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Chipmunk Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Wednesday 7th December 2011 | Osh
Chipmunk recently announced his support for the O2 Think Big Programme as well as the project The Homework Club. The initiatives aim to aid education across the UK in the hope of a better future, and between his music career and these efforts we caught up with the rising star.
TGN: Hello Chipmunk, hope you are great today. The last time you spoke with us (ed: December 2010, issue 22), Champion was just about to drop and nobody really had any idea what was in store for us. Now you are a stronger artist, one of the UK’s favourite names after fighting it out with Jessie J. How have things changed for you since then?
Chipmunk: [laughs] It’s changed man, I think I’m getting older in the public eye the perception of me as an artist is changing. I’m turning 21 this year so it’s all changing so it’s serious for me!
TGN: I suppose things look different from this side...
Chipmunk: Yeah.
TGN: Well Champion obviously featured Chris Brown, In The Air had Keri Hilson and I know you have worked with Trey Songz. The word in the industry is that you have been really smart with the business while working with such talented American artists and remaining a true UK boy.
Chipmunk: Yeah I’m still - you know what it is - I think it’s really the access of UK artists to worldwide artists is becoming a bit more open due to people like myself. But at the same time I’m a British entity and that’s what I represent.
TGN: So how would you say that the American scene is different to ours?
Chipmunk: If I’m honest, I just know it is man, I couldn’t tell you exactly how and I think anyone who pretends they can how to explain the difference between American and British is lying. I just know that the artists have found respect for what’s happening in the UK now, so it’s time for us in the UK to take advantage of that and spread our rise and make our relationships with artists overseas who we believe are talented.
TGN: And of course it has been a big year in the US with Drake’s album dropping following Kanye and Jay-Z’s joint album!
Chipmunk: Yeah, and Wayne’s! It’s mad over there right now, the quality of lyrics is very high.
TGN: Yes it is. So of all these people that you have really had the chance to meet now, who would you most like to work with?
Chipmunk: Probably Kanye West.
TGN: Why is that?
Chipmunk: Probably because, well not even just the rapping side of things, he’s just an amazing producer and all round studio presence.
TGN: And Kanye is obviously a huge personality, that would be a record we would like to hear!
Chipmunk: Definitely, thank you.
TGN: Obviously we would all like to see you over in the States killing it and getting into that side of yourself. But talking about where you come from, I understand you are a big supporter of O2’s Think Big Programme, having an impact on kids already in school. Can you tell me more about that?
Chipmunk: Yeah sure, well I mean homework is something that’s overlooked by people in general because it accounts for so much of your end result when you leave, you know what I mean? So i just think it’s important to encourage young people to get in the right direction and on the right path, you know, to continue their studies at home as well as school.
TGN: And of course in our last interview you had said that “Success is not a destination but a journey.”
Chipmunk: A journey yeah, definitely I stand by that! I think it’s a journey that I’m still on! Steadily moving upwards slowly but surely, sometimes hitting stand-stills and having to re-evaluate and find new paths. It’s really interesting the whole journey of success, I think it’s so easy to just come and go, but the hard part is to make sure that it’s a continuous journey upwards.
TGN: So is it fair to say that you got to where you are because of how hard you worked?
Chipmunk: I think that’s definitely fair to say because of how hard I worked. I think being well-mannered is also a very big part and having the ability to listen, it’s many different aspects of you.
TGN: Sure. But taking into account how rap draws on hardship and struggle and in that context, what do you think would be the best reaction to something like the London riots, particularly in Tottenham?
Chipmunk: If I’m honest, I don’t answer any questions to do with the riots specifically on Tottenham. I don’t think it’s fair for me to be just one voice that could be heard because of the situation that I’m in. People assume the public would want to hear what I have to say about it but I just don’t take the gamble, I just give my heart’s condolences to anyone who lost lives, jobs or anything personal to them, but other than that I don’t comment.
TGN: Okay, less seriously, suppose you were stranded on a desert island, you can take three albums with you to listen to. What would they be?
Chipmunk: I’d take Sizzla, ‘The Overcoming.’ Um... I’d take ‘Watch the Throne’. And maybe... I’m not too sure on the last one to be honest!
TGN: Yeah it takes some time to think about it. You wouldn’t take any of your own music?
Chipmunk: To be honest no, I’d be trying to write my own music [laughs].
TGN: Well then, now that you are part of the big world of celebrity, we would like to know that if you could take any celebrity for a night out in London, who would it be and where would you go?
Chipmunk: I would take Rihanna! To one of the functions at the back of the barber shop in Stratford, I think she’d like it [laughs].
TGN: That sounds perfect! We should try arrange it for you.
Chipmunk: Yeah, trust me. Rhianna. The barber shop. Food. Drinks. Everthing. Barbeque chicken, curry chicken, jerk chicken, rice and cheese coleslaw, the whole thing! Trust me.
TGN: It sounds great mate. So thanks for your time, could you tell us something exclusive or at least funny for our readers?
Chipmunk: Yeah... The girl from Cover Drive is beautiful!
For more information on the O2 Think Big programme or The Homework Club, head over to www.O2thinkbig.co.uk for details of the campaign.
TGN: Hello Chipmunk, hope you are great today. The last time you spoke with us (ed: December 2010, issue 22), Champion was just about to drop and nobody really had any idea what was in store for us. Now you are a stronger artist, one of the UK’s favourite names after fighting it out with Jessie J. How have things changed for you since then?
Chipmunk: [laughs] It’s changed man, I think I’m getting older in the public eye the perception of me as an artist is changing. I’m turning 21 this year so it’s all changing so it’s serious for me!
TGN: I suppose things look different from this side...
Chipmunk: Yeah.
TGN: Well Champion obviously featured Chris Brown, In The Air had Keri Hilson and I know you have worked with Trey Songz. The word in the industry is that you have been really smart with the business while working with such talented American artists and remaining a true UK boy.
Chipmunk: Yeah I’m still - you know what it is - I think it’s really the access of UK artists to worldwide artists is becoming a bit more open due to people like myself. But at the same time I’m a British entity and that’s what I represent.
TGN: So how would you say that the American scene is different to ours?
Chipmunk: If I’m honest, I just know it is man, I couldn’t tell you exactly how and I think anyone who pretends they can how to explain the difference between American and British is lying. I just know that the artists have found respect for what’s happening in the UK now, so it’s time for us in the UK to take advantage of that and spread our rise and make our relationships with artists overseas who we believe are talented.
TGN: And of course it has been a big year in the US with Drake’s album dropping following Kanye and Jay-Z’s joint album!
Chipmunk: Yeah, and Wayne’s! It’s mad over there right now, the quality of lyrics is very high.
TGN: Yes it is. So of all these people that you have really had the chance to meet now, who would you most like to work with?
Chipmunk: Probably Kanye West.
TGN: Why is that?
Chipmunk: Probably because, well not even just the rapping side of things, he’s just an amazing producer and all round studio presence.
TGN: And Kanye is obviously a huge personality, that would be a record we would like to hear!
Chipmunk: Definitely, thank you.
TGN: Obviously we would all like to see you over in the States killing it and getting into that side of yourself. But talking about where you come from, I understand you are a big supporter of O2’s Think Big Programme, having an impact on kids already in school. Can you tell me more about that?
Chipmunk: Yeah sure, well I mean homework is something that’s overlooked by people in general because it accounts for so much of your end result when you leave, you know what I mean? So i just think it’s important to encourage young people to get in the right direction and on the right path, you know, to continue their studies at home as well as school.
TGN: And of course in our last interview you had said that “Success is not a destination but a journey.”
Chipmunk: A journey yeah, definitely I stand by that! I think it’s a journey that I’m still on! Steadily moving upwards slowly but surely, sometimes hitting stand-stills and having to re-evaluate and find new paths. It’s really interesting the whole journey of success, I think it’s so easy to just come and go, but the hard part is to make sure that it’s a continuous journey upwards.
TGN: So is it fair to say that you got to where you are because of how hard you worked?
Chipmunk: I think that’s definitely fair to say because of how hard I worked. I think being well-mannered is also a very big part and having the ability to listen, it’s many different aspects of you.
TGN: Sure. But taking into account how rap draws on hardship and struggle and in that context, what do you think would be the best reaction to something like the London riots, particularly in Tottenham?
Chipmunk: If I’m honest, I don’t answer any questions to do with the riots specifically on Tottenham. I don’t think it’s fair for me to be just one voice that could be heard because of the situation that I’m in. People assume the public would want to hear what I have to say about it but I just don’t take the gamble, I just give my heart’s condolences to anyone who lost lives, jobs or anything personal to them, but other than that I don’t comment.
TGN: Okay, less seriously, suppose you were stranded on a desert island, you can take three albums with you to listen to. What would they be?
Chipmunk: I’d take Sizzla, ‘The Overcoming.’ Um... I’d take ‘Watch the Throne’. And maybe... I’m not too sure on the last one to be honest!
TGN: Yeah it takes some time to think about it. You wouldn’t take any of your own music?
Chipmunk: To be honest no, I’d be trying to write my own music [laughs].
TGN: Well then, now that you are part of the big world of celebrity, we would like to know that if you could take any celebrity for a night out in London, who would it be and where would you go?
Chipmunk: I would take Rihanna! To one of the functions at the back of the barber shop in Stratford, I think she’d like it [laughs].
TGN: That sounds perfect! We should try arrange it for you.
Chipmunk: Yeah, trust me. Rhianna. The barber shop. Food. Drinks. Everthing. Barbeque chicken, curry chicken, jerk chicken, rice and cheese coleslaw, the whole thing! Trust me.
TGN: It sounds great mate. So thanks for your time, could you tell us something exclusive or at least funny for our readers?
Chipmunk: Yeah... The girl from Cover Drive is beautiful!
For more information on the O2 Think Big programme or The Homework Club, head over to www.O2thinkbig.co.uk for details of the campaign.
