Baby J Interview with Kane (ukkh.com) 20.07.06 Timbaland said in a recent interview that no MC interests him right now, as well as a general disinterest in Hip hop. With a preference to concentrate on making pop records. Is this an avenue you would consider exploring? And how do you feel about Timbalands sentiments? Hmmm. I cant straight diss the man cause I aint never been in his shoes but its definitely not a sentiment I share. I would work with a ’pop’ act or any act as long as I made music I thought was hot, but hip hop is the reason im still doin this shit, it could never get boring I LOVE hip hop in all its 5 elements and im honoured I've been able to be involved in it. Do you think the idea of a producer as a ghost writer is more prominent in music, particularly Hip hop than ever before? Its definitely happening more. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You have to look at what a producer is meant to be. Back in the days the producer was the person that picked the band and told them what style to play the track in and maybe even wrote the song for the vocalist. When I make a beat I don’t just hand it in, I work with the mc on the concept the hook, the delivery. Its meant to be a joint venture. What were the circumstances that lead to you being spotted by a Wu Tang A&R and how did it feel at the time? Fuckin amazing! I was this little white kid from derby that no one in the UK was checkin for and all of a sudden one of the biggest groups in hip hop at the time, was ringing my phone. Basically we sent them a demo, they heard it, and called! The title of your album and mixtape, ‘For The People’ or F.T.P, has been interpreted in a lot of different and effective ways by the MCs’ on it, what was the thinking behind that? F.T.P. is something I've got tattooed on my neck. It has several meanings the main one being Fuck the Police. It was really an orchestrated thing with the mcs I guess they just called the one that was most relevant to them at the point. Your working with a lot of Midlands and Northern based acts at the moment, many of whom are showcased on your mixtape. Do you feel there’s a shift in the musical landscape and it’s becoming less Londoncentric? Yeah a little less. But the media, even the uk hip hop media, has never really represented the UK talent fairly, how often do you here about a hot Scottish mc or a grime mc from Newcastle, and believe me, theres some hot! mcs in Scotland. I just try and work with who im feelin, if you hot you hot. You’ve worked with some big MCs’, Dead Prez, Ty, Skinny Man to name but a few, if you could work with any MC or singer, dead or alive who would it be and why? Wow. One name is that all I get to choose, one name! If I gotta pick one id say Rakim, because hip hop is the best music theres ever been and Rakim at his peak was probably the best that ever did it… cant I have a couple more though? You’ve got a strong body of work behind you now, what collaboration, be it a single or album is your proudest production to date? My first release. Shabazz the Disciple – the lambs blood. Just because it was my first ever release and Shabazz was one of my favourite rappers. That meant and still does mean a lot to me. What projects have you got lined up for the future? Antourage – ants dema swarm (album) – summer 06 How difficult has it been to make a career as a producer and what advice would you give to any aspiring young beat makers? Get a proper job. Only joking. Nah, seriously, black music in this country is VERY hard to make money from. If you want to do this as a career you’ve got to work VERY hard and don’t be waiting on a big cheque to drop through your door from a major. I sell beats, sell records, run a studio, teach kids, run a music video company and a radio promotions company in order to pay the rent. It aint easy. Your web site features iconic revolutionaries as well as a ‘quotes list’, outside of music do you have any particular individual aspirations? Yeah, I want to see a revolution take place that will culminate in the bloody overthrow of the ruling class of this country. My music is a propaganda tool to spread and communicate with the people ideals that will help to bring about this climate. Id also like to have my own vegetable patch and lots of babies and id like to grow old. What’s your quote of the day? “It aint about you. You a bullet, your job is to hit the target and fall that’s it.” – Ness, A-Alikes. |