Okay, if you read Part I, this continues where I left off. I’m gonna do ten parts, so anyone with comments about ‘I missed out him or whatever’, stop doing that.

Nowadays the UK hip-hop scene can be broken down into different factions – the ‘backpacker’ mid 90s style (which is more about lyricism and digging for samples) and the ‘mans-on-road’ music (which includes grime and wearing custom new-era caps). However, taking this view is problematic for a number of reasons. By bracketing music into different genres you ignore the fact that it’s all just music, which can only ever really be good or bad (or average).
The question of whether these divisions could be race related is tackled in detail by Karl Kinds (ill flava) on his track ‘psycho analysis’, on which he talks about how the industry is run and controlled by middle class white people, who’s idea of hip-hop is radically different from that of black people from housing estates. Although I don’t necessarily agree with his reasoning, he does make some important points about who’s in control of what we get to hear and see on commercial radio and TV. Mr Hinds is better known for his track ‘don gramma’, London’s answer to Big L’s ‘ebonics’.

My experiences of UK hip-hop have rarely ventured into grime territory, but are concerned with a broad range of musical styles and genres, from jazz to R&B to Hungarian folk. In my opinion, in order to stay relavent in this rapidly evolving music scene, you have to be open and appreciative of new artists and sounds, and one such person is a former employer of mine, Disorda. This man has been putting in unbelievable work for ages, running the No.1 mail order company for UK hip-hop Suspect Packages, the distributor/label Boombox and compiling the Suspect Files series (now up to volume 4), as well as reissuing classic records like Demon Boyz’s ‘recognition’ and Hardnoise’s ‘untitled’. As if that wasn’t enough, he also records the Suspect Packages Radio Show and supports Aussie hip-hop (more on that later).

On this promo he is speaking with rising star Sonny Jim:

watch?v=E1puJdSycTA

Last time I mentioned a certain producer by the name of Beat Butcha. Although his artistry is serious, he’s a humourous fellow, fond of a few japes. He is without doubt making the killer beats, not only your traditional sample based joints, but also grime. The best example (of grime) I’ve heard so far is Ghetto’s ‘so damn dedicated’ from his ghetto gospel album.
In this interview I tried to get some serious answers from the man.

Ghetto – “So Damn Dedicated” can be heard here:

Esh: Introduce yourself

BB: mein name ist Beat von Butchousen aka Beat Butcha, reppin the halal
beats green flamingo brukkup caravan gang and Saturday Night in
Frankfurt, I am a true legend in the game. If you haven’t heard of me, you
better check your favourite limited edition 10″s by Phil Collins, Wham &
Gary Glitter….

Esh: What was your first experience of hip-hop?

BB: I was in the car with my mutti on our way to school and we used to
listen to hip hop classics like ‘pass the dutchie pan dee left hand
side’, which was a huge hit in Holland due to its reference to the
dutch pot….

> How long you been making beats?
BB: almost 10 years…

Esh: What is your process for making beats?

BB: Usually I bash a weasel til it squeaks, that’s pretty much the process…
naw usually I’ll hear sumthing that inspires me, it could be a hip-hop
record or an old record I wanna sample and that’ll set me off. I don’t
really have one process, it gets borin if you keep the same formulas and
ways of doing things.

> What equipment do you use?
BB: I have an MPC 2500, various synths, stack of wax, a sp12 & COOL EDIT…

Esh: Who are your (beat making) influences?

BB: Damn, that’s a hard one… I’m influenced by a lot of people, my original
inspirations were Preem, Havoc, Pete Rock, Large Pro etc…
But nowadays I’m a big fan of Chemo & Stock Aitken & Waterman…
…as well as the obvious ones like Black Milk, Madlib, DJ Khalil, Focus
and of course the late great Jay Dee…



Esh: What projects you got coming? (features etc.)

BB: tons, be on the lookout for ish with my fam out in The Netherlands
(Ciph Barker & MOD), as well as ish on forthcoming albums by Jehst,
Smurf, Kyza & Skriblah….
also be on the lookout for US work of mine with LIL E (COLD SUMMERS
ENT.), Regiment (From Detroit), Wordsworth (EMC/Lyricist Lounge) and
many more…

Esh: What is your opinion of UK hip-hop?

BB: I love a lot of UK hip hop music and there’s a lot of talent, but the
scene has a hard time moving forward because the scene is too bitchy,
people are unorganized & way too small minded… and obviously the UK
music industry doesn’t understand it….

Esh: Who in hip-hop shouldn’t release records?

BB: I’m not gunna say anyone shouldn’t release records because at the end
of the day every shit release makes me look better lol…

Esh: If you had more money would you have a bigger profile?

BB: Strange question but yeah I would love to get a bigger profile coz at
the end of the day your name is your CV, I’d love to work with people
like T.I., Busta & Ludacris…

Esh: What’s your opinion of downloading’s effect on the industry?

BB: Its killing artists, I mean where do you draw the line. I aint gunna
front like I aint downloading ish but 9/10 its stuff  I just wanna hear
 whether its good and if it is ill buy it but when I see things like
the Redmaster album and triple darkness on peoples blogspots available
for download when I know we aint even sold enough copies to recoup it
makes me feel sick coz people are bootlegging shit by new artists that
don’t even have a chance to build any profits from building a name….

Esh: Obama as Prezident?

BB: just coz dude is black doesn’t mean he’s gunna make America any better, 
they need a free healthcare system…that’s my view…

Esh: What’s your favourite kind of biscuit?

BB: the flute playin kind lol….pause

Esh: Conspiracy theories?

BB: Timmy Mallet is Adolf Hitler re-incarnated…

Esh: What is your political world view?

BB: the world is damned politically, make your money and help people you love….

Esh: Did you enjoy the Olympics?

BB: nope I hate any sports that don’t involve hummus…

Esh: Shouts to…

BB: Esh…

Wurdz by Esh

For international hip-hop: www.myspace.com/ibmcs

Other links:
www.illflavarecords.com
www.myspace.com/beatbutcha
www.suspect-packages.com