Here are some allElements.net / allRap.cz interviews from the past - with Example, DJ Logan Sama and Smasher... check it!
EXAMPLE (FEBRUARY 2008)
Hi Example, I think many people in Czech Republic don't know you so let's change it. Who are you and what do you represent?
I am Example, a rapper from the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. I represent the underdog, good music and the chicken eatery 'Nando's
You are signed on Mike Skinner's label The Beats, are you glad? What its like to work with him?
Well I used to be signed to Mike's label until it ceased to exist just before Xmas. The record industry is a funny old game so to be honest it was not that surprising. Im just happy my album hit the UK record stores before the label finished. In terms of 'working with Mike' we never really had that relationship. We did most of our business and chats over email although we did bond on the The Beats/Streets Tour Of Scotland last year. We're very similar in some ways and also very different in others. I admire Mike's work but we never really ever sat down in the studio together and worked on a tune together
It seems he collects only authentic artists, if we have a look on Mitchell Brothers, Prof. Green, you... what inspires you?
I would say that as a person a lot of my inspiration comes from my parents - I want to be successful, respected, happy and bring up a solid family one day. In terms of music I am inspired by the music of people as varied as The Kinks, T-Rex, Kanye West, Common, Rolling Stones, Pahroahe Monch and lots of UK Garage but certainly people like Mike and Dizzee Rascal inspire me to achieve something in the music industry
Who's makin up your clip's screenplays? I saw them all and really enjoyed them... for example Mike's role in "You Can't Rap" is really funny...
The director of You Cant Rap, Who Needs Sunshine, I Don't Want To and my new video Me & Mandy is my mate Henry. We sit down together and discuss what kind of video we want to make. The initial idea is usually his and then we develop it together with my producer Rusher. Rusher and I met at University whilst studying film directing so we like to be involved as much as possible in the video making process
You released CD We Didn't Invent The Remix, now you are releasing you debut album What We Made (on 17 Oct). What can we find on it?
What We Made, hmmm, how to describe? Well there's lots of samples in there ranging from The Carpenters, to Muddy Waters, to Ukrainian Opera to some old Motown. And the subjects range from Relationships to Time Travel to Insomnia to drugs to mankind's destruction, it's a real mixed bag - a lot of humour though. One of the best Rap albums ever made by a UK artist I reckon. Haha, I hope so. We wanted to go for that cheeky De La Soul/Beastie Boys attitude with this album
What the album connotes for you? What means?
It means I can hopefully earn a living whilst doing what I love. But its music and music is entertainment – I hope people are entertained by this album
And who made the beats for it?
Mr Rusher, he makes all my beats and will do for the foreseeable future
It has three singles out, just now the 4th, So Many Roads, is also out. What are you planning to do right now? Tour, new stuff, mixtape...?
We'll start working on the new album right away. I'd like to think there'll be another mixtape early 2008 and another album Oct 2008. We'll also be touring in Nov this year and then hopefully March, June and some festivals next year as well
Back to the album. What We Made is quite conscious track, what do you think about today's society?
I think we're all a little fucked up but then again mankind has been fucked up since the beginning. We've always been destructive creatures, its just that now we have lots more technology and inventions to fuck shit up even more than we could 200 years ago. Im quite happy though
And what was area of Chernobyl like, when you were shooting the clip? We were partly hit by the explosion of Chernobyl in Czech Republic (before 1989 it was Czechoslovakia) so this topic is close for us...
It was scary but also really exciting. Probably the most eye-opening experience I've had in my lifetime. I don't really feel too strongly about many things on a political level but nuclear energy is now one thing I have strong opinions on
Ever been in the woods to get some big ass mushrooms close to the Chernobyl? I mean, not the halucinatin mushrooms... :))
Nah I missed out on that one. I got some Communist era posters though which I could stick on eBay
What about your favourite artists? What mc you like around these days?
Common is the best rapper in the world right now. We have lots of good rappers in the UK but none of them are that consistent. Common has been consistently good over the years, as has Ghostface. I used to love Wu-tang and Snoop when I was younger but they've put out a lot of shit in recent years
Ok, it think it's enought, is there anything I didn't ask you during this interview?
About my laundry – my washing machine is broken so now im off to the launderette to do my washing… bye
SMASHER (APRIL 2007)Hi Smasher, many people from Czech Republic saw your face but they may not know it, can you introduce yourself?My name is smasher i am a rapper/producer from London.
Let's betray it - you were performing with Klashnekoff last year on Hip Hop Kemp in Czech Rep. How did you like it there? You were there only for the show or you were getting fun for more days...?Yeh i was the dj for Klashnekoff at hip hop kemp festival it was a great exsperience and also showed me there are plenty of people around the globe who are loving the music and vibes that are coming from the UK.
i didnt get to stay too long but i definetly plan to come back this year so HHK promter if you are reading this holla at your boy
Back to you career of DJ/producer/MC... I'm just listenig your mixtape The Pre-Reasoning, but it's only appetizer before your street album Everything Happens For A Reason which you released on 31. January. How can you describe it? What's the point of the album? its a very versatile album which is filled with treats. it gives you music from one end of the scale to another
i like to think its very fresh. the point of the album is too establish myself as not only a good artist but also as a wicked producer this album is the foundation.
I heard interview with you but for our readers - what would you like to be known as? As DJ, producer, MC..?I would like to be known as a talented individual..!
You do grime, you do hip hop... what's better for you? it all depends on how i am feeling and how the beatz talk to me when i listen.
Who has been rappin' in your beats till today?Klashnekoff, Skribblah, Ghetto, Devlin, Alblaze,Fumin, Loudmouth,
Cris da Mentalist
What about the fans on shows? I heard that some 'grime lovers' hate UK hip hop and reversely...yeh that can sometimes be the case its just about finding the balance and also knowing your crowd when you peform
It has to be harder to smash in East London grime scene when you are white... have you ever got into any dangerous situation because of your music? For example Wiley said he retires because he don't want to be stabbed in a club...no matter what colour you are music speaks louder than words,
and i have never got into a situation where i have come in danger through my music simply because i carry myself propley i promote peace and love not war
Do you trust Wiley will stand his retirement? What do you think about his actual beef with Dizzee? no.1 Wiley is not retiring its a promotional stunt for his album and
2. his beef with Dizzy can go in his favour at this present moment
Have you ever had beef with someone or you are 'good boy'?:)nah i dont beef like i said peace and love not war
What are your favourite albums for this year?Klashnekoff - Tussle With the Beast
And what about your own plans to the future?well a next album is being cooked up as we speak to follow up the first one.
and im also working on beatz for other artists in the uk.
and me and lewi white are going to be doing a joint producer album featuring the best talent in the uk hip hop and grime scene so watch out for that. go pick up my album "everything happens for a reason" out now
one love
smasher
Thanks for the interview, good luck... last question... how does your beat cost?:)£1000
LOGAN SAMA (SEPTEMBER 2007)Hi Logan, you are well known DJ in UK, we can say you're also reporter - you have your own radio show on Kiss100, where you play fresh and new music each monday, you have to watch grime scene. Has anything changed during last years?
Not a lot. Just there is more organisation and regular releases coming out now. This year we have had 7 albums come out commercially which is a great look for the music.
What do you think about this year's releases? I mean Wiley, Lethal B, Kano, Roll Deep, Dizzee, Tinchy Stryder, Ghetto...
I think they have all added something. When people are making albums now there are examples of what to follow and what to avoid. I think all the albums and CDs out now are helping people to improve their product. Like Grime Darwinism
Who of them did the best album? Best track?
I couldn't say because there are such varied styles on all these CDs. Kano's doesn't sound like Dizzee's, which doesn't sound like Lethal's which doesn't sound like Wiley's. I was really happy with what Tinchy and Skepta both tried to do with their albums both in terms of the music on there and their independent label situations.
Dizzee's collaboration with UGK was surprising, but I was dissapointed of his featuring on UGK's album. Do you like UK-US collaborations?
I think they are good because they help raise the profile and awareness of UK acts, and as 50 Cent said once, for UK underground black music to be accepted in the UK the artists will need to work with the big US artists to be seen as 'big' here.
What do you think about uprising of JME and Skepta? Who is on the top for you? Can you recommend me someone who has big potential?
There's lots of potential. I really like Chipmunk and Griminal right now. 2 different sides of Grime and both very young and talented. Skepta and JME and the whole Boy Better Know thing is really doing a huge amount for Grime as a scene. It is a brand which is actually something you can take to people outside of the music and just say 'Look, there are people who care about this music and they aren't just poor kids on the street. It is a big deal. Get to know'
And who is your favourite female MC? Does grime scene have something like the "queen"?
There's not a lot of good female MCs around. There could be more vocalists as well to be honest. My 2 favourite female MCs though are No Lay because she is just so raw and skilled, and also Mz Bratt because she shows a lot of promise for the future.
We saw you last year on Hip Hop Kemp and also before a few days with Ghetto, you had given him space on your mixtape The War Report, how did you get together?
The same as I work with everyone else in the Grime scene. When you have the number 1 radio show EVERYONE has to get to know you.
His mixtape Ghetto Gospel surprised me, it such different if we compare it with his first 2000&Life... can you betray some of his plans to the future?
Ghetto is a guy who is always looking to improve himself and his projects. I like that in himn. He works incredibly hard as well. He has 2 more CDs lined up already. Look out for the mixtape Freedom Of Speech which is going back to his rawer side as you heard first on 2000+Life.
Endless topic are beefs. Everyone know about Wiley's and Dizzee's older beef, who else who is "interesting for us" has beef presently? I don't know who else should tell me this so I'm asking you.
There isn't really much legitimate beef situations going on right now, and I am glad about that because I want everyone to get on and work together. For example a Wiley & Dizzee tune would be massive for Grime but I can't see it happening. However right now Skepta and Ghetto and Wiley have an interesting three way sparring session going on, but it is all in good competetive spirit. There's no bad vibes. Everyone MCed together on my radio show live only a couple of weeks ago and it was great. You can check the audio on my myspace page.
I hope I'll be successful now - I asked Bearman, then Smasher and Tinchy Stryder in the interview, what they think about Crazy Titch's scandal but they didn't reply. What had happened, what do the people in London think about it?
Situations like this happen very often in England, and when the media picked up that Crazy Titch was also an MC and the boy who was tragically killed was a producer they made the music the focus. But this incident really was nothing to do with music. In this country they love to blame music and movies and videogames for people's problems.
What about a crime in London? Do you have any interesting "dangerous" story from your life, from club, street..?
Thankfully I have been blessed that I still go about London and mind my own business and no-one has bothered me. London is safe if you stay focussed on being a good person.
Is it different to play in London and in foreign countries? Where do they have best people, parties?
I love playing in London because they know the most about the music. But I also love playing all over because you get some crazy energetic crowds who just want to have a great time. I just love DJing, it doesn't matter where.
Did you enjoy Hip Hop Kemp? People were tired and the place where you played was in the edge of festival area, it's pity that more of them didn't come..
It looked pretty full to me. It would be nice to get a better spot next year, but the people who come to Hip Hop Kemp to see us perform are always very good supporters and I thank them all for reaching and hope they enjoyed our show.
Thanks a lot for the interview, hope to see you in Czech Republic in the future... is anything I didn't ask you?
Just that for people who want to listen to the show, you can download it every week in mp3 from my filefront page:
http://hosted.filefront.com/adamantiummusic
And to check me out on myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/djlogansama