INTERVIEW
Norwich is not the city many would look for a strong HipHop history, but look again. With the likes of DefTex and Chrome we have a sound grounding.
CHROME
We caught up with Chrome ahead on his latest album release “Dopamine Hit” on 12th December
This is your third release, how did you feel this differs? Well I’ve had many years of experience through projects with groups like DefTex and rhyming partners that have led me to this point, where for the first time I’ve had complete freedom to do my own thing. My two previous solo attempts were really only demo LPs, so to actually see this project through has given me a real buzz and a renewed hunger for more. I spent a lot of time alongside my friend Super JB (who mixed and mastered) producing this LP, and there was a real sense of achievement once we reached the finishing line. This LP has a theme and a concept that I’ve not managed before, which helped give me some focus and direction for where I wanted this project to go. How would you describe your style? It’s a good question. Because even though I am a HipHop artist through and through, in todays climate saying your HipHop to someone can be
confusing. I suppose my style is what you would call traditional or maybe “Old school”. I’d like to think that I’m staying true to my head and my heart and making music that I feel comfortable with. Where do you get your inspirations from? I’ve been listening to HipHop music since the mid 80s. So I naturally have a lot of my main inspirations from artists like ‘A Tribe called quest’, ‘De la soul’, ‘Organized Konfusion’ etc. But I’m very much a music fan. I listen to a lot of Jazz, Reggae, Soul, Folk, Rock, World, Electronic and everything else that sounds good to my ear. So when I’m producing my music, I find samples from all over the place. I try to challenge myself to not go to the usual records for samples and purposely search for other types of music. That way I feel that my sound is almost unique to me and I can stay contemporary. I’m also very conscious of keeping up to date with whats happening with HipHop, so I’m always digging for new MCs to listen to. I oſten think that Hip Hop is one of the most challenging forms of verse to get the message across clearly, what is your view? Ever since Grandmaster Melle Mel released ‘The message’, HipHop has been the music to really be able to tell more of a story, or share a voice of reality like no other genre has ever
been able to do. HipHop has mastered the craſt of sharing views on politics, or teaching history and facts. It has touched on pretty much every topic available, and it still keeps on pushing today!
I love the fact that HipHop is very inclusive and has been able to bring together so many people worldwide with different views and religions. I just hope in the next decade we see some new artists that are willing to take a break from the norm and provide social commentary and forward thinking music. Where will you be performing over the next couple of months, so people can hear you new material? Well, I’ve just finished my European tour alongside my rhyming partner ‘Illinspired’ and our DJ Super JB. I’m currently focussing on getting the lp out and also working on new material with ‘Illinspired’. We will be playing at the annual ‘No half steppin Xmas Jam’ at The Rumsey Wells on Saturday 15th Dec. We are building a new set ready to take out on the road in early spring. You can go to
chrome.bandcamp.com or
chromeandillinspired.bandcamp. com to keep updated on future shows.
Words: Kevin
OUTLINEONLINE.CO.UK / DEC 2018-JAN 2019 / 21
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