NEWS
EVENTS
We Chat To ‘Da Riddim Killer', Rodney P
RnB/Hip Hop | Friday 2nd September 2011 | Osh
The home grown hip-hop talent from Battersea is back on the scene with some fresh projects; we chat to ‘da riddim killer’ about what’s up next...
First of all, how are you today?
I’m good, not too bad. Hustle every day, you know how it goes...
Did you hit the carnival this year? What did you think of it?
I went down there late on Monday, yeah. It was a good vibe.
You were in a group called The London Posse. I read somewhere you didn’t have a name but it came while you were in New York City?
Yeah, we were out in New York and we’d just come off the tour with Big Audio Dynamite. Everyone was saying, have you heard about The London Posse? But it wasn’t ‘til we were about to do a show and the guy was like, I want to put you on the flyers, but we need a name... It was a quick second thing; we just said ‘The London Posse’. So yeah, that’s how that name came.
Do you still hang out with your old crew once in a while?
Yeah we do, we still hang out sometimes. We lost Sipho a few years back so that was tough, but the rest are cool...
Have you got an album in the pipeline? We read that you signed a new album deal on Tru Thoughts; when can we expect to hear your new stuff?
Yeah, I just got signed to them and I’m working on three projects, one after the other. My album is one of them, but the other two are closer to being released than my album though [laughs]. I’m also working on remixing an album, so there’s a lot of things going down right now.
What’s your album going to be called?
I haven’t actually got a name yet, it’s still in the process, but look out for that soon and a few other projects coming out.
Where do you think UK hip-hop is at right now?
It’s in a good place right now, yeah. I think we just need more people to use their initiative and make it happen instead of waiting for the next big thing to come along. I think at the moment every one is on this commercial hip-hop, which is good as well, but there is other hip-hop out there, you know? So yeah, we’re definitely in the right place right now in terms of really good artists coming through. We just need a platform to get them heard and up there. I want to see more of the underground coming up, yeah...
When you first started out, who were your biggest influences?
Everyone from LL Cool J and Run DMC to Kris One... Hip-hop was good back then, old school.
Tell us about your new TV project with Toyota Yaris.
That was cool, they used my voice for it. I don’t really do endorsements but it was cool to work with the people on this and get my name under a few things. It comes out in a few days. There are three, actually, and I’m on the second one. I’m just rapping a small part. The car is amazing, very high tech; it’s got everything in there.
Did you get to test drive it?
[Laughs] No, not yet. I have been inside it and it’s crazy. It’s definitely got everything you need to entertain yourself when driving.
What’s the situation with the Dubplate drama?
Sadly that’s it for Dubplate; we’re not doing any more on that. It was fun though and I’m looking to do more things, like advertising and film, so look out for that.
If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would it be?
I would fill it up with water and swim in it, yeah [laughs].
On a day off, what do you like to do for fun?
I hardly get a day off, you know, but when I do I spend time with my son. I don’t get to see him as much ‘cause of my job.
If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
I think it would have to be hanging out in the girls’ locker rooms, man. A bit previous but has to be done... [Laughs]
What random act have you done in the past week? It could be anything...
Let me think... Oh, I bought a wallet from peacocks the other day. It’s dark brown, nice leather, man. Never bought a wallet myself before. I’ve had them but they’ve always been given to me so, yeah...
What’s your take on the riots?
I don’t agree with the looting and that sort of thing, but I do say this: if you don’t listen to the youth, this is what could happen. No-one is trying to hear what they have to say and you can see the frustration of the youth, so I’m definitely for giving them an chance. The problem is the labels that they put on them, as well. If you keep referring to them as thugs and thieves then, sooner or later, they will be like, okay, let’s go out and do what they say we are...
Can you give us an exclusive?
Yeah man, I got a new track coming out about the London riots. The video should be out this Friday actually, so check that out.
Thank you for your time, and keep doing your thing... Can’t wait for that album and the advert to come out.
No problem, thanks...
Check out the new Toyota Yaris at www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSM1BlnSVHw
I’m good, not too bad. Hustle every day, you know how it goes...
Did you hit the carnival this year? What did you think of it?
I went down there late on Monday, yeah. It was a good vibe.
You were in a group called The London Posse. I read somewhere you didn’t have a name but it came while you were in New York City?
Yeah, we were out in New York and we’d just come off the tour with Big Audio Dynamite. Everyone was saying, have you heard about The London Posse? But it wasn’t ‘til we were about to do a show and the guy was like, I want to put you on the flyers, but we need a name... It was a quick second thing; we just said ‘The London Posse’. So yeah, that’s how that name came.
Do you still hang out with your old crew once in a while?
Yeah we do, we still hang out sometimes. We lost Sipho a few years back so that was tough, but the rest are cool...
Have you got an album in the pipeline? We read that you signed a new album deal on Tru Thoughts; when can we expect to hear your new stuff?
Yeah, I just got signed to them and I’m working on three projects, one after the other. My album is one of them, but the other two are closer to being released than my album though [laughs]. I’m also working on remixing an album, so there’s a lot of things going down right now.
What’s your album going to be called?
I haven’t actually got a name yet, it’s still in the process, but look out for that soon and a few other projects coming out.
Where do you think UK hip-hop is at right now?
It’s in a good place right now, yeah. I think we just need more people to use their initiative and make it happen instead of waiting for the next big thing to come along. I think at the moment every one is on this commercial hip-hop, which is good as well, but there is other hip-hop out there, you know? So yeah, we’re definitely in the right place right now in terms of really good artists coming through. We just need a platform to get them heard and up there. I want to see more of the underground coming up, yeah...
When you first started out, who were your biggest influences?
Everyone from LL Cool J and Run DMC to Kris One... Hip-hop was good back then, old school.
Tell us about your new TV project with Toyota Yaris.
That was cool, they used my voice for it. I don’t really do endorsements but it was cool to work with the people on this and get my name under a few things. It comes out in a few days. There are three, actually, and I’m on the second one. I’m just rapping a small part. The car is amazing, very high tech; it’s got everything in there.
Did you get to test drive it?
[Laughs] No, not yet. I have been inside it and it’s crazy. It’s definitely got everything you need to entertain yourself when driving.
What’s the situation with the Dubplate drama?
Sadly that’s it for Dubplate; we’re not doing any more on that. It was fun though and I’m looking to do more things, like advertising and film, so look out for that.
If you could fill a swimming pool with anything, what would it be?
I would fill it up with water and swim in it, yeah [laughs].
On a day off, what do you like to do for fun?
I hardly get a day off, you know, but when I do I spend time with my son. I don’t get to see him as much ‘cause of my job.
If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
I think it would have to be hanging out in the girls’ locker rooms, man. A bit previous but has to be done... [Laughs]
What random act have you done in the past week? It could be anything...
Let me think... Oh, I bought a wallet from peacocks the other day. It’s dark brown, nice leather, man. Never bought a wallet myself before. I’ve had them but they’ve always been given to me so, yeah...
What’s your take on the riots?
I don’t agree with the looting and that sort of thing, but I do say this: if you don’t listen to the youth, this is what could happen. No-one is trying to hear what they have to say and you can see the frustration of the youth, so I’m definitely for giving them an chance. The problem is the labels that they put on them, as well. If you keep referring to them as thugs and thieves then, sooner or later, they will be like, okay, let’s go out and do what they say we are...
Can you give us an exclusive?
Yeah man, I got a new track coming out about the London riots. The video should be out this Friday actually, so check that out.
Thank you for your time, and keep doing your thing... Can’t wait for that album and the advert to come out.
No problem, thanks...
Check out the new Toyota Yaris at www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSM1BlnSVHw
