Red Star and Nandos - After an enormously inspiring performance supporting Ugly Duckling in Oxford for their May gig, we caught up with the Giant Panda crew from LA to ask them a few questions concerning where their from, where their at, where they’re going, what’s the deal with Red Star and their favourite holiday destination!

I understand that there is a third member of GP. Where’s he at?

Newman: The third member is producer/rapper extraordinaire, Chikaramanga. He is also the man who cracks the whip at Tres Records, so he had to stay to keep the label going.

Yeah the label! Tres Records is your own label, how did it come about?

Newman: Chikara and his homeboy wanted to start a label. We needed a label. That’s pretty much it.

Simple yet effective! Give us a brief story of your journey so far…

Maanumental: Newman and I, old chums from little school, my bro Sir Kado starts making beats, I start rhyming, Newman is in bands drummin’, He goes to college, meets Chikara, who produced and rhymed in Tokyo, they start funkin together, Me and New link up again, whole crew links up, let simmer for 2-3 years, meet Thes, put out “88 Remix” 12 inch, then more wax, then album, then now!

The Ugly Duckling tour is winding up now, what have been the highlights for you? Where were the liveliest shows?

Newman: It’s hard to pick shows because they were all so dope. Playing with De La Soul at Jazz Café was a dream come true. Switzerland was dope. Hamburg was nuts. Oxford was dope because everyone had a nice singing voice.
Maanumental: Bristol, Edinburgh and Dublin were pumpin as well. We were blessed, there were very few bad nights on this tour, so thanks to everyone who came out.

Thanks for coming down! So when can people catch GP again, got any more gigs in the UK planned or will we have to cop your vinyl/cd if we want to hear some more?

Newman: Folks should cop the CD and/or wax so they can have a GP show whenever they want. But, we will be back in the fall with P.U.T.S. We will also be back when our new album (either called “Mike Jones” or “Whip”) comes out next year.

Best of luck with the new releases guys. I want to know where your name came from, some sort of clever word play or just incredibly random?

Maanumental: Well I’m black, Newman is white, Chikara is from Asia, just like a panda, and we’re Giant because - Why not?

Haha, all makes perfect sense, moving on… What do you guys like eating the most?

Newman: food. Mostly Asian or Latin, but anything will do.
Maanumental: I love all foods, except fermented Japanese stinky beans. I especially like stuff that’s healthy AND tasty.

Who is the most hip-hop in GP?

Newman: Chikara
Maanumental: Yeah, it’s Chikara. He really likes “whoodies”.

Favourite holiday destination?

Newman: easy: Barcelona or Mulege
Maanumental: Depending on the holiday, also in Seattle with my fambam.

Most hated public figure?

Newman: Kobe or Bush. Any Bush.
Maanumental: People who flaunt affluence and are too concerned with “class”.

Most loved actor/actress?

Newman: Scarlet Johansen. She’s an o.k. actress but is about as sexy as it gets. Gary Oldham is a brilliant actor.
Maanumental: Yo, “Scarlett” has two t’s. Yeah, anyway, I appreciate Dwight Schultz, Richard Moll, Dirk Benedict, and who can forget Conrad McMasters?

Safe guys, its been a pleasure chatting to you. How can people hear more from you (links/website)?

Newman: www.myspace.com/giantpanda, http://www.tresrecords.com/, and at your nearest record store.

Dope! Check the links people! Have Gaint Panda got any shoutouts?

Newman: shout to all U.K. massive and our people out in Oxford holding it down. See you at Red Star Noodle Bar.
Maanumental: Yeah, Red Star is the joint. Yo, what happened to Nandos? Mmm, Nandos!!

Cheers guys, best of luck for the future, be sure to pay Oxford a visit again. Peace