Muthaland scoop

Stepping in the shoes of Blaque

Thanks to technology and the creation of websites like Twitter, Reverbnation and Media fire, upcoming rappers are able to market themselves without a huge budget or a record label. Amongst these upcoming rappers/ rap groups is Blaque of whom I got familiar with through a BBM broadcast, broadcasting a link to download one of their tracks. Needless to say I downloaded the track and was impressed with what I heard. Blaque is a rap group from the east of Johannesburg and which consists of members Dellz, Geezy, Parley, Ric Priddy Ugly and Savio; for the first MUTHALAND SCOOP interview I hit them up to find out more about them and what their views on hip hop are.

1. When did you fall in love with hip hop?

We separately fell in love with hip hop when we were young. We each grew up in hip hop orientated environments, where we used to see kats ciphering on corners and at the shops. We always felt the need to join them, but they always referred to us as “too young”, so we never really got to participate until we all met each other.

2. What comes to mind when you hear the statement “Hi my name is Hip Hop”?

Well... first thing that comes to mind is growth. Growth in the sense that the SA’s hip hop genre can extend its boundaries and reach new frontiers via the online world which is currently the main source of communication.

3. When was Blaque formed?

We started making music in the year 2005, back then we were as known as “Krunk Era” until 2007 when the name changed to Blaque.

4. Classic hip hop q, which rapper has made the most impact in hip hop between Biggie or Pac?

If you are talking about how a lot of people outside the genre knew about hip hop music, surely its Tupac. We as Blaque however side with Biggie because he brought raw skill and was able to connect to the streets and the commercial scene.

5. What are your thoughts on South African hip hop?

South African hip hop is vastly growing, seeing that its head count is continuously increasing, however we are suffering from a lack of proceeding artist. Proceeding in a sense that for instance there are a lot of rappers in SA, but how many eventually break into the commercial scene and are able to make profit from their artistry? Furthermore refer to hip hop as a full time career?

6. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years time?

As a team we’d really like to have our music touch base internationally.

7. If you could use three words to describe what hip hop is to you, what would they be?

Foundation for expression

8. What makes you different from any other group/ fam in hip hop?

Well first and foremost, experience counts and to a certain extent we prefer to not categorise ourselves as rappers, rather as musician because we believe that versatility and transformation are the backbones of timeless music.

9. What are your thoughts on ‘rappers’ like Pitch Black Afro, who’s sound borders on kwaito?

His doing what he has to do, after all we are living in a South Africa market.

10.      If you could sign with any record label, who would you sign with?

We are self independent. So in short we don’t do contracts.

In conclusion of the interview, its clear to see that this group is set on what they want out of this industry, furthermore on what hip hop is to them. To get more familiar with the group stay  locked on HI MY NAME IS HIP HOP to download their tracks when they drop.

-Hip Hop