TY INTERVIEW

George Washington Carver famously stated that “When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world”. One artist, who personifies this quote, is the anything but common rapper, Ty. The English MC and producer is not one to follow the crowd and has released his EP, Kick Snare And An Idea Part 1, through Tru Thoughts this month. On this EP, Ty creates hip hop that goes beyond trends and the norm, breaking free of the chains of the conventional ‘pimps and hoes’ model of hip hop, and further cementing his position as one of the great MC’s to come out of the UK. Grindin’ discussed with the thought provoking lyricist the finer points of hip hop in the 21st century from why he thinks collaborations are lazy and static to his thoughts on Tricia Rose’s The Hip Hop Wars, and what he wants listeners to take away from “Kick Snare And An Idea” Part 1.

What inspired your EP, ‘Kick Snare And An Idea Part 1’?
The lead track, “Like You Never” talks about your concerns for hip hop music, touching on the genres often hollow messages, and how hip hop has become more about the bottom line and making corporations money, but if you had to narrow it down – what do you see as the biggest issue with hip hop nowadays?

The biggest two problems is corporate intervention and the US short term view of the culture. Hip Hop is and was a much more organic vessel its power lies in its fluidity and the surprise factor of which songs seem to resonate with it public.

What do you think needs to happen to help the hip hop industry move forward from this somewhat soul-less place it’s found itself, while staying true to the powerful, unifying creative roots and traditions of the genre?
There is no formula great enough to be applied to hip hop success and with the advent of playlists, pay for play activity amongst the higher level pop fraternity of the culture and all-round regulating of the possibility of what can happen within it…. has paid a price by keeping the main facets of success trapped within this pimp, hustler, hoe kind of character in hip hop. This equation is drying up the amazing potential hip hop once had.

The short term lack of interest in what others are doing around the world from the US is also killing the art form. There is very little acceptance from the mainstream and underground artists, of what hip hop is achieving beyond America. Unless it’s about touring and making money for themselves, no acknowledgement, except for a few heads dotted around that have internet access, that have travelled, that know better.

You’ve collaborated and worked with many artists in the industry, who would you love to collaborate with in the future?
Collaborations for me are not what it’s all about. I think collabos have a become a industry standard in an almost static and lazy environment. Let me explain; you used to have to learn to write a song. You used to have to be able to spot a beat from a mile away that with the right dab of paint, could become a classic. It was a skill to make a song, to find your voice, to get a drum machine, to find a sample, to spot a break, to find a break, to make a lyric work, to find something that would make the listener think your contribution was worthy of a second listen. Fast forward a few years…evolution and technology has made folks lazy…Hip hop and music making in general used to demand more dedication. That’s why I started a group on Facebook called The Beat Inn (http://www.facebook.com/groups/THEBEATINN) where like minded musical peeps, who love the process, can share early ideas, music and feedback outside of the A&R and so called music industry experts that love only money, not the culture, and get back a sense of morality and integrity about what they do!

Collaborations are brilliant when the two people are individually strong enough, independently of each other. When the purpose of the collaboration is truly the song itself and the tone and intent is totally met, then it make sense to me. At the moment, collaboration have become mass marketing habits and ways for people to have their friends on records beside them. Miss me out! I’ve got friends and we don’t need to be backslapping each other every day to appreciate each other.

The reason I do less is because I feel producers need to do more than just source vocalists to rap over their beats. We need to bring back groups, there’s too much solo, solo, solo stuff going. Producers don’t want MC’s other than for the actual recording, MC’s only want the producer to make the beat, but not to be on stage… Too much divide that has actually been enhanced by record company greed and lack of tradition being passed down… Thank God for YouTube…

What do you want listeners to take away from your EP, ‘Kick Snare And An Idea Part 1’?
I want listeners to take away process. None of the music is the same, beats are approached differently.

I’m not reliant on fashion or trends to dictate what I would make. It’s okay to say something inside your music, it’s okay to not be trendy, It’s okay to be different. The main thing is, its definitely okay to be YOURSELF. Most of the songs are self explanatory. I really want the listener to take what they take from it.

What inspires you – artistically, and in day to day life?
If anything, things that inspire me are things that come to me organically, conversations, society, friends, enemies, books… talking of books, Tricia Rose ‘Hip Hop Wars’ is the most important book on the planet for me right now. Never has reading a book confirmed and developed what I was thinking, sub-consciously, better than that book. Never! It’s my bible. Some would take offence to that, but loving hip hop is part of my existence, part of the reason anyone listens to a single word I have to say, and her book is… the final chapter I need everybody to read…. To understand what’s gone wrong…

You are a refreshing example of an artist who has used his platform for good; to inspire people, to support positive causes and for a greater purpose than just the superficial and materialistic. Do you think that the hip hop industry is lacking artists who care about more than just fame and money? Who care about artistry, knowledge and the creative art form over gimmicks and notoriety? How can we change this?
The only thing I think is missing in regard to your question is BALANCE. I don’t mind the Snoop Doggs, etc, they need to be there, but where is the balance? Your UMCS, De La Souls, etc, even PM Dawn, we need that back, the balance.

What advice would you give to an aspiring MC just starting out in this day and age?
Any aspiring artist that’s wants to make it…Get a job, don’t make this your only avenue! Also, go back in time; go back beyond what you like. YouTube is a gold mine, study the 80’s and 90’s artists, study the beats, study what they were thinking back then… Not to emulate or repeat, but to bask in the glory and volume of what was possible. And, respect the DJ and Producer. The best songs seemed to actually come from people in groups, I wonder why?

With pro tools enabling every bedroom producer to label themselves a ‘producer’, what advice would you give to an aspiring hip hop producer nowadays in order to set themselves apart from the pack and to contribute positively to the hip hop industry?
No producer needs advice from me. Enjoy what you do, never stop learning and don’t let music industry patterns and habits always affect what you make.

What can fans expect from ‘Kick Snare And An Idea Part 2’?
Part two is a continuation of the same process as part one…

What’s your definition of Grindin’?
Grindin means always working towards personal satisfaction, personal or public glory, and tireless attention to the work hard ethic. Keep grindin!

That’s me…..

Interview by Kristie Nicolas