38HIPHOP//RNB GENESIS ELIJAH
Hey hows things? Yeah good thanks!
You’ve worked with a lot if artists like KRS One, Canibus.. Have you ever been impressed by one of those? I’m impressed by every artist, but I was more with KRS One. When you see him talk about any subject, you’re kind of blown away. Because he represents what hip hop is about, like proper, when you hear is message you know that hip hop is intelligent music. That’s why I’d probably say, among any other artists, for my generation, KRS One is the top.
If you could go into any decade in history of music, which one would you choose and why? 70’s straight, maybe I might do like late 60’s because I like 70’s soul, funk, fashion.
Is your message destined to London’s youth, worldwide youth, or anyone particular? It’s a universal thing, but I can only speak from my point of view. So it would be hard for me to speak to a kid growing up in Gaza or Sudan. I can amplify what they go through, I can talk about it but I speak from where I grew up ,not like ghetto but places that are hard where people don’t have a lot...but I don’t talk to gangsters.
Can you tell us more about the title of your new album “Before I was famous”?
Kind of a old school vibe, like clas- sic hip hop. It’s about the fact that I was already here before people knew about me.
How long did it take? At first it was supposed to be an EP so I wrote those 5 tracks in 2 days and recorded the whole thing in one day. Then we decided to make an album so we had to record another six tracks. Recording didn’t take long, it was the produc- tion took longer, mix mastering and artwork.
You’re having a lot of launch parties at the moment. So far you’ve been to Colchester, Manchester and Dublin. What was the best one? Dublin! Well, we have to mix up coz Colchester had the best after party. They know what we’re talking about. It was fun. But Dublin, the people
there..they know how to party. When you go to Ireland you think “I’m doing this song, this song, this song”. NO!
They’re gonna tell you what song you’re doing. And they’re like “Look, I travelled from far far away in the snow, you’re doin’ it!”
And tonight is London, are you really excited? I’m apprehensive. Because it’s London, it’s snowing... To be honest
AL
Having been on the UK scene for close to a decade now, Genesis Elijah has performed allover the world with artists such as KRS One, Wu Tang and Talib Kweli. With the release of his new album with production duo the Krate Krusaders ‘Before I Was Famous’. This guy represents the freshest in UK hip hop talent.
though. People who turn up to the show, we don’t even have to call them. We know who’s gonna come down. London’s always been London. London is mad.
Genesis Elijah + Krate Krusaders Album ‘Before I Was Famous’ is out to buy now.
THE GUESTLIST NETWORK | DECEMBER 2010
HIP HOP LEGENDS
Afrika Bambaataa - Affectionate Leader
Afrika Bambaataa grew up as Kevin Donovan in the Bronx River Projects. Gangs in the area became the law in the absence of law, clearing their turf of drug dealers, assisting with community health programs and both fighting and partying to keep members and turf. Bambaataa was a founding member of the Bronx River Projects-area street gang known as the Black Spades and Bambaataa quickly rose to the po- sition of warlord. As warlord, it was his job to build ranks and expand the turf of the Black Spades and the Spades became the biggest gang in the city in terms of both membership and turf.
After Bambaataa won an essay con- test that earned him a trip to Africa, his worldview shifted. He had seen the movie Zulu and was impressed with the solidarity exhibited by the Zulu in that film. During his trip to Africa, the communities he visited in- spired him to stop the violence and create a community in his own neigh- borhood. He changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim, adopting the name of the Zulu chief Bham- batha, who led an armed rebellion against unfair economic practices in early 20th century South Africa that can be seen as a precursor to the anti-apartheid movement. He told people that his name was Zulu for “affectionate leader”.
Bashy’s new single ‘Make My Day’ will be out on December 6th.
He vowed to use hip hop to draw angry kids out of gangs and formed the Universal Zulu Nation. The Zulu
Nation consisted of Break Dancers (The Rock Steady Crew) and Rap- pers (The Soul Sonic Force), Graffiti Artists, Beat Boxers and DJs.
Bambaataa used his influence as a former warlord to encouraged rival gangs to break dance, rap or DJ against each other instead of fight- ing, which engendered peace be- tween these gangs. Bambaataa is credited with naming hip-hop. “Hip hop” was a common phrase used by MCs as part of a scat-inspired style of rhyming, and Bambaataa appro- priated it for use in describing the emerging culture, which included the four elements: the music of DJs, the lyricism and poetry of emcees, the dancing of b-boys and b-girls, and graffiti art.
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