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"Why are you a Deep Pan and not a Thin Crust?" An Interview with D Double E
Other | Monday 24th November 2014 | Annalisa
D Double E is an MC from East London who is considered to be one of the founding fathers of Grime. From the N.A.S.T.Y. Crew to a successful solo career via the Newham Generals, D Double has seen it all. His versatile flow and unique - sometimes hilarious/sometimes thought-provoking - bars have made him one of the most sought after MCs in the game. Ahead of his UK/US tour, we talked about his new single, what he likes to eat when he's high, and the prospect of living in a post-apocalyptic future.
Hey D Double E! Could you describe your current state of mind to me in five words or less?
What, right now? Erm, I’m feeling…I dunno, I’m thinking to myself, when I finish this, what am I gonna do? When I finish this interview – I’ve been doing press all day – what do I wanna do? I might go studio, I might go pick up a draw…I just wanna have a bit of a break.
I wanted to ask you about your new video for ‘Lovely Jubbly’. It’s got a new vibe, kind of ‘Top Boy’ – seems like you’ve gone a bit serious! Have you grown up a bit?
Naah, I mean, I’ve got all different sides to me – ‘Lovely Jubbly’ is closer to the old stuff, more on a joke-y vibe, [similar to] tracks like ‘Get Out of my House’ that I did back in the day which was a bit quirky. I just feel like I’m more on point when it comes to making something jokey and still getting the credit to look good, instead of looking dumb. It’s a part of me, that style, and I’ve got more like it.
Oh really? So can we expect more of this side of you then?
Yeah, I’ve got stuff in the pipeline. Even in the video [for ‘Lovely Jubbly’] I was acting a role and I wanna do a lot more of that as well.
You want to get more into acting?
Yeah I’m definitely get into that sort of stuff, but it’s not something that I’m gonna make happen on purpose, I wanna get out more work for people to look at; benchmarks for people to want me. I wanna be able to show people what I can do, and I’m really enjoying it.
I see you’ve got a lot of tour dates coming up – I might be seeing you in Nottingham actually! Are you excited about touring?
Yeah I’m excited man! And I’m flying away to America on the 24th, so this month is quite busy.
How would you define the music you’re making at the moment?
I’d say the music I’m making right now is probably the best music I’ve made in my life, it’s like, real music. I’m really not into the cheap sounding grime, on loop, repeat, playstation ting. I need it to be sounding more musical. Americans, they like that raw sound so I guess it’s always good to have that feel. I mean if I’m in a rave I might merk that kind of [raw] tune, get the rewinds and whatever, but when I’m in the studio I might not be picking that sound. Tunes like that are built for the rave – if I wanna freestyle, go crazy, then gimme them beats. But if I wanna make a life and be an artist, there needs to be a bit more music to the tunes.
That’s interesting because as an MC we might not think you’d be so driven by the quality of the production…
Yeah, the beats have got to be good quality, [as an MC] you’ve got to know what beats you can go in on, how to ride them. With the flow that I’ve got, it adapts to all sorts of genres. I feel like I’ve got a wide range going for me, I can adapt!
Having said that, I guess you’re most often associated with the grime scene. How do you feel about the state of grime at the moment?
It’s good, and it’s always been good to me, but it’s also about what’s on the other side of that door. People assume that grime’s at a good state right now, but it’s always been good and we’ve always been working hard, but it’s about opening that door and coming through [to a wider audience] and merking it. It’s got to the stage where the next generation have got control, people who have been interviewing me today are people who’ve grown up with grime. At Carnival I had policemen who were younger than me, coming up to me all like “you’re D Double!” I was shook!
What is the worst job you’ve ever had?
Erm, probably working in the stockroom of Habitat – a shop that sold furniture and that. I used to do night shifts and shit like that.
Other than music, what do you know most about?
I know a lot about life – I’m a life person! I like real life stuff, like documentaries, animal programmes on the Discovery channel. I like to watch crime channels, I like to learn about history - Egypt and that. I'm just that guy who likes real stuff - gone off that Eastenders stuff - if I'm watching TV I like to watch something deep.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a basketballer, an MC, a footballer, dancer - I used to do body poppin' and all that stuff. Music came at the last minute, and took over everything. When music came - everything else started slacking - I don't even watch football now.
Why are you a deep pan and not a thin crust? Does it mean that you prefer Pizza Hut to Pizza Express?
Nah! It just means that I've got more and he's got less, a plus and a minus ting...
Just for the record, what is your favourite kind of pizza?
My favourite pizza is thin crust! It's just the bar that's different. It's got nothing to do with what I prefer eating.
What about topping?
Chicken supreme! With no black olives...
I don't like black olives either. What is your favourite thing to eat when you're high?
Erm, a waffle...a waffle is nice man. When I go Amsterdam - I've been over fifteen times - those waffle shops. If you've been 'dam you'll know what I'm talking about. But when I'm here in London...anything will go down...once you're bunnin' it down, anything will go down. Except black olives.
Would you rather live in a post-apocalyptic future or the dark ages?
Post apocalypse. Dark ages remind me of struggle - man makin' fires and that. Cos I mean, I am an old skool man, but this is too old - man weren't even wearing clothes...
What do you think about conspiracy theories?
I kind of come up with my own...I take in what everybody says, then I make up my own mind.
Nice! We like to finish our interviews with a round of word association. So if I say 'Music', you say...
Lovely Jubbly
'Marmite'
Uhh...sandwich
'Ambition'
Success
Okay...'Fear'
Police
'Enemy'
Police
'Love'
Erm, I just thought of...I dunno, sitting down, eating a meal with someone...erm...
Dining?
Yeah, dining.
Thanks D Double E!
@DDoubleE7
Lovely Jubbly is out now - order here
Interviewed by Anna Norbury
