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Ghetts Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Monday 23rd September 2013 | Osh
Guestlist’s Oshi talks to BET award-nominee who has performed with Devlin, Wretch 32, Scorcher and Kano (amongst others). He tells us about his life, his other personas and his views on money and society
Ghetts: My love for grime came from very early on - the pirate radio scene - and it was cultured then. It’s less cultured now, but that was the culture of the moment and we all wanted to be a part of that culture, and here I am today!
Oshi: Were you at pirate radio every day?
G: I’m originally from a crew called Nasty Crew, and we had a set on De Ja, and that was on Monday from nine to eleven I believe. Don’t quote me on that, but yeah - that was the thing; every Monday we were going up there and putting in the work.
O: Were you still at school at this time?
G: Nah, I was way out of school at this time. I’m a late starter so when I started I was like twenty or so.
O: Who was pushing the movement back then?
G: Umm…Roll Deep, Nasty Crew, Boys in Da Hood… those were the biggest names at that time.
O: When did you know that this was for you - that this was what you were going to do?
G: A lot of people were around me at the time, telling me to pursue it. I was getting into a lot of trouble on the roads, or whatever, so it was people around me telling me: “you know this a good career path - you’ve got something, you’re above average, so follow this through”.
O: Was there a moment that seemed to be “the” moment?
G: I get that moment every day - I still get that moment where I think: “You know - this was meant to be.” What else am I meant to do?
O: Was there a transition from being on pirate radio stations to being bigger than that? Was there a game plan?
G: Do you know…to be honest, I just got a game plan recently. The pirate radio and the raves were all I could see at the time, and then I went on tour with Kano. It was the Mike Skinner tour and Mike was at his peak at this time, and it just opened my eyes up to a whole different world, and the possibilities within music.
O: So going on tour - Mike Skinner, Devlin - that’s huge. That must’ve been a big moment for you.
G: It was just like… I wanted to do the work. I just knew that these people weren’t here for no reason, and that they must’ve done loads of work, which I hadn’t done yet. So I kind of wanted to stand on my own two feet, as it were, so I went and did the work.
O: So when did you know that you were breaking into the industry?
G: I never really had a first tune, as such, but my debut C.D was called 2000 and life. It was very raw, very passionate. It was just like: when you’re making music at the time, your first CD - how can I break it down – well, a lot of people always say, “How come an artist’s first CD is their best CD?” because normally an artist’s first CD is when they’re not making music for radio, or for this. They’re just making music, and that’s when you get the raw element of it. But yeah, my one was 2000 and life and it was well-received by the public, and it kind of put me on a pedestal from there, and set me from the rest.
O: What was the best musical introduction to Ghetts?
G: At this point I’ve got a song called ‘Cypher’ - it basically explains the evolution of myself and the evolution of a genre, so I go from Ghetto, to Ghetts, to J. Clarke - and that is the exact same order that my career has gone. Different style, different sound… and then you get to see it, so if you don’t know who I am at this point, that will be the best thing to go and see in order to get a history lesson in like four and a half minutes!
O: So you haven’t left Ghetts behind, or Ghetto?
G: No - they are all elements of who I am today. It’s just that I’ve learnt more through music, voice tones and flow control. I’m all about, firstly, the skills, so I always want to learn more about how to do stuff, how to flow, and how to find certain pockets within the beat. I’m about that, so as time goes on, I learn more - still got loads more to learn now.
O: So who do you admire lyrically?
G: Do you know what’s crazy, to be honest…? I’m not even just blowing my own horn, but out of a genre, I’m one of the very first lyrical ones. So before me, from this country, who were lyrical ones? Kano and Klashnekoff…. But before me, there wasn’t that much lyrical stuff going on.
O: I mean, maybe, going way back - as you were growing up?
G: Oh, so I would’ve been listening to Americans at that time, so of course, your Big L’s - that’s one of my largest idols in terms of flows and how he was putting it together. It was timeless. He died years ago - even if you listen to him now, his flow is timeless. Jay Z, obviously, and Pun, D Block and Jadakiss from D Block. A lot of people I have admiration for, the way they were putting it together… sick stuff.
O: Who do you make music for, is it for yourself? The Community? Or is it for the world?
G: Until this day, on a selfish one, I think I rap for myself. If I can’t enjoy my music - like, listen to it without thinking that this is a business move - I won’t put it out. I like to enjoy my music ‘till this day, like personally listen to it as if it’s not me… I’m a fan of myself and I want to listen to know what a fan would want from me. I’ve got to like it, man.
O: So we’re talking about an evolution of this genre - what happened to it?
G: It changed, just like anything in this world - the genre’s changed. If you were to ask me for the better or the worse, I couldn’t really tell you, you know. But I’m just trying to embrace the change which is happening now.
O: But what about for someone that doesn’t know how it’s changed?
G: Well there’s more money in it now. (Laughs) But yeah, there’s less raves and the pirate radio scene ain’t what it used to be. You could hear us all on the radio, all the big names at once on a weekly basis, but that’s not really going to happen anymore. The Eskimo Dance thing is coming back though, which was big in the early era, and it’s on its way back now, so big up everyone that’s doing that!
O: And now there’s money, do you think it’s easier to blur the line – like, do something underground and something big?
G: I don’t think it’s easier, I think it’s quite hard. I think a lot of the fans, a lot of the hard-core fans, might not understand when some of their favourite artists take that route and go mainstream. So I think that the backlash that you can get from that can make it harder sometimes.
O: So do you care a lot about that when you’re thinking about the music?
G: Me, I’ve always done everything from my very first CD, so a real fan of mine will know that from my very first debut CD, before I made music for any other reason - rather than just to listen to a CD of myself. There’s many different styles in there, you know: rap, grime - there’s even an R&B song in there. Our thing was that we’re tempo specialists, so I’ll ‘rep grime ‘till the death of me, but due to the level of skill I want to reach, I’ve always played with all sorts of tempos and different sounds.
O: Yeah you’ve got that ability to sort of mix it up.
G: Yeah, always have done.
O: Can you tell me about some of your life-changing moments?
G: There’s been a few. Prison being one of them, to be honest, and also the birth of my daughter. Those were the two biggest for me, I’d say.
O: Ok - what effect on your life did going to jail have?
G: You get a different perspective of life. You get time to sit down and think. You could do something stupid and be back in here, which I don’t want to be, or I could do something positive with my life. And then the birth of a child gives you a new perspective on life - even when your mum used to be worried about you going out and being out until a certain time, and you couldn’t really understand! I’m thinking: my mums just on me - like, let me live! Now I understand a mother’s worry, a parent’s worry of her child, like where her child is. So I get those different perspectives now.
O: Would you say that’s a positive change?
G: Yeah, definitely.
O: What effect on your life did having a child have?
G: You get a different perspective - obviously you want to be around to see her grow. The things that someone like me could get into… you try to stay away from that, and really live accordingly, so that I can be around to see her grow, amongst other things.
O: So this new emergence of J. Clarke - how much would you attribute that to the birth of your child?
G: Yeah, definitely - my music is always going to reflect my life, what I’m going through at that time - that’s all I know how to do. I don’t really know how to write about anything else except the reflection of what I’m going through, and just hope there’s people out there who can relate to that.
O: What personality is best to party with?
G: Erm… Ghetts.
O: So which persona is the best for chicks?
G: J. Clarke by far… (Laughs) it’s not even close.
O: Who are you now?
G: J. Clarke.
O: So, you want to connect to your fan base through music - if you could do anything to express yourself what would that be?
G: More Songs!
O: But if you could do anything?
G: Songs – it’s pain relief.
O: Ok, so if you’re feeling pain and you want to be soothed, what would you put on right now?
G: I don’t know, to be honest. I haven’t got a favourite song at the moment like that, but there’s a few. Marvin Gaye’s music - and there’s a song called ‘Troubled man’. I love that song - that could be one, to be honest.
O: Do you sing?
G: Kind of. Nowadays, with all the stuff they can do in the studio, I can hold a note (laughs) ….I can hold a note.
O: You play with a live band, don’t you, when you go on tour?
G: Drummer, Guitarist…got another guitarist, a pianist, and we just get busy.
O: Is it right that your whole band can just make music there; make music right on the spot?
G: Yeah, that’s how I make all of my music - I don’t really write anything at home like that. I go to the studio, and we start off from scratch, empty page, find some sounds, and then we get busy, and then we’ve got a song by the end of it.
O: If you could fill a swimming pool with anything in the world, what would it be?
G: Women! (laughs)
O: So who’s on the panel? You’re on the panel - who’s the top two?
G: If I was on the panel? Top two? It’s hard, out of Ghetto and Ghetts… (Laughs)
O: So you’re getting money right now - what purchase have you had to think about twice before you bought it?
G: Nah man, I’m a humble sort of person, so I think I’m okay, but I always want to do better, and there’s stuff I’d love to be able to do for my family that I’m not able to do as of yet, so that’s my main focus really. I’m not able to do those things, so I’m chilling.
O: So you’ve got a lot of people to look out for?
G: Loads of people, man. You know, a lot of people have supported me along my journey. I’m grateful for that support system. A lot of people believed in me - that’s around me, so I will always love them for that.
O: Give me three words to describe yourself without using your names?
G: Three words to describe myself without using my names? Passionate, comedic and focussed.
O: What are you passionate about, apart from music?
G: Life, man, you know. Just trying to live life to the fullest, trying to live a full life, because unfortunately I’ve seen people go before their time. There are a lot of people I knew that have been living in a cage for a very long time, so I look at life from their perspective and just try and live to the fullest.
O: When are you at your happiest?
G: In the studio… or sometimes I get these moments where I’m just watching my daughter play and I think, wow. So I’d say just watching my daughter playing, and then also, at the studio.
O: If you could change the world in any way, what would you do?
G: All this level of hierarchy, and the whole money factor. I don’t know how it would happen, but I would like for money not to exist, and for everyone to be equal. As though, because that man has no money, you look at him different, or because that man has loads of money he’s treated differently…. I just feel like money is the root of a lot of problems. I don’t know how we could all co-exist without money, but if it was in my power, I would remove that and make everyone equal.
O: So if money was no object at all?
G: Yeah, you know. Because people would just treat people as equals.
O: Yeah - there would be no greed.
G: There you go.
O: I mean, how would that affect you? What would change in your life if money had no meaning?
G: I’d be happy; I’d just record music for the love of it. I mean, like, money not being around and everyone being able to eat, still, and no-one being hungry. That would be cool for me, man.
O: Have you got an idea for this?
G: That’s what I’m saying… I’ve got no idea for this, not one.
O: What is the biggest thing that you think you could accomplish?
G: I hope that I’m part of a movement that makes it easier in England for artists of my genre. I hope that I’m part of a movement that sends the genre worldwide - so that when the next little youths are coming up, it’s easier for them. They won’t have to do the things we do, or conform as we’ve had to. I hope I’m part of that movement. If I am part of that movement, I would die a happy man. to be honest.
O: What are you most looking forward to?
G: Seeing my daughter grow up. Yeah - just seeing her first day at school… university, hopefully.
O: Are you going to have more children?
G: Yeah, have about ten.
O: If you could be anybody else in the world, who would you be?
G: Denzel Washington.
O: Who would you have playing you in a film?
G: I don’t know, you know… I really don’t know.
O: You know someone - someone - must’ve told you that you look like him!
G: He’s older than me, so it wouldn’t work. I could play him, I could play the younger him, you know.
O: So what would you like to do outside of music?
G: Hopefully I’ll get into a position where I could give back and build things in my area. Whether it’s studios or youth clubs, or 5-a-side pitches or whatever, hopefully I get in a position where I can do such things, and help people onto a clear path. There really ain’t that much there for those kids at the moment, so…..
O: Ok, so you’ve got a few ways to help people both in music and outside of music?
G: Yeah - of course, it all comes down to having the money to do that, and being able to fund that. So hopefully one day, I’m in that position where I can do such things.
O: Now Ghetts: what has your life taught you so far?
G: Life… life has taught me many lessons. Imagine - I’ve made so many mistakes that I don’t even think I’m wise - I just think: let me not do that again, or let me carry myself this way. When I look back at some of the things I’ve done, I think, why? Why did I do that? So I try to not make that mistake, or try to not get drawn to those things. I just want to chill, live a good life and chill out.
O: What advice would you give people of the same (AUDIO IS INAUDIBLE?)
G: I know that I was a very hard headed person, and no-one could talk to me at a time in my life, so I had to learn on my own. Thank God the mistakes weren’t too life changing, and I could bounce back from them. I don’t know man, just think things through. Sometimes it just takes a deep breath and a 1-10 to think things through, and to get a clear perspective.
O: To make a better decision?
G: Yeah, yeah definitely.
O: Now, are you still out partying?
G: Yeah, yeah… that’s, like, my balance. Imagine - I work mad hard in the week, and at the weekend I work as well, but I just let loose a little. I need to slow down a little, to be honest! The missus is complaining still, so I do need to slow down.
O: Ghetts - it’s been a pleasure!
G: Yeah - respect.
O: I look forward to catching up.
