George Washington Carver famously stated that \u201cWhen you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world\u201d. 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 \u2018pimps and hoes\u2019 model of hip hop, and further cementing his position as one of the great MC\u2019s 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\u2019s The Hip Hop Wars, and what he wants listeners to take away from “Kick Snare And An Idea” Part 1.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What inspired your EP, \u2018Kick Snare And An Idea Part 1\u2019?<\/strong>
\nThe lead track, \u201cLike You Never\u201d 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?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

What do you think needs to happen to help the hip hop industry move forward from this somewhat soul-less place it\u2019s found itself, while staying true to the powerful, unifying creative roots and traditions of the genre?<\/strong>
\nThere 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve collaborated and worked with many artists in the industry, who would you love to collaborate with in the future?<\/strong>
\nCollaborations 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\u2019s why I started a group on Facebook called The Beat Inn (http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/THEBEATINN<\/a>) 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!<\/p>\n

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\u2019ve got friends and we don’t need to be backslapping each other every day to appreciate each other.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s too much solo, solo, solo stuff going. Producers don’t want MC\u2019s other than for the actual recording, MC\u2019s 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…<\/p>\n