WEEKLY RESIDENCIES in PHILLY THURSDAYS @ Fluid "Platinum" alongside residents: Dieselboy, Icon. Kaos, Karl K., Mason, Sine, Armanni, Illy, Messinian www.platinum215.com SATURDAYS @ the Parkway www.Substitution.net &www.Cuerecords.com Present: "Subcode" alongside residents: Armen, Magnum, NateDay, Illy MC LN: Unless heads were sleeping, the leading US DnB promoters caught a date on the "Enter the Hive" tour. At each stop the Swarm boys tossed out handfulls of CD samplers to promote the highly anticipated release. Sounded like Swarm, yourself and Armanni were having a ball in the recording of that CD. Favorite part of that tour? Sharpness:I would have to say that the best part of the “ Enter The Hive” tour was simply getting to go on the road and show the masses what we have been working so hard on. Playing with people you know well and seeing the crowd reactions of the music we worked so hard on is really cool. I know it sounds corny but it’s the truth. LN: When did you come out as a wordsmith & musician? Do you dabble in poetry? Were you a d*mn class clown << Are you still? Sharpness: I came out as a wordsmith @ birth. I came out the womb dropping lyrical bombs on the other babies in the Hospital. Seriously though, I started really taking the rhyme game as an actual job opportunity when I was about 12. I do dabble in poetry but I write to simply relieve stress and convey experiences in another way besides hip hop and drum and bass. I was a class clown until college. Now that I have to pay for my own education the only funny thing I do is cry when I fail my exams. LN: I understand that not only are you an MC but you and Armanni are also teamed up on a hip-hop project under the moniker Mental Sharp. Tell my readers what kind of sound/vibe can be expected and if there are any releases out or upcoming from this outfit. Sharpness:Yeah buddy!! Myself and Manni have a mixtape out right now called “ On N Poppin”. The type of sound that we have is a fundamental hip hop base but we throw in are own personal styles and of course our drum and bass influence. Overall it’s a real fresh injection into the hip hop scene. Expect a full length release from Mental Sharp very soon. LN: You're on bills all over the place at WMC: March 8th @ Club Maze & March 9th @ the Shelbourne Hotel (MCing and w.Mental Sharp Live) and also on March 9th @ Jade. What cha looking forward to most this year at WMC? Sharpness: I would say that I am looking forward to showing people the hip hop that myself and Armanni have been working on. Besides that Metalheadz, Ultra, World Of Drum and Bass are all going to be off the hook!!! LN: In years past, U.S. had been in the minority in Drum n Bass. Sames goes for MCs, DJs, producers, and promoters. That is starting to change. Rapidly. Can I get a witness? Sharpness: Yeah it’s nice to see that some of the major players here in the states are starting to get international acclaim. I think this type of recognition will help drum and bass grow to become a bigger influence on a global scale. LN: Favorite mic? Sharpness: Shure sm58 LN: Magazine(s)? Sharpness: XXL, Knowledge, ATM, rinse, maxim and stuff LN: Olson twin? Sharpness: I can’t believe they turned out to be so hot! LN: Spiritual entity (if any)? Sharpness: God LN: Do you prefer Beer or Liquor? Sharpness:Both mixed together in a pitcher piss warm LN: Chicken or Beef? Sharpness: Chicken, easier to make, more variety LN: Steel Pulse or Massive Attack? Sharpness: Steel Pulse been a fan for a long time LN: L.A. or Jamaica Queens? Sharpness: Depends on if I want to party with models or post up and smoke out with some of my peoples (big up my cousin Devon in Jamaica Queens). LN: Stevie Wonder or Tina Turner? Sharpness: Too hard to choose... LN: Anything hot we should all look forward to from the likes of you or your close crew in 2004? Sharpness: Of course, Look out for the full length release of Mental Sharp, And more releases from the Swarm crew and a bunch of tours coming to a city near you.