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From a young age I've been highly influenced by music, as a teen I was that kid in the mirror spitting bars thinking he was Biggie Smalls and Snoop Doggy Dog. I’m a big follower of the New York scene and have been raised on artists like Mobb Deep and Kool G Rap so from the days of Big Daddy Kane and A Tribe Called Quest I’ve always been into HIP HOP and that’s where the hearts at. I first started recording music with my lifelong friends (Royalist) on tape deck just plugging in a mic and recording raw vibes, from there we upgraded to a multi-track around the start of 2000 and that’s when shit got cracking.... we'd link up blaze some herbz and record some tracks and before you knew it ROYALIST was creating a name for themselves on the streets of Birmingham.

Let’s talk about your latest project, its sounding really tight. Who features on it, who dealt with the production and how long did it take to make?

With this project I tried to take it back to the essence of where this music came from, cut out all the gimmicks all the follow fashion movements, let’s just get creative and express yourself without trying fit into what’s hot round about now. I been feeling Sir Tomz work and energy from day so after linking up with him twisting up a drink politicking about the rap game it only felt right we get to work and cook up some fire. The result's was 'Quality Over Quantity' 10 tracks that individually hold their own, working with Tomz's beats was a blessing, I could see that he don’t watch no face and makes music from within so the barz flew out as I operate the same, vibzing and having fun it was no long ting to create the magic so there’s not many features on this as this was a in-house project but Sir Tomz hooked me up with Nih illi who bodied afew tracks with her talent, and I reached out to my Royalist Co-d BossType and 209 to do what they do and eat sutten up for me.

How would you describe the music that you make? I know it’s hard to compare yourself to other artists and styles, but what kind of vibe is your music on?

I'd like to think my that my vibe and sound is original, I’ve been rapping for a while so I found myself along time ago, I’m comfortable and true to what I do and I think that comes across. As a artist I’m very versatile but the music that I make personally reflex's the music I like, If u like that D-Block street shit u going to like my music but I'm a lyricist so if u like artists like Nas u gonna like my music, a seeker of knowledge and wisdom if you listen to rappers like Hell Razah you going to like my music. Overall I have an organic sound that you can relate to easily so if you’re a fan of real music you will feel my vibe.

What do you enjoy the most about the whole process of recording and writing music? Is there something that you absolutely love and is there anything that maybe you don’t like doing as much?

I love music so for me it’s the whole process, aint nutten better than hearing that hardbody beat and getting in tuned with yourself to see what comes out. Then there’s the passion of standing at the mic and getting ready to bless the beat and finally hearing the finished product. The thing I'm not so keen on is the other side of music like networking and promoting which is crazy cuz that’s what the whole games about, doing it without a manager or being signed is hard when you living a real life and trying to succeed at that also.

Are you releasing your music on your own label or do you have a team that is aiming to help you get signed to a major?

Everything we (Royalist) do and have done is independent and will stay that way unless something worth our time comes to the table. We not dismissing major labels but we going to be doin our thing creating a buzz regardless, we have a nice little team and following behind us so to start we building on that.

How are you getting your project out there? Do you have a distributor involved or maybe some shops/websites stocking & supporting your music?

Well this time I'm working with Park Street PR and trying to open up a few new lanes but it will be getting released on DatPiff and UK Runnings and from there the promo will start you it will be everywhere! But here are the direct download links for you…

http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/ssaht0

http://www.datpiff.com/MKD-Quality-Over-Quantity-produced-By-Sir-Tomz-mixtape.353309.html

Getting radio play can be hard for unsigned Hip-Hop artists, but have you had any radio play and if so what DJ’s and stations have supported you?

I got allot of respect for the DJ's in Brum especially ones like Noodles, Bankie, Mega Stress, C Brown as they show love and bang our shit. Without the DJ's the streets are dead so it’s our job to feed them. Its allot more politics with other big DJ's but that’s why I stick to what I know and if DJs like my music and play it then its nothing but love.

Do you enjoy playing live? Have you done many gigs and what kind of artists have you supported or played alongside?

Performing live is great and coming up we done allot of stage shows around the UK, the game was different then and clubs were supporting hiphop allot more.  Doing various talent shows I can remember performing around artists like N Dubz, Tinchy Strider and more. One of the most livest gigs I can remember doing was Westwood in Milton Keynes where we supported the Underword Family (MD7) with various other midlands artists and tore up the spot.

Let’s talk image and branding for a minute. Some artists spend lots of money on artwork and other acts aren’t that interested. How important is image, artwork and branding to you?

Image and branding is very important but unfortunately that’s where allot of artists go wrong, nowadays we care so much about image that we forget who we really are, we watching these Hollywood Rappers and acting like we living their lifestyle. Artwork is important as it’s the first impression someone gets of you but I just wish allot of these rappers would put as much effort into their music as well...

What was the last album you brought and apart from Hip-Hop what other genres of music do you listen too?

Brought or downloaded lol... I’m banging HNIC 3 from Prodigy in my car at the min but I'm kind of diverse when it comes 2 what I like, I love my grime and r'n'b and have a soft spot for conscious vibes but overall I can appreciate all music.

Have you got any videos on You Tube and have any ever got played on TV Stations?

Numerous Royalist videos on YouTube and many solo ones also, shot vids with many channels up and down the country but most you can find under my boys YouTube channel WezMidzTv.

So what does the future hold for you as an artist? Have you got any big plans that you can tell us about before you go?

Progress is the key and stay working I’m already sitting on 2 new mixtapes and that’s not including the work I’m involved in with my team, the next step is getting more out there but I have a evil plan so the name MKD should start 2 ring bells in the near future. Not 2 let 2 much off but I see myself as a universal artist so id love 2 test my skills out with some of the best out there, just watch the space....

Connect with MKD:

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www.twitter.com/mkdroyalist

www.facebook.com/mkd.royalist

Download links:

http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/ssaht0

http://www.datpiff.com/MKD-Quality-Over-Quantity-produced-By-Sir-Tomz-mixtape.353309.html

MKD - Too Powerful (Produced by Sir Tomz) VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHTNB6zBbHY

Interview by Tricksta

www.ukrunnings.co.uk