Mystro – Featuring Thomas Jules – You Ain’t Right
Brand New from Mystro – featuring Thomas Jules – You ain’t right taken off his debut LP Mystrogen.
The ukhh.com 2012 (w)rap up part 2
Following on from yesterdays post here’s the second selection of ‘sober enough to send an email at christmas’ replies to my end of year roundup questions.
Thanks to King Underground, Mystro, Rapshack, Rarekind, Ryan Proctor, Tom Caruana, Wyt Fang and the guys from Hoochinoo/Rappertag for taking the time out to contribute and if you haven’t seen yesterdays selection from Aspects, Associated Minds, Caxton Press, Chemo, Disorda, Donnie Propa and Itch FM yet then check the link at the bottom of the page.
King Underground
for those alien visitors who won’t know give us a quick resume
how was 2012 for you and what were the release highlights that might have been missed
what are the planned releases for 2013?
what other music hit the spot in 2012?
how do you see the health of the uk scene at the moment?
any thoughts on the future of the industry? are physical formats dead? are you worried about piracy/filesharing?
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatant self-promotion, twitter, links etc.
Mystro
for those alien visitors who won’t know give us a quick resume up to now
how was 2012 for you and what were the release highlights that people might have been missed
what have you got planned for 2013?
what other music hit the spot in 2012?
how do you see the health of the uk scene at the moment?
any thoughts on the future of the industry? are physical formats dead? are you worried about piracy/filesharing?
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatent self-promotion, twitter, links etc.
Rapshack
plug your shop in a few short words and explain why people should use you
what have been the big sellers this year
what personally has hit the spot for you in 2012?
how do you see the health of the uk hiphop scene at the moment?
give us a tip for 2013
any thoughts on the future of the industry? are physical formats dead?
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
To our customers, our listeners and our fans. Thanks for sticking with us!
Peas on earth.
any final blatent self promotion, twitter, links etc.
www.urbanitedj.com
Rarekind
plug your shop in a few short words and explain why people should use you
what have been the big sellers this year
Caruana’s album, Rum Committee – Booze Town, Datkid and Split Prophets albums and we restocked all the MFTC’s / £10 bags and chester P releases recently too and they’ve been selling well.
what personally has hit the spot for you in 2012?
how do you see the health of the uk hiphop scene at the moment?
give us a tip for 2013
any thoughts on the future of the industry? are physical formats dead?
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatent self promotion, twitter, links etc.
the facebook page facebook.com/rarekindrecords
Ryan Proctor
introduce yourselves and what you do
what have been your albums/singles of the year
which artists/event impressed you most during the year?
what are your plans for 2013?
how do you see the health of the uk scene at the moment?
continue to fund their music and don’t have to give everything away for free either by choice or because people are getting those unofficial downloads.
give us a tip for 2013
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatent self promotion, twitter, links etc.
for music videos, interviews, reviews etc and can also reach me on Twitter – @RyanProctor75.
Tom Caruana
for those alien visitors who won’t know give us a quick resume up to now
how was 2012 for you and what were the release highlights that might have been missed
what are your planned releases for 2013?
what other music hit the spot in 2012?
how do you see the health of the uk scene at the moment?
any thoughts on the future of the industry? are physical formats dead? are you worried about piracy/filesharing?
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatent self-promotion, twitter, links etc.
Wyt Fang
for those alien visitors who won’t know give us a quick resume up to now
how was 2012 for you and what were the release highlights that might have been missed
You had that YNR, High Focus, Boot, Killamanjaro, Strange Universe, Flame Griller, Taskforce, Melanin 9, Cappo, Paul White, Defdfires, Skuff type shits… There was soooooo many releases, should be loads more to come too. Keep them peepers peeled.
Been allot of UK/US collab shits too. UK producers on American albums and American Rappers on UK releases. Good shit.
what are your planned releases for 2013?
what other music hit the spot in 2012?
how do you see the health of the uk scene at the moment?
any thoughts on the future of the industry? are physical formats dead? are you worried about piracy/filesharing?
There isnt an HMV/Record shop near you anymore. The days of loads of people (labels/press etc) earned off one artist/band/crew are dead, everything’s allot more streamlined and direct.
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatent self-promotion, twitter, links etc.
Hoochinoo/Rappertag/ukhh.com
introduce yourselves and what you do
what was your highlight event of the year?
what have been your albums/singles of the year
which artists impressed you most during the year?
what are your plans for 2013?
how do you see the health of the uk scene at the moment?
give us a tip for 2013
shoutouts/thanks/christmas wishes
any final blatent self promotion, twitter, links etc.
@ukhhcom, @hoochinoo @RappertagUK @Dfacer1
And that’s it for another year. Thanks to all of the artists, labels, shops and journo’s that took the time to complete my little questionnaire. If you’re reading this and thinking ‘why wasn’t I asked’ then check your DM, inbox or spambox as I hit up a lot of people but didn’t pursue you relentlessly, this scene thrives if people step their games up and take the opportunities that arise. If I genuinely missed you out then my bad, follow us on twitter and go hard into 2013 and we might look you up next year.
Please go back through the links in these articles, follow, join and most of all purchase something.
ukhh.com has gone through a lull the last few years but we’re hoping the new guard of Theo & Dfacer will give it a much needed kick into the 21st century and myself (@spoon_ukhh) and @smiff_ukhh will still be lurking around in the background sticking our oars in.
ukhh.com – Putting Knowledge Into Heads since 1999. At what age do we officially become old school?
Mystro AKA Mysdiggi Exclusive interview with ukhh.com
UK Hip Hop mainstay Mystro a.k.a Mysdiggi is about to drop his highly anticipated debut album ‘Mystrogen‘. We pointed our UKHH camera at him to find out about the release, his influences, a close call with an early retirement, his comeback and the state of UK HipHop. Mystrogen is out September 10TH 2012 on Don’t Bizznizz and is available for pre-order here
Visit Mysdiggi’s official Website Here, follow him on Twitter and Subscribe to his youtube channel…….MUTHALUVAZ
‘Mystrogen’ (debut LP)
artist: Mystro aka MysDiggi
release date: September 10th 2012
label: Don’t Bizznizz
Here’s the official Mystrogen album sampler. Shot and edited by @Dan_DNA…
UKHH.com is back…..lots of new content coming soon, the team is expanding and we will be looking for web designers, new writers and contributors, hit us up on info@ukhh.com for more information or to get involved.
Mystro & Harry Love Interview
Interview With Harry Love and Mystro for the Rockett Time radio show on University Radio Bath (URB)
The interview was recorded in two parts, before and after Mystro and Harry Love took the stage in Babylon, Bath for the ‘My Type Of Party’ club night. The show was presented by Shoestring in association with Undercover magazine. This monthly jam is currently the only live hip hop in Bath after the recent disbanding of the fortnightly Stonegruve Social that had served the city so well for the last few years. We grabbed a few words with the crew backstage at the venue before and after they’d ripped another live show…
RT: You’re both known well through your hosting of the monthly Kung Fu shows, has this stage helped you promote your profile in the scene?
HL: Of course, having a regular spot where we show what we do and we also help other people come on and show what they do. It’s helped everyone on a bigger scale. That was the idea for setting it up in the first place really. That was our whole idea for linking everyone together with a regular platform that everyone knew was reliable and consistent with the three main residents holding down the corners all night. Its helped us to get where we’re going to and it helped other people.
M: Definitely its helped us to give a platform for the younger talent coming out from the UK. For me I was glad to get on board as most people knew me from the open mic circuit and it was good to take control and say ‘this is how the kids should come on’ and all that. Also we get so many people wanting to come and perform there as its got so much credibility, so its good to be part of that as well.
RT: What has been your favourite Kung Fu party over the last few years?
HL: I’ve always gotta say my birthday parties man. The first big birthday party I did was when we moved from the smaller venue to the bigger venue of the Underworld. That was one of my favourites cos everyone was there, that was the whole idea of it. Get everyone that we were involved with, were mates with, worked with and shit like that. It was a really good event, the whole venue was packed out, there was a road block and everyone came through, did their thing. That, for me is what it’s all about, and why I do everything and put in such hard work, to see things like that happen every now and again. Obviously its fun most times we do it. There are different memories, there’s so many that have happened now that it all blends. I get three that blend into one. I can’t really remember specific things, but I remember that ‘I had this feeling at this one and that feeling…do you remember this brere who came in the club and did that.’ There’s all sorts of funny things that go on, and it’s a wicked experience cos I’m there with people that I like working with and that I’m close to, so it’s a good time. I’d say all of them to make it easy!!
M: My favourite, oh man, there’s so many man to be honest. The one where Pace and MI5 performed. Chester P for Mayor. That was free so we had about 700 in there and 700 outside. Obviously the Harry Love birthday Parties, like he was saying, the beach parties that I’ve had.
“…Most people knew me from the open mic circuit and it was good to take control and say ‘this is how the kids should come on’ and all that…”
HL: The first one we did the launch of Music Mystro.
M: Yeah, the first one I performed at and that was off the hook. Who was it that I got to perform at the other one? Oh yeah, that was Pace and MI5. Theres so many that it’s hard to say, ‘that’s my favourite one, but you do have moments that you’re like oh that was crazy’.
HL: A lot of the classic moments are open mic things where someone like Skinny, or Ramson, or Chester, or Kope or anyone has come and blessed the open mic on a regular thing. There are certain times when it just sparks cos we all know each other so well now. It’s like one of those things with everyone playing in perfect timing. That’s my favourite thing about Kung Fu, the spontaneous things that just click right and make it clear why were doing what were doing. There’s no one event, other than I can obviously my birthday parties. I was playing at my last one standing there all starry eyed like a little kid!
RT: Right, we’re back with Mystro after the show.
M: Damn right we’re back right after the show.
RT: How did you think the show went?
M: The show was alright. I cannot complain about the show at all. Everybody loved it and we got to do some of our new stuff as well, which was good, and we got a good response.
RT: How did you first get into the UK Hip Hop scene?
M: I first knew about the hip hop scene from London Posse and Gunshot. Mainly from those two, cos those were the crews that I was bumping at the time. Obviously the Syndicate were from the area, and you had Demon Boyz and quite a few people. That was early, when I was only about 11 or 13. That was how I found out that there were people in the UK doing stuff. At the same time I never took it that serious, that they were like stars or anything. It was like ah, there are people here rapping as well. It was about ‘95 when I heard about people like MCD and Blak Twang.
“…When you count how many artists have been signed and dropped in the last few years on the UK side of things, it’s a joke really…”
I heard tapes flying around and was like ‘shit, there’s people still do it.’ I heard all the Cookie Crews and the Dark Mans, but I wasn’t really into it as it just sounded like someone trying to sound American. I love Money Love and all that stuff. At the same time I never thought that it was anything serious, cos I thought that was what you had to do to get there. Till I started hearing Twang and MCD, then I started realising that there’s people out here doing the same thing but doing it in their own style. Id say around 97,98 was when I started thinking, alright I’m gonna get into thing properly now, and started working on my style, that’s when I really got into it.
RT: So was it those boys that influenced your style today?
M: In a way, yeah. I was heavy into the American stuff at the time. I don’t really get buried under that influence, I still know that if I’m gonna do this, I have to be me and not like anyone else.
RT: Who are you particularly feeling at the moment? Is there anyone coming up for the future?
M: Definitely, most of the people out at the moment that I’m feeling. People to look out for are Young Blood, he’s from East London. MI5, obviously Jargon, Valiant and Diligence…Lowkey, Poisonous Poets, Yungun, Verb T….there’s a lot of people man, DJs as well, Smitty, Bruce Wayne, he’s a nice DJ. There’s a lot of people coming out. I’d say look out for a lot, cos right now there’s so many people doing it, but there’s only a few that are putting their heart into it. There the ones to look out for, the ones you can feel.
RT: You manage to guest on quite a lot of other peoples stuff, who do you most like to work with?
M: I just like to work with people who are worth me working with. I’m not really into this thing of doing tracks with everybody in the scene. It’s like if you go to a jam and you keep see the same people performing, it makes no difference. I just try to work within my family, and just with people that I find it’s worth working with. We can get together and build a big tune, rather than just another one that will be forgotten next year.
RT: So is there anyone that you’ve got your eye on to work with?
M: At the moment I’m gonna work with Ramson Badbones, I definitely wanna get him out. From the background- Shoestring!! Shoestring, if they’ve got beats. With producers, I’ll work with anyone who’s got beats that I can work with. I’m always looking for beats, so if I hear it and I like it then we can do something. At the moment I’m keeping myself focussed on what I’ve got to do. I’ve just dropped the mixtape ‘Tip Of Da Mysberg Volume 1’, and we’re gonna move on to the volume 2, we’ve got the Natural Born Spittaz stuff coming, and also the Top Of The Food Chain, and MI5, so there’s a lot going on already.
“…There are certain times when it just sparks cos we all know each other so well now…”
RT: Since you dropped Music Mystro in 2004, you’ve been working on the mixtape, is there anything else that you’ve been developing over this time?
M: Yeah, I’m doing a DVD. I don’t know what to call it yet, but we’ve gathered so much footage over all these shows that we might as well. I’m also working on an album with C- Swing. He’s more or less finished it, and its all his production, a mixture of hip hop and R and B, different singers and that. I performed one of the tracks tonight, so that should be coming out soon….Just my own stuff really, working on the Volume 2 of the mixtape, keeping it moving, but I’m definitely recording, so look out for a few singles here and there. I got something with Mentat that I recorded a while ago, so I think maybe that could be next.
RT: The UK Hip Hop scene seems ready to break through. Will commercial success ruin or enhance the quality of tracks going out?
M: I think that nothing will really change. There’s going to music that comes out that people aren’t going to like, then stuff that they are gonna like. I don’t think its really gonna water it down too much. Already, with Channel U, you’re starting to see videos on there that people who know what is good, wouldn’t really get into. Everyone’s cracking up about the video, rather than saying it’s heavy. It’s more entertaining in a way of how stupid it is. That’s the problem, but I think we’re always gonna have that, as the industry tries to set the trend. Sometimes it’s the wrong people trying to set the trend. When you count how many artists have been signed and dropped in the last few years on the UK side of things, it’s a joke really. That’s why we stay where we are. Why am I getting signed to have people who don’t really know about the music that I’m dealing with trying to tell me what to do with it?
RT: How do you find the crowds outside of London?
M: The crowds outside of London are wicked. I tell you one thing, they’re not spoilt, so they really appreciate what comes out. Like in London I get a lot of love, but when I see some people performing, it’s not appreciated as it should be. Compared to when you go somewhere else and its like ‘oh man, thanks a lot for coming out, listen, have a good time, do you want a drink?’, all that kind of stuff. In London, you do get that, but the attitude all in all is ‘we’ve seen it’. Too much comes in to London. Other places, like rural areas where not much happens, obviously they’re going to appreciate it a lot more as they don’t get it so much.
RT: So where’s your favourite place to play, other than Bath?
M: Other than Bath? I don’t know man, I’ve had some good times. I’ve been to Germany, and had thousands in the crowd screaming, I’ve been to Australia and had a nice time. It’s a hard one, can we move onto the next question?
RT: You’re doing so may shows, so do you have to mix it up to make it more exciting?
M: Sometimes it’s like that. But with my show, it’s pretty hard on, and there’s a lot going on for at least 20 minutes. People have said to me ‘even though I’ve seen that track live before, the next time I saw it, it was like a new track.’ That’s what keeps me going, you can play about with what you’re doing. As long as people are hearing it and understanding it the way they’re supposed to. That’s what I love about music and performing, you can improvise and not necessarily change the lyrics, but the maybe the style of how you rap it, or change up the chorus a little bit. Nah, it’s never that bad that you get bored of it, but sometimes you do switch up. Like today we decided to do some of the tracks, because we wanted to get real feedback. From the crowd straight off and hear it loud. See if I can rap it live. We had some mess ups and stuff, like Awkward Thief. Yeah, with that I messed that up worse than the tracks that I don’t really know that well. It does put you off when people right next to you are trying to rap along as well. They were going a bit fast, y’know.
RT: Any shouts, or plugs to make before I let you go?
M: I wanna give a shout to Harry Love for looking after me. Shout to Big Will. Shout out to the Shoestring massive- My type Of Party for real. I wanna give a shout out to MI5. Look out for Verb T, Yungun, Extended Players, Medication Records. Look out for the Tip Of Da Mysberg Volume 1 CD, its out right about now. It’s got some bits and bobs that I’ve done over the last couple of years. There’s some exclusive stuff that isn’t out yet on there as well. I wanna shout out to all the people that give us a lot of love.
Rockett Time is a radio show on Bath Student Radio (URB) and is purely UK Hip Hop. Broadcast on Mondays 9-11pm, it can be heard on 1449AM in Bath and www.1449urb.com. For more details see show pages onwww.1449urb.com. Wac20@bath.ac.uk to email Rockett.
Mystro Interview
On a warm Spring Evening, there are few better things than a couple of drinks in a quiet Soho pub…. However, when myself and Nikesh caught up with Kung Fu host, and Freestyler extraordinaire, Mystro for this interview it was hardly quiet, so Mys-diggi had to calm the noisy crowd, and even dragged along a couple of guests too (Yungun and Mr Thing, though their partaking was limited to drinking beer. Plans were cemented for future interviews with both…)
But it’s all about the Mighty Mystro…….………
Nikesh: Right first question; So who is Mystro?
Mystro is me! From Natural Born Spitters…….. I came and got known about 1999, erm …. with my first single, “Kiss that Ass Goodnight”, that came out on Deal Real records, with the b-side done with Jargon & Skinnyman. So, basically I made my name through open-mics at all the jams, trying to conjure up my own style, and people kinda recognised me from there.
N: So what would you say your rhyming style is?
RAW!!! It’s witty & wild….well that’s what people tell me!
N: What was your first record like?
A straight battle record. I was just trying to let the rest of the MC world know that I’m a force to be reckoned with.. Ha ha ha!
“…Do you ever go on the UKHH forums? … No, but I’ve heard about them though…”
N: So would you say you’re more of a battle MC?
Me, I’m more about entertaining people, as opposed to trying to change the world. You know what I mean……not trying to teach people stuff they already know. Most of the stuff I come up with comes from me…….. I don’t read no books, or watch movies to ………you know get inspiration from it. I just conjure it from myself, and come up with my own concepts, and work it from there. My root is entertainment. But if I’m being serious, then it’s more likely to be to take people away from their worries.
N: Do you ever go on the UKHH forums?
No, but I’ve heard about them though.
N: What are the rumours then?
Just that people are really deep. Either they ain’t got a lot to do, or they’re really passionate about it. That’s the rumours that I hear….ha ha ha
N: I’m guilty!
Ha ha ha …. Right where we at then?
N: How long have you been rapping for?
I’ve been rapping for about 11 years. Basically I started off when I was like 13-14. Because I was like learning Masta Ace’s lyrics, rewinding the tape, and writing them down to learn them, and my friend was like, “Raa, why don’t you just write your own stuff?” So I was like “write my own? Raa ok then, I’ll try.” And I did, and grew from there. So I mixed a bit of whoever I was influenced by then, and tried a bit of Ragga and Jungle, but my heart was in hip-hop. I just tried to get my own style, and to make it accessible to everyone in order to make it public….
Lingo: So do you remember your first battle?
Pfff…………..no. My first battle was in someone’s bedroom with nuff of us. I’ve had some funny-assed battles though, but can’t really remember the first one……
L: ‘Coz there’s been so many?
Yeah, there’s just so many.
N: So what’s your most memorable one?
For me? Probably the one with Al-Cid………..where was it………oh yeah Camberley. Mainly because I’d never battled an American before, and because he’d had stuff out, and was of a calibre that I thought I’d loose. But he wound me up so much that I was begging for someone to go up there and battle him. In the end I had o go up, and it just so happens he wasn’t as good as I though he was. When it was time I had to stand up, I was like “He ain’t that good!”, and I won. It weren’t a bias thing, where all the crowd was like, “He’s from the UK, let’s make noise for him.” They were actually listening to what we were saying. That was good.
N: Have you always been Mystro?
In terms of rapping, yeah, but my street name is BK, so that’s what a lot of people know me as.
N: How has the scene changed from when you started, to how it is now?
Well back then I didn’t really know about the UK scene, I didn’t know there was a UK scene at all, other than Silvah Bullet, Hijack & London Posse. I just listened to my friends records. Redman, K solo, Masta Ace…..that kind of era….. Just after Ice Cube left NWA, and did his solo stuff. That era. So the scene was really an American influenced one, so I never took it too serious, coz there never really was a UK scene. Just did it for fun. The scene now is serious, people are believing the scene, and people are putting their money, and faith into it. So people are making it look a lot more better, and the sound is a lot phatter, all that kind of stuff. Basically the scene has got its head screwed on, and that’s down to experience……………. Back in my day…Ha ha ha!
“…I can listen to anything……maybe 20 mins of Drum and Bass, 10mins of Garage if I’m drunk…”
L: So what other music are you into?
Everything. Mainly old soul and funk, but I can listen to anything. Basically hip-hop is my love, so I can listen to that 24/7, but then I can take maybe 20 mins of Drum and Bass, 10mins of Garage if I’m drunk…
L: No way!
Ha ha ha ha ha…things like that. Otherwise it’s just old soul and funk. Old breaks and stuff, cos that’s the real music, but even so there’s a few modern artists who I can listen to…..
L: Like who? You into the more modern stuff, funk and soul?
Yeah, I mean I’m into people like Alicia Keys, who make music the way it was made back in the day. Jamie Cullum, people like that. Like up-to date versions of what was made back then….stuff that is timeless.
L: How did you hook up with Kung-Fu?
Sarah Love. She got me hooked up with Kung Fu. I say that because she was dealing with the promoters (Charlie & Leo) and was like, “look if you wanna make this more successful on a hip-hop level, then you need to bring these guy’s on board.” That was Harry and Mystro. I knew Harry from meeting him at Deal Real, at the open-mic’s. It’s funny though, cos we lived in the same area, but because of the age difference, we didn’t really know each other.
L: You used to go to school with him?
Yeah. He was in the 1st year when I was in the 5th year.
L: So you used to beat him up?!?
Nah…..ha ha ha…… NAAAAAAAAHHHHH! Not Harry………….. So yeah, that’s kinda how it all hooked up.
L: So do you prefer being the hype man at Kung Fu nights, or just doing all nighter’s like the Extended Players nights?
To me I don’t look at it like that. It’s the same thing, apart from at Kung Fu I get a break whenever shows come on. I mean, if the night is really good I don’t mind staying out there all night…….I mean, with the Extended Players they play really well……….. (looks at Mr Thing)…
They play REALLY well………ha ha ha ha……
Mr Thing: Say again?
Mystro: They play really well as well……..yeah, The Extended Players…so erm…ha ha ha!
Mr T: Ha ha ha ha
L: Three times!!
Mr T: I’m sorry!!
M: Yeah, so I don’t really mind as long as the crowd is with it, you know? But like, if the crowd ain’t with it, its hard work to be out there, and its one of them things……With like Kung Fu, don’t get me wrong I like to go and have my break, you know, have a little smoke break……….a little 20min blaze….that’s why I might come out and my eyes are smiling a bit more…..ha ha ha.
“…UKHH has always been a bit moody & grey like the weather, but now with global warming, its so sunny people are livening up!…”
N: Was it a conscious decision to wait a bit before releasing “Telling You” & “Music Mystro”, and how did you hook up with Lowlife?
I don’t know if it was a conscious decision, it was more like it’s about bloody time mate! I think there was a few things that got in the way of it all, and it was about a year delay before it came out. That’s why “Telling You” was released, cos it was like, I should have already released a lot of stuff by now. But I wanted the vinyl to be loud so only put like 4 main tracks, and then a 12”, and for the people who ain’t got vinyl, do a CD.
L: So what input do you get with the producers? Because you’ve worked with a lot of them, and what do you get out of each one, having worked with Blufoot, Harry & Braintax?
With Blufoot’s one, that was a beat I wanted to work with from ages. I was like I know I’m gonna use this for something, no doubt. That was….the beat was there and I had the idea, so we‘ll do it like that. With Harry (Love), the title track, it was the same thing, he came up with the idea for “Music Mystro”. He had the sample, and was like “Why don’t we call it Music Mystro then?”, and that was a title track. With Braintax’s it was a case of he had it, and was like, “ I think you can deal with this.” ……….So its kinda like a 2-way thing.
L: Yeah, because all three have got really distinct characteristics, yet you manage to deal with all their styles.
Yeah, they’ve all got a feel that isn’t what’s usually out there, and is a little different. So everybody knew it was gonna work……With Rawdog, I asked him. I asked Louie, cos we used the beat for his mix-tape, and when we do it live, it’s like……raaaa…we need to do this on a proper scale.
L: So did you enjoy working with the live band too?
Did I like it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely.
“…I just like beats that grab you. Where you listen to it, turn it off,….you know. It sticks in your head…”
N: Do you plan to produce any of your own beats?
Do I wanna learn to produce? Yeah…..One day!! ……….When I’ve got the time to get into it, because I’m working with a lot of people that are doing it, so rather than waste it, I better start to learn it.
L: Is there any producer you want to work with?
I mean Mr Thing obviously…. Ha ha ha. Out here,……..Joe Buddha….ummm….
L: The P-Brothers?
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They’re pretty nice.
L: What about in the U.S?
I’d really like to work with Jay-Dee, Madlib, all of the Stones Throw lot……an Wajid from Slum Village… and obviously Eric Sermons, Premieres, Dre……you know?
N: What do you look for in your beats?
I just like beats that grab you. Where you listen to it, turn it off, listen to something else, and you can still hum it….you know. It sticks in your head. Mainly, up tempo stuff. If its slow it needs to be sinister, or have a reason for it to be slow, but its still got the groove on it. But I like to be colourful.
L: You mentioned Jargon earlier. Have you got any plans for some Natural Born Spitters releases, or stuff with him?
Yeah, we got an MI5 12” out later this year, starting with Blufoot’s album, and their track on it….that will be a 12”. and the flip will be a track with me and a guy called Youngblood.
“…Have you mastered Circular breathing? … Ha ha ha…..no I breath through my ears……I’ve got gills!…”
L: What about Faith SFX, you still working with him?
Yeah, well that was the beginning…………when I start doing tours I’m gonna take him along, make sure he gets to shine. Cos we worked together on a tour for JD Sports, and from there I wanted to work with him, but he has a manager….and all that politics.
N: Marmite – love it or hate it?
Marmite? I love it when I’m hungry, if I ain’t hungry I’m not on it. I’ll eat nearly anything when I’m hungry.
N: What’s next for Mystro then?
Next? A collab with Youngblood, Verb T and Harry Love called “Surprise“………on the B-side is us again with a track called “Live from London.” And watch out for the video, cos there’s a surprise on it. Then there’s a feature with Junior Reed………..and Rodney P’s album, I’m featuring on that.
N: When’s that coming out?
I don’t know. Is it coming out?
N: Plans for a Mystro album?
I just gotta make time for it, but I’ve been working on some stuff for it already, but now the main thing is the Natural Born Spitters E.P, and some mixtapes, and street stuff……….trying to fund our own music and things.
L: So Who’s up-and-coming then in your opinion?
Youngblood is good…….there’s a guy called Lo-Key, Ransom Badbones from Taskforce, who else………TL from Liverpool. Freestyle Master from Scotland. That’s about it….some I was feeling but I can’t remember their names.
N: What makes a good rapper?
Originality…..skill. Content, and stage performance……….And being able to do it on stage and in the studio. Some people are really good in the studio, and bad on stage, and visa versa, or he’s wicked on stage, but his music ain’t all that.
L: That’s something that comes across with you. You’re able to keep the crowd entertained all night, and the stuff you’ve released also has that vibe. Is that something you strived for?
Yeah. For me, an MC can do it all, and deal with it all. You always strive to perfection with the party side of things, and freestyling. There have been times when I’ve messed up, and had to freestyle it out and no-one noticed. Other times, they’ve noticed, and I still get props for styling it out…ha ha ha.
L: Have you mastered Circular breathing?
Ha ha ha…..no I breath through my ears……I’ve got gills! Ha ha ha. It’s all practice. Extreme training pays off… some of the stuff we used to do…… rapping with the music up as loud as it goes…..
N: Will UK hip-hop blow up?
Only if it grows in this country, and people allow it to grow. The majority of the country and the world to like it, and it is still growing, which is good. It needs to be more intriguing to get in to, and needs to be more accessible. It’s always been a bit moody & grey like the weather, but now with global warming, its so sunny people are livening up! Ha ha ha………we need to get a few more women involved, and lightened up…….make it less serious. Only recently people have opened up, and letting stuff like Jay-Z get played in underground clubs……cos it gets the ladies booty shaking, and that’s all good……
N: Who were you’re influences then?
Err ..Chuck D, Masta Ace…Redman……Black Thought….Devon the Dude….Snoop….Scarface.
N: Shameless plugs?
Look out for Music Mystro on Lowlife Records, shout to Extended Players, MI5, Dupa Star, MKD, Blufoot….One love to my family, to my mother.
N: Anything for Mr Thing to say to UKHH?
Mr Thing: Ha ha ha………err….yeah actually…Promoters, stop putting “Scratch Perverts” after my name on flyers, I’m Extended Players now. Thank You!
M: For real, stop putting it after Harry’s name too.
Mr T: Yeah, we’re trying to shake that.
M: You gotta scratch that perverted ness…
Mr T: …ha ha ha, I don’t wanna promote them anymore! I ain’t even seen them in years.
M: Yeah, we’re trying to be politically errect……….ERRECT? Stick that errection………
– Nikesh Shukla & Lingo