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Tricksta had to hook up with Nemesis & Arrogance after the release of their new mixed CD is sending the UK community crazy! It’s a dope mixtape that features everyone from Bashy, Skinnyman, Supar Novar, Wretch 32, Sincere and many more…
What are your biggest achievements in Hip-Hop music before you dropped this album?
Arrogance: Joining Itch FM and going on tour with Skinnyman are up there, but the biggest for me was Lend Me Your Ears. Because it was our first LP, we were going into it blind we had nothing but our hunger to push us forward and anyone who listens to it can hear that.
Nemesis: For me, it would have to be the way that I have spent so long producing and mastering my style, including the lyrics and the flows. But Lend Me Your Ears was probably my biggest achievement before Da Real Sho if I am honest.
When did you get into Hip-Hop?
Nemesis: When I heard Lil Kim. I had listened to Hip Hop before that but back then I used to listen to Speed Garage, which was the time before they even called it Garage. I then started listening to: The Firm, Snoop and Dre. Eventually I stopped listening and DJing Garage and focused on Hip Hop.
Arrogance: I used to memorise my dads music collection including Hip Hop as far back as 8-9 years old but it really started when at 13. I wanted roller skates for my birthday, but my dad got me a hi-fi. I was angry at the time but from that period on, I would blow my £15 a week paper round money on CDs, I remember the first two I bought were LL Cool J – Loungin & Fugees – The Score
Where are you from and how did you meet each other?
Arrogance: We’re from North London. We met several times through other rappers and we’d been in a lot of freestyle sessions together, but we didn’t join forces until Nemesis moved 10 minutes away from me. Our ideas were always different, but it always seemed to work out well, as the opposing thoughts seemed to compliment each other.
When did you start recordings and have you had releases out before this new album?
Nemesis: I have been recording songs since I was 15. I used to make the songs and melodies using Midi, take them to the studio as a midi file and change the sounds then vocal the track all within like 2 hours. I’ve never got bored of it. Now, 8 years on, I am recording in my own studio all the time. We had Change Your Heart Feat. Skinnyman out as the lead single for Lend Me Your Ears and then released No Peace as the second single. We released “Lend me your ears” October 2007.
Arrogance: I was about 16; I looped Gang-starrs Full Clip using my CD decks and recorded my lyrics on to tape. It took forever because I had to record the whole song in one take, lots of rewinding and starting from scratch. It was worth it for the ratings I got in school though. Since then I’ve recorded tracks with my old crew Caniva, tracks for DJ IQ’s – Live From The Sofa, Lend Me Your Ears and other mixtape projects like Stuff Music’s and Hip Hop Basement’s mix CD’s too.
Your music is both on a Hip-Hop and a Grime tip. That’s a vague way of explaining your music, but how would you describe your new album?
Nemesis: It’s not an album it’s a mixtape, although the mixtape is produced mostly by me and its all original production. We didn’t choose most of the tracks; it was the features that chose them. It’s more of a road album that is in touch with the street and is full up of non stop verses and collaborations.
Arrogance: At the moment the UK music scene is vague. Hip-Hoppers try Grime and Grime artists do the Hip-Hop thing, and the production across genres is all very experimental. That’s what we’ve tried to reflect with this project, we tried to get artists from as many different sides of the spectrum to come together on one project so listeners could hear the result.
Let’s talk about the guests. How did you go about choosing who to work with?
Nemesis: We were on a few radio stations doing interviews each week and through Vision PR & DJ Form we got the opportunity to invite big guests on to the show. From there we chose whether we wanted them on the mixtape or not. However most artists were bless and were willing to do a track with us.
There’s some hot new talent on there as well as some proper UK veterans. Was this a decision you made before you started the project?
Arrogance: We just wanted to get some talented people on regardless of stripes or experience, we were lucky enough to get some household names. I’m happy with the people we got to work with and hope to work with them again in the future.
Nemesis: Yea I would say that there was definitely a few names on there that we wanted on to collaborate with before the album started. Suga DZL, Loon Again, Starry Dayz and Wretch 32 just to name a few….
So is the album more sample based or did you play & produce a lot of original productions on this album?
Nemesis: This album uses much fewer samples than Lend Me Your Ears. I really got into the production throughout the year it took to produce the mixtape. I definitely enjoy playing in melodies and I am that guy that will stay up all night producing, so much so, I don’t even watch Television.
Any plans for any singles or videos?
Nemesis: Yea there is but might be little to early to give that away right now!
Arrogance: Definitely yes! But we still have to pick which track(s) are gonna be next.
What’s your favourite track on the album and why?
Nemesis: I don’t have one to be honest, I just think when you listen to the mix tape from start to end all the songs complement each other. I think the songs are much stronger all together than separate. I think it was the same with Lend Me Your Ears.
Arrogance: Hip Hop blues: It’s the moody sort of Hip Hop I grow up listening to and it’s got my favourite verse of the whole mixtape which is Suga DZL’s.
How long did the album take to make?
Nemesis: I caught a case in 2007 and thought we had to get some music in the pipeline in case I was away for a while. Within the period it took to complete the case we completed the project. Just under a year.
Any plans for a follow-up?
Nemesis: I’ve just completed a solo album called “Hot Air Rises” It will be a free downloadable album that will be released at the end of August. Its fire!!!
Arrogance: I’m working on my solo Mixtape too The Death of Arrogance hopefully I’ll be done by September I also want to get a project started for extended crew, everyone’s back from uni now so there’s no excuses. And anyone that wants to work with me holla and we can talk.
Have you been playing out much to promote the new release?
Nemesis: Not really any raves or events, but we have been doing a massive radio campaign. Something like 25 radio station interviews in under three weeks. No time for the ladies right now, sorry!
Arrogance: Accept for The launch party & Hoochinoo, it’s been a while since we’ve done some live PA’s but it’s definitely something we want to get back into, for promotions sake but also just for the experience.
The album is distributed by Genepool thru Universal I believe. That must be a good look. Tell us more about that and how and where people can buy this release.
Arrogance: Our Music is available from iTunes, HMV, Uptown Records, Ruthless Records, Rebel Music, Dark N Cold and all good independent record stores!
Also make sure you check the MySpace: www.myspace.com/nemandaggs
FaceBook – Nemesis N Arrogance
Twitter Page www.twitter.com/nemandaggs
The Blog: http://nemesisandarrogance.wordpress.com
Interview by Tricksta
www.myspace.com/trickstawolftown
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