HTF manage to catch up with the four of the most spoken about guys in the industry right now, Rascals. Shizz, Tempz, Merkz and Kay Willz gave us some exclusive time whilst at HCM Ent HQ. Rascals this year have really blown up as their massive hits ‘Fire Blaze’ and ‘What’s Going Down’ which featured on their free mixtape The Launch Vol. 2.
HTF: Hey Rascals, thanks for taking the time to speak to us at Hit The Floor, how are you?
Shizz: All good… happy, can’t complain about life at the moment.
HTF: We want to take you back to when you first started listening to Grime. How old were each of you and what was the first track you heard/ brought?
Shizz: I was like 8 when grime wasn’t a genre.. nobody knew what it was called. I didn’t even know any mcs that were around my age either. There was a youth club where all mcs like roll deep ruff squad etc used to spit so I was got thrown in at the deep end very young.
Tempz: when I was 8-9 I met shizz and started following him to youth clubs and started listening to grime from then. First artists I heard at the time were wiley, dizzie rascal and ruff squad
Merkz: when I was like 9-10, my cousin gave me a cd of him spitting bars with his mates. From that day on I started writing lyrics.
Kay Willz: I was liked 8-9, I can’t even remember the first track I heard was a while back ha
HTF: As your aware Grime has changed dramatically over the years, do you guys still listen to older material or newer stuff and who do you mainly listen to?
Shizz: To be honest the only grime that would be on my ipod will be old stuff.. not only because its grime but that era was epic.
Tempz: Still listen to grime now and again and its mostly the older stuff I grew up on
Merkz: I prefer the old school grime much more than the more recent grime. I like skepta though.
Kay Willz: To be honest I don’t really listen to grime, im more of a hip hop r&b guy.
HTF: Outside of Grime who would you want to work with? Died or Alive?
Shizz: Ed Sheeran, dot rotten and chase and status
Tempz: Ab soul, wretch, j cole, slaughterhouse
Merkz: I would like to work with Cold play, Drake or Ab-Soul
Kay Willz: Kendrick lamar, adele & diplo
HTF: You recently performed at London’s The Forum for MTV Brand New how was that experience for you guys?
Shizz: Very sick! The feed back aswell I couldn’t of asked for a better response. I’m just going with the flow at the minute and stuff like this is getting me excited for new things to come.
Tempz: Was a great experience and also enjoyed the performance. Just to be there was a good feeling.
Merkz: I loved it! Really appreciated the fact that they let us perform and noticed our talent.
Kay Willz: It was wicked, had a lot of fun and appreciate the fact MTV noticed our grind, looking forward to 2013 it should be a good year!
HTF: We noticed on your website that you have your own dictionary, who came up with that idea?
Shizz: You know what it is, when we step out of our area or even London… and we’re far out when we speak to people our words is new slang to them.. Obviously that’s a lil insight init lol
HTF: With Christmas around the corner, whats on everyone’s wish list?
Shizz: Driving lessons lol
Tempz: Rihanna under my tree
Merkz: A laptop
Kay Willz: some socks would be nice ha
HTF: What was your best and worse presents you’ve ever received for Christmas?
Shizz: Probably a coat that ive never worn in my life and that coat only
Tempz: The same aftershave from different people. Do I smell or something ?
Merkz: a jumper from my nan! Lol but I never told her I disliked it of course
Kay Willz: I got trainers that didn’t fit me lool
HTF: If you could describe your forthcoming album in one word what would it be?
Shizz: DIFFERENT
HTF: And finally, with Lord Of The Mic 4 around the corner, who are you most looking forward to hear?
Shizz: I went to the clashes, plus my cousin discarda clashed jay kae so ive had a lil insight already.. the dvds gonna be funny.
Interview: Josh Pratt
