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  The IRS Interview
interview 0566 added 26.05.08 words:
2-Hip
technical:
Spoon
The IRS weren’t a crew that I was overly familiar with, that was, until their album “The World is Theirs” well and truly caught me with my pants down. Rather than be deterred, I thought it was only right to track down Ed Strong to try and spread the word. The IRS are meant to be your friends! Read on…
So you’re a five man crew from south-east London yeah? How’d you all come together?
We all grew up together, I’ve known DV and Guide One since they were kids and I went to school with Superb but we didn’t really chat cos he was younger then me. I met King through my mate James who I went school with and it turned out he knew DV and Superb which was kind of strange... fate bought us together I spose.
Did you all have fairly different backgrounds and influences? How has this helped create the sound of IRS?
We’re all from different backgrounds, we’re a mixed up bunch of dudes... English, Nigerian, Jamaican, Dominican, Iraqi, Jewish, Christian, you name it. There’s a wide range of cultures that have influenced and moulded us.
I think what makes us unique as a crew is that we’re pals outside of music, if we weren’t making music we’d probably be getting lashed in the pub together anyway. Most of our ideas are conceived in social situations most of the time as well, it’s not like we sit in the studio and say “oh... what are gonna write a song about today then?”. I think that adds to ‘true to life’ ethic of our music.
...avenues available for artists like ourselves are slim and it needs to change cos right now it’s very frustrating...
 There seems to be a lack of the whole ‘Super Group’ thing in Hiphop at the moment. Does this make IRS somewhat unique and what the people have been waiting for?
I suppose one thing about being a group is it makes lives shows more interesting. We always try and chuck the mic about as much as possible rather than just takin turns in spittin 16s. It keeps the show flowing nicely and gives it pace and excitement.
On wax it works well cos you’re always gonna get a different style and perspective on things. If we’re dealing with a concept for example, I might talk about it from a certain stance whereas King, DV or Superb might come at the topic from a completely different angle, which all in all might give the tune some extra depth.
You’ve been releasing since 1998, how come it’s taken nearly ten years to release ‘The World is Theirs’?
We’ve been a crew since 1998 but we didn’t actually release anything officially until 2004, which was the “Work” single. Basically, when we started the crew we were like 16/17 and to be honest we didn’t have a studio and we weren’t really writing songs, we were just nurturing the skills.
I remember back in 2000 we forked out about £150 for studio time at Music City in New Cross. At the time we all saw that as a big thing, it ain’t like it is today when any old house PC is a potential studio. I swear someone even bought a bottle of Cava down and we celebrated our first recording, it’s nuts when you think that nowadays you can record yourself whenever you want.
To be honest there’s loads of reasons why it took us 10yrs to put out an album. We were growing up, working and studying and all that stuff, but most importantly I think we all wanted to take our time with it and make it something we would be proud of, something we could make a mark with. Looking back at the stuff we recorded in 2000, if that was now, it would be straight on our MySpace page or put onto a cheap mixtape cos that’s the nature of today’s game. To be honest, listening to it... I’m glad we didn’t release it cos it’s swag!! We’ll keep those tracks in the vaults haha.
It’s a massively heavy album no doubt, how did you go about putting it together?
We spoke about releases, what we wanted to do and where we wanted to take the music and decided that the next step was an album. Some of the tracks were already there sitting about and all they needed was boosting up a little. We then got together all the ideas and half finished stuff we had and went about recording and finishing them until we had about 40 tracks. We then choose the pick of the bunch and put them on the album. The rest of the tracks we put on the free mixtape we released about 2 months before the album, which ended up being a good look for us as it wet a lot of people’s appetites and we got some good feedback off it, especially as it was free!
 ‘Windy Weather’ is without a doubt my favourite off the album. Break down the concept of that track if you may?
Musically speaking, it’s the only track on the album with no samples, it’s all live stuff. I play piano myself but I’m lucky enough to know some seriously talented musicians who get drafted in for appearances. I gotta shout out Cherry Suico for the silky vocals on that one, she killed it!!!
Conceptually speaking, I’d say ‘Windy Weather’ is like momentum of the wind, you go where the wind takes you as the old saying goes. That’s why Kaiow’s talking about where peoples actions take them, if you choose to have a gun and carry it around with you, don’t moan when you get shoot. That’s just my personal take on the song, I didn’t rap on it and Kaiow and DV will probably tell a different outlook on it but they ain’t here so fuck em!!
A little word on the production front if I may. The album is some fairly timeless sample based steez. Ed, do you believe in keeping to this formula when making Hiphop?
I don’t believe in it, I’m open to any style or process of making beats, it’s just the way I’ve learnt to do things and I’m comfortable with it. My best stuff always starts with finding a sample to work with. I use it as a basis and build on it.
What do you hope to achieve with the release of this album and do you plan on taking it on road?
We’re generally using the album to sell ourselves. Like I said before, it’s something were proud of and believe in and just hope that everyone that’s heard it can appreciate not only the music but the time and effort put into it.
I’m still testing the water with a tour. I’ve been in contact with a lot of promoters up and down the country and there is interest so hopefully we might get a mini tour happening this year. Any promoters out that wanna book us...HOLLA!! The more the merrier! We’re also working on album number 2 at the minute so hopefully we might have a single ready in time for the tour...who knows.
...Someone even bought a bottle of Cava down and we celebrated our first recording!...
You feature on the forthcoming ‘F What U Heard’ DVD. I think the UK needs more varied media exposure like this, rather than an endless sea of 12”. Do you think the UK lacks boldness with its music exposure?
 You’re right, we do need more visual representation of our artists and I think the internet has boosted the UK’s promotion no end. I think fans need a personality to relate to and so many UK rappers lack a face to the voice and videos like this gives them the chance to show their feelings on matters. Personally, I think ‘F what you Heard’ is gonna be an eye-opener for people. I remember being impressed with the interview and what questions they actually asked us, it wasn’t the same old “who’s ya favourite rappers?” questions. Props to AMS n Kae for being original with it.
There’re a few people voicing some concerns, not for the first time, over the state of the UK industry like how it’s run by the most influential people. What’s the state of play from the eyes of IRS on street level?
Promotion is a bitch, it’s very hard getting people to listen to your stuff even if it is good. There’s a million rappers to choose from, why would you want to read about or listen to IRS when you could see and hear a proven cat like Jiggaman???
As far as selling your stuff, that’s even worse. I’ve read lately about distributors and labels supposedly fucking up and I’m not gonna comment on it myself but what I will say is that the avenues available for artists like ourselves are slim and it needs to changed cos right now it’s very frustrating.
What’s your view on the Grime scene and the general success it appear to be enjoying at the moment or do you just see it as a natural road for Hip Hop to take in the UK?
I’m a fan of grime, not all of it obviously but there are some grime artists out now that are killing it. I think Ghetto’s flow and wordplay in particular are amazing.
At the end of the day, Grime is the new Hiphop. The ways it’s made relates to the originators back in the day. Most of the beats are made on shitty software that some kid’s downloaded. If that kid and his friends can vibe off what they do and make something creative, then that represents the essence of why Hiphop started... something from nothing!!
 I’m sick of seeing snobby pricks on the internet talking about “keep it true” with MPCs and all that shit, you think some kid can afford an MPC?
I appreciate that you may hate football, but I’ve got to mention the state of the England national set-up. Is underachievement systemic in British society, music included?
Capello’s gonna change things, Wembley will become a fortress and we’ll win the next World Cup... I hope! We’ll see man... being an England fan is hard work!
 Anything further you’d like to add?
Big up all the man dem n’ the gyally!! Thanks for the interview fam. Peace, Ed Strong.
The IRS self-released LP 'The World Is Theirs' is out now through Disorda at Suspect Packages and any other good outlets you might know of...
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