Skrein Interview, December 2006
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Over the past few years, North London MC Skrein has been making a name for himself as part of the Foreign Beggars. Sporting a genuinely good humoured and refreshing outlook on the scene with the lyricism and mic skills to match, the self proclaimed 'Hiphops Keith Chegwin' is going to be huge...

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Westwood - in general?!!!
Hmmmm, what you trying to get me to say? Well, I'll tell you this. When I started listening to hip hop Westwood was my guide. I used to sit there all Friday night, ear to the speaker, taping the whole show on cassette and keeping them all in a shoebox. The highlight of my life as a 14 year old was actually getting through on air on the phones, putting on my best hip hop voice and requesting some Slick Rick or somethin' or winning the competitions. I used to love it man. hearing myself on radio was such a buzz. This was before I started rapping or even djing. I think its when I really fell in love with hip hop. Then when I hit 16, I used to go to the Westwood's parties at Temple, Astoria and all that. I even went to a pool party where they drove us all in coaches to Bristol. Imagine that , this skinny little white kid with red cheeks in his swimming trunks going crazy to Noreaga and DMX in a pool full of gangster looking mutherfuckers. I was so out of place but I loved it. So I ain't really got a bad word to say about the 'big dawg'. I think he's entertaining really, its kinda spoof now ya know, I ain't listened to it for years but what? He's put in the work, he's still putting in the work, so let him do his business. I know he could support more UK artists but he has to satisfy the playlist, as all mainstream DJ's do. Fuck it, Big Up Westwood. I don't give a shit.

I see that on myspace you describe your sound as 'Alan Partridge after a 7 day crack binge.' That would be quite a sight, don't you think, although I thought he prefered Toblerones?!
Hahahahahahahaha. I think he does prefer Toblerones, and if the truth be told so do I. The whole Alan Partridge thing is about not taking yourself to seriously and having a laugh. I'd rather people look at me and say 'Ah, he's crazy, why is he calling himself hip hop Keith Chegwin'? That ain't road. rather than being some ignorant dickhead promoting gun violence and gangster shit when that ain't me. When you come to the studio, you'll see us cracking bare joke. We don't take ourselves seriously so you shouldn't either, you know. I'm the Dinnerlady PIMP. Better recognise bitch. shhhhhhhhit....

From hearing the lyrics on Mind Out, you seem to have a real affection for
the N postcodes. Where's your favourite place to spend some time in the
area?
'Hampstead Heath's so Nang!'. You heard it man, I love Hampstead Heath. Actually, I really love Primrose Hill too. You go to the top a the hill with your boys or your girl, bring a bottle of Jack Daniels, light a spliff and look over London. It's really beautiful, really beautiful. Sometimes they'll be someone up there with some bongos or a guitar or some fireworks and the vibes real nice. Come check it out, you might even see me up there caked out from some good Morrocan.

Any shout outs?
Yeah man. Big up all the hip hop lovers contributing to the ar tform and culture. We are what keeps it moving. Check the new Foreign Beggars album 'Stray point agenda', and the mixtape with the greatest name of all time - 'Bukkaki ski trip'. Go buy Plan B's 'Who needs actions when you got words' its a classic, the Dr Syntax album 'Self Taught', DJ No Names 'Beggars Brew', DJ IQs 'Brain Food', keep up the niceness and Oh yeah I almost forgot, big up Alan Partridge, the king of Norwich radio!


Skrein was interviewed by Ed Andrews


Skrein interview // Page 1 // Page 2
www.myspace.com/skrein

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