Life MC; a man that should need no introduction to UK Hip-Hop fans or indeed any conscious Hip-Hop fan. A legend of these shores and one of the most hard working and professional people you could wish to work with in the underground scene as well as being an extremely talented lyricist. We hope you enjoy the interview.
Rockfresh:
Q1: Tell us how you first got into Hip-Hop?
Life:
I was at my grandma’s house sometime between 1979-80 and my Uncle called me up to his room and played me Grandmaster Flash “The Message” and it was so different rhythmically and seemed so cool. I also got into hip hop through dance as a breakdancing body popping addict who found electro to be so dope.
Rockfresh:
Q2: So what got you into picking up a pen a paper and start writing rhymes?
Life:
I wrote a lot of poems as a kid and used to try and copy early reggae djs like Papa Levi from Saxon. I discovered I could freestyle rhymes. As a kid living on the breadline with a single parent there was no pocket money. Anyway, someone offered me about 10p at school to freestyle something about their name and their uniform. Word spread and I made lots of dinner money by meeting pupils in the library who challenged me to rhyme about every book they passed me. After this I tried writing but found it difficult. After I left school I ended up in prison that gave me plenty of time on my hands to learn how to structure written rhymes.
Rockfresh:
Q3: So would you say that Hip-Hop has helped you focus on a goal and kept you out of trouble?
Life:
Yes Hip Hop helped me see a way out of crime, a lot of the Hip Hop was more culture based in the 80s and early 90s and topics including black history, Afrocentric dialog and knowledge of ones self and togetherness played a part in being some type of influence on my mind and how I thought. Before Jungle and more than music like Ska and 2tone I could see black and white kids sharing a culture and getting a better understanding of their own cultural differences. It also gave me a goal to be part of the music business and do what I still do. I would hear subjects from rappers and then research the information that gave me more knowledge of the world, of history and an appreciation of different types of people. I raised two children from basically their birth as a single father and hip hop really helped us (my kids and me) get through some difficult times.
Rockfresh:
Q4: That’s certainly something that comes across in your own music. Has anyone ever said to you that your music has influenced them in the same way?
Life:
Yes many times, when people say things like “I was heading down the wrong path in life but your music saved me” or people who have got off of drugs or stopped going to prison and told me it was through listening to my music, I feel honoured, blessed and appreciated. I get messages from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Romania, Japan infact from many countries where I am regularly told my music and my message help them through their struggles and everyday life. Sometimes they don’t realise these messages from them also help me through my struggles and everyday life. DJ 279 introduced me to a friend of his a few years ago at a show and the guy said I was one of the most important people in his life as I had helped him get his life straight and away from drugs which in turn helped him to have a relationship with his dad and daughter, I felt so humble but happy inside that night and I knew my struggles in hip hop where all worth it if that could be the end result.
Rockfresh:
Q5: Do you feel there’s enough of that kind of message in today’s Hip-Hop, especially in the UK?
Life:
I do think that message is definitely more prominent in the UK now than let’s say in the USA but still I don’t think there is enough of that positivity in the music today. Knowledge is power but the next generation down from me and the ones below them have been taught that money is power, that’s why conscious MC’s with a message such as myself, Chester P, Fliptrix function from the underground as I feel that hip hop music has been dumbed down and has a lot of misguiding messages to the youth.
If today’s youth cannot see and hear any successful conscious MC’s but see and hear successful MC’s who rap about money, fashion and violence then obviously that is the direction they will take. Also some people, although talented, make music for fun and sometimes it could be their escape from the serious side of life. I do understand music has a business and entertainment side to it and I try not to fault others on their choice of creativity. Some rappers don’t know the struggles of life because they have never had to struggle therefore I cannot expect them to address the struggle but there is still room for more positivity in UK hip hop.
Rockfresh:
Q6: Being one of the older generation of the UK scene, do you feel that with your experience and still putting out new music that you have more to give than ever before?
Life:
Yes and no. Yes because I’m more about uplifting the scene and inspiring the up and coming and new artists than trying to compete with other MC’s, I get wiser and more knowledgable as I go along and no because it’s hard to be really creative and feels like a losing battle with staying connected to the younger generation who need positive inspiration but so much commercial rubbish (to me) from artist with big promotion and budgets makes it even harder for an artist to reach their targeted audience knowing their message can have an impact. The sound of hip hop is changing so there are also less artists for me to find inspiration from myself, but my love of the music and culture help me keep the faith that there is still plenty of reason to do what I do within hip hop.
Rockfresh:
Q7: How much do you feel you owe Nappa? Must be great having someone you can go to with his production ability and be on the same wave length for such a long time?
Life:
Yeah Nappa is very instrumental (no pun intended) in Philife cypher and Life MC’s journey in a big way. I’ve been spoilt basically when it comes to beats as Nappa would come with at least 10 bangers a week, sometimes a day to the point I wouldn’t know what to write too sometimes as everything sounded so dope to me. Nappa is very quiet and humble he has an amazing wealth of music knowledge and music making ability. His beats have influenced a lot of my lyricism as I can always feel an emotion or instantly picture a vibe within most of his production that almost gives me the idea of what to write. From stories and concepts to straight up spitting. He also played a very big part in me deciding to dedicate myself to writing and becoming an artist and he helps keep me focused through difficult times. Anyone who knows Nappa very well knows he is a one off type of dude, so yes I feel very lucky honoured and blessed to have worked with Nappa for such a long period of time.
Rockfresh:
Q8: Who else has been a big influence on your career?
Life:
Musically I would say Bob Marley because he was about influencing people with positivity, Papa LevI from Saxon sound as I would try to learn and recite his lyrics as a kid after hearing the Saxon album “Coughing Up Fire” but I’ve listened to a lot of different music growing up and subconsciously a lot of artists have most probably influenced what I do today. The biggest influence in my journey so far has to be life itself and the experiences I have been through or seen as an individual.
Rockfresh:
Q9: What was it like to perform at The Brits?
Life:
Performing on the Brits was a massive buzz I can’t lie. Taking part in such a huge event that is seen by millions worldwide was definitely an experience to remember. I wore a pair of plastic goggles during the performance, these were my sons and even for such a big event I agreed to his request to wear them for him so that afterwards he could tell all his friends his goggles had been on the Brits lol. I thought I might be a bit intimidated by the occasion the night of the performance, but on the night I was excited and couldn’t wait to hit the stage also knowing that it could be a one off I wanted to represent British Hip Hop and also absorb and enjoy the moment as much as possible.
Rockfresh:
Q10: Who did you meet that night?
Life:
On the night I met quite a lot of the performers backstage, Sting, Kylie, Jay Kay, had a few jokes with Dido who was trying to roast me with jokes about the camcorder I had backstage, saying it looked as big as a portable TV, she was definitely cool. After performing The Strokes came to our chill area to say they was really impressed with the performance which I respected and appreciated very much. We more or less met everyone that performed, on nights of rehearsal we would bump into the other artists walking about or practising their sets quite often.
Rockfresh:
Q11: What was Sting like? I have to ask that for myself more than the interview, mans a genius!!
Life:
Well it was only a 2 minute brief encounter so all I can say is he was polite and he was cool to shake my hand and acknowledge me, there were a lot of people wanting to get to see Sting, media, fans and supporters, and it was nice to be greeted by someone I’d listened to growing up who is a very talented and famous musician who basically seemed like a real cool dude .
Rockfresh:
Q12: Outside of Hip-Hop what artists would you like to collab with?
Life:
I’d say Damian Marley and a lot of old school reggae artists, Sizzla or Capleton would be dope, there is also a reggae DJ by the name of Deva Bratt who I think is one of the best lyricists in Jamaica. I’ve got a couple of reggae tracks that should be coming out soon on 7inch as I’ve always been a listener of SoundClash tapes since the 80s onwards but there are too many artists to name but I’d love to work with a lot of veterans from the reggae and dancehall scene. My dream is to perform at Sting Jamaica and I’ve not give up hope yet.
Rockfresh:
Q13: And who would be your dream Hip-Hop collab?
Tuesday
Life:
Wu-Tang or Big Daddy Kane would be massive.
Rockfresh:
Q14: What regrets do you have in your career?
Life:
It’s hard to think I regret anything, I do wonder how much further I might of got if I didn’t have the full time responsibility of being a single parent which really restricted my movements in life as far as music was concerned, I had custody of my kids before my first recording deal and with no real support and help, so everyday was feeding kids ,changing bums, cleaning the house, washing clothes, school runs and in between that I tried my best to fit music in. So although I don’t regret raising my 2 oldest who are now 18 and 19 respectfully, I always wonder how things might have turned out with the freedom to travel more and having a lot less stress, pressure and responsibility of being a full time mum and dad/recording artist. If I’m really honest I was already a solo artist with Nappa and due to the fact we already had some dope material before we formed as Philife Cypher, I’d say putting my solo material 2nd and the group 1st is probably the closest thing I have to a regret really. Oh and never getting to do a Taskforce Philife Cypher Album, we spoke about it quite a few times over the years but never got to create what I think had the potential to be a true Uk underground classic that would of made the fans and supporters of the scene very happy and content.
Rockfresh:
Q15: What will we see in 2015?
Life:
Well for 2015 there should be plenty of new material released. I have a new album produced by BADHABITZ that will be released at the beginning of the year titled “Deep in the trenches” I’m sitting on crazy amounts of material right now, it’s just about getting it out there in the new year. Got another full album with another mc and producer I collabed with that should hit the streets in 2015. Also you should hear a few reggae releases of mine next year and some new visuals including a video featuring UFC fighters, Alexander Gustafsson and Joanne Calderwood. I’ve got a few plans that I’m keeping under my hat right now but all in all you should definitely hear about a good few new releases and projects I’ve been working on.
Rockfresh:
Q16: How Can people keep up with you and your work?
Life:
You can contact me on twitter @lifemc, on Facebook as Life MC or subscribe on YouTube to Mclife1. I have a new website www.Lifethemc.com that should be fully functional by the beginning of 2015 and you can also check out my music at www.lifemc.bandcamp.com/music.
A big shout out for the interview, peace!!!
Find us on Google+