> 02/04/2008
EBS X Inja (Delegates Of Culture)
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posted by E.C | 11:29
EBS X INJA (Delegates Of Culture): Eclectic Flavour
Inja has been doing laps on the UK circuit for a while now..since 96 as part of the Delegates Of Culture crew. This guy has come up the ranks..the outta London ranks. Cambridge, where things are pretty different…your musical taste knows no limits…don’t take my word for it..read for yourself…I spent 2 nights and 2days with the Cambridge rhyme chucker..so this interview’s like the tip of a fucking huge conversational iceburg!
CM: How did the Delegates Of Culture come about? Are you guys still together?
Inja: Delegates started off in like 98, 99. Before we were Delegates we were just a couple of crews coming together heads like BEE109, S-Class chypering, making tapes and just chilling..then it became a regular thing..so we were like yeh..we are kinda like ‘Delegates Of Culture’..the name had a nice ring to it! So we ran with it. We were a big part of the scene in Cambridge..we ran our own club night (Rawganics) and were known for coming with the realness!
C.Monts: So you’re living in Cambridge yeah? How’s Life there?
CM: How did the Delegates Of Culture come about? Are you guys still together?
Inja: Delegates started off in like 98, 99. Before we were Delegates we were just a couple of crews coming together heads like BEE109, S-Class chypering, making tapes and just chilling..then it became a regular thing..so we were like yeh..we are kinda like ‘Delegates Of Culture’..the name had a nice ring to it! So we ran with it. We were a big part of the scene in Cambridge..we ran our own club night (Rawganics) and were known for coming with the realness!
C.Monts: So you’re living in Cambridge yeah? How’s Life there?
Inja: Yeah that’s right. I have been here for my formative years.. been here for like 16 years..so I know a lot about this place! It’s a real nice peaceful place. There’s a real mixture of people living here. Like real affluent, mixed with University students…but then there are real run down areas as well ..people like to keep up the good reputation that Cambridge has by not badmouthing it..so everyone outside has a idyllic view of it but it has it’s dark sides!
CM: What was music scene like there? What sounds did you grow up on?
Inja: The scene is ok. I’m running my own nights here called Soundclash (last Thursday of every other month). I’m bringing down the best UK Hip Hop acts, Jehst, Kasmere..the heads are loving it! My musical upbringing was really eclectic. I grew up on so many different sounds. But mainly Reggae. My parents are of West Indian origin so there was constantly loud Reggae music being played. My Dad and members of my family were always playing in bands…I have early memories of being on the back seat of my parents car with speakers playing good tunes. Then growing up a bit older my cousins were into the whole soundsystem scene..I would be getting lifts with friends to Luton to go to the Exodus raves..good times!! From then I listened all different genres of music. Hip Hop, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Acid house, you know everything that kids in the UK were into back in the day..cheesy 80’s tracks..the whole lot mate.
CM: Sounds like you got a taste for all genres
CM: What was music scene like there? What sounds did you grow up on?
Inja: The scene is ok. I’m running my own nights here called Soundclash (last Thursday of every other month). I’m bringing down the best UK Hip Hop acts, Jehst, Kasmere..the heads are loving it! My musical upbringing was really eclectic. I grew up on so many different sounds. But mainly Reggae. My parents are of West Indian origin so there was constantly loud Reggae music being played. My Dad and members of my family were always playing in bands…I have early memories of being on the back seat of my parents car with speakers playing good tunes. Then growing up a bit older my cousins were into the whole soundsystem scene..I would be getting lifts with friends to Luton to go to the Exodus raves..good times!! From then I listened all different genres of music. Hip Hop, Jungle, Drum & Bass, Acid house, you know everything that kids in the UK were into back in the day..cheesy 80’s tracks..the whole lot mate.
CM: Sounds like you got a taste for all genres
Inja: Yeah man..I can’t forget about those tunes..all them tracks.. I grew up on that, it would be like disowning a whole part of me..and I ain't about to do that!
CM: So what you saying about the Grime scene?
Inja: Yeh man I’m into it…I think the rise of the Grime scene has pushed a lot of UK Hip Hop acts to raise their game. You see the Grime cats dropping mixtapes every 5 minutes and doing lots of shows. I also think Grime has offered people another Genre of UK music which can’t be a bad thing if you ask me. I know some of my mates wouldn’t really listen to UK Hip Hop because they would rather cop U.S material..but grime was so different and fresh that they had no choice but to feel it!
CM: What do you think about the UK music industry? Do you there’s any money lefty in it?
Inja: I think things are changing constantly. You know way back it was all about pressing your music on vinyl and selling it. These days the main focus is on MP3’s and downloads. I know for a fact there are a handful (if not more!) of UK acts who are making a decent wage from their music..but they are in the minority!
CM: How do you feel about illegal downloads?
CM: So what you saying about the Grime scene?
Inja: Yeh man I’m into it…I think the rise of the Grime scene has pushed a lot of UK Hip Hop acts to raise their game. You see the Grime cats dropping mixtapes every 5 minutes and doing lots of shows. I also think Grime has offered people another Genre of UK music which can’t be a bad thing if you ask me. I know some of my mates wouldn’t really listen to UK Hip Hop because they would rather cop U.S material..but grime was so different and fresh that they had no choice but to feel it!
CM: What do you think about the UK music industry? Do you there’s any money lefty in it?
Inja: I think things are changing constantly. You know way back it was all about pressing your music on vinyl and selling it. These days the main focus is on MP3’s and downloads. I know for a fact there are a handful (if not more!) of UK acts who are making a decent wage from their music..but they are in the minority!
CM: How do you feel about illegal downloads?
Inja: Well that’s a funny one…obviously I don’t like it..but I would be happy that someone’s listening to my music. As a musician that’s my main aim. To have people listen to my tracks. I also think that tracks are tracks..but you can get so much more from going to see the artist live. There are plenty of MC’s that can spit good in the booth or studio or whatever but when it comes stage they freeze up. I’m all about the live element..I feel that a live performance should be as good as a CD…if not better cos the crowd have the visual element of seeing the artist in front of their very eyes!
CM: You ever been to the mighty CZ?
Inja: Nah mate I have been slipping! I ain't been there yet..but I have nuff mates that have been out there..Asaviour & Jehst were out there for a party @ The Roxy (Praha) a while back, they said it was like heaven!! Beautiful women! Great beer! Good Hip Hop! Also, Hip Hop Kemp!! I really wanna get there for it this year..ideally on a stage! I have recently been working with Chester P (Taskforce) for live shows..we just got back from Sofia, Bulgaria for the Merry Makers 002 bash with EBS (UK) & Jamez Bongg (BG) The jam was sick!! The people were really receptive.Those guys said the vibe in Sofia was similar to Prague..so that cemented it for me!! I gotta get to Czech Republic..any promoters HOLLA!!
CM: So what releases you got coming out?
CM: You ever been to the mighty CZ?
Inja: Nah mate I have been slipping! I ain't been there yet..but I have nuff mates that have been out there..Asaviour & Jehst were out there for a party @ The Roxy (Praha) a while back, they said it was like heaven!! Beautiful women! Great beer! Good Hip Hop! Also, Hip Hop Kemp!! I really wanna get there for it this year..ideally on a stage! I have recently been working with Chester P (Taskforce) for live shows..we just got back from Sofia, Bulgaria for the Merry Makers 002 bash with EBS (UK) & Jamez Bongg (BG) The jam was sick!! The people were really receptive.Those guys said the vibe in Sofia was similar to Prague..so that cemented it for me!! I gotta get to Czech Republic..any promoters HOLLA!!
CM: So what releases you got coming out?
Inja: Boy there are plenty of things coming out trust me! Around May I’m gonna be dropping a LP, All or Nothing. It’s a Grime Vs Hip Hop album. Production from Ganjaman (Cambridge, UK). His beats are different..like a mix of Grime, Dubstep..Drum & bass & Hip Hop..it’s good shit! Then around July I got the Skuff & Inja show coming out. By boy Skuff (Delegates Of Culture) has got skills! Both of these will be coming out on IN Records..which is my own label..so keep your eyes peeled! Of course there are plenty of things on the back burner..got stuff coming out with nuff people, from Hip Hop with Taskforce to Dubstep with Rocky Road Crew..
CM: gnarly! So you got any famalam you wanna shout out?
Inja: Of course! First up DJ Kayper, all my Delegates Of Culture, Foreign Beggars, Kosine, Sonny Jim, Beer & Rap, Bonafide, Supreme Being, Phi Life, Nappa, Taskforce, my girl, my family, all the UK heads out there making good music..in fact anyone out there making good music. Shouts to you Monts..The Black Clark Kent!! EBS Fam across the globe..keep repping!
And that’s your lot..we spent more time talking property (getting on the ladder), 9 to 5’s. clothing, creps..politics and Soprano’s..this was the most relevant convo we had for Bbarak…hope you liked it.Check Inja's out on myspace: www.myspace.com/injanu. And get your hands on his EP with Nappa..it’s called Wideopen..it’s ill.
CM: gnarly! So you got any famalam you wanna shout out?
Inja: Of course! First up DJ Kayper, all my Delegates Of Culture, Foreign Beggars, Kosine, Sonny Jim, Beer & Rap, Bonafide, Supreme Being, Phi Life, Nappa, Taskforce, my girl, my family, all the UK heads out there making good music..in fact anyone out there making good music. Shouts to you Monts..The Black Clark Kent!! EBS Fam across the globe..keep repping!
And that’s your lot..we spent more time talking property (getting on the ladder), 9 to 5’s. clothing, creps..politics and Soprano’s..this was the most relevant convo we had for Bbarak…hope you liked it.Check Inja's out on myspace: www.myspace.com/injanu. And get your hands on his EP with Nappa..it’s called Wideopen..it’s ill.
C.Monts (The Black Clark Kent!)
www.yo-ebs.com for Bbarak.CZ
www.yo-ebs.com for Bbarak.CZ
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