Mcarta Footwear

Mcarta is a uniquely British Independent footwear brand. The Mcarta design concept embraces the very idea of conflict that they find in modern urban life. Mcarta represents the modern independent and free spirited individual who carries the dream of our ancestors through their actions, sustaining freedom and making every moment count.

Streetwear Gossip

Hard times are biting for independent retailers and the signs are there to be read.

Cide the core London skateboard shop run by some of the UK’s leading skateboard professionals has closed down. Exstores which we count has owning 10 shops is closing all of them. Exstores formed in September 04 after the purchase of Legends, a long established and core lifestyle retailer.

We also hear and it’s confirmed that Fenchurch Clothing who wouldn’t allow us to stock them for a number of seasons due to us not being core enough for them are now kicking their independent retailers in the teeth and supplying Republic. So shortly you will be able to buy your Fenchurch at knock down prices on any highstreet and the cult following it currently has will leave in the droves and as will most of it’s independent shop base. The start of the end for Fenchurch we predict.

Steff Plaetz

Scrawl Collective's Steff Plaetz has designed the window display for the flagship Lee Jeans Store on Carnaby St. There are two large installation pieces in the windows and 2 more at the point of sale areas. The pieces are based on his iconic stencilled figures, using large scale printouts, household paint and insulation tape.

You can find t-shirts by the Scrawl Collective and Steff Plaetz at these links
Scrawl Collective
Addict

The Urban Shop Speaks

The explosion of T-Shirt graphics over the past decade is proof positive that design culture has had an impact on humanity, right down to the shirts on our backs. Whereas the T-shirt of old was simply a wearable piece of pop art that pronounced, amongst other things, one's temperament and aesthetic tendencies, the T-shirt of today is a people's canvas, a medium that enables artists and designers to share their vision with the hoi-polloi. T-Shirt 360 is a collection of some of the most wearable graphics designed in the past few years. A comprehensive visual encyclopaedia of t-shirt graphics, this book features some of the most striking pieces from all over the globe - some you may have already scooped, others you will have missed entirely. Also included is an interview with our top man about the designs we have produced over the years under various synonyms.


Is London a place of inspiration?
Not for me when I was 15-16 I used to hang around Kings Road and the music venues of London but never lived there or anywhere near. Now days I live in the countryside and find inspiration form many walks of life.

Describe The Urban Shop?
It’s me is the easy answer, it’s my life and it’s about my life and experiences. Other than that it’s an online shop that sells clothes that I like.

You only work online, or do you have a shop?
Which are the advantage and the disadvantage? We are only online since 99 there and many advantages and disadvantages of both but you just have to make the most of what you do. For us personally we never try to do what has been done before so we continually look how to be original or at least bring new ideas to different groups.


Where do you find your inspiration?
It’s not fair to say it all me because I have the easy bit I see designs or designers that I like and I approach them to do a design for us. Having said that I never put constraints on designers and turn down many designs that I think are not in the style of the designer. Let me explain I approach designers because I like their work and usually because it’s different but sometimes they try and do a shop design that is not what we are about it about designs I like and designers doing their own thing

Who has designed for The Urban Shop?
Well our old friend has to be Frame/Framer/leeframer the guy is a genius and has done work for The Urban Shop for years, he has worked as designer for many magazines including graffiti and music but designs for a few big international clothing companies, we are very lucky that he feels what we are doing and we work together whenever possible. All the designers that had done work for us I would like to call friends and I regularly get asked by companies if I could supply designers, which I do but never take anything for myself has it’s just helping friends. Shouts to designers who have helped us in no order Cheba, Eco, Kid Acne, Rough, Sickboy.

What is the biggest challenge when developing a printing?
Trying do something different in a very worked out medium, but generally it’s cutting colours down and producing artwork that everybody is happy with.

Regarding one of your sold out T-Shirt why was it such a success?
Because people liked it or felt what we were trying to do at that time.

Beatbox Mixer

Well we love a bit of fun at The Urban Shop and we've just come across this beatboxmixer. It's Flash built interactive beatbox mixer, you just pick a main boxer and 2 backing and mix away. We were rubbish so have gotta be better

Edo G, Akrobatik, Backdraft & JV - "Blastmass"

Edo G has always been a rapper that I feel has been under-rated on a global stage. Although he has worked with some of the greatest producers in the world such as Pete Rock and rocked stages all over the world, he very rarely gets the credit from being there from back in the day. Maybe it’s a New York / Boston / East Coast thing, but whatever way you look at it he is one super sick MC. On this new independent release from Iceman Records he teams up with fellow Boston rappers; Akro’ whose 200 debut ‘The EP’ fully impressed the world of Hip-Hop and the man known for rocking those live shows Backdraft. This track has the bounce and flavour of a future Hip-Hop classic and is something that is missing from the scene. I only hope people give this track and this label the attention they so rightly deserve. This is the East Coast sound done well and to be totally frank it don’t get much better than this! - Review by Lee Wellman

Iceman Records

Abstract Mindstate

Who are the members of Abstract Mindstate?
I’m E.P Da Hellcat aka The White Lotis & I’m Olskool Ice-Gre aka Tha Gud Dr.

What does each individual member bring to the table?
E.P - A knife and a fork….LOL No really true lyricism from a female perspective/ Olskool - LOL…..Lyricism from a male perspective. I wanted to say something to drink and a napkin but yall would’ve thought we were crazy.

How long have you been releasing records?
Both - Since 1999

What have you released to date?
E.P - a toilet full of hits….LOL! Let me see in 1999: The Last Demo (It was a 7 song ep), 2001: Still Paying (It was a full length album on a indie with national distribution), 2005: Chicago’s Hardest Working Vol.1 and late 2005 into 06: Chicago’s Hardest Working Vol.2 (Project Soul).

You’ve worked with an array of artists but when you came in the game you where connected with David Banner. Please tell us more about this?
Olskool - We’ve known Banner for years. E.P & I attended Jackson State University in Jackson Mississippi where Banner is from and at the time was a local rapper. He became part of our old Hip Hop crew called The Stewpot Stowaways and long story short he’s our man from back in the day who made a name for himself so E.P asked him to join on a joint with us and as we expected he did. E.P – What up Banner!!

We’re feeling the new single, especially the collaboration with Common. How did you hook this up?
Olskool - We asked…LOL! No actually Common was one of the major supporters of Abstract Mindstate during our grind in Chi and we always said we would do a joint together so when we were recording Vol.2 we felt we had the perfect song to feature him and he liked it so we all went in the lab together and banged it out. E.P – 4sho!

What was it like to work with him?
E.P – First of all it was an honour, a mind blowing experience. Dude don’t write his rhymes down either. Olskool - crazy!

Tell us about the other tracks on the single?
E.P - Missing you is Mindstate’s way of thanking God for the return of true Hip Hop. Another classic Rashid Hadee produced track. Olskool - and These Raps featuring our dawg Special Ed is our way of first paying respect to a legend by asking him to bless us with a collabo and giving the listeners an alternative to the norm. You don’t have to be hardcore in every rap song for it to be felt. You can do other things, which is why we said what we said in the hook.

Apart from Lil Brother and maybe Kanye West it seems that major labels aren’t signing the “authentic” sounding hip-hop artists. Is real hip-hop dead?
Olskool - No its not! It’s been on hiatus for a minute because suits & ties run the business of music now. The jobs that use to be filled by music lovers and those who appreciated the art of music are now filled by tight corporate types who only care about the bottom line so they’re willing to sacrifice the art. E.P - No it’s not dead. Groups like Mindstate, All Natural, Chapter 13 are attempting CPR….LOL

What are your views on the state of the independent Hip-Hop scene in the US at the moment?
Olskool - Its slowly become the way to go if you choose to make Hip Hop music with any significance, so the state of indie Hip Hop in the US is progressive. E.P- I agree

You’re planning to get out here to the UK sometime soon to perform, tell us about that.
E.P - We’re looking forward to performing in place where real Hip Hop is appreciated and coveted. Olskool - I cant wait we’ll be there in March. We wanna smash out as many live shows as possible. I’ve been talking to a very talented artist by the name of Viviana who has a joint with DMX and she’s letting us open all of her shows so we’re charged to give the people what they want.

Are you working on an album, if so when will it be released?
Olskool - We’re actually finished with our album and we’re in lightweight negotiations with it now but I don’t wanna speak to heavy on it…LOL. E.P- Yeah but we will say it has production by some of Chicago’s hottest producers Kanye, Xtreme (who has Ghostface first single and behind the success of Bump J), Absolute, Rashid Hadee, Harvey Allbangers (who’s lacing every artist in Chi right now), Devo Springsteen (he co produced Diamond’s off Ye’s album), 88 Keys ……Olskool - and a features from John Legend, Kanye and artist from our 4The Soul-Reciprocity Inc music family.

Who does your beats and what studio do you use?
Both – Rashid Hadee!!! Olskool – Actually Rashid Hadee is the Mindstate secret weapon…LOL. That’s why he produced the entire Chicago’s Hardest Working Vol.2 mixtape (minus 1 song). E.P - We love his production and how we sound on it. That’s why he’s producing the next mixtape: Chicago’s Hardest Working Vol.3 (The Celebration). It’s the last of that mixtape series…we think.

Olskool – and the studio we work out of in Chicago is called The Green Room or National Recordings. E.P – Our engineer Abe National can’t make up his mind on the name but we prefer The Green Room so that’s what it is to us….LOL

What record label are you on?
Olskool – We’re on 4The Soul-Reciprocity Inc. It’s an independent entertainment company I formed a few years back with my partner LaTina Cunningham that’s ran by us and my longtime friend/business partner and former manager Armers Moncure. We have a small 3 act roster that includes Abstract Mindstate but that’s all we need for now. E.P – It’s the place we call home. At the end of the day we know we got each other.

Interview by Brendan Deane

Abstract Mindstate
The Soul-Reciprocity

Geebag Still Rockin / Raindrops

I just love UK Hip-Hop when it's done right! Hip-Hop music is beats and rhymes, and for a perfect track the rapper has to almost be married to the beat. If the connection isn't there then the track is normally average, something I hate to say is prominent in a lot of home-grown rap releases. This track was a breath of fresh air as funky stab led production makes way for an MC with something to say! The way he rhymes is pleasing to the ear although he still has enough attitude to keep a true hip-hop head happy. Raindrops on the flipside isn't as strong but is well worth checking for too. - Review by Simon Dellar

Geebag Productions

Easykill

Hailing from sunny Cornwall, grunge-rockers Easykill are a breath of fresh-air in the Planet Loud offices as we’re in danger of dying in a smog of brutality. Almost lazy in their delivery, Easykill are the musical equivalent to a sunny afternoon on the beach. Laid back, chilled out but rock as the come, the band deliver their grungesque surf-rock punk with passion but with all the relaxed attitude of a smoky jam session between mates. It is this chilled-out, cruise-along attitude of the band that is one of their most endearing factors although when the guitars kick in they rock, plain and simple? This attitude is what has encouraged Mada Clothing to sponsor them along with The Hundreds.

Easykill

Mantis Chapter

How did you get the name "The Mantis Chapter"?
TSOne - Long time ago. TMC established '91 so it wasn't a Wu-tang type thing - more a mystical cryptic name, an identifier based on the origins of “mantis” meaning prophet and “chapter” representing our group, and our contribution to the book of hip-hop.

Is the “Sacrificial Offerings” EP your first release?
Acas13 - Yeah is first proper release - we have pushed out a few demos in the past.

TSOne - We did a self released EP that did get some recognition despite our lack of promotion and distribution at the time. Some features but like Acas says first release proper!

What artists would you credit as inspiration?
Acas13 - Inspired by many Hip-Hop producers I guess and I think a lot of music from the 70's - Funk Soul Reggae some of that experimental rock stuff that people were producing back then.

TSOne - Mid-to-late '80's US Hip Hop, and late '80's to early '90's UK Hip Hop, all-time heroes are Chuck D and Charlie Chaplin (Reggae artist), but so much out there is inspirational from classical to blues to jazz, film scores, anything.

What were the last three Hip-Hop albums that you brought?
Acas13 - I don’t buy a hell of a lot of Hip-Hop anymore I find a lot of modern Hip-Hop a bit dull really - The last couple of things I have bought are “The Army of the Pharaohs Album” - I love all that Jedi Mind Tricks stuff - Oh yeah Aroe and the Soundmaker's “The Crown Jewels” mix cd - which is quality - a mix tape of old UK Hip-Hop tracks - support that.

TSOne - Dark Craftsmen's album was the last that was memorable! More 12's - Hundredth Monkey still gets heavy rotation!

Your style differs very much to a lot of the UK Hip-Hop out on offer. How would you describe your style?
Acas13 - I don’t really like to use the term horrorcore but we are on a dark tip - we do use a lot of dark samples with a lot of influences from old books and horror films - we are the Edgar Allen Poes of British Hip-Hop. We like that dark psychological stuff. And listen to TSone's lyrics there are lots of references to that sort of stuff. But we are also influenced by the early days of British Hip-Hop - we have been doing this since '91 and back then we were producing 120 bpms plus on tracks so although we aren't doing that sort of speed now we are influenced from those times.

TSOne - MANTIS STYLE!

You reside in Cambridge. Is the scene still healthy down there and have you played at Rawganics yet?
Acas13 - The scene has gone kind of quiet down here again - not sure what’s going on with the mighty Rawganics.

TSOne - Not played a proper set at Rawganics. Hope that it gets in motion again, be good to get a vibe again. There's quite a lot of talent here - big up Delegates of Culture!

Good to see you signed with Dropzone Records. How on earth did you hook up with a label based in Scotland?
Acas13 - Well we approached Tekneek (Dropzone artist The Dark Craftsmen) to feature on the EP as he is an artist both of us respected. We got talking to Eastborn (Dropzone CEO) and he liked what we were doing and dropped a lovely verse for the EP as well. And from there we kept chatting and he signed us.

Are you working on your next release yet?
Acas13 - Oh yes got a few ideas in the pipeline just bouncing ideas/lyrics/bits of music about.

TSOne - Yep, looking forward to it already!

What would be your dream collaboration?
Acas13 - Hhhhmmm that is a difficult one - I think maybe Icepick or Alkaline from Gunshot. US wise maybe Wise Intelligent from Poor Righteous Teachers or KRS ONE.

TSOne - Apart from Eastborn, Tekneek and Geta!!! Bandog, Remark, Krash Slaughta, Curoc and more!!!

What do you think of the current state of UK Hip-Hop?
Acas13 - I think it’s pretty healthy - there is some good stuff coming out - I am not a big fan of a lot of it but I can see there is a lot of talent involved. I rate Klashnekoff quite highly. We are in contact with a lot of the older guys through the Heroes of UK Hip-Hop website and I can feel there is movement and a fair bit of networking slowly happening and I think you are going to see some of the UK Old Skool returning.

Do you listen to much UK Hip-Hop yourself?
Acas13 - maybe not as much as I used to but I still hear a lot of the new stuff that's coming out - and still listen to lots of the classics: Gunshot, Mc Mello, Killa Instinct, London Posse all those sort of artists.


TSOne - More old than new - check for a lot of stuff. It's all good and I'm always hopeful for the UK's big break - I reckon it's started - believe!

Any big-ups or shout-outs?
Acas13 - Yeah definitely first to Eastborn for having faith in us and releasing the EP. Then to Tekneek (Dark Craftsmen) and Geta (Killa Instinct's Dj) for their talented work on the EP. To Hoodee, Moriarti - To all the crew at Heroes of UK Hip Hop and all UK hip-hop artists that keep putting out quality product and moving the scene forward.

Interview by Steven Portland

King Apparel LDN range 06

Since its inception in the summer of 2005 the King Apparel LDN Range has gone from strength to strength. The “no re-runs, no repeats” philosophy necessitated colour variations of the caps and T’s which were released in 2005. From aspiring bedroom MC’s and DJ’s, to premiership footballers and established British artists such as Dizzee Rascal, the LDN collection has been embraced by a wide variety of UK icons.

For 2006, the King Apparel LDN collection will be expanding to include freshly designed fitted New Era caps with “hook up” matching crews and t-shirts in two colour variations. With ultra exclusive availability these will be limited to just 300 pieces in outerwear and 500 in caps, the collection is pencilled in for a July/Aug release. Reach for these in one of the 20 specially selected stockists throughout the UK only.
The Urban Shop will be stocking the LDN as soon as it's released King Apparel

Other King Apparel posts
King New Era Caps

Juttla

For years now there has been a sound tearing through the underground of the West Midlands. Whatever the genre of music Breaks, Drum & Bass or Hip-Hop there was always one man responsible. He goes by the name of Juttla, with his distinctive Asian flavour and his groundbreaking music I had to hook up with him to get the low-down on what going on.

So Juttla how exactly did you first get into the game of Producing / Remixing?
I've always been interested in producing music from a young age. I really started to take it more serious during the jungle days after going out to raves and listening to the likes of Grooverider and Fabio.

Rumour has it you have got a new album out which features artists like 2pac and Biggie. How did you hook that up?
I'm a 2Pac and Biggie fan, so this is really big for me. Tricksta from Wolftown is a king for hooking that up for me! The deal was I'd do the remix and if they liked it they could use it for their projects & releases and I get to use it in my album mixtape. The fact I got two tracks on with 2pac still amazes me. I am so proud of the work I did with these legends and working with the voices of such Hip-Hop legends really makes ya hair stick up on end!

Other than 2pac and Biggie which other names have you managed to get on your album?
There is a whole bunch… I've been kinda lucky, I got work with rappers I'm fellin' like The Game, Saigon, JT Tha Bigga Figga, Late, RH Bless, Slim Thug, 10Shott, Jai Boo and more..

It is set to come out via Wolftown Recordings. How did you link up with them?
I've known Tricksta 'n' Late from the early '90s from going out to clubs, they are like family to me – they're like my brothers. They asked me to remix a track for Wolftown from LATE's 'International Rhyme Spittin EP' and this whole Hip-Hop thing for me kinda started from there.

Years ago I remember you being big in breaks. Are you still actively producing breaks?
I really enjoy producing breaks. Twisting them bass and chopping them beats is better then having sex!!!

After your debut Hip-Hop album what is next for the man like Juttla?
I've started Volume 2 already. So far it includes David Banner, Lil Jon, Bun B, K Rino, Bodaiga, Skinnyman, Late, 10Shott and more.

Have you got any plans of travelling to the States anytime soon to link up with some of the artists that featured on your album?
I would love to go to the States but I don't if I'm ready for the USA yet. I'm still pretty new to the scene, so maybe after my next release. At the moment I am just trying to focus on really pushing this Hip-Hop project, staying hard-working like my CEO's Late & Tricksta, and just remain humble.

What do you think of this whole hip-hop thing? Is it harder work than some of the other genres you have worked in before?
It's hard work man. The scene I'm from is very different to Hip-Hop. In Hip-Hop it seems you really have to put in the work to get noticed. I've been use to producing instrumental music, and with that it's just you and your machine. You don't have chase any one up! The main thing I noticed is how hard it is to work with UK rappers. They are hard work I think studio excess is the main problem for them. I really want to get some good UK emcees on the Volume 2.

What kind of names can we expect on your follow up Hip-hop album?BIG, BIG, BIG things… I'm not allowed to give too much away – new Wolftown rules!!! But all I can is thanks to my boy MR. TRICKSTA.

Which artists are you feeling at the moment?
To be honest all I am listening to at the moment is the current and forthcoming Wolftown mixtapes! I do like The Relatives, Three 6 Mafia, Conspicuous The Coroner, Foreign Beggars, Saigon, Big Steele, K-Rino & SPC.

Which rapper would you love to work with?
I've already done it! They are all on “Bass, Kicks, Snares, Spits”! But saying that I'd love to remix a Nas, Jay Z, Dr. Dre or Snoop Dogg track, but also I'm lovin’ some of these underground artists from the UK and all over the States.

Any last words?
Big up Tricksta and Late for their support and for believing in me! Thanks to your self Brendan for the love with the interview, respects! Props to Dom – the man! And of course all my Wolftown people – 2006 we on the grind!!! Wolftown forever…

If you're an artist wanting to get in touch check out www.juttla.com.

Juttla's CD mixtape album 'Bass, Kicks, Snares, Spits' is available to buy from www.wolftownrecordings.com.

Interview by Brendan Deane

WIN Obey Limited Edition Print

The August 06 competition is live onlne. To celebrate the art work that Obey Shepard Fairey did for the Marc Echo game “Getting Up” released in Feb 06 Obey produced a limited edition print, The Urban Shop have one to give away. Only 2000 of these posters were printed and they are extra hard to get hold of.

Prvious Obey posts:-
Supply and Demand

Gee Bag

How did you get the name Gee Bag?
It’s funny because Gee Bag is slang a nasty female in Ireland apparently. I found this out after I started recording as Gee Bag. When I was a young teenager my cousin use to call me Gee Bag for no reason. I’m not to sure where he got the name from but I liked it. At the time I didn’t even use the name, he would just call me that whenever i would arrive at his house. Even when I was in 35 above I went by the name of Gee. It wasn’t that original and when we decided to split up i thought a new name would be suitable. The name stands for goodie bag, as I’ve always been a goodie as well as a good MC. in other words I’m a generous man full of surprises and lots of stuff for you to take home.

Coming up in South London’s infamous Brixton you where actually part of a group before you went solo. Tell us about this and why you are not in this group anymore.
I was in a group called 35 above since 1994 and left in 2004. In the space of ten years the group only released one single ( ha ha!! ). By that time I had a son and I just wanted to do things at my own pace.

Do you prefer to be a solo artist?
Most definitely, I’ve got so much freedom to do as I please. It’s just like being single again! It’s important to develop as an individual.

What producers are you working with?
Jimmy Plates, KLM and Mister Jaes.

The new single “Still Rockin” is out now and doing big things. Any plans for a video for this single?
Nah, but I got a video for raindrops.

How did you hook up with producer Mister Jaes?
I met Jae in a pizza place in Italy. We was both out in Rimini doing a couple of shows with our groups together through a promoter we both knew. We didn’t talk much out in Italy but we exchanged material and kept in contact back in the UK, that’s how it all started basically.


Is this single taken off a forthcoming album? If so will this drop this year?
Yes, it’s called “no worries” and it will be dropping around September god willing.

I must admit I was surprised that you have done “the single to album route” as almost every new artist coming out these days seems to be dropping a mixtape. What are your views on the whole mixtape game?
Mixtapes are cool but I’m old school. I don’t even know what the difference is between a mixtape and an album is.

What record label are you signed too?
I aint signed to any labels. The single is on Grinnin Records and the album will be coming out on KLM Records.

Any plans to maybe approach any majors with your forthcoming material?
I’m not sure about majors they just seem long.

UK Hip-Hop seems to finally getting the recognition it deserves, but it has taken an influx of artists from the grime scene to do this. Do you think UK Hip-Hop is dying and grime is taking over?
UK hip hop will always be around, I don’t know if grime is taking over and I don’t care to be quite frank.

Have you been doing many live shows? If so, what’s been the most memorable?
Nah, not really, I did Battlescars for a laugh at the beginning of the year ( I think? ). I just done my first live show as gee bag and that was quite memorable considering it was last night.

Is there anything you’d like to add?
God bless everyone that reads this and hears my music. Check my website at geebag.co.uk and buy my single and album or get one of your friends to buy it. Look out for the raindrops video also.

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out?
I wanna pay my respects to El Shaddai the most high, Blest, Unique Hastings, Mister Jaes, KLM, Café Recordings, Andrew Asamoah, Jimmy Plates, Tricksta, Lizard Man, all the dj’s playing my 12” and all of my family and friends.

Interview by Lee Wellman

Frame and Crack15

We just added some new flicks of the above work in progress carried out by our old mates Frame and Crack15 ou can se more of their work at links below.

Frame
Crack15

Graffiti Elph Flicks

For those of you that cannot make the Elph Show in Glasgow here's some recent flick of work provided by Elph for your enjoyment.

Bristol Unity Maga Rave Returns

Unity is a goodwill protest, born out of the local club scene's frustration at its marginalisation from the Bristol Community Festival. Once again, some of the city's finest nights unite.

Last year's debut event was the biggest and best party of the year, with queues around the block outside Lakota by 11pm.

Across five rooms and with music ranging from hip-hop to house, breaks to balaeric and dub to drum & bass, this event will cater for ravers of all persuasions.

This year you can expect more of the same from a selection of the city's finest DJs, MCs, VJs and club nights, all under one roof, all night long. Once again everyone involved with Unity is donating their services for free, and this year the money raised is going to benefit a range of good causes - split between Bristol Community Festival (who will receive a no-strings-attached donation of £1 per ticket) and local music charity The Basement Project, with an amount also held by a group of trustees to support and promote the local scene.

Five rooms of Unity @ Lakota, Friday July 21st 2006, 10pm. £5.
Advance tickets are available now from Replay Park St (0117 9041134), and Bristol Ticket Shop 0870 4444400 / bristolticketshop for £5 (no booking fee).

Megarave

Traffic Drum & Bass

For years we’ve been quite about what and who we sponsor but now with this blog we have a bit more of a voice so check out The Urban Shop sponsored event below.

Calling all Ravers, Drum & Bass Headz, and Future Thinkers! London’s premier Full Spectrum Clubnight is BACK! Bigger and Better than ever!! The NYE traffic jam was the perfect way to end 3 years at the Rhythm Factory and the perfect platform to launch the next stage of the journey. Future Thinkin have made a move to a venue that was a fundamental part of the evolving Jungle / Drum & Bass scene in the early 90's the Legendary, Original, ARCHES - 51-53 Southwark St, London Bridge

Once again the walls of the historic venue will shake to 25K of Beats and Bass, provided by what is promised, to be the best traffic dj & mc lineup EVER!! Future Thinkin have assembled the finest selection of talent from across the Drum & Bass Spectrum for your listening and dancing pleasure, DJ's who share the Future Thinkin view on Drum & Bass and who live for dancefloor destruction! Remember the Photek Records Launch Night? Andy C's debut @ Traffic? & New Years Eve 05? well you still aint seen nothing yet!

One the night DJ Marky 2 hours exclusive the only place he’ll be playing in London Bank Holiday weekend, Fabio, Zinc, Marcus Intalex, Shy FX, Storm, D-Bridge, Logistics, Teebee, Rohan, Danny Exile. So don’t forget ARCHES - 51-53 Southwark St, London Bridge Sunday 27 Aug 06 10pm-6am

further info
Future Thinkin

Bigg Steele Interview for The Urban Shop

Your new release The Chronicles Of Bigg Steele Volume Two features a who bunch of superstars from the legendary Notorious B.I.G, Big Pun and 2Pac, right over to rappers such as Busta Rhymes, Method Man and RBX. How did all this come about?
Some were studio magic. RBX for example is a personal friend.

With Chronicles becoming as popular as it is in the UK, do you have plans for Volume Three?
Yeah Volume 3 will be dropping before my next album, Cereal & Water

You have your own label Street Currency that obviously you are signed too as well as super producer Polar Bear. Have you signed anyone else or have any plans too?
I got some artist we are close to signing. Free-Style-Lee from my home town of Cleveland oh is a phenomenal talent. I’m looking to sign a UK Artist as well.

How do you find running your own label? Do you prefer being independent ?
It has its pros and a few cons, for one you spending your own money, but you get a much bigger return. I’m taking my next album through a major situation but I would never sign an artist deal. Those are robbery in every sense of the word.

Size Duz Matter was your first album and it was well received. Where you happy with the results from this release?
Very much so. That album bought my house (along with the chronicles) and took me all around the world. The next album Cereal and Water will make me an Icon.

When does your follow-up album Cereal & Water get a full release?
It’s dropping Feb 07. I’m gonna shoot a video for That’s what I’m bout Ft. Ne-Yo

L.A has produced some of raps biggest names. Apart from yourself who is killing the airwaves on Los Angeles radio?
People are getting spins here and there, but for the most part LA radio doesn’t go out of its way to support its own artist unless you have a personal relationship with them.

Do your releases that come out in the UK get released in America or anywhere else?
I'm world wide playboy! I’m like the sun, I hit all corners of the earth.

How would you describe you style? Would you say Bigg Steele is Gangsta Rap?
Nah, I’m hardcore at times but I’m not giving that bull any light. Most people that are gangsta rappers are cowards.

Apparently you’ve just hosted Late & Tricksta’s How We Do It On The Westside mixtape for Wolftown Recordings. How did this come about?
Those are my boys!

Swiss featured on the first album. Will there be any UK artists on the new album?
Maybe. I’m trying to get baby Blue on a proper joint. Outside of her and my dogs at Wolftown, I dont fool with none of them other cats. Some people need to learn humility and sell records before they become cocky and arrogant.

You have worked with many artists from L.A but who did you enjoy working?
All of em.

Street Currency


Interview by Steven Portland.

Park Street

If your looking for an urban hip hop related PR company then check our mate Tricksta and crew over at Park Street. At Park Street the Hip-Hop & Urban Department is run top UK publicist, Rago Magazine Editor & Writer, Mixtape DJ, producer and Wolftown Recordings CEO Tricksta. Working with high profile artists and well as up and coming artists Park Street PR service all leading UK music magazines, all top websites and E-Zines, as well as Radio/Club/Mixtape DJ’s and Radio Programmers. This is a way of getting known, building profile as well as creating that all important buzz which may lead to getting signed, getting your release distributed and performing live in the UK. In a saturated market of artists get ahead of the game and get noticed.

Park Street have worked with/represent the following UK artists;

LATE, 10Shott, Juttla, Jai Boo, Conman, Size8, Big Wayne, Eastborn, The Darkscraftmen, The Mantis Chapter & Dropzone Records, P.A.C, Mister Jaes & Café Recordings, Lunatrix, DJ Vokal & Occupy Your Mind Records, HHB Radio, Swift It Major & T.G.S.M.P, Reload & Inner City Productions, Blade & Baby J, Tricksta & UK Runnings, Geebag, Trz & Kelz aka Souljah Clique, and more…

US artists;

Assassin’s 2Pac ‘The Way He Wanted It’ Albums, The Jacka & Mob Figaz, ESG, Geolani & Team Afficial, Murder Dog Magazine ‘We Gets It Crunk’ Compilation, DJ Vlad’s ‘Hot In Here’ DVD, Bigg Steele, T.N.L, Mellodrama, Hardbody Entertainment, Iceman Records, Illson, Jon Conner, Verse & DJ Kay Slay, 334 Mobb, 354’s Synplife, DJ Rondevu, DJ Vlad, K-Rino and The South Park Coalition, Ikeyes, Agallah Don Bishop, Abstract Mindstate, Deep & Da1 Records, Bodaiga and more…

Park Street

Five Four Clothing

Five Four Clothing was started by then 21 year old entrepreneurs Andres Izquieta and Dee Murthy, initially started in December 2001 out of a dorm room at USC. It officially debut at the MAGIC Show in August 2002. When Andres and Dee were seniors at USC, they wanted to start a clothing line that symbolized their lifestyle and interests. Both were first generation children from immigrant parents. Both being raised in Los Angeles, one definitely has a unique upbringing in such a diverse city. They always pursued the life of success with ambition and passion. Thus Five Four was created to personify their lifestyle, one of a multicultural upbringing in a modern world pursuing the life of success.The name Five Four started off of a saying "one" which means "one love". Hence, five minus four equals one. Five Four's underlying meaning symbolizes unity and the multicultural world we live in today.

Wise words on starting a clothing brand from the people that have done it

First, have a plan of some sort. You don't have to know specifics, but basic things such as financing, organization and your product. When Five Four started, Andres and Dee really knew nothing about the business but they had the vision of where they wanted to be and some basic knowledge of what it would take to get there. There are a lot of aspects to most businesses such as financing, manufacturing, distribution and design that are very difficult to figure out when going into a new field. Make sure that you do some research of some sort before jumping into everything. At the same time, don't be afraid to get started and just do it. Everything must be calculated.

Second, believe in your product and yourself. Without this, you won't really go anywhere. There are many ups and downs, being positive and having determination is key. Creating a product that is unique and identifiable in the market place is very difficult these days, but this is the key to ultimate success.

Third, there is never a no. This statement is so true. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't do something. Have no fear of failure or rejection, when you are starting off you have nothing to lose.

From Aut 06 it will be found on The Urban Shop

Days Without Work

If you’re in Glasgow or near check out “Days Without Work Nights Without Sleep” an installation of new work by Elph from 10 July until 6 August @ The Arches 253 Argyle St Glasgow.


Elph for more work if you cant make Glasgow.

Zidane Game

Just a bit of harmless fun this so check it out Zidane Game

Killa Kela on the box

Killa Kela beatboxing in the new Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles TV advert:

Representing one of the aspects of hip-hop culture, Killa Kela's vocal skills have won him worldwide respect as a beat boxer and now he’s featured in the new Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles TV advert.

Killa Kela is a member of legendary UK hip-hop crew Scratch Perverts, and has toured the US with turntablist and producer DJ Vadim.

What‘s has important is in the Rowntree’s advert Killa Kela is rocking a Denim Is Everything T-shirt check the vid for yourself

Tricksta from UK Runnings

Tricksta has been putting in work in the UK Hip-Hop industry ever since he started DJ’ing back in the late eighties. From radio to clubs to eventually putting on nights, Tricksta went on to work in record shops and independent record labels before founding Wolftown Recordings and Rago Magazine in 1999 with his business partner, rapper and long-time best friend LATE. In 2001, Tricksta started the mixtape series UK Runnings and has never looked back. His "hard work ethics" have inspired many and his genuine love for all things home-grown has to be admired. Now with his new series ‘The National Anthems’ mixtape out and about, as well as being ‘Head Of Urban Promotions’ at the well-respected PR Company "Park Street PR" Tricksta is as busy as ever. Brendan Deane went to get the low-down on what’s going on in the world of UK Runnings.
So Tricksta, how are things going at the moment?
Yeh man, can’t complain. I have running UK Runnings now for five years and have put in the ground work. Now I am unleashing the mixes on proper CD’s with four page booklets with full distribution as they officially get released on Wolftown Recordings. This is something that means a lot to me, as it means everyone in the country and gets to hear the mixtapes instead of just The Midlands and London.

Yeh after reading the sleeve notes I realised that UK Hip-Hop is something that has always interested you ever since the ‘golden era’ of Music Of Life Records. What’s the big attraction?

The UK is where I live so when I heard rappers from the UK talking about UK things I think it really hit the spot. I feel at home with British rappers, and I love the vibe our music has. There’s a great passion in the UK and a great sense of ‘proudness’ for what we have all created. It’s a dominantly independent run scene too which is something I like too.

So exactly how many releases have you dropped with UK Runnings?
I have the underground series which are titled as volumes. I have dropped Volume One, Volume Two, Volume Two Point Five, Volume Three (hosted by LATE) and Volume Four (hosted by 10Shott), as well as the "Old Skool Mix". As per normal the full track-listings and more information is available from Wolftown Recordings and are all available to buy from this direct link…

How is ‘The National Anthems Mixtape Series’ different to the underground volumes?The main difference is that embraces British Hip-Hop on all levels. The first volume features acts such as Baby Blue, Bigz, Sincere, Def1, Craze24, Sway that have come more from the Channel U generation, as well as featuring some of the original UK Hip-Hop legends such Skinnyman, Klashnekoff, Ty, Estelle and Moorish Delta 7. I have also embraced the cutting-edge artists, the mans doing it big on the streets. From Mr. Ti2bs, Suparnovar, Wordsmith, Blemish, TB, Conspicuous, P.A.C and Lowkey, to the healthy amount of ‘non-London MC’s’ such as LATE, 10Shott, Jai Boo, Conman, Size8, Big Wayne, Juttla, Trz & Souljah Clique, Ruckus, Baby J, Yogi, Izzy G, Reload, Alex Blood and Dass. I have tried to put the whole vibe on one mixtape, and I think I have done this well!

Are you going to release a Volume Two?
No I am going to release a ‘Part Two’! Ha Ha, I am leaving the word ‘volume’ for my underground mixes which I still intend to do. I am going to do three parts to this mixtape then concentrate on doing some more artist based mixtapes that are hosted as well starting the UK Runnings full album which will be all produced by myself. This project will hopefully be a UK Rap Classic and drop autumn 2007. I got a serious amount of work to do!.

How hard is it actually doing UK Runnings Mixtape Series?
I just think it’s a shame that some of the artists out there can’t get the studio-time they need. Trying to get a freestyle or drop sometimes can be a nightmare, but I just keep on at man! I’m like that nagging wifey they don’t wanna hear from! The communication is one of the hardest things. But I try man, I always try my best at everything I do.

If I was a UK rappers, producer, label owner etc., how would I go about getting on a UK Runnings Mixtape?
GET IT TOUCH! Don’t waste time hitting me up and saying I am a rapper!!! JUST SEND ME THE MP3’s!!!!!!!! Seriously get your music over to me info@wolftownrecordings.com and if ya old skool don’t want to do that, then use the old "snail mail" and post CD’s to Tricksta, UK Runnings, PO Box 1668, Wolverhampton, UK, WV2 3WG. I’m on My Space too at www.myspace.com/trickstawolftown.

Please remember what I like is any unreleased material. Any unreleased collobo’s, remixes, freestyles over USA or UK beats, as well as a drop and shout-out! So bare that in mind, I am always looking for exclusive and rare!

Apart from UK Runnings what other mixtapes have you done recently?
Well I have mixed 10Shott’s classic "Ghetto Brick Road", mixed and hosted Reload’s "Up Hill Struggle" mixtape, Two volumes of "Steppin To Tha Streets" (a mixtape that promotes American clothing company Mob Desinz), I have also just done "Hustlers, Ballers, Shotcallers" and "How We Do It On The Westside" with LATE which are both for Wolftown. I am working on a New York mixtape too which is coming together nicely.

Apart from the label, producing, doing mixtapes, DJ’ing and writing for tons of magazines and websites, you have also started a PR company. Tell us more about Park Street PR.

It’s simple. Over the ten years I have been making music and releasing record independently I have built up a database of useful links in the UK Hip-Hop industry. So basically anyone making "decent Hip-Hop" music wanting to break this UK market can use my services to build up awareness and go on to maybe get distribution, signed or do live shows.

Who are you promoting at the moment?
UK wise there is everything on Wolftown Recordings and UK Runnings, as well as Café Recordings, Dropzone Records, Occupy Your Mind Records, Trz & Section8 Records, Swift It Major, Geebag, amongst others. Overseas there is Assassin with the 2Pac album, Geolani from NYC, Bigg Steele from LA, the legendary K Rino and SPC from Houston, The Jacka from The Bay, DJ Vlad, DJ Rondevu, The Next Level from Brooklyn, Iceman Records, Agallah The Don Bishop & Ikeyes from Purple City, and many many more!

What has Park Street achieved so far do you think?
Well Assassin’s Tupac ‘The Way He Wanted It’ album got full European distribution as did DJ Rondevu’s ‘Napalm’ series. 334 Mobb went on to get signed to Def Jam, Geolani has is doing a UK mixtape, as well as two of clients here in the UK, Reload (a Wolverhampton rapper) and Occupy Your Mind Records (a Birmingham based record label) have actually hooked up and are recording a mixtape together. All my clients normally get reviews and interviews on websites and print magazines, as well as radio play, mixtape features and club-play. It’s affordable. Interested? If so hit me up info@wolftownrecordings.com and I will forward price-lists and more information.

So Tricksta is there anything you’d like to add?
Yeh all the haters who still say British Hip-Hop is wack and all those heads on those forums having their subliminal digs – you man have tooooo much time on your hands! You are living in dark ages and need to get up on what’s going on – I represent the real! Respects to all my Wolftown family and everyone who has helped me UK Runnings. I couldn’t do it without ya! For more information please check out all my weblinks and get in touch!

www.myspace.com/trickstawolftown
www.wolftownrecordings.com
www.ukrunnings.com
www.ragomagazine.com
www.parkstreetpr.com

Shouts to Glyn at The Urban Shop for all the support and major respects to you Brendan for letting me have my say!

No problems Tricksta, it’s been a pleasure.

Interview by Brendan Deane

Bigg Steele "Chronicles Of Bigg Steele - Vol 2"

BIGG STEELE "Chronicles Of Bigg Steele - Volume Two" (Street Currency/Altered Ego Music) review by Brendan Deane for The Urban Shop

Hot from Los Angeles is Bigg Steele, a West Coast rapper who has already made noise with his debut album ‘Size Duz Matter’ and Volume One of his highly respected ‘Chronicles Of Bigg Steele’ mixtape series. Here we get beats from the man Polarbear as well as jacked mainstream beats for a mish-mash of new blends featuring Bigg Steele on the mic. Ain’t really feeling the way the CD is only thirty-seven minutes long but then I guess it lives you yearning for more, which I suppose is the idea as Bigg Steele has two very BIGG CD’s being released real soon. First up is ‘How We Do It On The Westside’ which sees UK DJ’s Late & Tricksta compile and mix an excellent CD hosted and featuring new tracks by the man Bigg Steele, and of course ‘Cereal And Water’ his much anticipated follow-up. With ‘Chronicles 2’ you get features from Big Pun, Notorious BIG, 2Pac, Method Man, Busta and Jay-Z. What more could any Hip-Hop fan need? Peep the weblinks and go get yourself some of the real chronic.

biggsteeleonline.com
alteredegomusic.com

New Era Fitted Caps

Fashions come and go and headwear is no exception over recent years we have seen the rise of the beanie and the cap and things have progressed. Once upon a time caps were quality items that were made in sizes but the general public and big business could see no sense in that so they developed the flexifit cap where one size fits everybody, well in it reality didn’t but because they were so much cheaper to produce good old Joe Public embraced it with open arms. Now with the popularity of caps again Mr Public is becoming more discerning and wanting their cap to fit properly and right at the forefront of this new cap revolution is one of the oldest cap companies New Era who started business in 1902 and the cap that hip hop heads cannot be seen without one of their all time biggest sellers the 59FIFTY developed in 1954. New Era as always been at the forefront of cap manufacturing and marketing, since it’s inception it as been closely link with the US baseball league and this filtered down to university teams and now Joe Public and why not New Era make quality and have always lead the way with cap design. Today they create partnerships with clothing companies and produce some amazing caps for them for instance DC and in the UK King Apparel.

King Apparel are a UK based hip hop clothing company that close enough to the ground to understand what’s happening for example sponsoring UK based hip hop recording artist before he won his MOBO and likewise they are with New Era leading the way with quality, well designed fitted caps that come in 7 sizes.

Geolani "THE BOSS"

Geolani is a rapper with flows, character, lyrical capacity and a certain humbleness that really makes him the next big thing from New York! Brendan Deane went to get the lowdown on the man everyone is talking about….

Your new single is getting a lot of attention. Who produced it and how long did it take to make?
I wrote "She Is Music" in 30 minutes. I was driving to the lab and had the beat on, I had my wifey writing the lyrics while I was coming up with them, by the time I got to the lab I was ready to drop it. That beat caught my ear as soon as I heard it. My man Capp from Capp N Kidd Wonder laced that joint for me. It is definitely getting allot of love, and I am trying to shoot a visual for it.

What are main inspirations for writing lyrics?
Right now my inspirations are my son, my wifey, and my team. Without those 3 elements in my life I would not be doing music anymore. They all push me and keep me on my toes. My son is gonna be 4 yrs old and I want him to have a stable life. I don't want him to go through all the things I went through growing up.

Have you had any major label interest yet?
Nope! And I ain't really looking for majors to holla either. I just need some major paper and it's a rap for dudes. My buzz is really extra right now and my team (Team Afficial) is killing the streets & the mixtape scene. There is no doubt in my mind that they will be hollaring soon, but if I ain't priority. Dudes sign to these majors and they get all gassed, but the truth is they don't make a penny and most of them play the shelf!

Is the album still planned for release this year?
I really can't call it right now. Dudes is really acting slow. But on the real, my buzz is way crazier now then it was in March 06'. That was the original drop date. Even if they said lets drop this year, I don't think I will. I think I'mma wait 'til 2007 (I got distribution through Warlock/Sony Red for my album), I am not gonna rush anything. I will let things take its course.

The mixtape is out now too. Tell us more about it and where we can get a copy from.
The mixtape was more of a CD to cause a Street Buzz. DJ Vlad did me a solid and hosted the joint. I ain't even sold one copy, it was for promotional reasons. But MixUnit.Com hollared and got almost 100 copies for they site, so that was a good look. You can get it from www.themixtapepro.com or www.mixunit.com . I’mma drop a couple more b4 the album, so be on the look out.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Team Afficial will be a household name!!! And I will still be A Boss!! Ain't kiddin gonna change but the buzz and the cash flow. In 5 years you can call me G-Diddy.

Who else is on your label or in your crew?
Artist wise, the AdoubleF (label) umbrella consist of Ransom Rellic, Montega, Brixx, Delilah, Symantyx, and Tay Roc. But the movement which is Team Afficial consist of many artists, DJ's and producers. Other artists are Trilogy & Dan Duece. Dj's consist of Dj Lust, Dj Dub Floyd (Pres) & Dj Block (Vice Pres), Dj 4Sho, Dj Deal$, Dj Ophax, Dj Stylz, Dj Dub and many more. Producers consist of Diego & Manny (Afficial Beats) who are in-house for AdoubleF, my homie Dj Nice, Giftz, Ty Stix, and many more. Team Afficial is a movement!!!!

Have you collaborated much with any artists outside your camp?
Yea I got the street single featuring Freeway. Also did collab's with A-Team, Shells, J Hood, Cuban Link, Snyp Life, St Laz, Big Cas, Rain, Dino West (No Limit), Big Skeem, Sin Sizzerb, Streets N Young Deuces and many more.

You're originally from New York but live in Virginia now. Why did you move?
Moved to Virginia be closer to my son and my team. That's all; everything else is falling in place.

You collaborated with UK label Wolftown on a couple of their recent mixtape releases. What do you think of UK rap?
I respect what they are doing. I did a collabo with a couple UK rappers and they got it in and went hard. I will collab’ 100 more times if they asked. Keep doing the dam thing!

More info geolani.net

Answer

Mo’Wax has a lot to answer for. James Lavelle’s influential record label was doing what today’s street wear cartel companies are currently banking off, well over a decade ago. Without the ubiquity of the internet. Music, art, clothing, toys, it was an evolved breed of hip hop and DJ culture, where braggadocio and geek-like enthusiasm became one in the same. Answer is the clothing label set up by long time Mo’Wax associate Will Bankhead and Lavelle’s friend Emmet Keane. Will Bankhead was the in-house photographer for Mo’Wax where he worked with Art Director Ben Drury, lending his eye and lens to a whole heap of classic Mo’Wax album covers. Today, Bankhead designs for the west London institution, the Portobello based Honest Jon’s records along with his own label PK (which he runs with Mark Ainley and Jon Knight). Emmet Keane worked as a comic and toy distributor in the east end and with James Lavelle’s passion for art and toys it was only a matter of time before the two crossed paths. Will and Emmet met through James in 1997 but it wasn’t until 2003 that "Answer" was officially launched. This stepped out of the shadows left by the original incarnation of Will Bankhead’s "Park Walk" label. "Park Walk" was itself was a cult name, down to the calibre of designers involved and the Vaughn Bode prints which ‘Answer’ continue to do (Bode is the late New York artist referenced by the original graffiti pioneers, Dondi, SEEN, Tracy 168, Futura 2000 etc).

Emmet Keane kindly answered some questions about the label. Creating a timeline that should fill in any gaps and represent "Answer" the best way possible.

What was the initial catalyst for "Park Walk"?
Will was approached by some people he knew in Japan to start a clothing label in 1998 or 1999. They did a few t-shirts to start off with and it grew from there. ‘Park Walk’ became a really big name in Japan.

When you started Answer, were the goals similar to "Park Walk"?
Yeah I guess. The designs that Will (along with Fergadelic, Ben Drury, Ed Gill and Chris Love) were doing for ‘Park Walk’ were incredible, but were only ever available in Japan. We knew there was a market for this stuff over here in the UK and Europe so when we initially set up "Answer" we were actually doing t-shirts here under the name "Park Walk", selling them back to Japan, and importing stuff from there and selling it to shops here. "Answer" was just the company name we used to facilitate this, although we always wanted it to be a label in its own right at some stage. Towards the middle of 2003, Will decided to end ‘Park Walk’ as there seemed to be less control over what the people in Japan were doing in his name, and so then we started on "Answer" as a label. The label was launched in late 2003 with a collaboration with "Bathing Ape" on ten designs.

It’s just the two of us doing Answer, no outside involvement which means we have 100% control over what is done.

What is it that makes "Answer" a good partnership, what qualities do you both bring?
I guess we just get along with each other. We’re very different people to a certain extent, but are into similar things. Will is an incredibly talented designer and photographer, so has an amazing eye for what looks good and how it should be presented.

Who designed the "Answer" logo?
Will did the logo. It’s similar to the classic "Park Walk" logo he did. The idea was to show people that the two labels were related. Neither of us really like doing logo t-shirts, but that logo is different. It’s pretty special. We’ve only ever done three "Answer" logo t-shirts, Fergadelic and Chris Love did the other two logos for us.

Some may have thought "Answer" would be a canvas for Will’s photography, but this doesn’t seem the case. Was this ever an idea?
Not really, although there are definitely some of his photos that I would love to see as t-shirts at some stage. We have a shirt coming out very soon using one of his photos, this is the first time we’ve used his photography.

Does "Answer" always work your designs around a certain theme?
Yeah, there probably is a theme (or more correctly several themes) to the new stuff, although it’s totally by accident. We’ve never deliberately planned anything like that. The idea of putting a themed collection together horrifies me personally. I think random works better.

Your designs seem to have more substance behind them, are the ideas and concepts involved in ‘Answer’ more important just simply hot graphics?
Definitely no concepts involved, although we have a strong idea of what ‘Answer’ is about in terms of graphics and what they represent or don’t represent, it’s an unspoken thing. Really it’s just a case of images we like and think make good t-shirts. The kind of t-shirts that we would want to wear ourselves. That’s really the bottom line, making quality t-shirts that we like rather than making them with a view to commercial sales.

Fine art, street art, low art and high art, is there a difference to you?
Art is Art. Street, high, low, fine, abstract, whatever you want to call it. They are just terms that really don’t mean anything in the long run. Something is either good or not. Art is just a way of people expressing themselves. I have heard of people buying our shirts to frame them rather than wear, but I’m not really sure what to make of that to be honest. I’ve never really thought of what we do as being art, maybe it is… damn.

Who are a few of your favourite artists?
Frank Auerbach, Anselm Kiefer, John Olson, Botticelli, Robert Dukes, Neil Blender, Léger, Gee Vaucher, Winston Smith, Robert Crumb, Jack Kirby, Gustave Dore, Moebius, Bosch, Raymond Pettibon, Ben Drury, Durer...

What have you got coming up with your new line?
We have our new range of shirts coming out mid-July, designs by Ben Drury, Will Bankhead and Bill Blake (How Dare You? Skatezine), later in the summer we have designs coming from Skatething, Peter Beste and more.

Any last words?
Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the past few years.

Thanks to Terence Teh of One Week To Live Magazine
patchwork pirates
rabbittusk
Answer