Interview With The Legendary Dr Krome . . . . How long have you been actively involved in Hip Hop?
Actively involved and putting my stamp on things id say from around 91 when i got my first decks, I listened to rap before that but I was finding my way whilst also listening to metal!
Actively involved and putting my stamp on things id say from around 91 when i got my first decks, I listened to rap before that but I was finding my way whilst also listening to metal!
What was the first tune you heard and thought this is it I'm sticking with this music?
I'm not sure there was a tune which made me think BOOM that's it! It was all about Run DMC,LL Cool J and Public Enemy in the early days of Sidmouth College but it was probably around 1990 when i first heard Gunshot's Battle Creek Brawl and Hardnoise Untitled, there seemed to be no turning back from that point then in 91 came Def Defiance - dear oh dear! For me that sound will never die, awesome ....hang on a minute, ill stick it on now....
What do you believe Hip Hop to be?
The most creative, free form thing i know! and without trying to sound to cliche, Just a good happy family, everyone has their part to play in moving it forward but we all know some of us understand it better than others ! haha.. Bristol has a great unified scene, as did exeter when i was there as a kid, that's important.
The most creative, free form thing i know! and without trying to sound to cliche, Just a good happy family, everyone has their part to play in moving it forward but we all know some of us understand it better than others ! haha.. Bristol has a great unified scene, as did exeter when i was there as a kid, that's important.
Apart from mad skills on the turntables your also known for collecting the rarer rap records, how did that come about?
Well, Its always a sticking point this because whats rare to one isn't necessarily to another. As mentioned before that raw, undiluted, and pure sound that came from the 80s I liked and then when people started using breaks as a pose to drum machines in their beats i was hooked. Aside from the mainstream groups of the time, A lot of the mid to late 80s Indy break based joints that everyone collects now didn't get over here at the time so a lot of us are playing catch up. If I'm honest none of my lesser known heavy 12s from that era were bought anywhere near the time, they have been bought in the last 10 years or so. It goes without saying Ivory's HNE mix series has smashed a spotlight in the face of those slept on 12s over here and as a result the phrase RANDOM RAP appeared. This created a whole new sub-genre within old school rap, odd but dope ! except the prices have gone through the roof as a result, damm it.
Well, Its always a sticking point this because whats rare to one isn't necessarily to another. As mentioned before that raw, undiluted, and pure sound that came from the 80s I liked and then when people started using breaks as a pose to drum machines in their beats i was hooked. Aside from the mainstream groups of the time, A lot of the mid to late 80s Indy break based joints that everyone collects now didn't get over here at the time so a lot of us are playing catch up. If I'm honest none of my lesser known heavy 12s from that era were bought anywhere near the time, they have been bought in the last 10 years or so. It goes without saying Ivory's HNE mix series has smashed a spotlight in the face of those slept on 12s over here and as a result the phrase RANDOM RAP appeared. This created a whole new sub-genre within old school rap, odd but dope ! except the prices have gone through the roof as a result, damm it.
Is there any advise you would give to people starting to dig for those older Hip hop records?
Yep, Look through everything, Hardcore, Drum and Bass, Country! and never ignore the 50p bins or the shit out the back that the shop owner thinks is fit for the skip....u just never know....If you want to pay Internet prices then cool, I have over the years but digging is what its all about and when you find that gem for 50p you'll be smiling for a week!
Yep, Look through everything, Hardcore, Drum and Bass, Country! and never ignore the 50p bins or the shit out the back that the shop owner thinks is fit for the skip....u just never know....If you want to pay Internet prices then cool, I have over the years but digging is what its all about and when you find that gem for 50p you'll be smiling for a week!
So what makes a good record in your opinion?
A tuff hook, a paper label and if I'm lucky a tight scratch where I didn't expect it, a-la Cage 1.
A tuff hook, a paper label and if I'm lucky a tight scratch where I didn't expect it, a-la Cage 1.
Nowadays Hip Hop has kind of lost its way, how do you feel about the onslaught of artists and different genres which claim to be hip hop?
Hip Hop's musical element is beats, raps and cuts as we know but we need use that to put that out there in the right way, Guns and drugs don't do that whether its meant tongue in cheek or not, if your a gangster fuck off and stay a gangster, and as for U2 trying to rap, come on !!!? what are you thinking bono, or is it bone -dawg now? stick to what your fans seem to think your good at and leave rap alone to evolve in the right way.
Hip Hop's musical element is beats, raps and cuts as we know but we need use that to put that out there in the right way, Guns and drugs don't do that whether its meant tongue in cheek or not, if your a gangster fuck off and stay a gangster, and as for U2 trying to rap, come on !!!? what are you thinking bono, or is it bone -dawg now? stick to what your fans seem to think your good at and leave rap alone to evolve in the right way.
Graffiti is an essential element of Hip Hop culture, you have been a keen follower over the years. What floats your boat graf wise?
Right now I love Paris, He's killing it again at them mo, his style takes me back to when i first used to see graf in hip hop connection late 80s/early 90s however the style i love most is that "blunted funk" type style (not sure where i just got that term from !) we used to see mind 90s back in Exeter, Fix, Kilo, Soe, Scarse etc, thats the stuff ill always cherish .............
Right now I love Paris, He's killing it again at them mo, his style takes me back to when i first used to see graf in hip hop connection late 80s/early 90s however the style i love most is that "blunted funk" type style (not sure where i just got that term from !) we used to see mind 90s back in Exeter, Fix, Kilo, Soe, Scarse etc, thats the stuff ill always cherish .............
From this neck of the woods it was all about Inkie, his style in 89/90 was just out of this world for me, barton hill was the place to see it - good times, not forgetting Turo, Shimz, and later Acer, all have done amazing styles and are up there for me as the nicest writers.
What do you think about the ever expanding medium of street art? Is it Graffiti?
Well yeah you can label it Graffiti but its not really the essence, Not for me. I'm not one for stencils etc, they are dull and lifeless, graf for me should slap you in the face, it should be the visual equivalent of funky drummer looped or I aint no joke loud as fuck on a boombox.
Well yeah you can label it Graffiti but its not really the essence, Not for me. I'm not one for stencils etc, they are dull and lifeless, graf for me should slap you in the face, it should be the visual equivalent of funky drummer looped or I aint no joke loud as fuck on a boombox.
Many people will know you from scratching on tracks by Rola and BR38, what is your favourite memory from being in the studio?
Well, me and you have had some good'uns, recording your second 12" was a good moment for me. Another would be when me and Swift went up to London and pressed up the 2nd BR38 12" I recently recorded a tune called "Details" with Rola and Mr Fantastic which i also loved doing but my fondest memory's to be honest are just the regular Tuesdays we used to hook up as BR38 to work on stuff, it was always a good laugh, Fantastic would always be late, Id always be drunk, Gee would build barricade's and Trukka was the hub holding it all down! we'd just lark about I think that shows in the music! Performance wise, Supporting Jeru at The Thekla, cracking night.
What projects are you working on now?
I've sort of taken a step out for now but I'm working on bringing a mix tape together, just good old rap 12"s. I may be doing some work with The Journeymen over the next few months and i might get round to putting my graf flicks to good use in a mag for the heads, who knows, ill keep you posted.
I've sort of taken a step out for now but I'm working on bringing a mix tape together, just good old rap 12"s. I may be doing some work with The Journeymen over the next few months and i might get round to putting my graf flicks to good use in a mag for the heads, who knows, ill keep you posted.
What do you think about UK Hip Hop? Do you have any particular favourite tracks or crews from over the years?
There are a lot of good UK rap crews out there that barely see the light of day, you just have to dig a bit deeper to find a solid one now, too many "sound a like" London Mc's seem to be doing well at the moment, maybe its because they go for it and push harder, i don't know. It seems to be a popular sound at the moment. YES BLOOD! not.
Touched on it earlier but yep;
Fav crew's/Mc's - Def Defiance, Numbskullz, Gunshot, Hardnoise, Caveman, Mello, Construction, Blade, Hijack, Most Dominant, Prime Rhyme Masters, Krispy 3,
Dominant Force, Kolbalt 60...not forgetting the DJ's - Beans, White Child Rix, Renegade, SON, Prime Cuts, Format....
There are a lot of good UK rap crews out there that barely see the light of day, you just have to dig a bit deeper to find a solid one now, too many "sound a like" London Mc's seem to be doing well at the moment, maybe its because they go for it and push harder, i don't know. It seems to be a popular sound at the moment. YES BLOOD! not.
Touched on it earlier but yep;
Fav crew's/Mc's - Def Defiance, Numbskullz, Gunshot, Hardnoise, Caveman, Mello, Construction, Blade, Hijack, Most Dominant, Prime Rhyme Masters, Krispy 3,
Dominant Force, Kolbalt 60...not forgetting the DJ's - Beans, White Child Rix, Renegade, SON, Prime Cuts, Format....
Whats your all time 10 favourite Hip Hop tracks
Thats difficult, so many good tunes for so many different reasons and they change all the time depending on your state of mind..so...these aren't of ALL TIME but they are up there, in no order....
Divine Sounds - Do or Die
Thats difficult, so many good tunes for so many different reasons and they change all the time depending on your state of mind..so...these aren't of ALL TIME but they are up there, in no order....
Divine Sounds - Do or Die
Bed StyKeek & Oagee - Dont Say It Sing It
Def Defiance - Chemical Attack
Marley Marl & Shan - Marley Marl Scratch
Kool G Rap - Men At Work
Eric B & Rakim - Dont Sweat The Technique
Fearless 4 - Rockin It
Numskullz - The Difference
Harnoise - Untiled
Showbiz & AG - Silence Of the Lambs Remix
Name your all time 10 favourite Breaks
Not buying many breaks nowadays but i love;
APACHE (always be the best break for me )
Name your all time 10 favourite Breaks
Not buying many breaks nowadays but i love;
APACHE (always be the best break for me )
Commodores - Assembly Line
Sapo - Been Had
Sound Foundation - Soul Foundation
James Brown - Funky Drummer
Fausto Papetti - Loves Theme
Ramsey Lewis - Back In The USSR
Manzel - Space Funk
Skull Snaps - New Day
ESG - UFO
...above all just great tunes throughout.
Shout outs
Specifik, Project Cee, Fantastic, Gee, Trukka, Beaner, Rola, Rumage, Jay, Shar, Fine, John Kennedy, Coherent, Aroe, Le Mart, Shar, Vertebrae, 3pm, Smurf, Turoe, Hip Hop
Lounge, Mike (Prime cuts) DWG, Ivory. Kool Herc, Flash and Bambaataa.
...above all just great tunes throughout.
Shout outs
Specifik, Project Cee, Fantastic, Gee, Trukka, Beaner, Rola, Rumage, Jay, Shar, Fine, John Kennedy, Coherent, Aroe, Le Mart, Shar, Vertebrae, 3pm, Smurf, Turoe, Hip Hop
Lounge, Mike (Prime cuts) DWG, Ivory. Kool Herc, Flash and Bambaataa.
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