Travis Blaque

It became the first interview that we did in the U.K. It went kinda sloppy from our side. I thought my recorder machine broke down, I could not hear the test recordings. It took me 15 minutes to come with the idea: "Lets put the volume up." It worked. And we had some beer. But damn that English lads are just like the Germans, their pints/glasses are biiiiig! So here we were just arrived that afternoon with just five hours sleep before flying and now drinking with the English. Not surprising we were getting drunk half way the interview. Having some trouble to follow the interview ourselves. After all we can say we had a great time getting comfortable with Nick, Travis and his girl friend. We are going back soon!

Travis Blaque brings a good sound representing originality on a new label, Altered Vibes. Something new. Nick Lawrence of 'Altered Vibes': "All the idea about the label is that the people who are making the majority of the decisions are the artists. We are looking to things that grow on our streets. Try to nurse something. We don't want to change the sound. We don't want to fuck with them. We want people to hear exactly what is going on. It's the same with the magazines or whatever media that's surrounding HipHop at the moment. You have the top-level stuff, which is a bag of shit that promotes loots of karaoke followers. We don't want that! We want to look at the roots of things. That is the major way to bring out change. 'Altered Vibes', different sounds, something that needs to be getting exposure. So you get recognition from the people you want to reach. The whole thing is, that it's down to the artist. And it's not for the benefits for the shareholders. It's a company for the sake of music and any one that is involved in that music."

We studied some material from London.
AQ: "Everywhere I look this guy Nigel, No-Sleep turns up."
Travis Blaque: "No Sleep Nigel. If you look at HipHop music from the U.K. that name will come up. Why? Because he's been very instrumental (a source of influence and inspiration) in shaping, helping to shape the sound from the U.K.: London Posse, MC Mell'O, The Creators, Mark B., SL Troopers (not the Dutchies), myself and The Herbaliser. He's the hardest working engineer I ever met. I can actually say he's a friend of mine now. I trust him. If he says my delivery is shit, then so be it. Then it's shit. And I'll work to his standards, how he wants things to be. I see him as instrumental, he's the finest. He's the best engineer for any job. He brings out a raw element that makes HipHop or what ever."

We sat down in the Irish pub down under our Regent Palace Hotel (fucked up hotel) at Piccadilly Circus. DTF wanted to have a hotel in the center of London. Well this was it. With Irish folks music we thought it would be a good idea not to be to enthusiastic about what was the bomb and what was not.

AQ: "What is the U.K. sound?"
Travis' girl friend: "My personal view of U.K. rap, got to say, it would be Travis Blaque. Because a lot of U.K. artist try to sound American. The flavor comes from the West Indian background, which comes from the early days of DJ. If you learn to drive a car, you must learn the roads. If you learn to rap, you must DJ. You have to ride rhythm itself. That originated from a lot of DJ-ing and a lot of reggae music. And that is How Travis handles and manipulates his music. You can't let the music manipulate you. So, his flavor is more mixed with early stage of West Indies rap. With a West Indian structure and accent, sort of speak. Ya understand?"

Travis Blaque: "I think there are a quite few producers over here now that euhm, I would say are giving the Americans a run for their money, but they are coming out with the goods that American rappers may say: "Damn, what is happening?" Because, in recent years you had Jungle Brothers collaborating with British producers. I have a mass influences of Atlanta working with 'Dynamic Syncopation', I got a lot of relatives in Atlanta. And they got a totally different sound than New York or LA. Is a melting pot sound. People like 'Organized Noise', those type of productions. The English are very good in doing those things. People like Mark B and 'The Creators', they all got their own sounds. If they go to the States they do pretty well. Because it is something they can relate to. Slightly different of what the Americans are doing, but just as heavy, production wise. Even now, 'Roots Manuva' he has a totally different style of his own. It's definitely a London thing."
Nick: "With that West Indian attitude, which a lot MC's are eminenting. The sound is certainly London centric. It couldn't have come from somewhere else. And to be honest, Travis is being fucking good. That is why I like U.K. HipHop."

AQ: "There are a lot of radio stations."
Travis Blaque: "There is a lot of radio, but there is a lot of radio, that is not playing British rap. Or anything from the U.K. A lot of radio's are buyers towards the United States. So, we as rap artists rely on word of mouth. Independent record stores who are prepared to stock independent material. Club DJ's and pirate radio. Some of the radio stations like Choice and Kiss FM, Radio 1 and Greater London Radio (GLR) which is part of the BBC network, play the odd Brit rap tune. What is happening at the moment is that back in the day a lot of people just wanted to get their record out, and there was a lot of stuff that was substandard. I'm not going to mention any names, but now British rap has evolved. It's been twelve or fourteen years in the making. And there is quality control now. I expect that a lot of stuff coming out from now will be of the highest standards. Which will be of the same level as what is happening in the U.S. in the independent scene. I have to say that there is not a lot of stuff on the major labels that moves me. It has no depth. But the independent stuff is reflecting the trend of what is happening in rap music now, period."

Travis Blaque: "People like Big Ted and Shorty Blitz have a radio show on Kiss. They have being instrumental in playing U.K. rap. Westwood, Phil Asher, DJ 279, Norman Jay, there have been so many people that have come and gone. There are so many people it's too numerous to mention. But those are the names that come to mind being instrumental in shaping U.K. rap.
AQ: "What is next?"
Travis Blaque: "There will be a Travis Blaque EP coming your way. I don't know the name of it yet. But I can say for sure it's raw. I'll will introducing some of my companions who are helping me on the mic. 'Future', he's one of the finest MC's I ever met. His diction, clarity it's all there. He got a London accent. I got a guy called 'Mac', his style is mid-lantic. I wouldn't say he's American. Because you can hear the English. But his style is very reminiscence of O.C., Nas. He's the better in his own style. Those are the people that I'm working with. I will continue to work with the essential team of 'Dynamic Syncopation', DJ Ollie Teeba and 'No Sleep Nigel'. There is one producer from the US with whom I got a constructive relationship from way back. He's a good friend of DJ Spinna and he's from Atlanta."

On 'Altered Vibes' Travis Blaque brings out a two track 12". He deals with the issues through comedy. 'Dead Weight', is based on the running theme 'London waits for you to fail.' Remembers us to the track 'Have You Been Told The Streets Of London Are Made Of Gold?'. The first song is produced by Herbaliser's DJ Olliue Teeba. 'Dynamic Syncopation' from 'Ninja Tunes' took care of the production for 'Untitled'. The first track 'Dead Weight' comes in with a pumping beat. Talking about he's not walking with men that don't want to walk or are not on the same mission as he is. The fat scratches are done by DJ Ollie Teeba. And all is mixed by No Sleep Nigel-that-pops-up-everywhere-we-look. The second track is called 'Untitled'. Kinda skipped us if they really did not have a name or it's the name of the track. It's a laid back track with a happy sing-a-long melody. The lyrics are about a relationship that does not run that smoothly. On this track Travis' clarity is less. I have some trouble to understand him. A factor to reckon is that the London accent is almost brand new for me. It sounded good enough to check them out in London. So we just bought two tickets to London and did the interview above. To relax you, we are not that rich we went there not for only one interview. It was also a short holiday. To give you a good impression, we have 'Dead Weight' on the 'Who That?' page.

AQ