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By
Anjool Malde
10th
February 2005 was a fantastic day for Oxford's hip hop scene, with
American stars The Beatnuts appearing as part of their three-venue
UK tour. Through the day Oxford's clotheswear store Original Urban
Imports transformed into an MC battleground as support acts including
UK talent the Foreign Beggars showed off their skills, before the
night's gig at Atlantic Bar. I caught up with some of the stars
of the show...
___________________________
 Juju
(The Beatnuts)
The
Beatnuts have worked with the likes of Cypress Hill, Fat Joe and
Method Man.
How
familiar are you with touring in the UK?
We've been coming to the UK since about 1989, though this might
be our first time at Oxford.
You've
now repeatedly toured across the globe - do you have any favourite
cities to perform in?
I dunno... Europe itself as a whole has been great. England is pretty
dope to come out to, but I wouldn't say any one city is better than
another. In fact often at the smallest towns we play at, we see
the biggest turnouts.
Your
discography now boasts nine albums - which would you say is your
favourite?
It would have to be either 'Stone Crazy' or 'A Musical Massacre'.
What's
the relationship like at the moment with your label, Penalty Records?
You know I think things are cool now, though they've dropped the
bomb on our next record. We'll keep doing what we're doing and same
with them.
What's
the reaction been to your 'Move the Crowd' tour so far?
It's been dope, I met some of the kids who attended our sold-out
gig at the Jazz Cafe in London last week and it was kinda like a
sentimental echo for what's to come. This is a college town and
we've got a big college following, so I'm definitely looking forward
to tonight.
 Check
out the photo gallery from the Beatnuts set at Atlantic Bar - Thurs
10 Feb |
___________________________
 Shlomo
& Orifice (Foreign Beggars)
Foreign
Beggars won 'Best New Act' at the UK Hip Hop Awards 2004.
Members
of Foreign Beggars have roots ranging from United Arab Emirates
and Israel to Norway and Ghana. How did you all get together?
Orifice: Myself and Dag Nabbit lived in Dubai where we made hip
hop and drum'n'bass material, and then reunited later in London
with all the parties that were going on down there. I met Shlomo
at a rave in Leeds, and DJ Noname at a university production of
Wizard of Oz! So various places at different times.
Shlomo,
do you have any influences from the world of beatboxing?
S: Nope, it's all me. I've been a jazz drummer since 10, and played
in my dad's jazz quartet. I heard the likes of Rahzel and Killa
Kela (see BBC
Oxford interview here) before I started professionally, but
none of my material's been lifted from them.
If
you could pick one highlight in your career to date what would it
be?
S: Working with Björk, which meant having 4.5 billion people,
around two thirds of the world's population, hearing my beats at
the Olympic Games opening ceremony last year.
O: It's difficult to pick just one, but Skinnyman's a childhood
idol of mine and I performed with him in front of about 8,000 people.
Elsewhere there's Rodney P's show, having our video on MTV, meeting
the people we've met, performing in foreign countries, and of course
the supermodels.
___________________________
 SLK
(Pornostars)
Spanish
grafitti artists Pornostars are touring with the Foreign Beggars,
producing live artwork during the daytime shows.
How
did you get into the industry?
I started around 12 years ago, self-taught, mainly working in graphic
design and canvasses.
Putting
grafitti and hip hop together in this way is unique - how did it
come about?
A old school friend of Orifice from Foreign Beggars who's based
in Seville was into the graffiti scene. He formed Sprays Platinum
and from there I founded Pornostars, who've recently been sponsored
by spray paint company Montana Colours.
How
does it feel to have your work on display at the Picasso Museum
in Malaga?
It feels good, it's cool, but it's only one part of the equation,
it's one thing out of many to me.
What
other projects are you working on right now?
I'm being funded by Spanish government project Junta De Andalucia
to work here. I'm also involved in graphic design firm Cloaka Design.
___________________________
 Rob
G (Solisai)
Solisai
are a Cowley-based rap and hip hop crew.
Where
are you originally from?
I'm from New York City. My partner, MC Lolo, is from Chicago, and
DJ Rogue's from Basingstoke.
How
long have you been in Oxford for?
8 years.
What
have the main highlights in your career to date been?
The Reading Festival, plus opening for Klashnekoff and Phi-Life
Cypher. In Oxfordshire the Cowley Road Carnival and the Truck festival.
What other projects are you working on right now?
Our next LP is out at the beginning of summer, and our one's available
through Avid and Pola Records. I'm looking forward to doing future
vinyl stuff... you ain't gonna get rich without dying trying! Also
I'm performing at 'Bring The Noise' along with BBC Radio 1's Tim
Westwood and Chris Goldfinger at Brunel Rooms on Friday 25th February.
___________________________
 DJ
Snuff, Manage & Precise Da Analyser
The
trio are signed by Dented Records.
Where
are you originally from?
DJ Snuff: Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Manage: Newcross.
Precise Da Analyser: Hackney. We're now all based in London.
What
have the main highlights in your career to date been?
M: Supporting the Wu Tang Clan, Chuck D and Rahzel.
What
other projects are you working on right now?
DJ S: We've got our own show happening in Brixton called 'Speaker's
Corner', a big, free event. We've also got our 2nd release happening.
M: It's just a hip hop thing with us, we don't do the flash venues,
we do it for the love of it.
How
do you think tonight's gig is going to go?
PDA: Tonight's gonna be heavy.
M: It should be different, I'm eager to see what the Oxford scene's
like. I'm seeing hip hop fashion everywhere here.
___________________________
 Dr
Syntax & Enlish (Imagineers)
The
Imagineers are a Brighton-based MC crew.
Where
are you originally from?
Enlish: I'm originally from Cornwall, Dr Syntax is from Banbury,
the two others are from Yorkshire, and now we're all rooted in Brighton.
Dr Syntax: We do a lot of gigs in Brighton, and have a local following
there. We're also supported by Rarekind graffiti store, who were
featured on Channel 4's 'Faking It' show.
What
have the main highlights in your career to date been?
DS: Supporting Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan.
E: I've done about 20 gigs in the last 3 months, and my highlight
was opening for Guru [one half of Brookleyn duo Gang Starr].
How
do you think tonight's gig is going to go?
DS: It's going to be off the chain, people aren't ready for it.
E: I'm new here, I'm the Oxford virgin. I'm looking to meet some
Oxford virgins too, Fo' Shizzle!
___________________________
 Skrein
Skrein
is an MC and part of Underground Alliance.
What
have the main highlights in your career to date been?
Even though I've supported huge people like Rahzel, my favourite
show was actually two weeks ago supporting Task Force, at a big
club in Newcastle called Foundation. There was the best energy there,
the reception was immense.
You're
part of Basementality Crew but spend a lot of time touring with
Foreign Beggars?
Yeah, I just roll with them, that's my people's. We're all together
in this industry.
What
other projects are you working on right now?
I've just released my solo 12" on Dented Records called 'Mind
Out / Once Upon A Skrein'.
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