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Saturday, 15 June 2013

Word Out Hip Hop Artist Of The Week! We focus on "CRISIS Mr. Swagger!" Exclusive (Interview)


 CRISIS MR. SWAGGER



#NowPlaying CRISIS (@hiphopcrisis) - Fire Inside feat linx (hot-version)

*walking up to the stage*
*throws deuces to the crowd*
*salutes the VIP*
*Magix Linx Singing the hook in the background*

Ayt cut the music.
*Takes off shades*
*Crowd going crazy*

"FEELS GOOD TO BE HERE. AFRICA HOW YOU DOING!!!!"

*Clears throat* Ladies and Gentlemen, I nor my words cant begin to describe the excitement and pride running through me as i address you all. It a great day for Zambian Hip Hop. Today, we journey into the KNOW, with the hope and ambition to dig deeper. Alegend in his own making, his talent and personality is without a dout unmatched.
Although, I can tell you that he was the first to have a hip-hop record, produced and released in Zambia by a Zambian artist or i could tell you he has the first Zambian Mixtape released commercially in Zambia.
READ MORE ON CRISIS Mr.Swagger


Born in Lusaka, Zambia, Africa. Crisis Mr. Swagger is not your typical Hip-Hop artist. Very few have been able to survive and adapt to change. Mr. Swagger has been able to switch to current times by setting trends that suit the times. The artist formerly known as C.R.I.$.I.$ is a symbol of dedication and commitment to one's dreams.
Currently working on a new album to be titled B.I.G (Business is Good), the artist is restructuring and showing more diversity than ever.

Today were going to be discussing a few issues you might already know about. He will be talking to us about his Grammy invitation (of course), the Zambia music industry, his music career, e.t.c. Put on your seat-belts.

#NowPlaying CRISIS (@hiphopcrisis) - Make The Crowd Go featuring-JK (produced-by-mark-bos)

#WOHH
1.     Looking at the hip hop scene when you started out as compared to now, what has gone wrong?

ANS: I can’t say that everything is wrong but, I know that some fundamentals have been lost.
In anything you’re doing in life, you have to understand where you’re coming from. I know Hip-Hop from its inception and, I’ve studied and watched every step of it.
When people don’t totally understand the culture, they end up doing or saying the wrong thing. You don’t hear Kwaito artists saying that their music is Hip-Hop just because they want to be associated to that culture. They have given it a different name because the final product may have ramblings of rap but, it is not Hop-Hop music. It’s a derivative form. So, I guess it’s safe to say that most peeps have an identity crisis J

#WOHH
2.     We know you have so many, but what are your Top 5 hiphop moments of your career?

ANS: 
1.     When I first heard GrandMaster Flash and The Furious Five, I knew that rapping was going to be my bread and butter.
2.     When my cousin, Walter Zebron gave me a cassette tape of ‘It’s a Big Daddy Thing,’ an album by Big Daddy Kane. I listened to it until the tape got caught in the head and cut. I fixed it and kept listening to it every day and, that’s when I figured out how to play with metaphors and similes.
3.     When the late, great Mike Tabor played my music and gave me a shout out on Radio Mulungushi, now known as Radio Four. We named ourselves ‘The Negro League’ after an American sports team that was not allowed to participate in major league Baseball because they were black. We used that name because we didn’t get a chance to shine even though we wanted it badly and knew that we sounded better than some of the guys we heard on the radio. Most people don’t know that Mike Tabor was a former Black Panther who moved to Zambia in exile. I was fascinated by his history so, when he mentioned us on radio it was unbelievable and it felt special. 
4.     When Channel-O played my ‘One Day’ video and people started requesting to get it played over and over. It was unbelievable because the video was one of the cheapest one’s playing on that channel but, people related to the story so much that they cared less about the visuals. Eventually, I was invited to perform at The Channel-O music video awards, making me the first Zambian musician to grace that stage.
5.     When I released ‘Electric Boogie.’ I’ve always been fascinated by G-Funk so, being able to craft a track with that sound was a great achievement.

#WOHH
You got to the Grammys. You weren't nominated or awarded but you got there. What was the atmosphere like around all those stars and legends?

- Tell us about when you met J. Cole, Just Blaze e.t.c
WELCOME TO THE GRAMMYS
(L-R) J.COLE , CRISIS

ANS: In my heart, I’ve always known myself so, I’ve never been fazed by being around people in my industry that may be advanced or ahead of what we are used to seeing in my country. However, I know that not many people make it there and it was a blessing. Meeting Just Blaze was funny because, at firat I mistook him for R&B singer, The Dream. So, when we started vibing, I started talking about Christina Milian and the kids….because The Dream used to be married to her. Anyway, somewhere in the middle of the conversation, something didn’t feel right and I was like “Oh F*ck!” You’re Justin and then we both laughed and re-started the conversation on the right track. Lol
(L-R) CRISIS , JUST BLAZE
So, we started chopping it up, outside the auditorium in the Staples Centre because there was something going on…. I think Nikki Minaj was doing some Catholic performance that I wasn’t really cool with because to a degree, I thought some parts of her performance were disrespectful towards God and, I didn’t want to continue watching it.
Anyway, during this time, Justin and I started discussing music and, I told him that I wanted his input on a track called ‘Roses Are Red.’ I felt like the track had elements only he would understand. While we were talking, Lupe Fiasco came by and Just Blaze introduced me to him. We greeted each other and, didn’t really get a chance to kick it because he was rushing out to a studio session. Right after, Cory Gunz showed up and, we started talking about music and future projects with Just Blaze. Right in the middle of the conversation, J. Cole showed up with his mum and he greeted us all. Just Blaze pulled out his camera and, we all started taking pictures of each other and exchanging phones to help get shots of one another.
His mum was the one that actually took the picture of him and I. She’s a pretty well-grounded woman and she seemed very down to earth when I spoke to her.
I met so many people that night; I would need a whole book to write about the various encounters. It was an amazing experience that taught me many lessons about the industry and some of the things that work in the background. It’s bigger than what you just see when you watch it from the outside looking in.
The most impressive performances I saw live at The Grammys were by Coldplay, Chris Brown, Adele and, Sir Paul McCartney.

 #WOHH
3.       Diamond Chain. Update?

ANS: I created Diamond Chain Music to help artists that had the talent but needed guidance in their growth in order for them to deliver a higher level of what they were already doing. One thing I’ve always loved doing is teaching musicians how to deliver quality music by sharing my knowledge with them in the studio. Some artists won’t tell you but, a lot of them have been under my coaching but, they be fronting when you ask them. At the end of the day, Chuck Norris still got his ass kicked by Bruce Lee because that’s the person that taught he what he knows. Ntepe Ni Ntepe! You can’t take away the stripes of a Zebra. Every African should know this by now. It’s no mystery.
Bottom line is, I continue to nurture artists even if it means just giving the technical advice in order for them to advance their careers and professionalism.

#WOHH 
4.     You recently changed you reverbnation info from Lusaka, Zambia to Perth Australia. Its a move that a lot of people haven't really gotten there grip around. Was it because you moved up there or it’s because you feel there's no major music competition in Zambia?

ANS: The bottom line is, it would be odd for me to be competing with the local Zambian acts when my presence is overseas. Also, It’s in my best interest to explore other markets and grow my industry knowledge in places outside my comfort zone.

#WOHH
5.     Speaking about Zambia, which local industry artists does C.R.I.$.I.$. listen to?

ANS:

1.    Chef 187 has got a delivery from the heart and, he’s passionate about what he does. He has the fire inside and, that’s a blazing heart.


2.    Pompi has got a good vibe going on that’s capable of going places. He’s found his identity and, that’s a good place to be as an artist. He’s young and making wise decisions. The only thing I found funny was when he defined ‘Ras’ which he says a lot in his music. I have Jamaican friends that taught me Patois. Nuff said J


3.    Slap Dee is pretty good when it comes to maintaining a local vibe connecting with the people and, his fans especially. Sometimes, I might listen to the first 60 seconds of a song and stop. When I hear a good song by him, I will play the whole track.



4.   Macky 2 is very raw with the way he does things and, I like that in him. He’s another one that’s very connected with the locals. I like the fact that, he has good word play and uses that to his advantage. I’d like to see Flava boy, his alter ego and Macky 2 come together in a more street orientated way, using Hip-Hop.



5.    JK has got to be one of the best voices in Zambian music. I don’t know why he was not recognized by the Zambian Music Awards. I guess it’s the whole crabs in a bucket attitude that we have in Zambia. People like pulling each other down and, when they see someone moving up, they’ll pull him down, even if it means hurting themselves or their reputations in the end. They didn’t even give him an honourable mention when he’s done so much for the Industry.

6.   My bonus artist would be Cactus Agony. People need to look out and watch this dude. He’s been practicing and perfecting his style for a long time so, I think the blade is finally sharp and ready to cut now. He’s crazy nice with his ragga. I would just like to see him work with producers that can cross Hip-Hop, R&B and Ragga. That’s the sound he needs with a mix of the African drum in there.

#WOHH
Your Top 5 local acts?
ANS:
1.     JK
2.     Macky 2
3.     Pompi
4.     Slap Dee
5.     Catus Agony or Chef 187
       
#WOHH
     The hiphop path has diverted. Others now think its kalindula, others think its AfroPop or RnB or some stuff like that. What does the pioneer of Zambian hiphop say HIP HOP is? Your Definition?

ANS: Hip-Hop is a broad conglomerate of artistic forms that originated as a specific street subculture within the African slaves and then was popularized in places like the South Bronx communities during the 1970s in New York City. It’s characterized by four distinct elements, all of which represent the different manifestations of the culture: rap music (aural), Turntablism or "DJing" (aural), breaking (physical) and graffiti art (visual). While these have contrasting methods of execution, they find unity in their common association to the poverty and violence underlying the historical context that birthed the culture. It was as a means of providing a reactionary outlet from such urban hardship that "Hip Hop" initially functioned, a form of self-expression that could reflect upon, proclaim an alternative to, try and challenge or merely evoke the mood of the circumstances of such an environment. Even while it continues in contemporary history to develop globally in a flourishing myriad of diverse styles, these foundational elements provide stability and coherence to the culture. The term is frequently used mistakenly to refer in a confining fashion to the mere practice of rap music. It may sound complex but, it’s less complicated for those that have grown to know and understand it.

#WOHH
What do you have to say about the Zambian hip Hop industry not having a proper system that can track valid and official music sales statistics?

ANS: In a time when technology is at our finger tips, we shouldn’t be having such issues. This is part of the reason why I am not signed to a Zambian royalty’s collection society. I’ve seen the flaws and, I was looked upon with frowning faces when I suggested that this part of the industry needed to be fixed. We need to stop settling for less and do what’s right even if it means working harder. Once the foundation is laid, many generations that come after us will be able to appreciate. It’s selfish of us to just see things as they are today and not think about tomorrow. Also, utilizing BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) is something that seems very far-fetched in Zambia. We don’t have the technology to even pick up the Tag ID’s from the songs playing on our airwaves. When people stop looking at music like a hobby maybe then, people will start look at numbers because that’s where the money comes from.

#WOHH
      Music. For the money, fame or both?

ANS: I say have fun doing it and, milk the cow for all its worth.

#WOHH
     "Fire Inside" shook the continent. It was all over the place, and it still is. Wed like to take you back to that moment when Magic Linx laced the final vocal on the chorus (the verses are another issue). Did you visualize a track that would raise you to a whole new level in the Zambian Music Industry?

     ANS: Young Fyre produced that track. He’s worked with Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and T-Pain amongst others so, when I got the track, we tried to record it in the night but couldn’t come up with anything. We went to bed and then I woke up at 4AM and told Lynx to wake up. I felt this chant come into my head like magic and then Lynx picked it up and we started putting it together. I remember telling him, I wanted him to adopt a Bob Marley type of style when singing. I recorded my verse and told Camstar to get a taxi to come to the studio at 6AM. He came through, laced his verse and that’s all she wrote. I mixed it down and the track was born. In fact, the beat title was actually called ‘The Fire Inside’ and it was just perfect for the vibe that we wanted to put out. I visualized a stadium singing the African chant in the chorus.



 #WOHH
     What happened to Camstar's verse?



ANS: I made a version without his verse because, that’s how the original was supposed to be so, I still went ahead and made it. People loved and it and, I was glad about that too. I hardly make remixes so, this was one of those rare occasions.

 #WOHH
     You've worked with a number of local and international artists, give us the Top 5 International and local artists that you can say you had the best time working with?

ANS:

1.    Sean Paul is the most professional person I’ve ever worked with. We were promoting our concert in Zimbabwe and, he and I worked very well in making sure that we got the word out about the concert through the media.

2.    I’ve always missed working with my late friend, Levins Mwanza. He and I also went through a lot together and, we understood each other while sharing great humour in the studio and out. I was also fascinated by his vast knowledge of music. When I wanted him to sing like Luther Vandross on a song, he would understand exactly what I meant. His work ethic was amazing and he had the studio attitude that I often like to see in artists. Above all this, he was a brother for life.



3.    TK of Romaside Studio’s is another person that I really enjoyed working with. We played hard and worked even harder. He understood where I was coming from and even added ideas to make the tracks stand out.

4.    Camstar is a good rapper to work with. I like the fact that, he listens and takes advice in the studio. I remember when he found me recording ‘Lights, Camera, Action.’ He found me making the beat and he really liked it. He wanted to jump on the song and, I refused to put him on the song because, I had a concept of mentioning movie titles that I didn’t want anyone else to use. I wrote a list of movie titles for the song. I told him what the idea was and, in the end I decided that I was going to put him on verse one. He took my advice and did a great job with the concept. That was fun.


5.     Please allow me to do this. This one is a mixed bag: I enjoyed working with Lil Flip because; he was all about his business. We were in Ohio, USA. He came to the studio and we got straight down to work. He had his verse ready in a short space of time. He pulled out his iPhone and in a few minutes he was reading lyrics off it and spitting on the Mic. I’ve also always loved working with my peeps, Jon Woo, Profyle, Ray Grams, A.D., D-Roots, The Dogz 4 Life camp in L.A., Hollywood Actress Catherine Lidstone is also an amazing person to work with. The people in this mixed bag are great to work with because, we all understand Hip-Hop for what it actually is and, we all appreciate the art.

#WOHH
     This is a common topic, HATE. They say the harder you work, the greater they come. How's your hate meter looking? lol

With some loyal fans 
ANS: I realized that, a lot of people that hated on me were those that wanted to do what I was doing or had the same dreams but were stuck on stupid. They say “Mysery loves company.” When people fail at achieving certain goals, instead of dusting themselves off and getting back up, they pick up the dirt from the ground and throw it in the backs of those walking past them, instead of just saying “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
Rappers have sent me DM’s (Direct Messages) on Twitter where they tell me how much they admire me and really need my help. When they get an interview, they don’t even mention that they've really wanted to work with me or that I’m one of the artists they look up to. What I want to know is who is running the circus when dudes are clowning around?

#WOHH
        You have a wife and an adorable daughter. How does your career affect your family life?


ANS: Sometimes, you gotta make sacrifices. You can’t let the family suffer on the strength of trying to make things happen for yourself. You have to keep a balance. I’m blessed enough to have a wife that admires me for who I am minus the fame and glory.

#WOHH
     What do you think about the music awards systems and policies in Zambia?

ANS: The funny thing about The Zambian Music Awards is, they got in touch with me because they wanted me to take part but, I told them to pay for my flight to Zambia from Australia. They didn’t have the money apparently so, they decided to not mention my name and the foundation that I built for Hip-Hop in Zambia because of that. I didn’t take it personal that they couldn’t afford to pay for my flight. I just know that it’s typical for Zambian organizers to do that. They would rather spend thousands of dollars on foreign artists that have not even contributed to the growth of the local arts. However, refusing to mention my foundation is trying to erase history that was written by God. You can hide it but the truth always comes out.
In saying that, I just want to say that, I’ve seen Innocent Kalaluka grow from strength to strength but, at the same time you have people trying to pull him and his team down for the great efforts that he’s made. It’s understandable that the award shows are not perfect but the fact that the effort is being made is a good sign in itself.


#WOHH
For the Zambian Music industry to grow to be one of the most respected in the region, continent and world, what do we need to change about ourselves and do you think its too late for us to get out there musically?

ANS: Be true to yourself, follow your dreams, wake up and reach further than the vision you had in the night.

#WOHH
What do u miss about Zambia?

ANS: Being able to directly contribute to the growth of the youth by nurturing them and giving them advice on various issues that affect them.
I miss my people and my family too. I have a lot of connections on and off the streets that make things happen for me at the drop of a call and, I am so used to that. It feels like a part of me is missing now.


#WOHH
Tell us about the "Never (Deny It)" track.
-what was the motive?
-Is it dedicated to any1?
-What did your wife think about it? Lol

ANS: My wife first heard it over the phone and, she totally liked it. I was listening to music by Eurythmics and, that’s what inspired the song. It’s based on fantasy as well as real life experiences. Also, I grew up listening to artists like PK Chishala, Mulemena Boys and Paul Ngozi. They told a lot of stories in their music and that’s why I switched it up on verse two and three. I was thinking about witch craft in Africa and some of the magic we see in movies like Shrek. Lol


#WOHH
The U.O.E.N.O remix-freestyle you  dropped is MURDER. You mentioned a number of things and here what we managed to "steal" from it:


"I FLIP THE SCRIPT WHEN IM SICK OF YOUR S***, GIVE SOLDIERS ORDERS, GET YOU SLAUGHTERED"
-A general warning to the masses?

ANS: Certain questions are best left unanswered like certain puzzles were not created to be put together. They were made to help you think before you move.
When I used this line, I was inspired by the writer of Game of Thrones because, whenever he feels like, he can just change the story and delete certain characters, totally throwing audiences off balance.

"OUT IN LA I MADE FRIENDS WITH THE CRIPS AND BLOODS"
-Still mates?

ANS: Yeah, they kept telling me that they were going to put me through an initiation to join the gang. It was a joke that kept going but, they respected me enough because I respected myself. They also came to admire my deep rooted heritage and where I came from. They were fascinated by my story and some of them found it really amazing that I was a dude from Africa that’s been around the world and now living in Australia with a beautiful wife and family.
People that join gangs are normal people like you and I. Some of them are looking for a sense of belonging because they grew up without family and the only education they have is off the street OG’s that know nothing but living for the day. They respected that I showed them unconditional love without judging them and, it was mutual.

"THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE, NO BRAKES."

ANS: As you said, the track was murder and, that was me just saying that I am going hard on the song like I won’t get another opportunity to express myself ever!


"TOLD ME CRISIS YOU GO HARD YOU THE ONE WANA WORK WITH DRE, THEN RELOAD IT"
-Dr, Dre?

ANS: Yeah, my connect from Interscope Records told me, if you want to work with Dre, you need to bring more material for us to listen to. You’re in a good place because nobody has denied your talent. We want to hear more. So, I went back to the studio to reload it and, I’ve been working ever since.

"I WAS KINDA JELOUS OF KENDRICK LAMAR TRYING TO GET DOCS ATTENTION BUT, HE STOLE IT"
-You know we just had to ask about that. Tell us about it.

ANS: When I first went to Interscope Records, they actually told me to leave because, I was trying to meet Jimmy Iovine and, I was passing business cards around. I didn’t know it was against company policy to do that in their premises. The next week I went there, because I had made some connects with someone in the office. I hired a car and drove to Santa Monica without a license. I was told that Dr. Dre was busy at his new house in the hills, building a wine cellar in the basement so, I didn’t get to see him. The next time I tried to see him, I was told he was busy working with Kendrick Lamar and he hadn’t been to the office in days. I had just seen Kendrick performing at Coachella and, I felt like he didn’t do the best and could have done better because the stage was amazing and the crowd was just looking for good music and great performances so, I felt like I could have done better had I been given that opportunity and… to a degree, I felt jealous and didn’t understand why Dr. Dre had spent so much money on artists that didn’t know what to do with the opportunity that he had given them. However, in the end, I came to realize that Kendrick was actually much more serious than I thought. I started to pay attention to the moves he was making and, I realized that my perception was wrong.

"WHEN YOU GET A FLAT WHEEL ON YOUR ROAD TO THE TOP GOTTA FIX IT, U.O.E.N.O"
-how many "flat tires" have you had to fix in the past and how did you deal with them?

ANS: Experience is the best teacher. Some things happen in my life that make people think “What is he doing?” However, these are situations that have played over and over in my life. I never fear when they happen because, I know myself and where I am going

"I WILL HURT YOU FOR THIS. THE DAY WILL COME, WHEN U THINK YOU ARE SAFE AND HAPPY, AND YOUR JOY WILL TURN TO ASHES IN YOUR MOUTH. AND YOU WILL KNOW THE DEBT IS PAYED" (snippet)
this has brought us much thought. Was this directed at anyone in particular?

ANS: I got that from The Game of Thrones. I guess I felt like George R.R. Martin when he wrote the book. If you read the book or watch the TV series, you’ll find that nothing goes as expected and, I like its unpredictability. In saying that, I just want to say that I am a patient man. Great rivers of our time have ran dry so, don’t expect me to always be the same about things.

#WOHH 
What do you think about the following MC's:

CHEF 187
AKA

– Arguably the Best Local Rapper I’ve heard

That’s my boy and, we have mutual respect. He’s going places


Very diverse with his music. You can’t ignore his passion and creativity
EDDIE BLACK - BLACK SUPREMACY






YOUNG D-BOY


He has a lot of potential to do big things. Needs to spend more time mastering the craft.
REC RYMER

He sent me one of his demo’s and, my first thought was “It’s a pity that I am not there to help shape him into the rapper that I visualize. It takes a true Hip-Hop head to work with an artist like that and bring out his full potential.

KHULI CHANA
That’s my boy too. We were supposed to collaborate but, it was just a busy time and, every time we met, we were heading in two different places that converged at times that were not suitable to jump in the booth. He’s a true Hip-Hop head that loves the culture and he’s very humble. I respect his hustle game.


#WOHH
You're 1 of the few artists that worked with the legendary Daddy Zemus (RIP).Tell us how that was?


ANS: One thing I didn’t know is the amount of respect that Zemus had for me. The fact that he believed in me so much, made me want to work even harder to make his album a success and, it was. He always said to me “CRI$I$, you’re the best Zambian rapper I’ve heard.” He always had good vibes and, his quietness and sense of humour at times just made for a good working environment. May God rest his soul.

#WOHH
Feel free to sign out in style.

I just want to say to everybody reading this:

A life spent making mistakes is more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
It takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.


If you'd like to contact/support or find out more about CRISIS Mr. Swagger, the following are what you've been looking for:


Some hate him, many love him and there some who might not know about him (yet, unfortunately). But to us, hes a Zambian Legend. He set the way for Zambian rappers to follow and even though most of them have decided to HATE, he continues to move forward. Something like what we must do in our lives. The obstacles may be many, but focus, commitment and hard work will get you through the toughest times.

Zambian Hip Hop still has a long way to go and if we are to get there we must stop all this wanna-be competition and just UNITE as ONE. Support your fellow artists. Tweet there tracks, share there statuses, tag them in your photo, JUST DO IT! In the end, even if you're not the one standing up on that stage to receive a Grammy or ZMA, you'll be satisfied because you know that your fellow Zambian/African is up there. Give him/her the greatest round of applause you've ever generated and always wear a smile.

So in conclusion, in the words of super talented Magic Linx, "ITS TIME WE RISE, INTO THE SKY. TAKE OUR PLACE AND KEEP OUR HEADS UP HIGH. THEY CAN TRY, BUT WE WILL SURVIVE. THE FIRE GON' BE BURNING FOREVER, WE'LL KEEP IT ALIVE!"

I THANK YOU, ALL!

#WordOut


AND NOW ITS TIME FOR OUR ALL NEW #WOHHIndieExclusive SEGMENT.


YoungDboy aka EnvyM (@yungDboy_EnvyMe) - LET IT BREATH (INTRO)

LINK: http://limelinx.com/cygnc

INFO:

'Let it Breathe' the mixtape is his second mixtape. The mixtape is all about him. The mixtape let it breathe is in short a breath of fresh air to the game. Something that no one is doing. There songs and subject matters that no one has touched yet. And that why its called 'let it breathe'. His aim with this mixtape is to create a whole new understanding of how broad hiphop can be.

TAKE A LISTEN. DO YOU FEEL IT MATCHES THE DECRIPTION WE JUST GAVE? FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

#SALUTE