating fresh and innovative sonic assaults

after re-assessing their position in the UK dance scene. Things work in cycles and for Aquasky those

cycles are pinned down by the infamous number 7. A number that has followed them for many years now.

A lucky number that encourages prosperity and creativity.

After debuting back in 1995, Aquasky spent 7 years creating Drum & Bass for many key labels including

Moving Shadow, Reinforced & Good Looking. In the late 90's they were hooked on a new sound, a breakbeat

sound that reminded them of their old days raving at the free parties. Not content with the breakbeat

that was on offer at the time the guys wrote the seminal 'bassline breaks' track titled 777 for

Botchit & Scarper. The label, pleased with the success of the single, signed them for an album

and in 2002 'Beat The System', the bands 5th album, was released to critical claim. Fusing breakbeat’s

with 4/4 rhythms and old school sounds with a healthy dose of d&b basslines the band started a sub-genre

of breakbeat that is still going strong today.

Over the last few years Aquasky found they had exhausted what they were able to do within the remit of

'breaks', after 5 strong years of pushing the boundaries of all the styles found under that banner

and a release schedule un-matched by any other producer within that scene. Reverting back to their 4/4

influences that were rubbed onto them (like Vics Vapour-Rub) from the key Rave & Acid tracks that got

them started in the first place, they locked themselves back into the studio and firmly shut the doors

for a full 12 months. It is now 2009, 7 years after they made the full-time leap to breakbeat, and

the crew are back with another fresh style. Combining bashment rhythms, 4/4 beats, old school vibes,

trademark bass and classic breakbeat... yet to be branded but much discussed.

Always keen to champion vocals Aquasky have linked up with Atlanta rappers Sporty-O and

Goldmouf for this new release on their own imprint Passenger. Featuring a remix from up and coming 4/4 mash up

king Kelevra and a special collab with one of their mates from the past 20 years, Trevor Loveys, this is the

new sound from way out. Call it House, call it Old School, call it New-Rave Breaks, call it Warehouse...

whatever you call it... it’s still Aquasky through and through. It’s still designed to make the ladies bounce

and the fellas break. The lights to flicker and the speakers shake!!!

This will be followed on Passenger with another collaboration with Midlands bass slayers Slipz and Dapz.

A duo who have championed the 4/4 bassline scene with support from Kissy Sellout and Ras Kwame on Radio 1

and virtually every pirate radio station north of Luton. But don’t expect the obvious as that’s too predictable!

When the old masters link with the new school youngsters things get heavy... real heavy! With remixes from

drum and bass' wonder-kid DJ Friction and a legend from the old school Tonka, now signed to Norman Cook's

Southern Fried label, this is dirty dirty bass music...

What's next... a tour, more bass manipulation and a heavy, heavy studio schedule. Aquasky have hit the triple 7

and are feeling good.

Remember, if it makes you dance... then what’s all the fuss about! It's all about the Deep Fat Frequencies...

Heythere

Some of you might remember these interviews i conducted on our old Aquasky website between 2001-2002 when I use to run a night in Bournemouth called STAYFRESH (which later inspired our album of the same name!) The idea of the night was to mash up all things hip hop (old school, backpacker, electro, street soul, jazz, funk, drum breaks etc etc) but done with flowing DJ skillz. I was lucky enough to have some of my favourite DJ's to swing by during this period and i use to interview them all for a club magazine that was running at the same time. Anyways, I have unearthed loadsa stuff from that old website this week and will start posting it onto myspace the best I can... but for now, enjoy some wise old words from some of my old guests and mates...

STAYFRESH* Introduction

Bournemouth has always had a good strong history within the UK hip hop scene. Going back to the early 80's with breakdance crews like Second to None and graffiti crews like Dream Skemes (DSK) which later became the Outkastz. There has always been a healthy old school mentality and a strong unit of people striving to improve. I would go as far as saying it is like a family, we all know each other and we all have a talent within this scene called hip hop. But there was never a regular night for these artist types to gather and get drunk. We had the odd night here and there but they were either dumped for a cheesy house night (Bournemouth unfortunately is the Ibiza of England!) or they were non-supported or dogged by certain 'local' hip hop DJ's.

But fortunately for many a new venue opened in the heart of Bournemouth with an attitude to not follow suit, to give the massive collage population and local hoods something other than 'banging house'. The Consortium is situated in Bournemouth Square and owned by tha man named Nat. Nat's main man, Karl AKA Komer books a lot of the acts and also designs a monthly magazine. This mag bigs up the forthcoming line up and also has interviews with DJ's and artist types.

This is where myself Bski-La-Rock aka Big Daddy Brent from the crew named Aquasky steps up. I badly wanted to have a night which has a kind of old school feel to it. A party atmosphere where you are blessed with solid 80's hip hop up to the present day with a powerful dose of breaks (not of the nu-skool variety but of the classic 45 variety). I wanted to hand pick all the guests who I believed were capable of flexin' dope DJ skillz. And I also wanted to interview all these cats for prosperity and to enlighten others who were not as deeply rooted in hip hop as myself.

DJ FORMAT interview

***The FORMAT chats with Aquasky Brent about how he had a million and blew it all....

AS: DJ Format, it is nice to have you returning to Bournemouth to play. What the devil have you been up to over the last 2 years?
FORMAT: Well I've been busy in the studio remixing Major Force and Nigo for Mo-Wax as well as working on my own new material and DJ'ing here and there.

AS: I hear that you've also been busy recording in Canada. What's the story and how did it all come about?
FORMAT: My friend Aaron Keele at Tune Up Records in Toronto released a 12" by Abdominal and DJ Fase that you may have heard called Final Frontier/Flyantics and as soon as I heard it I was on the phone trying to set a studio date to record with Abdominal himself. We recorded in Canada recently and I am just putting the finishing touches on the track right now.

AS: Tell us, what was the first record you bought and would you have the balls to play it now?
FORMAT: Probably something by Madness when I was 10. And yeah, I'd play it for a laugh.

AS: Who, in your humble opinion, was the best UK rapper ?
FORMAT: For me, it had to be the Demon Boyz (as a crew).

AS: Southampton must of been a ruff neighbourhood to grow up in, tell us a good pub fight story?
FORMAT: 4 blokes picked on my sister and her mate outside a Southampton pub. She kicked one in the bollocks and then punched him clean in the face, breaking his glasses!

AS: You are renowned worldwide for having a fat record collection. I know from my own travels with you that records appear in the most unusual places. What was the maddest country that you have travelled to in pursuit of your addiction?
FORMAT: Probably Poland, as it was like getting out of a time machine over there. A real depressing place.

AS: If the world was to end in 30 minutes, what would you have to listen to before Armageddon?
FORMAT: Joe Henderson 'Multiple'.

AS: Who has the best grooves, Jesus or the Devil?
FORMAT: I'd have to say Jesus for all those Religious breaks!

AS: What is the funkiest goddam record that you have in your collection, one that will blow up on the dancefloor?
FORMAT: That lovely reggae version of The Champ usually does the trick.

AS: Tell us, as a child of the 80's, what was the ultimate Hip Hop jam that you attended back in the day?
FORMAT: I didn't go to that many but as I am the No.1 Ultramagnetic's fan. I'll say Ultra's (at Linford Studios I think).

AS: Did you use to rock Crazy Laces back then?
FORMAT: My shoes are so big, I had to use bed sheets for fat laces on my Pumas!

AS: Do you crave for the day that you could moonwalk out of your house wearing a Kangol, a fat gold chain, a pair of Cazal shades and a set of box-fresh Bally trainers with the purchase tag still attached without all the Brighton kids laughing at you?
FORMAT: People in Brighton still do that!!!

AS: Let us into a little Hip Hop gossip...
FORMAT: Puff Daddy + Mase = Gay, no joke!

AS: Thanks for letting me waste your time like this. Before we depart, tell us what is next for DJ Format and his quest for goodness...
FORMAT: Finishing off my album and getting some mug to release it!

FIRST RATE interview

***Aquasky Brent hooks up with FIRST RATE to discuss life on the block...

AS: Well, firstly I must say it is a pleasure to have you playing back in Bournemouth Town. Tell us Southerners what you have been up to recently?
FIRST RATE: I have been busy writing two albums. 1: A Battle Weapon - Laying Cable, and 2: A project entitled Walky Talkys.

AS: Your history in the English Hip Hop scene is near legendary. What year did you start DJ'ing and which DJ influenced you to practice so damn hard?
FIRST RATE: I started I think in 1985. There was this guy called Jeremy Wossel who was the first to influence me.

AS: I remember seeing you win a DJ competition at Yard Bash in Bristol back in 94. But my biggest memory of you that night was to see you pull off an incredible windmill. Do you still breakdance or has your back told you enough is enough?
FIRST RATE: I haven't for ages but I can break but not at a good level.

AS: What was the best jam that you attended back in the 80's. And what memory has stuck with you from that night?
FIRST RATE: I think it was when I saw DJ Cheese at the Hammersmith Odeon and he was using 6 turntables. Mad!!!!

AS: Did you use to wear a name belt back then. One of those brass buckles with FIRST RATE emblazoned across the front?
FIRST RATE: Nah, I was an Adidas One Strip man myself.

AS: The Demon Boyz posed in front of a gleaming Ford Sierra Cosworth on their debut LP 'Recognition'. What car do you think is worthy of your modelling skillz?
FIRST RATE: A Robin Reliant. Delboy style!

AS: Who is the best UK rapper of all time and do you know what they are up to now?
FIRST RATE: It's a toss up between Blade, Rodney P or Hijack and you all know what they are up to now.

AS: What is the ultimate party tune. Something you always want to hear being played when you are out at a club?
FIRST RATE: It keeps changing, but it would have to be a classic like Pete Rock 'TROY- will they reminisce'.

AS: How did the whole Morcheeba thing come about?
FIRST RATE: I've known Paul and Ross, the backbone of the group, for years and years. I use to be in a crew with Paul called First Down.

AS: Do you have a 'rock n roll' story you want to share with us from your time on the road?
FIRST RATE: I once jumped into a waterfall naked in Berlin and near enough broke my ankle!!

AS: What was the most embarrassing thing that you have done on stage and did you manage to redeem yourself afterwards?
FIRST RATE: There's been so many! Dude, I dressed up as an N.B.A. teddy bear and did a show!!!

AS: Well First Rate, many thanks for sharing a little of your history with us lot. How about the present. What is next on the cards for you?
FIRST RATE: Loads of shows and those two albums. Walky Talkys will be out soon. Just look out!

AS:Any final words that you want to leave with us...
FIRST RATE: LOVE - PEACE - MUSIC - BOOZE - but mainly SCRATCHING RULES.

HUW from MR BONGO / BEYOND THERE interview

***An interview with HUW from the mighty Mr. Bongo/ Beyond There crew. By Aquasky Brent...

AS: So tell me, what are you up to at present? Still shifting hooky gear in Soho?
HUW: Yeah, still in the shop (Mr. Bongo, the UK's No.1 Hip Hop Shop, Soho, London), shifting the underground overground, keeping it real representing for the kids and the streets...er...

AS: Musically you have been quite prolifik. Tell us some of the most sucessful things that you have contributed your humble skillz too?
HUW: Return of the DJ Vol.2 'Positive Step' was the first, then the Deep Concentration track 'On Wax', but I guess the biggest so far have been the production we did for T-Love 'Witch Bitch', The Planets 'Circle of Light' EP and the Mr.Complex 'Do it up/Visualize remix' single.

AS: Seeing that you are a bit of an old timer, let us into a little old school history. A little hip hop showbiz gossip that us Southerners might not know...
HUW: Er...hmmm...well...er, I dunno, but who started that klu klux klan and Troop trainers rumour?

AS: Ahh, yes I remember that one, probably Professor Griff!!! Anyway,who is your all time favourite UK rapper and why???
HUW: Oh wow, there's quite a few, but no overall champion. I guess back it the day it was Junior Gee 'Don't panik, don't panik, it's just the titanic - rockin' it', Crazy Noddy who rhymed with DJ Fingers, obviously Blade, Mello, Freshski, Rodney P... I guess in recent years I think Rola from the Numbskullz, Braintax and Ty are very underrated.

AS: What tune has recently made you scream with pain???
HUW: Crikey, I'm totally out of touch with the 21st century, but recently U2's 'In the name of love' came back to haunt me, or Joan Armatrading's 'Drop the pilot' ...evil, evil devil spawn music...

AS: Damn Huw, that is some twisted music right there!!! If you could get anyone in the studio to record with, let us know who that lucky person would be?
HUW: I think co-producing a track with David Axelrod would be a mind opening experience, but I guess Ramellzee in his early days or Grandmaster Caz, or...there's so many I can't just pull one name out! How about a massive posse cut??

AS: What was the best jam you went to in the 80's? Did you go to see anyone in particular?
HUW: Wow, I guess it might of been the RUN DMC 'Raising Hell' tour, at the Hammersmith Odeon in '86, very fresh! It had the Beastie boys before they were really known, LL Cool J, Eric B and Rakim I think, Run DMC and Whodini. Whodini's Grandmaster D pulled out an incredible routine with Joeski Love's 'Peewee Herman' which was one of the biggest tunes at the time...blew everyone away cos we all expected him to be wack as he did jack shit on the Whodini releases!

AS: Tell us what your present top 5 floor rockers are? The tunes just seem to do it on the dancefloor.
HUW: 1:THE FUNKY 4 PLUS 'THE BOMB'...not the hiphop crew but a tuff 45 from the late 6T's...a monster...argrrgh....
2:TRICKERATION 'RAP BOUNCE ROCK SKATE'... fresh 1980 rhymes over the Vaughn Mason instrumental...watch your speakers melt buster!
3:PETE ROCK 'BACK ON THE BLOCK'...this tune really carries the weight at the moment...
4:TAKING YOUR BUSINESS 'LONG LIVE HIPHOP'...u know the score...killer...
5:HOCTOR RECORDS BAND 'GOLD COAST'...relentless early 70's James Brown rip-off bassline action, non stop with this...
6:ROOTS MANUVA 'WITNESS'... OK, so this is number six, I ain't played it out yet, but my god it deserves to go platinum baby...

AS: What is your ultimate piece of Funk. A slab of wax that you would fight Tyson for?
HUW: Tyson is wack! And this ain't yer funk, but hey i'm still looking for a copy of Harry Whitaker's 'Black Renaissance'...

AS: Thankyou Huw for this pleasant little chat, a little delve into your life sorta thing. Before we go, I have to ask, whats next for Beyond There???
HUW: We're at the mixdown stage for three tunes we've produced for Mr. Complex- 'Bomb Threats' and 'Make sure that it counts' are for an LP due out in October, the other, a ditty entitled 'Glue', is a single for Rawkus which features Biz Markie on the chorus. Once those are done we're back to concentrating on our Beyond There EP's for our own label, the hardest part is finding the time, it's taken many years!!!

AS: Any last words???
HUW: Egg plant...or how about ladybug, or leg tree, or monkey cake, or bannana cup, or sand bubby. Thanks for the interview bro, I love you guys, you're the best... Bournemouth is my kinda town.

MR THING interview

***Hitting the books of knowledge with the cat they call Mark Da Thing (Mr. Thing) Bling Bling Bling...

AS: Well, first off, the name Mr Thing. I have always wondered how you got that?
MT: a couple of people have come up to me in clubs and said "yeah, I know where you got that from!", and they were right as well! But it comes from the Thing in the Adams Family (the hand that does everything), and on the battle side, the Thing from Fantastic Four (he smashes everything up!), and sometimes I use the alias Ben Grimm, but I had to ditch that one coz of a producer from London called Ben Grymm who does beats for Braintax!!

AS: Give us a little history about yourself and your achievmentz?
MT: um....up until maybe 95 I was dj'ing in my bedroom and at small parties around the Kent area, then I met First Rate, we met Tony Vegas, and then we became the Scratch Perverts in about 96-97, and then we won the European ITF team battle, came 2nd to The Beat Junkies in the ITF World team battle (1998), then I did the UK DMC final in 1998 as well, then the first DMC team battle in New York where we won the world title, and then the Scratch Perverts split up in Dec 99, and then I won the UK DMC final in 2000, and came 3rd in the World finals last year!! And next year I plan to be back in the battle fray again so......

AS: So when did you get the urge to scratch?
MT: in about 86-87, after seeing scratching on various tv shows and things, me and a couple of my mates from down in Sevenoaks (where I live), would batter home hi-fi's on the reg to learn what we had seen and heard!!

AS: What DJ or incident made you practice to become as skilled as you are at the art of the "cut"?
MT: Getting totally burnt by First Rate every time I went to practise with him!!!!!

AS: You were involved with the Mark B and Blade project, how did that come around?
MT: I met Mark B through a friend of his, Mista Serve, who I was buying break records from, he came to see me play out down at a club in London and then a couple of weeks later he had me in Vadim's studio doing cuts for his record with Delirious, and then after that we did a few other things together and then one day he phoned me and asked if I wanted to do the cuts for an EP he and Blade were doing.... it was pretty mad really! if I hadn't met those 3 people, my work on people's tunes would be very minimal indeed!!!

AS: Now, I know your favourite project was when you did some cuts for us (Aquasky "raw skillz") back in the day!!! What projects have you worked on the past, and are there any that you would rather forget???
MT: The first thing I ever did was a record by a group called Schizoid Man, which was actually me and an old school friend of mine, Phil. We did a couple of things under that name, remixes and the like, then your Raw Skillz tune, then a whole load of stuff for Mark B with various MC's ( Blade, Mell'O', MUD Family, Task Force), I did some cuts for a Birmingham MC called Haych, the Creators, DJ Manifest (2 tracks with him), DJ Bombjack (another old school friend of mine from wayyyyyyyyy back), um, and a whole stack of stuff for DJ Vadim as well (for his new LP as well as some stuff on his last LP), I also did some cuts for a Spanish MC, Mucho Machacho (produced by Vadim), and a German crew called Total Chaos (Also produced by Vadim!), there's a whole bunch of stuff i've done I can't honestly remember, so if you're reading this and thinking where's my mention...sorry!! Oh! and I produced 4 tracks for Blu Rum 13's LP on Jazz Fudge, the Anti Static Mouthwash mixtape with Kela and I just finshed yesterday a track with Skinnyman for First Rate's upcoming LP! (which I produced!!) Phew! PS.... nothing I regret, just a couple I could have done a little tighter....!

AS: A question I am asking all my wonderful guests, who was/is the ultimate UK rapper?
MT: it would be a very close tie between Blade and Rodney P....

AS: A new question I have just thought of, who is the tuffest UK MC. A true microphone fiend who is handy with their fists?
MT: I think Rodney P would take that title hands down....

AS: Is there a US rapper that could get one over on him?
MT: I wouldn't wish a tangle with Bumpy Knuckles aka Freddie Foxxx on anybody! He'd buck 'em buck 'em down, with burn marks on his hips from his twin glocks!

AS: Lace us with a little hip hop knowledge. some info that we might not have heard thru the grapevine???
MT: DJ Go from the Mixologists is on a new TV Commercial for Virgin Megastore. I had the shock of my life when I saw that for the first time!!!!!

AS: You and First Rate are quite often mentioned together. There is a lot of history between you guys. How long have you known him and how did you meet him?
MT: I used to go to parties at a place called the Angel Centre in Tonbridge (Kent), and they would have big name acts on down there pretty regularly, and one night First Rate was playing there with Cel from Guttersnipes and I saw him there and at another place called the scout hut. then a couple of years down the line I was playing at a place called the Forum (in Tunbridge Wells), and one of his mates came down and went and told him about this kid who was cuttin' it up (me!!), so he came down and we met properly, had a messy battle, which he won!!, and then we started practising together...he was getting loads of gigs, and I had a whole load of records (even then), so he used to take me out to play tunes with him, and we'd split the money 50/50, which was cool!! then we met up with Tony Vegas and the rest of the gang and became the scratch perverts for a while, then we had a bit of a messy end with that one, but, we came out the other side of that one, still good mates and still practising and sharing ideas!! I owe that man a few drinks as well!!!!

AS: DJ Format came down and dropped some incredible breaks in his set. Now I know that you are keen to collect beats, what record wears the crown in your collection?
MT: It's not the rarest break LP I own, but "The Honeysuckle Breeze" by Tom Scott and The California Dreamers is an amazing record! It's the break to "TROY" by Pete Rock and CL Smooth, it took me forever to track down, and I didn't get stung too bad for it when I did!!!

AS: What record was your best and cheapest find?
MT: A French funk/jazz LP by Ben and The Platano Group called "Paris Soul", I paid 50p for it in my local record shop bargain bin, sat on it for years and then someone told me how much it was worth...I made a few phone calls and I felt like one of the old dears on Antiques Roadshow when I found out it was worth over 300 quid!!!!

AS: The vibe at STAYFRESH* is for people to have a good time and to get down? Running things the 80's way. What hip hop event from the 80's that you attended makes you reminisce with fond memories?
MT: I didn't get to go to Fresh 86, but my tapes of it always warm my cockles! but the jams in Tonbridge at the Angel Centre in the late 80's and also Westwood jams at the Slammer in Gravesend were good days of sneaking out to hear the best music!!!!

AS: Who was the best DJ back then?
MT: Jazzy Jeff!! hands down!!!

AS: What event in hip hop history amazed you the most. Mine was when Q Tip went all jiggy on our asses. Painful!!!!!
MT: Notorious BIG and Big L getting shot... two of my favourite all time MC's...i was gutted!!!

AS: In all your travelling, where have you had your best night?
MT: I can honestly say that when I went to Poland with Vadim & Kela, I have never seen a crowd go so nuts in my entire life!!!

AS: What tune do you always look forward to playing in your set?
MT: Um.....it depends on the crowd but....Simon Says by Pharoahe Monch always absolutley kills it!!

AS: Cheers buddy for those dope answers, last question, what have you got lined up for the rest of the year?
MT: Hopefully some sleep! not sure yet, but I want to do my breaks tape with A Cyde, I want to get that done, and i'm gonna sit and learn how to use my studio gear properly!! I was suppose to go to the States and do some shows there, but they're not happening now because of the terrible shit that's going on at the moment!!! And i'll be getting ready for the DMC next year!!

AS: Last words for the people of boogiedown Bournemouth Town....
MT: Does anyone have a spare copy of the "Gentle Rain" by Moody on Polydor? I need it in my life.... And I don't have any spare copies of Task Force "New Mic Order" LP left i'm afraid!!! (I always get asked for it!!) Marc the thing with the bling bling bling kaching type thing....

MIXOLOGISTS interview

***AQUASKY's sniffadog BRENT tracks down BENI G from the mighty MIXOLOGISTS crew.....

AS: Beni, first off, congratulations to you both on coming second in the world at this years DMC Team Final. Whats it like to enter such an established competition?
Beni g: THANKS BRO! ITS A REALLY GOOD FEELING TO BE PART OF THE BIGGEST DJ COMPETITION IN THE WORLD, AND THEN TO COME RUNNERS UP MAKES ALL THAT PRACTICE WORTHWHILE.

AS: Do you have a funny Tony Prince story that you wanna share (most dmc cats have a humorous excursion with da man...)
BG: YEAH LOADS, BUT NONE CAN BE PRINTED!! BUT CHECK OUT THIS YEARS VIDEO, CAUSE TONY DID A MOONIE ON STAGE....WE WERE DOUBLED OVER!

AS: Yeah, I saw that. What a nutter!!! For all us Bournemouth headz, tell us what you guys have achieved since the Mixologists were formed in 1997?
BG: WELL OUR BATTLE STATS LOOK LIKE THIS :
1999 UK DMC TEAMS (3RD)
1999 EASTERN HEMISPHERE I.T.F. TEAMS (WINNERS)
1999 WORLD I.T.F TEAMS (RUNNER UP)
2000 UK DMC TEAMS (CHAMPIONS)
2000 WORLD DMC (3RD PLACE)
2001 UK DMC TEAMS (CHAMPIONS)
2001 WORLD DMC (RUNNER UPS)

AS: Mark B and Blade, Skitz and Rodney P, I even hear that you performed alongside Eminem. What is your most significant moment to date?
BG: YEAH, DOING THE EMINEM SUPPORT WAS OFF THE HOOK, THAT WAS WITH MARK & BLADE BACK IN FEBRUARY...AND THE FESTIVALS THIS YEAR WITH THEM WERE DOPE TOO ESPECIALLY READING. AS FOR THE CREW, I THINK SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDING OUR UK TITLE AND THEN COMING RUNNER UP IN THE WORLDS WAS THE BEST POINT SO FAR...ESPECIALLY AS WE WERE BATTLING WITH ONE LESS PERSON AND MORE EQUIPMENT!!

AS: What do you think of Eminem? Do you think he will dissapear like Snoop did?
BG: WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE GUY, HE IS LYRICALLY ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED RAPPERS OUT THERE. HE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE CATCHY RECORDS AND THAT SELLS...I'D SAY HE'S PRETTY SMART REALLY. AS FAR AS DISSAPEARING, I RECKON IF DRE STAYS BEHIND HIM HE'LL BE AROUND FOR A WHILE.

AS: I think you are right. Who in the UK has inspired you the most?
BG: MY CREW PARTNER DJ GO DEFINATELY...HE'S ONE OF A HANDFUL OF DJ'S IN THIS COUNTRY WITH THE BALLS TO PLAY DIFFERENT MUSIC TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, RATHER THAN LETTING THEM BUZZ TO THE SAME TRACKS ALL THE TIME. ALSO, MY MAN PLUS ONE IS A LUNATIC ON THE DECKS! HE COME UP WITH THE CRAZIEST SHIT! TONY VEGAS & ANDY C ARE AMONGST THOSE I LOOK UP TO AS WELL.

AS: Now, we all get asked for stupid requests when DJing. Can you remember one that totally fried your brain?
BG: YEAH, I CANT REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE DOING A SHOW BUT ME AND GO WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SHOWCASING, WHEN SOMEONE TAPPED ME ON THE SHOULDER AND ASKED ME "UMM EXCUSE ME, CAN YOU TELL ME LIKE WHAT ANGLE YOU HOLD YOUR HAND WHEN YOU SCRATCH??" I WAS LIKE YO "NERD ALERT!!" THAT REALLY CRACKED ME UP...ITS BAD ENOUGH TO ASK IT OFF STAGE, BUT DURING A ROUTINE!?!

AS: I know you guys are quite diverse when it comes to a set. Do you still find that some headz moan that 'this aint hip hop' or has the scene in this country at last realised it is time to embrace creativity, like Herc and Bam did 20 years before us?
BG: TO BE HONEST IF PEOPLE MOAN ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHAT WE DO ISN'T "HIP HOP" I FEEL PLEASED, BECAUSE TO BE HONEST WE AIM TO NOT BE STRAIGHT HIP HOP. WE LOVE THE MUSIC, AND PLAY LOTS OF IT BUT ALSO REALISE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER TYPES OF DOPE MUSIC OUT THERE, THAT TO BE LIMITED TO JUST ONE IS CRAZY, AND MAD BORING. WE PLAY MUSIC FOR PEOPLE TO DANCE TO ESPECIALLY THE LADIES!! I HOPE THE HEADS ARE GOING TO START TO EMBRACE CREATIVITY, AND IF THEY AREN'T THEN ITS SIMPLE.....DON'T COME AND SEE US PERFORM!!

AS: So, who to you is the most legendary figure in UK hip hop? Mine has gotta be the man like Goldie.
BG: IT HAS TO BE BLADE AND RODNEY P AS FAR AS RAPPERS GO. THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN KILLING IT FROM DAY 1. AS FOR DJ'S, PEOPLE LIKE POGO, SWIFTY AND BIZNIZZ ARE THE UK DJ LEGENDS.

AS: Who is the most annoying person in the following:
BG: Eastenders...IAN BEALE (WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A POP AT HIM!!) Coronation Street... DONT WATCH IT Emmerdale... DONT WATCH IT Friends... ROSS

AS: You don't watch Emmerdale!!! Mate, I am gutted. Anyway, are you boys gunna hit the studio and do an LP or something?
BG: WERE WORKING ON PRODUCTION RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE IN NO RUSH TO PUT STUFF OUT. WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT!

AS: Okay Beni, nice one for that. I am looking foward to playing some tunes alongside you guys. Before you shoot off, let the Boogiedown Bournemouth Town know what is next for yall?
BG: WE'RE DOING A RODNEY P MIX CD FOR PROMO FOR HIS ALBUM. AND NOW THE MARK B & BLADE TOUR IS ALMOST FINISHED ME AND GO WILL BE DOING ALOT MORE CLUB SHOWS, HIP HOP AND DRUM N BASS ALL OVER UK AND EUROPE. OH AND A JAPAN TOUR NEXT SUMMER (WHICH WILL COINCIDE WITH THE WORLD CUP NICELY!!)

AS: Last words......
BG: YEAH, LADIES ARE ESPECIALLY WELCOME TO OUR SHOWS!!

AS: Ahhh yeah, for sure....

DECKWRECKA interview

***Anotha first for Bournemouth.... Stayfresh* are proud to present DECKWRECKA.

AS: Deckwrecka, you have been doing your thing for time. When did you decide that hip hop was to be your career?
DW: Hip Hop chose me. It all started in schooldays, not agile enough to break, not patient enough for Graf!.Music was a natural third choice. I started old school, cutting up two copies of Mardi Gras or Good Times, listening to WhizzKid tapes or DJ Cheese, and Grandmixer DST, just vibing on hissing recordings and trying to decode the sounds they made, there where no instructional videos back then! producing followed..

For those people who havent seen you spin before, how would you describe your style?
Simple party vibe, I like to mix tracks as well as scratch them in. Im not too technically minded so Ive never really been to up on all the latest turntablist tricks etc, but I believe in people dancing and having a party with this music, get your groove on, an Old saying goes " DJs dont make a good club, girls make a good club, Good DJs make the girls dance!."

What has been the highlight for you since signing to Ronin Records?
Highlight for me so far was probably the first LP on display in HMV Oxford ST, It just did stuff to my head, not in an ego way, just surreal!

Are there any old school UK rappers you would like to bring out of retirement?
Kamanchi Sly, Demon Boyz, KZEE, Black Radical MKII, to name a few, but they are probably plotting a return any day now, they are our Hip Hop heritage..They got plenty of play in my house when I was growing up... International Karate

Demon Boyz are my heroes too. I even have their TV debut on video when they did Westwoods N-sign Radio show back in 88/89. Amazing crew... Anyway, you have worked with some credible rappers. Give the people of the BoogieTown a little bit of Deckwrecka history?
Worked with HEL, MudFarm, MCD, Silent Eclipse, Bury Crew, Rodney P, Skooly D, Titan Sounds Crew and the list could go a little further too! Done Six Deckwrecka EPs, Two colab EPs MudFarm and Silent Eclipse. One LP "V for Vengeance.." and a new LP droppin early 2002

Did you see any amazing parties or shows back in the 80's?
A lot of the classics, Run DMC, PE, LL Cool J, Tim Dog, Ice T, Chubb Rock, Kurtis Blow, Beastie Boyz, KRS ONE, Brand Nubian, Eric B and Rakim, Tribe, Mantronix, DJ Cheese and Word of Mouth, Jazzy Jay, plus more I cant remember right now, all memorable, for many reasons..

Now that is a list of quality groups. Which dj's do you go out and check when they are playing ina club?
Alex Baby, DJ Skitz, Shortee Blitz, Harry Love, MK

What was the most sinfull hip hop tune of 2001? A track that makes you scream with pain?
I dont think like that anymore, if I dont like it I dant have to buy it, play or watch it on my TV if I dont want to, someone, somewhere will hate my tunes too! so good luck to all, fuck it..different strokes..BUT I guess hearing Robbie Williams rap is more than a little grating!! Oh and all those songs about money and power, you know the second hand derivative ones on MTV Bass all the time!!!

Is there anything in hip hop these days, either in the US or UK that really pisses you off?
Greed and Ignorance displayed without enough skills or humour to make it any good.

So, 2002, a new year! What are gunna try and sort out over the next 12 months?
Ill get back to you when I consult my magic 8Ball, nah..my new LP " A Better Tomorrow ? " and brand new exclusive tracks on my next 12" "Vibekiller" due on Ronin around mid Feb followed by LP early March with a dope video on enhanced CD single to make em jingle

Last words........
www.deckwrecka.com and www.ronin records.com See everyone somewhere and peace for the new year, dont let them fool us.

SIXTOO interview

***AQUASKY BRENT HAS A LITTLE OVERSEAS CHIT CHAT WITH THE 1200 HOBOS ONE AND ONLY SIXTOO. READ ON....

AS: Okay son, tell us south koast residents who is 6.2, where you from and whatcha been up to recently?
Sixtoo: Sebutones. Halifax, Canada. Full time drum-addict. Train Junkie. I just got back off tour, met some of my heroes and painted lots of freights. I work on music full time, so the hustle is in full swing. I am also exploring the relationship between art and recorded music in shared environments.

AS: Last year you moved down to San Fransisco for a while in search of the perfect beat. What didya get accomplished during that period?
6.2: I met a lot of the people that I had looked upto in hiphop and quickly discovered that I have the same outlook towards music as a lot of the people that I consider to be dope. I painted with some old-school oakland writers, and learned a lot about race relations in America. The Bay Area is my favorite spot...but being a full time artist is a serious commitment out there, especially when you are an illegal alien. I did some songs with the likes of Dose, Sole, Maleeko, Tommy V, PEACE from Freestyle Fellowship. On the flip side, I also had an art opening in the Mission, and a lot of my favorite painters came out. it was a pretty intense time.

AS: So 6.2, this is your first visit across the Atlantic. What have you got planned whilst you are over here?
6.2: Dig for records and hang out with my friends from Aquasky. I'm also really looking forward to performing over there...I'm quite sure that what I'm working on is considerably different that most UK rappers/producers. Dose said he had a great time(over in the UK), I'm sure I will also. I hope people "get it".

AS: What crews are you down with?
6.2: 1200 Hobos and Sebutones are the crews that I rep. Anticon releases my records. Hate Wimps. Hard Work. (HW)

AS: When I visited your home town on tour I checked out your clubnight and saw your crew spin. I was kinda shocked to see headz mixing hop hip into drum and bass, scratching up over it and still have an extreme knowledge of 60/70's music. How come you lot are so open minded to music?
6.2: We have such a small scene here, so all the DJs know each other. There isn't a whole lot of venues for hiphop or D&B here, so by incident we have been forced to share venues. Diggers, Turntablists and Ravers. There isin't a whole lot of attitude here, so people actually talk about it. And I think the cross connection of it being a breakbeat culture (in both types of music) it only makes sense. I think the isolation here forces us to be more creative with the music that we have, because we don't get the latest and greatest tracks or plates, we have to figure out new ways of keeping the girls interested in our nights...hah.

AS: So, its nothing to do with drugs then???
6.2: Nah, although on some level there is a deep rooted philosophy that surrounds making electronic music in an isolated area. I don't drink. I just burn.

AS: I remember when we first met in that secondhand recordshop in Halifax. Both of us frantically digging for that ultimate break! Are you still passionate about getting your fingers dusty in them old shops or have you moved to cyberspace, hunting those elusive records on Ebay and such like?
6.2: I dunno about cyberspace. break lists, e-bay. I think all that shit is for people that are lazy. Its like this. I started digging like, 11 years ago...of and on ever since. I don't want people to rock the shit that I've already rocked, so I'm not trying to fuck with re-issues or with stuff that's out on lists, or easily available. I mean, its one thing for just playing out, but for making my own music, I wanna hit some stuff that most people aren't touching. I trade with cats overseas for that reason.

AS: Crate digging has exploded recently, partically due to DJ Shadow's success. In your eyes, what does the future hold for this sport?
6.2: Well man, I know its already got to a point where there are people doing shit that I wouldn't do. I love the music that I sample, but I'm not trying to go bring artists out of retirement or anything. I think the internet makes it easy for people to get up on info, and it ultimately just means that I have to keep digging deeper, or start looking in other places for dope drums.

AS: What was the most that you spent on a record?
6.2: 90 bucks for an original of the Wild Magnolias record. It was a must have. I'm pretty poor, so I mostly dig in shit-shops and swap meets and the like. I don't like to drop mad dough on records.

AS: What was you best ever find for the least amount of money?
6.2: Young Holt Unlimited - Oh Girl. 75 cents in Truro, NS.

AS: Drop some names on us. Tell us some figureheadz that you have worked with over the years? (**of course there is the incredible Aquasky/Sixtoo/Outkastz collaberation 'The Shamen' on drum and bass label Tribe. Remix hitting the shops in October. Go and buy it. Go and buy it. Go-and-buy-it**)
6.2: Hehe, yeah, Aquasky. Shapeshifters. Low Pressure. Stigg of the Dump. Sole, Alias, Dose, Sage Francis, Adeem, Tommyknocka, KHZ, MrDibbs, Signify. L'Ronious, PEACE, Tommy V. Jo-Run, DJ Moves, The Goods, Controller7, Scott Matellic, shit man, just like, a lot of underground hiphop heads, some legendary, some not. I mostly work with Buck65, who I most closely share my musical philosophy with.

AS: This night is kinda trying to capture the 80's fun vibe of going out and partying to hip hop instead of that grumpy stigma that is still attached to it. Tell us nosey bastards what was the best jam that 6.2 attended back in the glorious 80's?!?
6.2: Big Daddy Kane, at the Concert Hall, Toronto, in 87 Christmas Eve. Fucking Incredible. Other memorable performances were EPMD (DJ SCRATCH!) and 3rd Bass.

AS: Tell us who you think was the UK's finest MC?
6.2: In the 80's? damn man, in all honesty I was only down with NY radio shows at the time. the group I was most familiar with from the UK in the earlier years was Hijack. Dana Dane. Was he even really from there? Monie Love! I had a big-ass crush on Monie Love!

AS: I was always a fan of the TV program The Equalizer. An Englishman sorting out the grime of New York. Kinda fasinated me a little (plus it had Ad Rock from the Beastie Boys first acting debut, oh yes, and Adam Ant!!!!) Is there a English TV program that you watch religiously?
6.2: We like to watch Ali G videos at our crib. One of our homies sent us like, 15 episodes, any time there is weed in our house, there is Ali G.

AS: So, who would win in an arm wrestle, Ad Rock, Adam Ant or Ali G?
6.2: Well, Im going with Ad Rock, but Ill tell you, I'd take all those cats!

AS: What about a straight up street fight between 80's modern romatic rivals Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran. Who would win that contest?
6.2: Haha, man! I think in a straight up fight, Duran Duran, cause they would have more DX7's to throw at their opponent!

AS: What about right, a big gangster brawl with Snoop Doggy Dogg, Nate Dog, Tim Dog and that white dog from Canadian tv's Due South verses Kool Chip, LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee and Kool Rock Jay. Now that is a serious line up. Who would win that?
6.2: Shit man, You got me on that one. I say the Doggz.

AS: We are a nation that love our soap oprahs. Have you ever seen an English soap and if so, which is your favourite?
6.2: I havent seen any, but I know my mom is kinda hooked on Great Expectations? Is that the name of it?

AS: What tune rocks your set. A prime cut that erupts the floor?
6.2: Ease Back - Ultramagnetic MC's.

AS: On a slightly more serious note, whats next for Sixtoo?
6.2: Im working on a 40 minute instrumental song right now. It has a piece of public art coinciding with each part of the music, and is re-recorded in those environments. Its gonna be fucking nuts. I just dropped a new cd, 12" and 10" in the last little while. My 12" with Aquasky, Stigg of the Dump 12" featuring Sebutones. Mad stuff bro. I'm hopping around on freights a bit. Im a hobo with a backpack full of CDs to sell.

AS: Do you have a message for the people of Bournemouth?
6.2: I'm coming to bring the Abstract Writers Workshop. I hope you got records.

AS: Right me old son, I'll leave you for now and let you get on with your day. Many thanks for putting up with me and my warped questions. Last words please..........
6.2: Peace Brent. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of town produced your crazy ass!

DJ SUPREME interview

*** DJ Supreme was the man behind HIJACK, the most influential UK rap crew ever. In 1990 they signed to Ice T's Rhyme Syndicate label and released the classic LP 'Horns of Jericho', which is now trading hands for big cash on eBay. The crew disbanded in 1992 leaving a legacy that no UK group has managed to beat and a back catalogue which still stands the test of time. Refered to as 'God' by DJ Q-Bert and 'Jesus' by Prime Cuts, DJ Supreme is a modest man who still has a passion for making beats and continues to take the turntable to new levels...

Brent: Okay, now one thing that always intrigued me, how come you never entered any DJ battles?
Haha! That's the 64p question, I'm always asked. I'm going to be honest here, I didn't enter into those battles because I believed I was too good. Sounds egotistical, but when you consider guys like Cash Money and Jazzy Jeff were losing against DJs you can't even remember today, then my statement doesn't seem that egotistical at all. Back in the day (87') DJ battles were not focused on the absolute finite skill of scratch djing i.e. syncopation, techniques, scratch patterns, maniuplation, style etc. It was more about acrobatics and showboating, eye candy that got the crowd cheering. I didn't witness any of these battles, I just listened to the tapes. Acrobatics and showboating don't transfer to audiocassette very well - it sounds shit! When you listen to a tape its obvious who the best DJ is but in most cases he was not the winner! I mean, Jazzy Jeff has never one a title! The world knew he was the reigning don for the longest while. That disappointed me. Some crap DJs have won major battles over legends and I wasn't ready to let myself be humiliated in the same way.

Brent: That is a good point and one that battle hungry dj's need to adhere to. Titles don't mean shit if you sound shit!!! Did you do all the scratches for Hijack or was DJ Undercover responsible for any? I could never work it out, especially after seeing you live.
Undercover and I would combined our scratching skills 50/50 on record, I'd take 2x8 bars and he'd take 2x8 bars. K.Sly would always shout our names while we did our cuts. Later Undercover would get more involved with rapping. Originally I wanted a stage set with 4 turntables two DJs and a MC, but it become more practical to keep it simple and enhance our show by way of dramatics, which we did in a big way.

Brent: Could you give us a full rundown of the crew and what each members role was?
I was Scratching and doing all the music production,
Undercover - Scratch DJ and MC,
Cryhmster - Undercover's alias,
Kamachie Sly - MC,
Ulysses - Inspirational guide,
Agent Fritz and Agent Clueso where both stage hands for our live performances.

Brent: Do you still speak to any of them?
Nope. Haven't done so since 92'. We don't see eye to eye anymore.

Brent: Ulysses was the Don. He did all martial arts on stage and looked fierce as fuck in photos. What does he do now as I imagine him to be chilling on a beach somewhere, enjoying life.
Although, I'm still cool with Ulysses, I've not seen or heard from him in a long while. I guess he's somewhere, meditating or mastering the art of astro travel for some inter planetary quest to find the answer to the question, "Why are we here?"

Brent: I was always frustrated that you guys never did interviews. You were the one crew that I wanted to know more about and I trawled magazines for any information. Was it a concious decision to shun the media and all the tacky lies that go with it?
Yeah that was the plan from day one - "we don't do interviews because the press sucks!". As far as we were concerned, we were taking our fate in our own hands by letting the music speak for itself. We didn't want to have the press define us, we wanted to define ourselves with the music. When you acheive success without the press then its almost impossible for the press to take it away from you, which they are notorious for doing (bringing you up then shooting you down). They couldn't do anything but support us, since we had achieved the respect of the street through our own raw talent.

Brent: That is a philosophy that I strongly believe in and one I imagine was inherited from you boys. Anyway, moving on... back in the day I was a big Ice T fan and when I found out that you and him had joined forces I was pretty siked! You must have a good Ice T story involving guns, police or women.
Haha, I won't get into that. But, it is common knowledge that Ice was a pimp, a professional thief, and spent some time in the navy.

Brent: Was there any advice that the Ice-ster gave you that still rings true today?
Yeah, comparing the recording industry with the pimp game and how to stay ahead …haha.

Brent: I remember buying your first 12" 'Style Wars' during my Easter school holiday in 1988 from Our Pric(why I remember this so clearly I don't know!) Damn, the title was dope, the cover photography was dope, the music was dope. Was there an overall strategy to Hijack when you started or did you create it as you went along?
Initially, it was all about b-boy-ism, that battling "I'm going to Serve you" mentality. That was echoed in our American b-boy style of dress on the cover of Style Wars. After doing a few shows, we made a conscious decision to do something different so we just built on the name, Hijack the Terrorist Group! We took b-boy mentality to the next level, not only did we use our music to terrorise opposing artists, but to challenge the press, the record labels and the establishment and the wrongs in our society. It all grew out of the name HIJACK, the angry sound I developed in tracks like Hold No Hostage, and our passion to make a mark on the world stage of hip hop.

Brent: What is the story behind the whole Supreme house rip-offs? I assumed it was not you BUT many believe someone in Hijack was responsible?
I can only laugh about that whole thing. That track had nothing to do with me. That credit goes to K.Sly and Undercover. The way I see it, it was the only option for them since it became obvious that HIJACK could not continue without my contribution. Why they scuppered our tracks like that I'll never know.

Brent: What music are you feeling now?
I'm still into the hardcore brand of hip hop, whats left of it anyway. More recently I've been listening to MOP, Roots Manuva, Dr Dre, Mud Fam, Rodney P and The Icepick new material. . And when hip hop ain't carrying that "screw face" element, I turn to dance-hall music, ain't nothing harder than that!

Brent: What is next on the cards for Supreme?
Right now I'm doing a lot of things. I'm getting ready to fly out to the U.S to do some shows with D-Styles. I just got back from Germany where I featured on a remix of Style Wars with DJ Stylewarz from Hamburg. I've just finished working together with Aliosity on a new scratch tools record called W.R.I.S.T. It will feature some of my old and new Britcore beats and its due for release in July on the US label Styluswars. I'm working now simultaneously on my solo album and The Icepick Album. In the pipeline a top secret project with DJ Disc. Also look out for the first of a two-part interview with Blues and Soul Magazine to come out next week!

Brent: Living in Switzerland must be a culture shock from the streets of South London. What is the main thing that you miss about the UK?
Beside my family and friends, I don't miss anything about London itself. I always wanted to leave England, ever since my first show abroad, seeing how better the rest of the world lives, it opened my eyes. Switzerland is beautiful and it's perfect for me right now. But ahhh, there is one thing I miss, Blackcurrant Ribena. Think u can send me a few cartons?…haha!

Brent: Word dude. Ribena is the chap!!! I have to ask, as you are refered to as a legend by every dj that means anything, who are your top 5 dj's?
Okay, I'm only talking Scratching here. I rate:
Toadstyle
Excess
D-Swift
Aliosity
D-Styles
Qbert...
but not necessarily in that order.

Brent: Do you have a funny story to finish this interview off?
Err I'll keep it clean to save anyone from embarrassment or scandal, haha! During the HIJACK stage show, there was a rehearsed segment where an extra jumps on stage to grab the mic. What normally happens is Undercover pulls out a blank shooter and lets off a couple rounds, the extra plays dead, and is dragged off stage and the show continues. On this particular night in Germany, Undercover shot the extra as planned but then decides to stand over him and let off the rest of the blanks at point blank range. What some people don't know about blank shooters is that flames and white-hot gunpowder shoots from the barrel when you fire them. For this reason, you should not use them at point blank range! It just so happened that when Undercover was shooting the extra at point blank, he's t-shirt was raised up exposing his bare stomach! Needless to say, the extra jumped, jerked and squirmed around on the floor very realistically that night before he was dragged off. The crowed went NUTS!!! We didn't know he was in agony for real until after the
show! He was ok though, just some minor gunpowder burns, nothing that couldn't be cleared up with some cream!

So that is the scooby ya'll... a night that must not be missed by anyone who has a faint interest in the hip hop culture. DJ SUPREME will grace the decks for his first UK set in 5 years. This is a one off show and the only one he is doing in this country. STAYFRESH* 26th July 2002. The summer, the sun, the beach, the beers, the girls and the hip hop. What life is for!!! Don't miss it...

DJ WOODY interview

***So lets start... DJ Woody is one third of the DJ crew 'The TableGimps' alongside his partners from North of the Border (Scotland that is) DJ Bunty and Ritchie Ruftone. Our boy Woody though resides in the Boogiedown Burnley area of Lancashire. In this years UK DMC final he came a very, very close second to DJ Skully and was also the runner up last year to Plus One proving to be one of the UK's most consistent DJ's whilst keeping things rocking like a Shirehorse.

AS: Okay Woody, my first memories of you would have to be at Fresh 98 downstairs in the DJ lounge where even then you stood out from alot of the DJ's who stepped up! Did you think you would ever take the artform as far as you have and be as successful as you have been?
W: Can't believe you remember that, cheers though. When I started out doing this I never really ever considered ever getting a world title or anything, I just wanted to get good and try and make my contribution towards the artform. I guess it's more about personal progress, i do the kind of thing on the turntables that pleases me and as long as I can keep being creative and moving forward with it then thats how i measure my success. I just put my stuff out there and hopefully some people can appreciate what im trying to do. I could have never imagined going to America and taking the ITF, and all the people Ive managed to meet and hook up with in the last few years, I feel really honoured to have met a lot of the people who really inspire me.

AS: Could you explain to the people at home what the 'woodpecker' scratch is? (This being Woodys very own made up cut!)
W: Right non scratch nerds can skip this bit! The woodpecker is a style where you use the tip of your thumb to manuver the record, leaving the other digits on that hand free to hit your thumb (as if it were a crossfader) as to stagger your record movements. So if you crab your thumb whilst moving the record with it you get a faderless crab sound or twiddle it to give you unlimited and precise tear movement or flare/ orbit effect, there's tons of variations to give you different sounds. The good thing about it is that you do it with just one hand so you got your other hand to use the cross fader, volumes, eq's or additional 'on the record' techniques. Combining crossfader actions with all the woodpecker variations just gives you a whole new spectrum of combo's.

AS: What about the 'ketchup' and the 'hover' scratch, do these really exist Mr. Woody?
W: Yeah man, The Ketchup scratch is the thing i did at the end of my no fader cutting routine in the 2001 dmc when im kind of hitting the back of my hand (like hitting the ketchup bottle) to achieve the faderless uzi-stabs, qberts told me he robbed it for his no fader routine, mad shit. The hover scratch exists but ive not had the chance to perform it in public yet because it only works on like 80% of turntables, it's wierd. I assure you that its real and will be up on tablegimps.com when i get it sorted, a few people have seen it but not many.

AS: Just a quick question by me... I heard that you totally freaked Q bert with your Woodpecker cut and that you had to explain it to him down the phone! Do you know whether busted it whilst he was here in the ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />UK?
W: It was pretty mad, me and ritchie ruftone hooked up with Dstyles and Flare when we were in san francisco for the ITF last year, so we were scratching to Q down the phone, i was doing all kinds of woodpecker combo's n shit. He'd heard of the woodpecker before but wasn't too sure how it was done so he wanted to me to tell him, he didn't do the woodpecker over here but he was doing that ketchup scratch thing, it was mad cos i just thought 'oh right he must have been fukin with that too' but he told me he bit it off Atrack who told him he'd got it off of me, freeky shit. But I let Q hear the Hover scratch over the phone and he was freekin out about that, i told him how to do it too cos i was fairly star struck n shit, hope he don't do it publicly before i get the chance.

AS: What inspired you to perform the moves on the record using no fader which you busted at the 2001 UK DMC finals?
W: Well at the time no one had really fully exploited what you could do without using the crossfader. I like to set myself challenges when designing routines, so i basically set myself the task of working out how to do every scratch but without a mixer. So it was just a case of working throught the techniques and making a nonfader equivalent. Once i had all these down, I thought it would be cool to work on a series of scratch combo's going from simple to more complex demonstrating virtually every fundamental scratch technique. In the routine im basically mimicking each scratch combo with and without the mixer.

AS: What do you think makes the best all round battle set?
W: When I go to a battle I want to see something ive not seen before, I want to see a set that im gonna have to watch a few times to work out, the sort of stuff that makes you do a double take. I dont really look at sets as just a means to win a battle, as far as pulling the right punches for the crowd and doing the obligatory disses etc etc. Its a piece of music, so I like to see creative musical structures, interesting breakdowns that you might not have seen coming, new techniques that bring new sounds from the records. Attention to detail is also important, all the links between sets have to make some sort of sense. You need to demonstrate superior technical skills as well as superior creativity, the best sets are by dj's who bring there own distinctive style, those who bring something new to scratch djing, its all about progression.

AS: How did the scratching on the 'Ill Format' track off the Krispy mini LP 'Millenium Funk' come about?
W: Krispy are like local hip hop hero's (their from just down the road in Chorley), they were at the forefront of the UK rap scene back when most cats were still playing with their Ninja Turtles. I've always been a massive fan of theres from years back, since there's not a hell of a lot of hip hop going on in Lancashire it was kind of inevitable that somewhere along the line id get to know them. We became mates and eventually a project came along that they wanted some cuts on, so i was more than happy to oblige.

AS: Have you any mixtapes or production projects in the pipeline?
W: I'm currently taking a bit of a mental break from the battling thing and im getting reaquainted with my sampler, so at the minute im just working on a few beats, maybe for a battle weapon, maybe for a rap 12", we'll see what happens first. Tablegimps.com will be up soon hopefully its just getting everthing together. There may be a Gimps video also, we got tons of mad footage, jams with dstyles, flare, qbert, ptrix, dopey, stuff from the Superrappin tour i did in America etc etc me and Ritchie Ruftone just got a heap of footage that im sure people would like to check, also we'll put on some of the techniques we aint shown out at battles n stuff, practice footage etc. Ive not done a proper mixtape in a while but ive got an idea of what i want to do for one so that'll happen at some point also.

AS: How did the 'Turntable Gimps' crew transpire?
W: We just all hit the battle scene at the same time and really got on as mates n stuff, we were all in other crews but we were the only ones battling so we decided to form the Gimps. Its really good though because we all have totally deferent styles and can learn from each others strong points.

AS: Right, I have to ask, how did your DJ name 'Woody' come about or shouldnt I ask? (ha ha!!!)
W: It's pretty boring really my name is Lee Woodvine, so ive always had the nickname Woody, when it came to having to put my name on a flyer i couldn't think of nothing fancy so since there were no other hip hop dj's out called Woody (apart from Woody Wood from 3-D, but thats going back a few years) I just put that on there. When I was doing the ITF in San Francisco, Crazy Legs who was hosting was like "Hey ladies, they don't call him Woody for nothing you know!", so i suppose in America it can cause a bit more confusion, but its all good.

AS: When it is battle season, are you Bunty and Ritchie very competitive towards each other?
W: Not at all, i know i can kick both they asses!! Joking. No we're just supportive of each other.

AS: Do you let each other see each others routines before the competitions or is it all very secretive?
W: We see everything, its good to get constructive critisism of your routines before you use em out.
AS: Well Woody... what can people expect from your set on the STAYFRESH* night?
W: Good music and some table gimpin.