Interview With A Pioneer: UK Hip-Hop Chat With Rodney P (@Rodney_P)

Q. What first made you get involved in Hip-Hop? Where there any artists that influenced you to pick up the mic?

I was always into poetry but hearing Rappers Delight on ‘Top of the Pops’ change my life. The first groups I was a really a fan of were The Cold Crush Brothers and RunDMC. My brother brought copies of ‘Fresh, Wild, Fly & Bold’ and ‘Sucker MC’s’ back from NY in the early 80’s and I was hooked.

Q. In the past you’ve collaborated with artists that, perhaps, people wouldn’t expect you to. Who would be your dream collaborator(s) alive or dead?

That’s a question I’ve been asked a lot and have never had a real answer for. There are far too many fantastic artists dead and alive to choose from…so how would you like to hear me collaborate with?

Q. Why do you think that mainstream Hip-Hop has moved so far away from the movement it was when you started?

Money and corporate America.

Q. Are there any artists today that you think still carry the flame of original hip hop, doing deeper than the superficial tendencies of mainstream Hip-Hop today?

I think there has always been and always be artists who bring more to the table than just a desire to be rich and famous. The problem to me isn’t about the artists or the music but about the limited variety of the music people are feed through the mainstream.
There are many new and established artists like Public Enemy, Logic & Bro Ali who bring social and political issues into their music. And I feel like people have been bored to death by the ‘bling’ and are getting back to being creative musically.

Q. Tell us a bit about the B.R.O.T.H.E.R. movement you were a part of in the late 80s? Why isn’t there anything like this in UK Hip-Hop today do you think?

The Brother Movement was a collaboration between many of the leading lights in UK Hip Hop at the time as well as Bernie Grant (RIP) the then Labour MP for Tottenham.
We recorded the track and video ‘Beyond the 16^th Parallel’ in support of the Anti-Apartheid Movement.
There are movements within UK Hip Hop today that are social and politically minded. The Peoples Army, Lowkey and Akala are perfect examples

Q. What’s next for Rodney P?

I have a busy 2014 planned. My new album on Tru Thoughts Records is the priority right now but my hustle is complex so look for me to pop up in the most unexpected places!!!!

http://www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/rodney‑p

http://rodney‑p.blogspot.co.uk/

[youtube]http://youtu.be/8NoRb64xSYQ[/youtube]

Micky Roots

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Gata Malandra

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Gata is a music and arts lover, studied anthropology, art management and media production dedicating most of her time to creative projects produced by No Bounds.