Another interview with some Oxford Hip Hop talent. This time some of the G Block crew, DJ aka Danger One, Bubbz aka OMC and Rawz aka Tha Rap Turtle pen some thoughts for Blunted.

So G Block are born and bred in Oxford right? What do you think of the old city?

Danger One:

Yeah, I was raised in BBL until ‘97 when we moved to Greater Leys (aka G Block!). It’s alright I guess… I ain’t gonna big it up or nutten cuz it ain’t that great (apart from the talent it holds), but I’m not sure I could live anywhere else, except maybe The Dam!

OMC:

Of course, me, I grew up in Rose Hill for most of my childhood but then moved to Greater Leys from about 12. Its not a big city so its hard to keep yourself to yourself but Oxford has kinda grown on me!

Raws:

I was actually born in Guildford but moved to Oxford at 3, when I was 11 I took up residence on G Block and this is the only place I call home.

Good to hear you got love for the old City! So why and how did you first get involved in music. Was it a particular artist or a particular piece of music?

Danger One:

Through my step fadda (Uncle H of BMUU) who has been involved in dancehall sound systems for years. I started off mixing (a lil’ shabbily) on Technics 1210s at around 14, having been in love with reggae music from a young age. My life has been one long love affair with music of all sorts.

OMC:

Well when I was younger I attended stage school, I’ve performed in some musicals but that was because I loved all kinds of music and I loved to express myself.

Rawz:

I have always loved music; my mum used to take me to festivals when I was young and I always used to love listening to the radio whenever I could. When I heard ‘Gangstas Paradise’ by Coolio I jus wanted to know how he did it so I started jus rhymin’ to myself tryin’ to work out a flow, then when I was about 15/16 I started to write rhymes to let out stress and work through my problems. I got my decks at about 17, started mixin’ a little, then a friend bought a mic and we both started spittin’, that’s when I realised I wanted to be an MC.

When did G Block form as a crew?

Danger One:

We formed the fam loosely with me, Rawz, & Bubbz in September 2005, then officially with Killer a month later. El Capitan joined us at the end of July ‘06, bringing with him some big vocal talent. I like to call him the hook-master.

So there’s a few! Who else represents G Block Family?

Danger One:

Another up-and-coming MC from BBL - ‘Invisible’, look out for him and SNE on G Block Radio (Pt.3). We got the (unofficial) global street team consisting of; Scam Bolo (in Thailand), Bunyan, Starni, Chalice (UK-NY), Kyran, Liberty (my sidekick and lil’ sis’), and not any dickheads (see ‘Beef’ - track 20, G Block Radio Pt.2).

So within the crew, is it easy getting stuff down? Who calls the shots?

Danger One:

Not really, not as a whole, because myself & OMC live in the ‘Bedroom Studio’ so it’s easy for us to work on tracks but I work 2pm to 10pm so Killer & Rawz are usually only available to work at the weekend, and not every weekend either.

But compared to a lot of people we seem to work at light-speed. Started making GBR1 in December ‘05 after a couple of months of writing. Released it in Feb ‘06. Released Pt.2 in July after a month of delays.

Who’s callin’ the shots? - I am he and he is I. Not that it’s a dictatorship though. Everyone get’s a say but I’m the founder, DJ, organiser, arranger, editor, engineer, executive producer, researcher, design artist and also a ghost writer for other members of the fam. I try to give responsibilities to other people but it rarely comes to anything, so I’m on my own in most areas. There’s no manager though, just call me Mr Motivator!

Seems like you’re pretty active in getting your music out there. What projects have you done that people wanting to find out more can check?

Danger One:

At the moment we’ve got 2 mixtapes out on road for free. You can e-mail thegblockfamily@yahoo.co.uk a free copy of G Block Radio (Pt.2) on CD, and the 15 tracks (no skits) from G Block Radio (Pt.1) can be downloaded from our main website - www.soundclick.com/thegblockfamily

We’ve just finished our first single, which will be sent out to mixtape DJs worldwide, and will hopefully be representing OX4 on LMFLH Vol.2. Of course I was pushing mix cd’s way before I started spitting and now I’ve built a collection of 31, all available by request. Me & OMC just done an over-the-net colabo with Joe Bloggs & Pencil (from Banbury) produced by J Roll, which you can download from OMC’s myspace page. Everything else is currently in the pipeline but there’s nuff!

I know there is raw talent out in Blackbird Leys, is it more grime based? Or is there a lot of straight up hip hop coming from there?

Danger One:

Its true there is probably more Grime emcees on The Leys, but there’s nuff hip hop emcees out there hiding in the woodwork, they just need to come forward.

Cool, hear that people come forward and link up! So how did you hear about Blunted, was it something to do with the infamous Flashman aka S.O.D aka Cornelius?

Danger One:

Indeed! The one-and-only! He let me borrow LMFLH Vol.1 earlier on in the year before we formed the fam, then after we released our first mixtape he said that Blunted were doing Vol.2 and we should submit sutten.

Good old Cornelius! Are you hoping to release some new material soon? What can we all expect? And also where will we be able to cop it?

Danger One:

There’s so much in the pipeline I can’t really say at the moment, but there will be a further addition to G Block Radio with the release of Pt.3 and possibly a bootleg style [solo] mixtape from myself, once again [both] available on the streets for free.

The reason for the £0 price tag is that I’m not looking to make money from jacked beats, that don’t make sense, sorry. When the G Block beats are rolling and we start releasing EPs and singles, then money will be exchanging hands!

All colabo singles will be available for download from our main site. Me and Rawz should have a track on a US mixtape by producer Tommygunz later this year. We are also doing a colab with producer W7F from Derby. I’m also working on a colab with a producer from down under who goes by the name of Wizard Of Aus.

The Fam are currently working on the 2nd single with LowFile from Canada. More work is being planned with ‘Banbury’s finest’ - BrokeLads. I’ve just made a link to do some tracks with a female vocalist from South London and also linked up with a producer/writer called ‘Soul Coke’ to release some fire on some of his beats and feature on his mixtape as well as work planned with his bredren ‘.22 Calibur’. Check out http://www.bedroomstudioproductions/ for previews and updates.

OMC:

Well im looking to release my 1st single wid producer Jay Arr soon! Right now I feel my lyrics got tighter and definite progress is being made. Expect ‘BIG TINGZ’, Most tunes will be available to listen to at http://www.soundclick.com/

Allot happening, good to hear, make sure you pass it by Blunted! So you plan on doing any shows in the near future?

Danger One:

There’s talk of it, but in my eyes we are far from ready as a fam, maybe 1 or 2 of us are ready, but we need more unity and better communication. We’re only just starting out so we’ve got some way to go yet, but the future is bright; the future is G Block!!

OMC:

We’re getting offers to perform live shows but some man can’t even attend recordin’ sessions, that’s when the situation gets hard. It’s mostly the fact that there’s not enough hours in a day, but we’re slowly movin’ forward though. If man can find the motivation I can see big tingz happenin’.

Right time out! No more music questions. When it’s time to relax what do G Block normally get up to?

Danger One:

Depends what the weather is like and what time of day it is, but grade is always a key factor. Of course I have to listen to Danger One mix cd’s, OX4 all the way!! When I get a chance I like to hit the PS2 - FUCK XBOX!! I’m a BIG FPS fan, as I find them a good way to relieve stress. Better to be poppin’ guys on the screen rather than on the street! Trips to Amsterdam are a must also!

OMC:

When I’m not workin’ I like to play a little football and B-ball. I’ve just finished a 10 week sound engineer course. Blazin’ grade! I’m a big PS2 fan, got ‘nuff games - I mainly like sports & driving games. Love The Dam and travellin’ to London to see my mum.

Rawz:

Jus chill wiv my bredren or at yard playin’ computer, I like a load of games, at the moment I’m addicted to Civilization IV. I’ve also just finished the same sound engineering course as Bubbz.

Finally, thanks for taking time out to answer the questions, is there anyone you want to give shout outs to?

Danger One:

First & foremost I gotta give a shout out to Flashman for creating this link! All the people supporting the fam, all the man who know what time it is and ALL MY PEEPS out there, wherever they may be. Man like; Supa, Flexy & The whole 2GG2 crew! Sonorous and the whole Earth Shake movement. SNE aka 2Face. Invisible, Liebo, Sandy and all the BBL man dem. Charlene Huskinson. Joe Bloggs, Evo-Lucian, Benza & all of the BrokeLads members & affiliates. Jada Pearl & Studio 45. Street Legion, Mankunean, Devine Rymz, Soul Coke, Caliber, Professor and the whole of Ganggreen. Last but not least, the producers worldwide; Dirtee Linen, W7F, Wizard Of Aus, Deceit, The Shza, Soul Coke, Kid Kutz, Professor P, Tommygunz, J Roll, Undadawgz, LowFile, Jay Arr, Farmboy, Full Effect, and Ghost City. BLESS UP.

OMC:

Big up all G Block fans. My mum ‘cos wid out her I wouldn’t be here, anyone an everyone dat’s movin’ forward in life ‘cos its hard trus. Big up the whole of Oxford too. ONE LUV.

Rawz:

Nuff respect to G Block and to anyone wiv love for us an all the real heads out there, you know who you are!

Links:

www.soundclick.com/thegblockfamily - Main site
www.myspace.com/thelandofthedangerous - Danger One
www.myspace.com/havocsupressed - OMC
www.myspace.com/tharapturtle - Rawz
www.myspace.com/regulatedontviolate - Tony Killer
www.myspace.com/gblockbeats - Production from Rawz & Danger One
www.myspace.com/gblockbeats2 - Production from Danger One
www.myspace.com/gblockbeats3 - Production from Rawz