Interview with Si Phili

Interview with another UK legend Si Phili – ex Phi Life Cypher member now smashing things up with his partner in crime Dotz. All of Phi Life’s work along with his recent album with Dotz are essential listening. There’s a lot any aspiring emcee could learn from this man in terms of professionalism and showing respect to the Hip-Hop culture. Make sure you check the links at the bottom.

Enjoy the interview.

Rockfresh:

Q1: Tell us more about yourself and how you got into Hip-Hop?

Si Phili:

I got into Hip Hop from a young age when my older brother introduced me to electro, the first song I had on my walkman was Newcleus – Jam On Revenge (The Wiki Wiki song) and from that I was hooked. Got into body popping, breakdancing and graff and didn’t decide to rap until we a few months before I joined Life MC and Nappa to form PLC at around 22.

Rockfresh:

Q2: Do you still do any body popping or breaking?

Si Phili:

Hahaha. Hell no. If I’d did that now is probably pop a ligament.

Rockfresh:

Q3: So does that mean the BMX career is over too?!

Si Phili:

Lol. Nah. I’m actually planning on getting a new bike to do a few old skool tricks on. I wanna get my daughter in to it too.

Rockfresh:

Q4: So BMXing is also a big passion of yours?

Si Phili:

Yeah. I got into bmx freestyle from I was about 10. Me and my brother were part of a freestyle team that did shows in the area and I was pretty good at it too. Ground and ramp wise. It was also a good way to show off as a kid as I was crap at football. I still watch a lot of bmx freestyle now.

Rockfresh:

Q5: So you have dropped Phil N’ The Dotz this year, it’s gone down very well in the Rockfresh office, has it been well received everywhere else?

Si Phili:

Yah.  The response has been pretty overwhelming. We knew it was a good album just by the sound of it. But you have that bias opinion everyone gets towards they own music. So it’s good for everyone else to be hearing what we were.

Rockfresh:

Q6: How did you and Dotz get together?

Si Phili:

We met on the train back from a random Jump Off event I went to Sept 2012. He won the battle that night and I was pretty impressed. Then as he’s from Bedford and I’m from Luton it’s on the same train line. So we bucked up at the train station and started freestyling on the train for about an hour. During this time he heard me say Si Phili: and realised who I was. Then we just kept in touch after that. Then after the PLC split I was thinking of giving it all up an Dotz reached out to me and we started  from there. It was originally meant to be an ep. But soon developed into the album it is.

Big up my Bredrin Sizza Handz too. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have gone to that Jump Off. Especially on a school night.

Rockfresh:

Q7: How does the age difference work for you guys? Do you think having a young gun and an elderly gentlemen working together help you reach a wider audience?

Si Phili:

Yeah. I Deffo think that helps a bit. And age difference is cool. Apart from when I buss a joke n it goes straight over his head. But aside from that it’s working out well. My experience along with his youth seems to be a perfect match up.

Rockfresh:

Q8: So what’s next for you guys?

Si Phili:

We’re gonna be touring with the album throughout the rest of the year. We both have solo albums coming out soon. Dotz is doing a project with Richy Spitz and also has a project with Flo. I’ll also be releasing the Sneakerttack Campaign with IronBraydz as this was put on a back burner for a while as other projects were finished up. Keep a look out for all of it.

Rockfresh:

Q9: Talking of a solo album, releasing music by yourself is something you haven’t done a great deal of. Do you just prefer working with others?

Si Phili:

As far as solo,  I’ve got a lot of solo material it’s just not complied into an album. As I’ve always worked full time as well as do this music thing it’s hard for me to juggle that between family life and kids too. But I’m taking the time out to get at least one solo album out before I hang up the mic.

Rockfresh:

Q10: When to you plan to hang up the mic?

Si Phili:

Either when people get sick of hearing my voice or I do. Whichever comes first. But after my solo at least.

Rockfresh:

Q11: Do you think there should be a time when all emcees stop or should age not really matter?

Si Phili:

Nah. As long as they have an audience there’s no reason to stop. Nobody says that about other musicians. It’s just as Hip Hop is generally younger than your regular genre of music that’s been going on for time. Nobody’s telling Sting not to sing anymore. So why should KRS1 stop rhyming?

Rockfresh:

Q12: What do you think of the UK scene these days?

Si Phili:

The UK scene is the best it’s been for a long while. There’s a lot of quality music consistently coming out. And with festivals like BoomBap being able to show case these acts it’s making it exactly how it needs to be to progress.  People are making better videos and music all round. So it’s good to be in it right now.

Rockfresh:

Q13: Do you feel like you had a hand to play in its rebirth with Millennium Metaphors? Between London Posse’s Gangster Chronicle & Millennium Metaphors, credible UK Hip-Hop was rarely heard.

Si Phili:

To a degree. PLC were certainly responsible for a bit of the rebirth, and things were a lot more London orientated back then too. There were only a few groups from outta London that were really doing anything. Us, ESI Asylum, Out Da Ville and a few others. And to come from somewhere other than London and bring out MM really did something for UK hip hop as a whole I think.

Rockfresh:

Q14: Who were your influences back then?

Si Phili:

Back then I used to listen to a lot of Canibus, Eminem, Wu tang and stuff like that. I was also into A Tribe Called Quest and Leaders Of The New School. So it was mainly US hip hop I was into. It wasn’t really until we started PLC that I really got into UK hip hop.

Rockfresh:

Q15: Do you prefer US or UK Hip-Hop these days?

Si Phili:

Deffo UK. It’s a lot realer and I can identify with what the people are saying. The problem I used to have with it before were the beats and some of the rhymes. Both of those have got a lot better in the UK now. Of course I still like US hip hop. People like Masta Ace, EMC and Torae. All the underground stuff.

Rockfresh:

Q16: What was performing on The Brits like?

Si Phili:

Kinda surreal. It was weird being an underground UK hip hop act amongst all those commercial celebrity types. I remember bumping into people like Sting and thinking damn. That’s The Police. But we held our own and put on a good performance. It was good to be able to get seen by a much wider audience too.

Rockfresh:

Q17: Would it be something you’d like to do again?

Si Phili:

For sure. But only under my own group. Not as feature like last time.

Rockfresh:

Q18: So what we going to see from you in 2015?

Si Phili:

Quite a bit. With the launch of Phoenix Recordings. It’ll see the release of the first solo album from me and also a solo album from Dotz. I have a mixtape with Richy Spitz due out mid 2015 and there will be another Phili N Dotz album out before the end of the year. I’m also involved in a community project known as L Town Development. So keep a look out for that.

Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SiPhili

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhiliNDotz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVclRuEPkpCwm3w0f9a29Xw

Interview with Life MC

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!!!