 You can now follow me and all my social media platforms to find out who my latest guest will be and Don't forget to click the subscribe button and the notifications button. So you're notified for when my next podcast goes live Grab single mom raised me on in the state, but always my watch my mom work She said she had a normal job that she did and then she Mama will do everything from be the Avon lady Tupperware Selling toys Christmas actually look forward to the music so much that it got to a point that the last school I went to I Just went to music class So I'll go to I'd go to My music class before school so eight in the morning I'm in there the teacher'd let me in and it was like a background where they had a computer because I'd already knew How to use Cubase or make beats from the school that I've just got kicked out of but now I had time to kind of really do it there So so I've got to the point where before school Breaktime lunchtime and after school. I'll just go into music to the point where I actually got kicked out of that school Officially, but the music teacher Niced me and they let me come to school But just come to and stay in the music class. We used to pay to go on pirate radio Just to be heard like it was only 20 pound about 20 pound was something and you know Yeah, 20 pound to go on there for the month and you just wanted you just wrote your bars And I've made beats too so to go in there and hug like cut them on top or whatever I didn't have them have DJs playing them MCs MC in on it as the best thing for your first time hearing your shit on radio And all that yeah, even me feels like you're chasing the numbers game now It's not as to the anxiety anxiety how many views how many likes how many all that what the fuck is that? We were on radio going mad spitting our hearts out and don't even know if 30 people were listening the stabbing thing Probably made me like just look around me more question things that question people one lot You know what and then even two years later. I actually looking back on it I that was a bit of a that was a bit some some bitch where shit went on We're on they are yeah and today's guests. We get dizzy rascal Honoured man. Honoured first of all thanks for coming on the show brother. Yeah, like I told you man I'm a fan is crazy that I just in the lockdown. I'll just come across your Your podcast is podcast in it. Yeah naturally. I watched The nutty nutty radio from the guy I was a football team from Essex Glen Tamplin. Yeah. Yeah, I watched the whole thing I said, ah, this is gonna know then I end up getting into just just watching nothing in Darren G I'm watching nothing and sick. Yeah, I appreciate that man It's great to have people like yourself watching my stuff one. It's unbelievable shows you how far I've come not mean Yo, yeah, I appreciate that and I dropped your message and you say fuck sake brother. I watch your stuff man Yeah, random random like I said fucking yo The energies or whatever. Yeah, synchronicity is a lot of attraction And that goes for anybody watching if you believe it enough that you will manifest that for real So watch what you watch what you watch what you wish for man. Exactly me It's you be careful what you wish for is a very true saying so for a man who has nearly been in the industry for 20 years 2003 your first album boy in the corner. Yeah, unbelievable album proper You brought you started a rap game in the UK. I believe that's crazy Phenomenal album proper especially when you've got Americans who are killing at that point You had them and them on top and then the UK come through at 17 years old and now New album coming out, which will plug straight away. Yes, this is nearly 20 years late. Yeah fucking plug it straight away So where can people get this album itunes everything we're putting it on record tape every we're going back to basics man We'd like everything everything you can think of amazing because a lot of people are saying you're going back to your roots Because it's kind of the same colour in yellow black. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Is that true? You're going that's not my superhero colors No, it's not what they know when it's black and yellow. It's gonna be a time. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah We'll touch on all this stuff. Yes, sir. Wait I'll go back to the start of my guess brother. Yeah, man. Well, you were born and how it all began. So I'm from bow East London If anyone knows what that is just basically if you're coming from the South, it's right outside the Blackpool Tunnel And in between Hattney and Newham pretty much I Was raised there I learned I learned all the I feel like I learned all my best lessons in life or most of my best lessons in life there community Music and that's where I learned music Well, let me get into that then so I learned music just by Say around the early early 90s Jungle drum and bass was massive So you just get guys that were bedroom DJs at the time So I'll just hear it coming out of I know Gary Slater or someone on my on my estate They'll be playing it rinsing it just well that that was the thing then in it So then that's when I discovered pirate radio So I'd I'd listen to it and I find Random times like hardcore and jungle like so that's that's when I got introduced to that So then that that just opened up my mind to something else and just that's the first music I proper fell in love with I randomly got into that heavy metal Young as well. I think that's again through someone older on the state playing it and being like what was that and then just Just we got into it and then moved on to grunge or whatever and Then eventually hip-hop But hip-hop would have been through again a friend whose big brother gave him the Snoop Dogg the second Snoop Dogg album It was the dogfather and then he borrowed it to me and that's time them to these times It was on tape. That's the first rap album. I heard solidly and I had a friend who Played me the Bone Fox and Harmony album and that the rich that I so I said yeah all my all my lessons in life All my music and all that I learned Where I grew up from a very young age. Yeah, I think that's where the best albums come from the people who's Kind of lived it who's kind of seen a lot of shit in the life as well I think that's where people get a lot of the inspiration You look at guys like to pack Snoop Dogg They've lived a lot of life a pain and quite that times and I think that's why because a bit of poetry in there as well Isn't it? Oh, definitely definitely. I was definitely quite vivid and kind of think outside of box Especially talking about boy in the corner and just and then it would and it's all these mad sounds that I'd use and all that as well So that a lot of that came from especially with that album came from guy was my manager now Anyway, it's been my manager since there anyway, but he had a studio and He produced as well over the years So he just had a collection of all different keyboards equipment Not plugins units whatever and it's had all these mad sounds so then me Why Lee roll deep all these like we all use the same shit, but then what when I used it I was just on some different shit. Well, what's that find the dirtiest maddest sound? Yeah, and Use them and play just play different shit and put and whatever spit on top of it So that's why my album just sounded That's the next shit, but I was influenced by everyone you both said as well So that's why I think I had the I was influenced by drum and bass and garage emcees because they gave me the pride to sound like where I'm from because UK rappers at the time Kind of sounded like they wanted to be always trying to be American where garage and jungle MCs We're still kind of more sounding like they were from down the road Even though they'd have some a bit of that Jamaican thing to them They still sounded local But then at the same time I was influenced by a two-pack snoop and all that as far as being like being an album Album rapper like wanting to make albums. Yeah a whole body of work. What is the just start writing for point the corner? Okay, boy in a corner some of them lyrics I had from radio So I know you're saying the album came out like 2003, but I would have written some of them lyrics like from like 2001 So very young age to be yeah, that's a little genius man. That's proper shit. Thank you man. Yeah Well, you know is I learned to rap Bars I learned to rap on drum and bass. So I actually had to slow down So I basically I learned see how you see how you came when like when you commit me downstairs and playing jungle in the car Yeah, I learned that's that's the tempo. I learned to yeah Calvary's fucking shit And think about other tunes and then you know you lead on to another Yeah, and then yeah, so to a drum and bass just influenced me so much But I learned to rap fast and they learned to slow down but I said I was into the vivid writers I was into Tupac Jay-Z the people that sound not a real as good storytellers Yeah, because that's what rap comes from and as American It's definitely nobody heard that in the UK, especially way back in kind of 2003 Which was nearly 20 years ago. You that's you started you opened the door for a lot of the guys now in this era too Definitely definitely. Yeah, you got a lot of respect from that. Yeah, I feel like I've been giving my flowers man Yeah, you can't have it all because like I said, it's like it's how many years on you You've got people that are smashing it now. They're over 10 years younger than me So and and they've dead of worse of their generation. You're the most successful rapper in the UK I'm the most decorated. Yeah, if I number ones you've got five albums is at the top 10. You've got every British award Yeah, I think tiny's got more number ones. I'll give But he's got more number ones, but I've got more woods I got More I've got what is it free free gold albums to platinum albums. I'm all right. Yeah, how does that make you feel? As it made me feel, you know, no, it's always good for It doesn't really feel as big as people looking from outside exactly Yeah, I heard a thing about awesome. No, I'm not to this extreme. I see like awesome Rengar I heard that he never kept none of the trophies or nothing that in his house. Yeah So he just kind of just got on with it. I'm not quite like that. My shit's up there about the telly Last thing but yeah, you don't always think about that stuff. Sometimes you're reminded. I just got another award recently From grand daily by the time this goes out where you'd be alright bears from grand daily So it was appreciated especially later on. Yeah, but No, it's not it's not why you do it. You do the biggest The best thing other than take being able to take care of your family because of because of the music and that Yeah, is Just people just feeling your shit. That's why you make it. Of course like from from the beginning There's that we used to pay to go on pirate radio just to be heard Like it was only 20 pounds about 20 pounds was something and yeah, 20 pounds to go on there for the month And you just wanted you just wrote your bars and I made beats to so to go on there and hug Like cut them on top or whatever and have them have DJs playing them MCs MC and on there That's the best thing for your first time hearing your shit on radio and all that Yeah, so that's kind of still about that now, but you need to be honest, don't you but you still need to move with the teams Yeah, but again, I still listening to a pack near enough every day I've the game yourself. Do you know what I mean? It's a must put a fire. It's there I've started listening to pack again. No way cuz sometimes the classics are just the classic. Yeah Like you try and listen to new shit, but it's okay to just still lack of old shit You know, yeah myself recently. Yeah, a good idea is just a good idea exactly In a hundred years the good content stays forever. It is where it's fucking stays forever They're man captured. Yeah, so I'm especially to you back. Yeah captured some shit that is rare now Yeah, and I think a lot of rappers American rappers are terrible just now if I'm honest They ain't got the compared to back in the day when you had Dre to pack Jay-Z, but then it's a case of no, but that's but no, you know, we're not see we're at that age Which I think it's cause we're getting older. Do you know it's mad at you don't think you'd be at that age How would you if any sex face? Oh, so you're a year older than me. Yeah, so we're like we're exact same generation But we're at that point now that I know it was better back then but the youths now listening to their shit They think that's I still think I listen to new because I when I was making this album I was trying to compare it I love my album, but there's there's there's just a sound quality in the shit It was coming out in the 90s the early 2000s again because they used using hardware Plugins or whatever else I bought a bunch of cables and a bunch of shit now a bit more natural sound so my next shit We'll just like we'll be a bit more like that, but you there are differences. There are real differences Not just our old cunts How was your schooling because I know you've got the name rasco from that's part of your name isn't it? Does it rascals from your schooling teachers used to call you a rascal? Yeah, so looking back in hindsight. I was troublesome but I Think it was a it was a case of whatever like I guess I'll say boredom Because now I'm older I think everybody is wired differently and everyone's everyone's learns differently So sit when you're when your kids You've got the school structure the school system and their curriculum of how everyone is supposed to learn and then around that Sometimes them they might cater to people with a bit more special needs or sometimes kids who are just way too smart You had some kids in there. You know what? They're geniuses and they They had to have a bring a tutor in there. They were so yeah, I mean then everyone else is kind of just has to kind of fit Into whatever's happening in it. I wasn't a kid that just fitted in easily. So sometimes I'll act up I'd act up a lot to the point where I went when I came to secondary school I went to four schools So but what I did pick up from there what I knew I always loved was music So I actually look forward to the music so much that it got to a point that the last school I went to I just went to music class So I'll go to I'd go to My music class before school so eight in the morning I'm in there the teacher'd let me in and it was like a background where they had a computer because I'd already knew How to use Cubase or make beats from the school that I've just got kicked out of but now I had time to kind of Really do it there. So so I've got to the point where before school Breaktime lunchtime and after school. I was just going to music to the point where I actually got kicked out of that school officially But the music teacher nice to me and they let me come to school But just come to and stay in the music class. So Yeah, that's what that's what school ended up. Yeah, but I think a bit try to fit in the box man and sit at a table 95 and it's not for everyone. I was shit at school. I don't school I left school at 15, but you're not fake Yeah, and I said even and then even look They try and make you feel as if follow the fucking rules if you don't know your times table if you don't know your certain words are Then you are thick but your grades should not define you as a person No, exactly. And then and then even really even though it when I say, oh, you're not fake like it's not even meant to be disrespectful to anyone because like Think there was a time when they couldn't even When they didn't even diagnose dyslexia or shit like that And I know that some guys that like our legends actual legends that with dyslexia time when they didn't know what this when they didn't even diagnose So they were already treated a certain way as dumb Basically, but but based on what they've done. It's not possible for them to be done. Yeah after school You know I'm saying but that system wasn't for them Not even to put down the system because like every system It was obviously designed at one point to kind of just get through people Yeah, I guess it's training people from nine to five Yeah, I think Einstein says I think everyone's a genius and their own rights if they believe something and there's a man Liz Brown who I was listening a lot back in the day was Motivational speaker and he says people's opinion of you doesn't have to be a reality Right because a lot of teachers say oh, you're dumb. You're this you can't do this You're gonna have no career, but yeah The most successful people in the world have but even that isn't that's what what is the teacher there for? Why would a teacher? Say that to a kid. Mm-hmm. It's not it's not acceptable You like you're grown. I don't you already out there in the world We used to be telling you yeah, it's the siren. Yeah, there's a 20 years later You've got another album coming out nearly 20 years later, which I think is fucking phenomenal I know you don't like talking about this subject, but it's a big part of your life Right, and I want to ask you some one thing from it Yeah, when you look at guys like 50 cent the game 50 cent was shot nine times the game was shot five times You were stabbed six times nearly died Do you think because you are centimeters away from death? That is why 20 years later. You're still succeeding because you know How fast your life can get took away and you know how life is shot because these guys are still succeeding also No, there's a bit of that. There's a bit of that you yeah, you take But to give myself credit like even before that if you think about that I was like 16 17 and in the studio to like six in the morning When yeah, I was out and about running around doing stuff I shouldn't have been doing as well But not as much as I could have been and as soon as I had the opportunity and a chance to Really knuckle down and be in an environment. I was in there. So I think the drives always been there Yeah, but I just put things into perspective that fuck this. I'm gonna succeed even to this day. No I want to give it credit like yeah, but I don't know. I just think that you're just all succeeded anyway I even have to give some yeah have to give some credit to my mom because Grab single mom raised me on in the state, but always more watch my mom work She said she had a normal job that she didn't and then she Mama will do everything from be the Avon lady Tupperware Selling toys Christmas after yeah And I used to go to not far from not too far from me and I'll go to slough. There's a lot industrial So Which call industrial fucking complex thing wherever where there's a wholesalers I used to go and get clothes and bring them back to the estate and take me around for and go and sell them Like how she's go wholesale. Yeah, go and sell them on the estate Then I picked it up and I stopped going there by myself like from boat Like everyone knows it's quite a far distance to be doing a lot 14 15 whatever so always had drive So as like I said it didn't for me to be in the studio Yeah, like that with cage and all that and be there Like I said to early hours the morning. I'll be there I'll get there with my mates sometimes and then they'll go I'll be there all the way through the night and these times It was in the first one was in Deppford Then it was like then we moved to Burma Z when the corner was made in Burma Z and sheffield randomly enough Part of it. Yeah, so then sir, but when we was in Burma Z sucking in cage I'll be there in Burma Z and he'll drop me back to bowl Go for the rubber ass and then go back to where he was going and we'll go and do the same thing After so the drives away. There's the stabbing thing probably made me like just look around me more question things Question people when yeah, you know what and then even two years later I actually looking back on it. I that was a bit of a that was a bit some some bitch-boy shit went on Yeah, like people who older me that like and and you stay and you can't say certain things to people when explain it Without signing like you're being bitter yourself But it's actually some fuckries You'll still get this to this day, but yeah, that kind of stuff just makes you more aware. I believe that's Yeah, you question everything But the only thing is your trust issues goes and I always say this I don't fucking trust anyone because the most successful. I'm becoming I'm realizing the more Shots are swimming around me want me to fuck up. No, it gets like that It doesn't stop and sometimes you have to just take your mind away from that and just like I have to remind myself to just enjoy what I do because in the day Actually got rich and famous of my hobby Yeah, like for real. Yeah, so every night and I have to tell myself to breathe like you're like you're like Focus guy in it. You just want to You don't know chinks in your armor. You just don't want no else. You just want to think keep going forward Yeah, but then sometimes you have to remind yourself like right you already won From what you've done. I mean where you've got yourself Sometimes it's down to everyone ain't always out to get you some people You know what one thing I'll never forget Richard Russell said to me once he said to reason is in the thinking I was gone on about something and he said People tend to really care more mainly about themselves or what what they think really is basically like telling me Get over yourself a bit Basically, I thought that's true. Most people actually just care about Look at the comments until when people leave comments and thing on there. What are they doing? They want everyone to see what they think. Yeah. Yeah That's where isn't it? Yeah, I get it man and again is to focus on you because I always say well your focus goes your energy flows So I don't give it too much attention But to be successful as a lonely journey as well see after your first album dropped Did you distance yourself from a lot of friends or were you still with the same group? I did a distance but you see as a kid you have different pockets of friends. Yeah, so because I was doing music What what tends to happen which carried on for a while is that you you're around your your friends who are around in the day and Hey, who's around in the day like they're usually up to no good Yeah, yeah, so that's you got that circle of friends and then eventually sometimes you end up falling out with them because whatever They're just doing what they're doing and if their nature is kind of to fall out of each other anyway because of the type of shit They're doing like drugs in it's very snakey in it So just that fuck shit is just there anyway And then guys not understanding that they can't come with you everywhere So then you end up just becoming a target because if you people think you're getting you're doing alright You're getting it and you're not bringing them in and all that kind of stuff there, but it's like what you don't do And you don't know even do what I do Why do people fear is a few? You're them something do you get that there's always been a bit of that and that's even when I was helping I was always petitioned for people. Do you know what the problem is? It's when you stop It's not even so much. They're not doing it's when you stop There's always gonna be people that feel like you don't do nothing for them But but who the fuck when about But then there's the people that you always done things for done stuff for that. It's when you stop That's when you see the problems. That's when problems start So I always thought like are the hardest rappers here the ones the most hard We're the most got there sometimes they've got it the hardest because eventually There's gangsters as whatever as they are You got the most you got the loonies people around you and you have to cut some of them loose It's just it's just nature. Yeah, it's just the nature of you as your thing gets better and as your life gets better The music industry. Yeah, there's like this. There's some dark parts of it Yeah, why do you think that is like gangsta? Why do you think it's rap as identified like gangsta gangsta rap? Why is it get that reputation do you think because it's just natural same way with grandma where garage or jungle any of these things like Like you're coming from an underground settlement Underground settlement, you know, you're just coming from an underground thing where who put on the rate Okay, it's a pirate radio muffin come from pirate radio and raves who put on the raves and who put on who built the stations Like usually drug dealers Most RMC's are drug dealers or the DJ's are drug dealers It is where it is most we things are coming from council estates. Yeah, so council estate like just like the schemes or whatever Yeah, it's poverty. Mm-hmm. Like it's working class So that's not that that's all that's going on there because we know for what that's not Yeah, most I feel like most people just trying to get on with it in it, but there's more temptation to do Bad but now don't even want to say that because there's a lot of rich people doing some fuck shit as well Let me get back to my point. No, anyway, but the whole gangsta thing around I Guess urban music or whatever They can say the things like to pack baggy shootings and stuff I think that's a that's a that's a society well not because Gangsta shit has been In the music industry anywhere. They're where there's money man. Like Frank Sinatra and that up to you. No one talks about that They fucking Gangsta shit in the music industry, man, they played a big part of that. They're kind of beginning of a lot Yeah, they get stuff. It's always yeah. Yeah, but he's even two-part. He was never a gangsta He was an asset in poetry. Yeah, but all but anyone is even rapping. It's an art So it doesn't matter how good you could be rapping in the booth with an AK Yeah, but what you're doing. Yeah is no different really to like even if you murder someone in the booth And you're rapping about it's still it's still art. Yeah, just like just whatever any story telling any kind of thing It's there this dish that and entertain to move people Like and because look look at majority of people into gangster rap. They're not gangsters Are they possibly if it was just down to gangsters? Yeah Just the same as movies if it was just down to who reams who reams reads cram of thrillers like books Yeah, and all of that. It's not just I mean Saying that I know a few people who watch scarface and they think that I fucking gangsta You know, it's being scarface was mad to me scarface because I watched it later on in life So I did you yeah, I was old enough to say I don't understand what the big like he's an idiot He fucked up everything killed. Yeah, he thought he he's mama hated him. He got his sister fucked He got his best mate fucked and he's missus hated him and then everyone comes to shoot him And the one bit of everyone holds on to But you tend to see drugs do that to people fucks are mind Untouchable being there myself So when you started after the first album, how did you deal with the fame by from the streets changing his life becoming successful? It's very young age. How did you deal with that because you seem very level-headed even when your interviews? You don't fuck about you speak the way you want your words will never get twisted. So how did you learn to be? Quite level-headed. How did you deal with the fame at the start? I think some of it because I did get to watch Page you go Maxwell So solid to an extent and more for our crew Remember I came directly after But I was around especially that's it more for our crew with page you go. So I watched what happened. I watched Guys try to exclude extol guys Like all of the black the dark shit. I saw it for myself So I learned how to just okay be low-key. That's what you have to do. Don't don't flash And a lot of it was was people they knew that onto them as well as just whatever city-wide or Nationwide you go to a place whoever's the guys there and trying to make themselves known We'll use to that in it That's that's normal you go to a place guys want to make themselves known They haven't become friends or they're onto you is where is but I just just learn learn to just I try not to attract too Much attention to me early to the extent where it's nice man. You see my first video. I love you I didn't want to be in the video I Was so because that's it on pirate radio People didn't even know know what we look like and then we do these raves and the tape packs went up went around Even with the pirate radio, it was tapes that traveled across the city then traveled across the country But I face what no so I was used to that and I kind of I liked it. Yeah, I mean I wasn't getting stopped everywhere or whatever but Later on it's time to be in videos. I didn't want to do it but Overall, I just laid low and I just tried which tried to just I don't say too much or just try Unnecessary attention. Yeah, I think that's the best way to try and a private life's a best the best life I believe I think that's where a lot of people fail because they chase the fame the attention They feel as if because they don't know what it is. Yeah, it's bullshit man. Yeah Majority of it. Yeah, it is like a lot of unnecessary stuff You and then this whole thing about you and people expecting you to be a role model But but I don't know but they're not there when the type of when I was younger the type of a attention on the track Was like you just be like in a situation like you'll be to mind your own business and get into a situation Like gets dangerous just because but you're expected to just Still be like a role model Like and that's a lot said that's what happened with a lot of people before me like Because you did still that attack even if you're moving on the right path. There's still That element of wherever the streets or wherever a bunch of people that are not looking at you like that Or they're just looking at you as food or did like so you constantly have to deal with that too whilst being in the public I so when it when all that did happen to me and I did blow up around the first time around Like yeah, it was a bit mad because it's saying I was kind of the blueprint as well Because I only want to kind of out of those groups that I named that Kept going as a solo artist on to the next album and onto the next night onto the next day There was there was nothing before Me for me to look to for guidance As far as forward do you feel as if a lot of pressure comes on you then because you became the blueprint that Because if a lot of people are watching you for inspiration and you fuck up then it can Put out someone else's later Do you know what I mean? It's like you were the you were the front-runner from such a to to produce Album after album after album does a lot more pressure come on your shoulders then to release the second album the third album I think that was my own pressure. I Feel as though my own pressure I seen it seem even like what you saying about oh after I got stabbed. Oh, I came back from Napa I was when I went to the studio, but I was still like like That the stitches taken out and I was skinny I went in a great state went to went back to the state went back to the other one. Yeah, say everyone I they thought I was dead. I just Whatever I'm chatting to everyone and then but then I got back into the mold You know is I've just got an obsession With the music side so all that extra stuff that you're talking about all those outside elements of all the pressure of all that There's that in in there as well But the main pressure year was just that I was wanting to be the fucking guy when it came to that It just wrapped it. I went to break to make the best shit have it out and have the biggest shit out Like I think that's what really drove me. So that's when you feel most alive when you're in the booth I'll rate music I Fucking hate recording If you're doing it for it's like it's quite tiring Do that when I'm disciplined I didn't like that take after do it again. Yeah, like otherwise I'll angry with myself when when because you see like Once you're in the vibe, you have to catch it. Yeah, and that's what people like to Pat We're good at like you when you hear and you hear the vibe you hear the day they caught a moment Yeah, so that's about doing that sometimes sometimes you haven't got the energy Your energies ain't there. Yeah, I'm making a beat and then this time it's like for years I weren't inspired I stopped making beats after my third album up until 2017 is when I started making beats again. So for a whole Bunch of years, I just didn't but they feel as if that's good though to re-energize and get away from all Get away from all and just enjoy your life as well because I'm a workhorse I'm scared to take a step back in case I lose it all so I kind of need to keep But the first few years I think is it is an on-stop hustle I just feel as if I don't want to stop because there's always somebody working try to work harder But I don't believe anybody's working harder than me. Do you feel as if that break though? Re-energize you to go fuck it. It's game time again. Well, I was fucking around in Miami and Caribbean Which I've been It's crazy because I went to America like in 2003 the first time and would go over there to tour and do My promo and all that and I have some fun But not like when I went there in 2009 up until Enjoying myself still making music and that but So I understand about yeah, sometimes just having that having a breather and just enjoying and just doing doing things for yourself I was out there by myself and made a whole new bunch of friends a whole got a whole another life out there Yeah, I mean but then you do when I come back you get back to the ground like see what's important Things have changed the games bigger than it's ever been You know, I mean a whole bunch of new rappers holding a bunch of new youth next generation new sons And it's like oh shit. Okay, and and that's where see I was saying earlier and about what you've done in the past It's cool legendary been given your flowers, but It's not enough fuel to drive me and keep me cool today Yeah, it's just done. It's cool if you smash do some puts out in that smash it today Then you can add it to all of that. Yeah, yeah, I mean but until this now I need to grind You know, I mean people make one album They think the fucking made it and then you don't hear from ever again or one single happens. Yeah, you're seven albums deep man But you know what I learned as well. I learned that it's actually okay one one year. I think I was in Serbia, I'm sure it was Serbia somewhere like that when when that that part of Europe just kind of Just started opening up to festivals and not nourish the team you got our look festival Croatia I've like that's a thing now, but we're gonna adjust as they kind of open it up and you know that and I was at a festival and there's like a Indian guy come up to me Dizzy was good. What's good? Yeah dreadlocks. I'm like, what's happening, man? It's like, yeah, it's me man Yeah, yeah, um, you know that's Apache Indian. It's like Apache Indian Oh fucking Apache. Why in your body? Remember when I was a kid boom shock a lot And I was like raw and like he was there like he was like he has a rastafarian I had a whole roots band like Said cool know that I had a nice chat left it and I thought about is like raw That guy's got one Song that I know of he might have had some others I don't know But that's he had one song and he's still traveling. We're in Serbia. It's not like we're in England of here We're he's traveling the world have at least I don't know how many years but at least 15 or something years later and probably So it's like, okay, you can live off actually you can actually live off one June. Yeah, like you can he seemed all right Every time I put too much pressure on myself sometimes I remember that it's not it's all right Yeah, even if you didn't really send albums you can still Travel the world and sing your songs because it's on in cheap album. Right was a fucking monster went mad monster Yeah, man went mad and that that was like really Was the biggest? Took a chance. There's a big gamble. You can't I changed up the This sound and the mix in and everything is different, but why do you think people related to the suburb because it was bonkers It was fucking kind of But it's genius as well You know what I want to sit here and say, yeah, you know, it's cuz about but you know, the God on this tree Viz. I don't I can't I Don't really know the answer. I just know if I base it off what I see it do to people when I'm at a show and How people jump up and react only they could tell me but I just know what their actions are telling me You know that they are just jumping up going mad and they're just letting loose all inhibitions They know all the words and they go off. I guess it's it's an event those each one of those songs It's like whatever thoughts of me holiday bonkers, especially those three. They're lacking event It is like kind of euphoric and it's a bring everyone together They bring everyone together songs, but it wasn't like I was making like I need to go pop now It weren't really Like that the first one that came was done to me. So that came off the back of I said I had three gold albums So it's my I was signed to Excel recordings, which were there Indie label, but they're a huge one probably the biggest in the UK is them and Domino. I think what I think Excel might be bigger. So I was done and So it's about about the re-op because I've done my free albums about the re-op What happened is odd whilst making that last album. I Saw Calvin Harris song on the TV. It was acceptable And Forever anyone thinks about what Calvin has done in the last few years. Yeah, which is fucking huge anyway But it's like some people's really mainstream in it become the mainstream Except when the eighties nothing sounded like that on the radio on the TV or the radio at that time It was perky yet those synths. It was almost like some eighties music Yeah, it's really quirky and I was like, right. Yo, who's that? What's that? And I was like, right, I'll be sick if I could get emcee on one of his beats like over on a beat like that I would be out that be good and I thought about it and the kind of just had it in the back of my mind then he made another song with With the Mitchell brothers the tiny little cool the Mitchell brothers where some from Forest Gate and When I saw that it wasn't a massive tune, but it had rappers on it And that's when I said, yeah Like you can rap on these songs So I've met him at radio one big weekend and I Said I've approached him like, yo, I love like you're sick. I love what you're doing We wouldn't went something like that. I don't know exactly what I said, but like, yeah, like that basically let's work Let's let's do something to be cool in it So then don't I think for you think sent a few ideas I can't remember what happened but I ended up writing something writing those lyrics on dancing me to another beat that I got sent by Another another dance group was I can't remember it was groove. I'm out of it And then my manager's heard it was like, you know, it's good They think these lyrics will go better on something else. That's when I got Calvin to send me something sent me that beat Practiced the words on them that's gone re-record them got the single ring blah blah blah the rest is history. Yeah, but that's That was how I went Got into that's what started that album. It's a game-changer as well But again, it's fucking scary to take risks Yeah, and it's not like I think I tried to make a pop attempt before on my second album I got a song called stand up tool, but it was still coming from an underground vibe Yeah, because the if you listen to stand up tool the drums are actually if anyone knows a tune called pole sex It goes bonge bonge bonge. She was big on the underground all the MCs used to MC on it Some people would say that that that kind of birthed Graham. There's kind of the eight bar switch Right, but so that was a big that was a big tune. Yeah But for the record our birth ground Yeah, but um, but stand up tool was like a pop version of that but was made by the guy who made Pole six so I guess that was the first time I tried to make like a poppy kind of chain and it did it did well I'm sure it was I'm sure it was like number 10 in the charts and that was good for me at that time That's only on my second album. Like I said but then fast forward to start to me and then Um bonkers just came Randomly, I didn't ask for that. I was in Denver. So I was doing like an American tour and I was in Denver and a hotel. I Was in the hotel because we'd come back and the show had actually been canceled for whatever reason and I've got sent it listen to it And it had the barn curries on it and I remember thinking all right this sounds like the music I hated when I was a kid. I didn't like house music or that poppy harsh shit By this time it's like 2008 2009 late 2008 and I've been to Ibiza By now I've been to Ibiza now partied in dread understood the music. Yeah Okay, I've never been in a sitting before to get it and understand it. So that's how I was able to rap bonkers Like not even right that still gets played everywhere even to this day, mate. Yo fucking nuts. I did it I did it at the Olympics. Yeah, so see when you when you were writing that I mean then It's all done produced the listening go. This is going to be a fucking banger. No, was there any son? No, I wrote it That's I didn't even write it down. I just remembered it because it's that easy and And came back to England recorded it and Then didn't think anything didn't think about it again. I didn't think it was that good Because it was too far from What I was doing I guess maybe I mean even I even had to forget you started. Yeah, I was that kind I'm not sure about that. I just knew it bang was like not not something I would have Tried to make it's just I knew what I'm in Van Hilden was because of the Ken Befa Yeah, no, but even before that What's the big tune yet? Don't even know me. I know because that used to be on the box every fucking day. Remember the box Yeah, yeah, yeah, so I remember the video and it's like, oh shit. That's how my van held in here I'll do a song of him When when it's all out a few months late. Yeah, a few months later. My manager said like, um, like You're gonna want that on your album. Yeah, I said what you think I said, yeah Cool it one and two I did I was doing a UK tour and I just played it. I'm sure I played that was it thoughts of me. I played it Yeah, I played bonkers at the end just just at the end of my show just to let our just black Yeah No, in fact, I've already had no thoughts of me had already been number one Yeah, I was in Liverpool. We played it and it went mad and I'd never seen a song That of mine being played to a crowd for the first time And then be like the climax of the whole night the response. I was like, oh shit Yeah, it's phenomenal fucking great tune great tune. How do you feel? How's Calvin Harris good Scottish man? Fucking on. There's always talking about yeah, I was just going out having fun fucking about So I've gone see him. So I'll go LA. He's living in Bella. Go to the house All right, this is how you're moving. I like it and he's got the Dreams studio set up. They built himself like you go there. You come down in the golf buggy the go-kart Takes you out there. I'm out and then jamming for a bit and then yeah, the Vegas residency so then So let's go Vegas. I want to come with you. I like go there drive to Come where it was the one just not that is it my nice. I can't remember who's go there Get on his jet. He's jet. I'm sure it was his jet get on the jet fly to Vegas Go for the hotel the different entrance. He's got the different. He's got the he's got the different The different room. He's good. I mean, you need to spend a million if you need to be better than a million to get even And I don't gambles. I don't know that but that side of it, but I knew it was where the big boys play Went backstage just saw what he was doing looking around like fuck. This is like and just understanding the money And just all the moves that was being made around this whole thing because really what are they doing? They just fucking they just break my just EDM just caught on to him in America and they just managed to fucking just give shitloads of money to To DJs to sell. Yeah, oh way over way overpriced tables to whatever Oligarchs and whoever else like we don't even really give a shit Whatever because they can in it and then and then we'll just get the jet back Go about 35 minutes on the jet to work Do the team Hour and a half two hours and come back. That's how he's living fucking fair play. He's a superstar He's a superstar now crazy for where he's came from to what he's succeeding now is unbelievable I think that's also good business for you. It's good strategies. Everything's levels. So for you to go right I'm gonna get him guys that Robbie Williams as well working when he's kind of people just enhances your shit as well and to Put it together and create bangers as well shows that the talent and the craft and the visualization And the fact to take risks is great. Yeah, and also sometimes I just want to see what I can get away with in it I wanted to take all of that Yeah, he's right. I'm a fucking genius It's just that like what can I get away with yeah, that's why I've done some things where people are like what the fuck is he do Like push the fucking boundaries and sometimes yeah Sometimes it ain't even a ways about the music Sometimes it's about where the sometimes where the music takes you Because like I said with Robbie Williams, okay Then actually he actually wanted me on rude box years before that and I wasn't ready Why I just like that time. I wasn't ready to be on rude box. I heard that and I wasn't ready I went ready, but then we did our tune and then we actually went to he wasn't supposed to be on the tune actually I had that I recorded that song in LA and Example was supposed to do it and then he couldn't sing it at the time I can't remember why he couldn't sing it and then and then so we had no one to sing it and then somewhere I had a blue monster something about off Robbie Williams is around the world. Yeah, I said Robbie Williams. Yeah That's mad of me on the Robbie Williams on the train. I'll be mad. So then I went to his house and at the time He was living in one of these fucking four or five mansions. Yeah, but this this house he was in Ringo Starr's old house And Paris Hilton and slash were his neighbors. I remember that I remember. Yeah, it's been in the yard He had his own studio. He showed me about his car show me a bunch of stuff We talked about two-pack and hip-hop because he's a massive I saw the photo of him and two-packed of the Zarchi party. Oh shit. Like you party with two-pack Yeah, if you get if you ever get Robbie Williams I can imagine that imagine that yeah, he'll tell you anything about rap music trust me Like he's like he knows he's shit. Yeah, there's a better from the ends really in it. Yeah, he's a fucking mega star Absolute mega star. He is yeah, but he's still a good because he is he's like he's from nowhere from a castle He's had these problems as well. He's changed them and he's very big until it conspiracies aliens and fucking He told me yeah that he either take that did a massive concert Yeah, I don't think it was never worth or somewhere mad where it was huge Yeah, and he said the vibe was so much so big he looked up He said the aliens were above the light flying saucers. Yeah, he told me that was he taking drugs at the team He wasn't taking drugs at the time. He told me about I don't know if I'm supposed to say He definitely told me that he definitely spent a few months in the back of his garden like eat up or whatever the fuck He's done a lot of mad things and he told me that there was a there was a ghost in his out of ass as well And he asked Ringo about it said oh, yeah, yeah, it's there. It comes in every night He told me a bunch of magic. Yeah, he told me a bunch of my but my point going back to my point was that I Got to see how someone Who that it's not like take that wasn't the biggest thing when I was growing up I got to see that someone in a similar position to mine as well someone who got big young obviously went to crazy heights what big young What it looks like At the heights Yeah, where he's living amongst big American superstars Like it's huge fucking gets a million for fucking for a wedding song sing like I mean shit like that So that was almost as important as music. I've got to see that so I've got not got to Get more background like I said, I know there was no blueprint for me Coming up as a successful rapper. No one else for me to look at no stars for me to look at there was no one like me So being Introduced to that that kind of life and seeing that even though I don't I said I had a bunch of number ones But anyway, but it was nice to see that okay someone who's been huge Him telling me about some of the pitfalls he's been through and under that some of the stuff He's seen and all the crazy shit and all that it's like rough. I can also okay Okay, that's available too if you want it You might want to stay away from some of it But this is a guy that's seen it all has been super honest with you Like you cut that that's the music took me there that that might have stopped me doing some shit That might have destroyed me today. Yeah, you know, I mean and God willing He's still blessed. He's super blessed. Yeah fucking lot. What's his biggest problem? He's fucking arguing with Jimmy Page About building the fucking thing across Holland Park and in one of his other fucking matches It's blessed. Yeah, he seems a great good guy because you've you've rubbed shoulders with super snazz like for a Williams What's he like for real for all of our good He's one of them dudes always bumped into over the years Like it'd be one of the first Americans to like bring me out on stage like in like 2005 or whatever He's doing it from then did it in England did it in Denmark. He's like fucking Benjamin Button man. He ain't got any older But he's definitely done some bullshit as well sometime. I was in Miami once I think I see him Was I see him at the job? I see him out somewhere and he said yo I was on the was getting a studio. So we've got in the studio. It's called you know, you know, he's huge Malaysian artist. I remember yeah He um He just didn't know no big deal, but it's that one of like, ah, yeah, like ah What did he say we was in there say, you know, I'm like No, so I'm thinking of will I am a situation up with who I am What was that this thing we could what will I am was in the studio of me We was playing was produced. He's producing the tune. We did a tune to go. No, no, he didn't produce a tune I'm all over the place, bro. That's okay. Yeah What happened with Will I am we made a tune I made a turn I went into vocalist I went to the studio and he was there dancing around the tune guy I'm like he's a bit wacky, you know, then he gave me this whole speech about our Yeah, I'm not one of them producers that likes to that I like to be there when it's being done I don't like to be I like to be there sitting out cool. So like recording got down to what I was doing came out He'd fucked off That's why I got modded off because the first time that happened to me was for real Mm-hmm. I was in the studio. Yeah, dude. It's like, yo, it's dope. It's dope. It's dope. Cool Just do this bit. I've come did it. I've come out for us fucked off And I'm not allowed to take the music that whammy up Was that we say we had to go I don't know Just to bring more tip context to it. I remember I was doing the TV show called must be the music with Jamie Cullum and I told him about it and then he started telling me about story. He was in the studio for all and They were recording something and they were watching basketball and the same same thing He's doing his thing and then for all said they are I'm gonna be back in a minute Man, just keep doing what you're doing. It's dope. Well, it's a yeah, cool. Cool. Cool. So it was there And it's like it'd been a it'd been a little while on James. Like, yo I wonder where for always this flat is he like where is he? I know where's right? He'll be back. He'll be back you back and I think it said it was a little while And then he looked up on the telly and thrill was there Just just kind of left him there like that. Yeah, there's phenomenal names though to be working with each kind of people's Unbelievable as well. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, but you know, I'm not gonna lie. There's been other people that has been like Maybe not as big Better experiences. Yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah 2010 you want to put a word. Yeah best male Phenomenal a word that was crazy to up against two Scotsman as well Palo Natinia and Calvin Harris, but I think Robbie Williams as well. Yeah, but you know what it was more of You know, it meant more because um I've been nominated a couple times But it was like for the urban Or those kind of categories your first few albums Yeah, but it's the fact that it was those categories urban cat, but this one was just like best british mouth Yeah, so that that was like raw and like I said, it was a time where I was independent So so you don't think it's signed after your first three albums like you didn't know I don't think I mentioned that in the story That that was the point. So when um, dance with me, I should have said that I was roughly, you know, but basically they didn't want Dance with me because they did I don't think I was feeling the direction And they weren't giving me the money that I wanted. I thought I felt like I wanted more money Naturally, whatever in it. I thought I'd done I'd earn it. So we ended up putting out dance with me But independently just like Before I've got the record deal with them in the first place We used to basically press up white labels press up records and take them to the record shop. So I thought I thought it would be like Going back to how it was when I was 17 so um So yeah, so when I did go number one, whatever that album I was Proper independent artist. I wasn't signed to anyone. I was signed off It worked on your favor then. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, it's a fuck you kind of thing in it. No, it's just more money for you kind of thing How was it did you feel was if when you won your brick though? Your rewards don't make you as a person but to win the best mayor against some superstars Did you feel as if that was you properly arrived on? Music scene or do you feel as if you'd already achieved a lot before that? No, I definitely felt like I'd achieved a lot. It was just the way it happened. Did you expect that? I weren't I weren't sure because like I'd been there a few times and Not one I'd been nominated. Sorry a few times and not one But to win it like that on after a string of number ones these are that four number ones On the on on the album. I had five number ones, but four of them was on the album And then I did that big performance with Florence No, I hadn't had four number ones yet because that song I did with Florence ended up going to number two I'd had I'd had That came off but I didn't expect to win it because The way the Brits is it's all the majors in it. Yeah, basically. So it feels like one of the things where they kind of dish it out to each other So I wasn't I wasn't expecting me just as an artist with not signed to any of them with no just on my own label To be getting the biggest Brit All the biggest Brit Yeah, best meal after having all that success so that it was kind of it was kind of mad So I went I went back but after I won it. Yeah, it was like it's amazing because yeah, because then you've got the mercury The Ivonevelo Brit award, you know, those those are the three like kind of You could say most important British awards So what was it like then taking your break for a few years? Why did you make that decision? What was that about so The next album was the fifth. That was the one where I'd Robbie Williams on it. Yeah Um that came out what in 2013 I think yeah, I just I just went to America It's the first time I went to America to make an album as well. So there was there was that was hopping around And I just I just done so much work back to back. So I think I just was kind of enjoying myself in between Then I put out an EP And I was making no I put out another album But again, I was serious about it, but I wasn't here a lot And I was just kind of finding more Wondering even if I even wanted to come back in Living Endless the first time when I thought about living somewhere else like fully A lot of fame and attention Yeah, I've been through so much like psychologically like I said all just all just all those things I had to deal with from young and then I got Famous famous because I felt like it was popular at the beginning But then like after winning the Brit Awards and all that like your famous famous Oh, well, a D in the bank knows who you are You can't you can't identify who's going to recognize you in it and it's mainly love by then it can be a bit overwhelming So in the 2009 I went on holiday I ended up going to Miami because I couldn't go to Antigua and I remember Just walking to the beach every day and just Just feeling free And I think that's what kept me over there And I was supposed to go for two weeks I ended up staying for a few months and then just kept going back all year and bought a place So and then from from there I got friends that will come and see me from Houston and then I'll go Houston like Bunby and all that I'll go I'll go back and forth and I started going New York again But I never used to go New York on my own. I used to go to New York and LA Just for work. So I'll go with the label manager all this thing do promo and have a bit of free time out there But then I started going to all these places by myself making new friends Then going Vegas then going Grand Cayman and going Jamaica and going all these places on my own and just enjoying them differently and the other thing Growing up here. I won a raver so I'd still get to go west end and all that but I didn't enjoy it like not really I enjoyed some of it or ever but and we're going to do bits and bobs and all that but It wasn't I didn't feel free. We still had to keep Look about what's happening and all that like as if I'm in England any part of it You still have to just keep looking about in it When I went IB for that's when I started enjoying like that different kind of party and house music and Oh, I was different in the vibes different like okay, like it's nice And when I started going to America and that that's when I started going to like the type of like Okay, that's the tiny ones that turn up and all that starting just Yeah, doing all the shit that I see in the rap videos But you're still young man. You're still fucking young. I know That's what I'm glad that I was able to do it my own accord But not go too far to the point where I come back and I'm a wreck and I'm fucked. I don't know what I'm doing Burn yourself out. Yeah. I think the break probably done you the world a good No, definitely. How's your family must be proud of you? Yeah, definitely and that's that's the best thing being able to just take care of stuff You know, I mean take care take care of your people and yeah, that's the beautiful thing in life That's why you've got to keep pushing forward to keep succeeding That helps knowing that you can you can do that. Yeah, you can take them holiday when you feel like and Yeah Time time is the most important thing man because you can There's been times definitely where you think just I've obviously gone through in a phase where you think you can just pay for everything and just give people money Or they want that just give them that give them that but sometimes your time Yeah is more important. Yeah money can't buy time and it's a precious thing to able to enjoy life And I think that's to find balance. It's the memory. Yeah. Yeah memories last for a lifetime I believe in the last forever some good some bad, but I believe the bad ones make us who we are today Oh, definitely. I've got some bad memories that I can laugh about now I laugh about now and then people have been sometimes you say you you think you've been through some shit And you tell you say it to someone and you're embarrassed after after they tell you what they've been through All this time I thought I'd have been through something So the new album E3 What is that? No, African E3 African. So what's that mean then E3? E3 African the AF is just abbreviated Like back in the day like we just someone we've seen so I have to look at the AF in my area AF or you had a Jamaican or Jamal who we call that AF So where's the inspiration from last album come? A lot of it's um I've made an album that's like I've produced a lot of it. So it's back to me on the beats like so like the Early Gram shit original old school dizzy raw school. That's what they say in old school dizzy They separate the two in it, but um, so to me making beats, but then I've got a lot of MCs on it. So it's like me back to bar bars basically. So everything from old school dizzy Yeah, I know it's it's man. I'm 35. I don't see old school dizzy. I'm just dizzy in it Yeah, whatever and it separated You see like that you've got the Beatles fans or the Elvis fans. They've got they've got different eras of their fans in it Like I feel like I've got fans Somebody's got fans who like all my shit and there's there's some fans who do they don't they don't fuck with that shit They make a point. I'm saying I have to deal with that, but yeah, but um, so then I've got everyone from getz, cano, chip, p-money, frisco, dwe All them people. So you know what kind of album is going to be his bars Like back to back. So it's wicked to work with all those people Nah, I'm not I'm not nervous now. Now I've got the first video out now. Now it's done Is that with Chuck Monk? Yeah, exactly. Yeah, so the stuff the stuff kind of stuff more anxious about Because I produced so much of it. It's just that ha That bass ain't cutting through like I want it to to like it's not like them old jungle records, man Like there's stuff like that. I already know that we're coming like It's a whole new there's so much out. There's so much new New rap new artists that I listen to I do go on grand daily every day and I see what's out So and I listen to especially the young driller use I listen to it So I know that there's no but I'm not trying to compete with them necessarily So and I've got a strong fan base strong low fan base of people All creeds colors or or demographics or whatever That just want to hear some new shit and I'll go it for them. It's a nice balance Because I've still got the upbeat shit like even the track I was telling you about that was inspired by me watching your interview with Yeah, it's a track called you don't know. It's like like a garagey thing garage. What is the garage tune? I actually got the beat because I'm I was in switzerland one day And when I come off the flat a guy introduced himself to me and his name's decline And then I didn't know him but they explained to me he made the song I don't smoke the reefer. That's like, oh shit. Sometimes people have to explain to me what your name made in It's like, okay. Okay. So then we started working But when I was like years ago, but then he gave me this beat. I had it for a while, but weren't sure about it But then one day I was just sitting down in I think I was in the studio at home and I was just watching youtube I just sit and just watching youtube And then your thing come on. I don't even know why I clicked on it And I just watched the whole thing and there was a part when he was talking about um He was in the club. He did it He did he does and he was popping bottles and doing all that And it reminded me that of when I first did all that and I know that everybody's talking about Because of his age and I know that I came directly behind that So I still saw all of that. I saw china wax. I saw faces and all the then places that are not in my mind I know what he's talking about. So then it reminded me inspired me and then part Part of that is in the verse that I wrote became part of a big part of the tune that he gave me the juice To like to add that part of it or not. So that that was good. Yeah, I fucking love that mate You've watched one of my podcast and got an inspiration from it Like for real because I had a beat for a while. Yeah. Yeah, class What do you think the state of like grime is now? Do you think there's a lot of good boys coming through a lot of good artists? As far as Graham, yeah, it's it's not at the forefront of the charts or Like mainstream right now, but I think It's been so influential even to the weather. There's a lot of the drill scene or even a lot of the life Or else we've got a lot of them were Graham MC's at one point Yeah Then just moved on to other shit and that's what's worked for them. Yeah, like just like I didn't know that a song with Armand van helden would probably mark my biggest song. Maybe It's arguable because it's my biggest tune. Yeah, you try something new and that's what ends up taking I think that's what happened with a lot of the guys that are popping right now. I reckon a lot of them were into Graham But that's not what took them Yeah, of course, you've got utilising to the advantage. You look at Stormzy and that working with Ed Sheeran and It opens doors, man, and it's and I believe it's good business. It's good music and then Staming's like bugs him alone. What do you think of the beef in that? I know Wiley's a king of beef like Hammond He's not the king of beef What do you think about him and Stormzy? Do you think that's good for Graham to get more traffic towards it? So for Dizzy Rasko, seventh album coming out. What's your plans for the future? Another album Like I said, I'm obsessed. This is still my hobby So just I'm still learning about music. I'm still learning about music all the time. I sit and watch documentaries. I sit and like Little dumb things like it might not be interesting to some of you. It's like, okay. I didn't I didn't know That the 909 drum kit It was invented and then it got utilised by a bunch of people in Chicago because it It was cheap because it hadn't sold very well So it was that's why they were able to buy it so cheap in those ghettos And a whole fucking genre was born out of that Which was house music. Yeah I'm 35. I learned that this week I knew what house music was but I didn't know those little details So what I'm basically saying there's so much for me to still learn Like, you know, I mean shit like that today whatever I just in the car on the way to you I just saw What was that? What's that? What's that telephonic? What are they called? Techno-tronic. I just see the pump up the jam video for the first time in my life. I knew the tune Pump up the jam? I've never seen the video before It's a fucking weird video. It's like acid. It's like something's trapping balls. You see what I'm saying But I've never seen it before. Yeah, like just little things like that I know it sounds like I'm straying away from the point but my point is there's so much to still learn So I'm you I'm gonna continue to keep making music because I'll just keep getting inspiration from all this the all the stuff That's just out there. Yeah, there's so much we will constantly be learning. I know you're big You're not you're big on social media. You're massive but you don't really Interact with it. No I think it fucks your mind. Why is that? Why do you do that though? I think it gets in the way man? I think it gets in the way. It's not it's not every it's not You don't always need to know what people got to say to you got to got like It feels like it's not as intense in person Like people see you it's easy. It's like what's going on? Yo, this is this what's going on brother. You called you want a picture? I called it sometimes you want a picture Sometimes I don't want to take a picture for whatever reason whatever seven in the morning I'm hungry. I ain't eating it or whatever. Oh, I'm just in a bad mood Someone piss me off and I don't feel like taking the picture right now. I'm not being rude. It just is where isn't it? But you're just rude anyway by default. So you're a content in it So but you navigate that that's cool. The majority of time I'm nice to everyone and people are nice But online sometimes it just gets in the way man. Like The shit the shit people say like people it's like people look for shit to be pissed off about And then and then just go mad in the comment section. Yeah, people can be nasty bastards It's easy to dare on the on the screen. Yeah, it's so much the funny that pushes man They're just fucking weak likes when you're outside there. What do you see when you're driving about? What do you see people minding their own damn business? Yeah staring the fuck out of each other's way That's what the real world's lacking it But obviously stuff from it spills into the real world. It can do anything could cause problems, but I've definitely Especially because I've got album coming. I've definitely obviously made more effort to To be a bit more Yeah, but but don't get me wrong something there are a lot of good interactions These people would have been to old shows or people that remind you of stuff that you fully forgot Oh that show or that little like those things are there the gems like sometimes you have to go through a bunch of stuff or whatever or people remind you like of some So shit that you don't even need to know about as well Or people to do some shit that you did when you were 17 like and to an extent I can like I said I've got songs on here beats on here this will the sound similar or same energy as they did when I was 17 But I can't be 17 again. So yeah, but you became sex successful before social media A lot of people can be successful just be fucking releasing a video On instagram or youtube, right? It's a weird different success But you did that how was your work ethic then was it non-stop? Because you never had the social media to utilize as an advantage There was less media. I guess it was more tv and radio than it and then just Well pirate radio was our first social media because that's what brought people to give our people were listening Like we but the thing is maybe it was easier because We didn't know there was no number. It feels like everyone's like even me feels like you're chasing the numbers game now That's the anxiety anxiety how many views how many likes how many all like what the fuck is that? We were on radio going mad spitting our hearts out and don't even know if 30 people were listening Yeah, and it was great and then that that's what elevated us to the raves And that's what elevated us whatever record label signing us and then for taking that out All this I feel like a lot of this shit just gets in the way unnecessarily You know what? I guess it's just how whatever people felt when music videos came in So some people that didn't want to take to it Okay, it's it's a similar thing. It's just it's just adjustment So it's more about having to adjust That's more important than me Whatever mowing in the bath fucking I don't want to tell you that It's an adjustment Yeah, as well as and We've just got a fucking trying utilize everything to put advantage to be fair at all I did spaz a little bit like those like I said those years where I was enjoying myself I think that's probably where I actually grew my instagram following. Yeah. Yeah, because I was I was wilding man. I was showing I was Showing shit that I wouldn't usually show. Yeah, I was getting excited All sorts of shit like that at the time because I'm because you're out there It's a different culture out there. There's stuff that's just a bit more acceptable out there And it's more almost mainstream culture out there than it is here but like If I'm in in a fucking strip club Eating chicken getting whatever massive ass in front of me Filming it out there in two in the morning It's cool, isn't it? Yeah But it's eight in the morning in england That's the first thing people see that ass and chicken and sometimes it's kids. Yeah And it's that full processor. That's the whole shit actually No, you can't do that. Yeah, so Yeah, because you're a role model as well people are looking for you as the answers as inspiration for Yeah So for your next you want to try and get do a next an album straight away for next year I've already started any big names coming on that Can't say I can man. I've got I've got a little something with um With no galaga. Oh That'll be cool legendary. Yeah. Yeah, so I'm just right right now. It's being mixed Yeah, but yeah, that's one and the rest I'm just I'm just experimenting. I'll say I bought a bunch of new cables bunch of new hardware and just Experimenting so I'm coming up with stuff. Yeah bits recorded a few bits But I said this out man even out by the time this one comes this out this out get you back on again Oh, come on. Yeah before we finish up. We'll touch on a couple of things Glastonbury headline. Hmm. It must be happening now You'd think in it. Yeah, you'd think man All them festivals man, I'm fucking I put the groundwork in yeah for like all these mcs like really because I was at all these festivals When they definitely had no faith in uk rappers or mcs like there was definitely that we run into some other uk rappers Around that was almost his own thing. It's almost like a separate thing. But as far as carrying a show To a massive crowd like Show off the show like Yeah, I did that from like 14 15 years ago Yeah, and I've done Glastonbury so many times And there's a couple times where I should have been the headliner, but they put me the one just one just before Yeah, again, because this is where they they have the faith or maybe whoever it is They this this ain't time that maybe they're thinking they're trying to sell tickets And it was going to be the bigger draw, but it definitely there's one there's one year where Red hot chili peppers, I think dropped out And they put they replaced them with the gorillas instead of putting me up And it's like you definitely you could have just like put me in that Because I've got this my shows are is my show is a headline show. It doesn't matter where we are Because just there's too many bangers It's just too jammed with too many bangers and we give it a thousand percent. It's just a headline show To get the fucking crowd walking away in a high Yeah, that's that's what we do. That's what it is and every now and then sometimes Well, you're gonna have a show that wasn't as good as you wanted it to be whatever reason But come on, man. Yeah, I'll have to fucking get the fingers out But no, but if it doesn't happen, so what? Yeah, it's like past anyway You've still been on the main stage, but like being second last it's like finishing second Being the second man on the moon Oh, yeah, I was the second man on the moon No one made a fool about the second man on the moon It won't happen. It will definitely happen last question, brother I know because of like coronavirus and all this shit For all like festivals and stuff. You're still doing a lot of headlining stuff, but it's drive-thru. Is that no that one got cancelled as well It just went on Piers Morgan for no reason Good morning, Britain. Yeah, I've been cancelled. So do you think everything will be back next year? Then my people can enjoy a concert or do you think Musicians can struggle man. Hopefully you can in it, but I don't know how you're gonna have a festival with ever like I don't know say 80,000 people or even one of the smaller ones 30,000 people What two meters apart? Yeah And that thousand fucking people Yeah Or 30,000 people there. So like, okay. How's that gonna work in it? Yeah, and then I almost like I want to have to go through all those things Like go go through that bunch of testing before I go to festivals Yeah, hopefully things can move forward, but Dizzy For coming on today, brother and telling your story. It's been unbelievable. I've very much appreciate it For just finishing up me anybody watching just looking for a wee bit of inspiration It's what to start off in the rap scene. What advice would you have for them? What advice would I um don't do it? Definitely do it. Definitely do it. It's not always going to go your way and just If you really want it just don't do anything else That's what I did. I dropped out of college Because I made up my mind like why am I here? I could be doing this outside and within that year. That's when I got the record deal Yeah, so like I said, it's not always going to be easy though I don't want to tell anyone anyone to drop out of college now. Just just stick at it because One thing I've learned anything can happen man Some of these guys that you see and popping right now. They're always smashing it. They've been in the game a while. They look new Their success is new, but they're not new. They just they just stuck at it. Yeah Brother. Yes, sir. Congratulations on the new album coming out. I look forward to hearing it and have a great day Check out more of my podcasts on the right and be sure to like share and comment your thoughts on this week's podcast Thank you