Diversidad

1.Before Diversidad, had you collaborated with foreign artists? If you have, which artists, which project?
I was part of the European crew “La Connessione” a European crew that recorded an album together and organized concerts across Europe between 1995 and 2000. “La Connessione” included German, Italian and Belgian artists: Torch (DE), Toni-L (DE), Esa (IT), La Pina (IT), Polare (IT), Marya (IT), DJ Def Cut (CH), among others.
I did some featuring on Tony-L’s album. I also recorded a track with Akhenaton (FR) called “Loin” and I collaborated in the past with other French artists such as Imhotep, Fab, Coma, and many others.

I also released a mixtape in 2005 with 50 MCs from 11 different countries.

2.Have you already performed abroad? in Europe? Where?
I toured in Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Marocco, Senegal, Luxembourg, Switzerland, The Netherlands and other countries.

3.If you have, what’s your best / worst memory while performing abroad?
One of my best memory is when I was performing in Germany and as I don’t speak German in order to communicate with the corwd I made up a word that sounded like German and I had the crowd shout it after me, it really worked they were all fired up and it was really exiting to see I had found a way to interact with the public. Another great memory was when I performed in Italy for the first time. I was really anxious because the people didn’t know me at all but as soon as I step on stage the crowd was already yelling and applauding, that was really amsing to be welcomed in such a way in a place where you’ve never performed before.

4.Where have you always dreamed to perform at and why (in Europe: festivals, venue, cities, countries, random place?)
I had always dreamed about performing in Marocco and that dream just came true since I was in Meknes not too long ago. That concert was a really important one for me as well because it was the first time I think that my parents saw me on stage actually. Now I dream about performing in Casablanca because this is the city where my parents come from.
My dream place to perform in Europe would be Venice on the St Mark’s Square. That would be really cool!

5.For the fans who don’t understand your lyrics, can you briefly describe what you usually rap/sing about?
I don’t rap about any specific topic but I try to write good and interesting lyrics and make them sound nice. I don’t want to just drop freestyles and rap about any bullshit. I try to work on the content as well as on the form of my rap. You can write nice texts even using slang as long as you actually have something to say.

6.Which city are you from? What do you like/hate most about your city?
What I like most about my city, Brussels, is that I feel like home here but what I hate most about it is that some people make me feel like I’m not at home here…

7.What are the coolest hip hop places to hang out in your city (bar, restaurants, clubs, venues, other…)?
Me and my crew Prohibe, we’re soon going to reopen the Prohibe Store in Scharbeek, Brussels. Otherwise if you’re into graffiti there is this one spot where people come from all over Europe to paint : Nerpeed in Anderlecht (Brussels) it’s a big wall by the freeway.

8.What’s your favorite place in Europe and why?
Venice: It’s a beautiful city, when you’re there it feels like you’re in a movie. There are no cars, I really like it with the canals and the gondolas.

9.In about 5 words how do you describe the urban culture in your country?
Still active, more mature, because the artists have grown up. The media buzz from the early years of the Belgian Hip Hop is now over. Hip Hop is now better accepted but on the other hand it doesn”t any media attention anymore. Also I’d say that what is typical about Belgian Hip Hop is that it’s truly attached to the originals values of Hip Hop with the Zulu Nation and Afrika Bambaataa’s message that inspired Hip Hop at the beginning.

10.Could you give the English translation to about 3 or 4 key words from the hip hop culture in your own language/slang (Example: the Spanish translation of “freestyle rap” is “batalla de gallos”)?
In French we use a lot of English words when it comes to talking about Hip Hop but maybe one Belgian specificity is that we can either say LE Hip Hop or LA Hip Hop while in France Hip Hop is only used with the masculine article…we’re just more open-minded !!
Also if you want to say “Homies” in French you’ll see that everybody uses the word “Potes” here and in France as well.

11.What does Diversidad represent for you?
It’s a team of mercenaries fighting for the cause of Hip Hop! What I really appreciate is the spirit of the MCs, they’re more hip hop than rap. They’re all technicians, experts in their own style, they know how to fight to stay in the game and they have that fighting spirit. They’re hip hop shaolins! That’s the reason why the connection was just so smooth among us.

12.What was your motivation in participating in Diversidad?
I’ve always liked to discover foreign hip hop, shaped by different habits and cultures. The diversity within hip hop is what makes it strong.

13.What’s your best and worst memory from the album recording session in Brussels?
My worst memory was Love Song. The album was missing a love song and there was already a team working on that track, they took me in but I couldn’t find the right way to fit in. I had 8 bars to do and I just froze. I just wasn’t able to deliver them properly. I think I was really tired physically and psychologically coz I had been really busy right before the Diversidad recording.
The best memory well we just had a great time on a daily basis so they are too many to pick just one, all in all this whole experience was just awesome.

14.Did you know any of the other artists from the Diversidad selection before getting to the Brussels studio in March?
I knew Pitcho the other Belgian MC, I had briefly met Nach in the past and I knew Cut Killer from when we were talking about me being featured on one of his track. Otherwise I didn’t know anybody else and that was cool because the whole point of joining Diversidad was to meet new people.

15.How do you imagine your music career in 5 years from now?
I see myself performing on the St Mark’s Square in Venice with the same energy and excitement I have today when rapping. And I see myself surrounded by the same team hopefully.

16.How many cds have you released so far and what are they called?
•    1st solo album in 1998 : De la rue à la scène
•    2nd album with CNN in 2003 : CNN
•    Maxi « A la vie à la mort » in 2009
17.Any awards or anything you’re particularly proud of in your music career so far?
What I’m particularly proud of is  :.to have been able to perform abroad and collaborate with foreign artists
.to have stayed true to the ideas I’ve always fought for all along my career
-In 2004 CNN/Souterrain Production was rewarded by the Belgian Hip Hop awards for Best Rap Group (CNN), Best Solo Artist (Pitcho who used to be part of Souterrain Prod), Best beat-maker (Simon le Saint), Best label (Souterrain Prod) and Best hip hop radio show (Bumrush Show on FM Brussel).
.to organize a charity event called Hip Hop(e) since 2008
-to be part of Diversidad is what I’ve always wanted for my career. I started collaborating with foreign artists many years ago but it wasn’t on the same level as Diversidad’s so to have been selected for this project is a reward in itself
-I am thankful to God for allowing me to live my passion every day.