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CONTRIBUTORS
So you’ve decided to go off to uni/back to school/get a new job, what is it about the month of September that makes us embark on a new beginning for our weird and wonderful lives? I blame the change in season. There’s nothing like an on/off relationship with the sun to make you want to change your surroundings. In my case it was more, ‘Right, time to go and conquer the world,’ so I jumped in my Peugeot 205 (seriously, that was a car) and drove myself to Luton university, driving myself into a whole heap of glorious debt at the same time. Those who are about to go off and do the same, we’ve rounded up Reggie Yates and a few celebs to tell you about their own stories of advance education chasing (or simply discuss their latest breast augmentation, in the case of Amy Childs). Meanwhile, Britain’s Got Talent stars Loveable Rogues, Bristol’s finest DJ/producer Redlight, Compton’s very own ‘good kid’ Kendrick Lamar, and Frodo Baggins himself, Elijah Wood, tell you about new chapters in their lives. In the New Beginnings issue the biggest change is, of course, attributed to our cover star, Fazer, who has put the safety of award-winning N-Dubz to one side to pursue a solo career. With Rihanna, The Wanted and co. banging down his door, we don’t blame him for seeking his own slot in the spotlight.
@DannyWalker1
cover image Andres Reynaga
EDITOR’S LETTER
Name: Lucas Jubb Tell us about the beginning: I’ve always been into art but only really started illustration over the last two years. This month I’ve... illustrated the uni infographic, which was exciting. This month I’ve loved... three awesome albums; Frank Ocean, Plan B, and Nas. This month I’ve hated... pretty cliché thing to say but, the weather. @ljjiubb and lucasjubb.co.uk Name: Kusi & Naz Tell us about the beginning: We randomly met through a mutual friend. It is still an exciting challenge merging ideas and concepts! This month we’ve... Shot RWD’s ‘Freshers Week’ fashion shoot. This month we’ve loved... Frank Ocean’s channel ORANGE. This month we’ve hated... not being able to wear tees and shorts, it’s summer! @Tzarkusi Name: James Humphrys aka Jamesh Tell us about the beginning: My life at RWD has got off to a pretty smooth start. This month I’ve... interviewed Keith Chegwin and attempted to fly toy helicopters. This month I’ve loved... The Dark Knight Rises, the RWD X adidas party and popcorn. This month I’ve hated... having no Olympic tickets. None! @JamesHumphrys
PHRASE OF THE MONTH: JOEY ESSEX
“DON’T GET LEMON” After Joey’s spat with Mario in a recent episode of TOWIE we NEEDED a breakdown... “‘Don’t get lemon’ simply means; calm down mate don’t try and give it the big one to me.” Catch Joey and co. in the latest series of TOWIE, Wednesday and Sunday night at 10pm on ITV2/ITV2 HD 6 / RWDMAG.COM
CONTENTS ISSUE #127 FEATURES COVER STORY: FAZER KENDRICK LAMAR ELIJAH WOOD VASHTIE PIONEER STEEZ RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK X PROFESSOR GREEN 68 COMPETITION: SONY XPERIA 70 A.M. SNIPER
48-52 58-59 60-61 62-63 64-65 66-67
REGULARS 10-11 12-19 20 22-23 24-25 28-30 32-33 26-27 54-55 82
INBOX CHECK-IN CHECK OUT ENOUGH ALREADY: THE ONESIE INFOGRAPHIC: UNI AND/OR BUST UPFRONT WITH... RDC YOUNGERS ONE TO WATCH: LOVEABLE ROGUES, SCARLETT COOK, XXYYXX RWD & COME AGAIN: NEW BEGINNINGS ABOUT TO BLOW: REDLIGHT CONVERSE PRO STREETS BE KIND REWIND RWD: KEITH CHEGWIN
STYLE GUIDE 35-39 40-45 46 56-57
ESSENTIAL COLLEGE KIT FRESHERS’ WEEK COMPETITION: CONVERSE UNSUNG HERO: LAURA WHITMORE
UNWIND 74-75 FILMS 76-77 GAMES 80-81 LIVE: KISS IN SHARM
Charlie wears jumper by Crooks & Castles, jeans by adidas
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INBOX
This month is all about new beginnings, so if you haven’t sent us an email before, do it now. For Holly’s hard work she wins an amazing Streetparty 0 speaker from our pals over at gear4.com... Send your letters to: Attn. Editor, RWD Magazine, W107 Holywell Centre, 1 Phipp Street, London, EC2A 4PS or inbox@RWDmag.com
LETTER OF THE MONTH: Hey RWD, Last night I watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony and I have to say it went down quite well in my household, where the age range is probably the most varied in the country. Even my little sis liked it and she’s 12. Yeah, I don’t know why she was up that late either LOL. Compared to the Beijing spectacle, I think Danny B’s efforts were very good. Not sure about that weird house thing though and him picking a typically British finishing act, but overall it was received well I thought. Holly A When we saw farm animals and light up beds we were a little confused, but we’d have to agree, Danny B (as you call him) did a pretty decent job. A much better one than the clown (Kim Gavin) who arranged, organised and embarressed us by putting together the shambles that was the Closing Ceremony. The Spice Girls? Seriously? We’re demanding our money back... All £100 billion of it.
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Hi, I was wondering whether RWD mag accepts writing submissions to feature in the publication or online? I hope to hear from you soon. Regards, Leila O Hey Leila, Yes we do just keep it fresh, none of the same old same; ‘Hey RWD, I’m a music journalist and...’ ...NEXT. ‘Hello RWD, I was wondering if I could write an article on grime?’ ...NEXT. ‘Dear beloved RWD, I’m about to go to some extra deadout festival in Brighton/Iceland/Wherever and I was wondering if I could send you a rubbish review?’... and so on. Also attach a CV and some links to some of your relevant and recently published articles. What do you guys think of Dizzee Rascal’s official Olympic song? Ryan G Next question. Hey RWD, You need to update your MySpace. You’ve got the old logo and everything. [Name removed to protect the dim] MySpace, MySpace... MySpace!?!?! We forgot we even had a MySpace account. Who is still on there? Once we dust off our old documentation and find the passwords, we assure you we’ll be deleting that social fail, not updating it.
THE MONTH IN TWITPICS The past month saw London (and the World) go Olympics crazy! Rejoice below...
@TegoSigel Come on Luol!!! RWD’s online editor checked out the biggest and best ballers in the world at the Olympic Basketball. Great day out.
@J_Ennis Do I look small?? Yes, amazing Olympian Jessica Ennis, you look ridiculously small. Well done on the medal though.
Hello RWD! I wanted to send you all the link to my new updated website, would love to know what you thought.....! Hannah O xx Erm, please do. We have nothing better to do than view people’s boring websites.
To contact/moan at/send love letters to the team send your words and/or images to Inbox@RWDmag.com
@SamuelLJackson Wow who could that be w/ MP IN THE BACKGROUND?! The MUTHAFAKENPHUCQA who’s Tweeting!!! SLJ provides hilarious Olympic commentary.
RWDMAG.COM THE BEST OF RWDMAG.COM
WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER?
RWD TV: Guess The Chest with Keith Lemon
August’s cover star puts his extensive knowledge of the female breast to the test.
iamaflanagan.co.uk
Eddie Jacob: Keith Lemon, boobs, brilliant. HENMAN: Holly’s boobs are epic. CharlieRND: This is hilarious! Jamesh: Keith Lemon is God. Why isn’t Guess The Chest already a TV show?????
RWD TV: Karmin – I Told You So (Acoustic)
The awesome American duo stop by RWD for their first ever UK session.
17% 63% 20% NEW JOB NEITHER, NEW CAR Omer854miler: Karmin Rock!! Agentevalentinsoto: AMAZING! drummerchick1414: I wonder if she just lays down after filming and starts taking some deep breaths. I would. I’m an asthmatic. XD
RWD TV: Russo Interview
Following her acoustic session for RWD, the talented singer talks getting started, Brixton and why she hates Stooshe.
I’M HAPPY WITH/ WITHOUT BOTH
TOP TWEETS @RWDMAG: 1 PXLtweets: Friday afternoons @RWDmag ... @tegosigel trying to fly a remote
control helicopter out the window and back in another... 2 GOULCHER: the latest @RWDmag cover is amazing 3 JeromeBN: RT @RWDmag #rdcyoungers, how’s Mo looking? < solid, we would
definitely let him join @RunDemCrew 4 RajKathwadia: RT @RWDmag It’s only fitting that @Wiley__ is number one whilst
5 6 Ali Fletcher: Probably the best Russo interview to date... NickMann: I would. SamH: Sorry Stooshe, I’m gonna have to agree with Russo on this one. JOG ON.
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the whole world is focused on East London. Congratulations brother. #DuesBeingPaid MontyObviiWed: look who came in the post! (pause) loll cc: @RWDmag @LeighFrancis NeekyMomo_URM: RT @RWDmag We speak in slang like...* you get meeeee, bredrinnn, bravvvv Canoeinc: Shout out to @RWDMag who put together their own (very slick looking) @PUMA kicks @boxpark this afternoon. #PUMACFBoxpark adidasoriginals: Props to @RWDmag for repping this night of grime at #adidasunderground! Feat: @wretch32 @itsmaxsta @devlinofficial 11
CHECK-IN CHECK OUT
STYLE | FILM | GAMES | TECH | SPORT | REFRESHED | MUSIC | EXCLUSIVES As you embark on your new beginning remember to take note of the following items/places, as they just might come in handy...
TECH:
Bowers & Wilkins’ swanky new lightweight on-ears prove that size doesn’t always matter... Check out... the best-sounding on-ear cans you may, or may not, ever have the pleasure of putting on your bonce; the P3 mobile hi-fi headphones from audiophiles’ favourites Bowers & Wilkins. Designed specifically for use with tablets and mobiles, and featuring a discreet on-wire remote, the lightweight, foldable baby brothers of B&W’s over-ear P5s are the perfect ‘phones for any situation. £169.99, bower-wilkins.com
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Photo Credit - Norbert Schoerner
TAKE A BOW
STYLE:
HARDY BLECHMAN x STYLE The founder, creative director and head designer of UK fashion label, Maharishi, talks new beginnings... Maharishi stemmed from reworking military clothing, what were your reasons behind starting the label? Maharishi literally translates from the Sanskrit as “Great Vision” and in this case the vision was for well designed streetwear that considered the environment and clothing that would stand the test of time in terms of style as well as durability. What advice would you give to designers for their new beginning? So long as you have done your groundwork in one way or another, start that label. For more check maharishistore.com, for the full interview check RWDmag.com
NUMERICAL NEW BEGINNINGS When it comes to new starts, it’s always important that you make sure the numbers add up.
The number of times this month’s cover star and N-Dubz member, Fazer, sings the word ‘killer’ in his debut solo single... Killer.
STYLE:
RWD x PUMA RWD’s style-savvy Editor, Danny Walker, was invited to PUMA’s Creative Factory to design some one-aways for the WHOLE office. Despite the pressure being on, he came through..
BOOK:
MAN OF THE WORLD Beginning something new? Not heading back to college/uni? Feeling a little bit lost? Let this book inspire (or entertain) you...
Check out... the second instalment from stand-up comedian Gareth May (the follow-up to his amazing 150 Things Every Man Should Know). Ever wondered how to survive a shark attack? Where the best red light districts are? May won’t let you down. Man Of The World is available to buy at all good book shops/online
Check out... the all-new Creative Factory from the legends at PUMA. Situated in selected stores across the globe, we opted for the one across the road in London’s Boxpark. The CF allows you to unleash your imagination and remix your own Basket or First Round trainer. “These are big,” Danny gleamed at the sight of his blue-on-black-onblue-on-black (with a dash of bad boy battleship grey) exclusives that graced the office within four weeks. “I expect they’ll go in to mass production soon.” Although the office is split with Danny’s design, we have to say these are sick. Literally, sick. For yours visit puma.com/creativefactory
The number of years we all spent dreading September and getting into the whole ‘back to school’ mode (14 if you stayed on for college).
The percentage of RWD staff that took the time to go and study at university (the rest are just natural blaggers).
The number of new jobs Jaguar Land Rover will create to build the new Jaguar XF Sportsbrake car, and other models, in their Castle Bromwich plant.
z
The combined age of ex-Sugababes - now referred to as MutyaKeishaSiobhan. It’s official the ones like Buena (27), Buchanan (27) and Donaghy (28) are back in business. 13
LIVE MUSIC:
LIVE AND UNSIGNED Fancy yourself as a future music god?
SPORT:
GET TOTAL CTR The new, lightweight and mega durable Nike CTR360 Maestri III is here... Check out... the boots that the likes of Andrés Iniesta, Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, Ramires and 22 year-old Arsenal target, Ganso, will be wearing during the 2012-2013 season. Not only does the 3D control pad maximise contact with the ball, but the stud placement is designed for manoeuvrability, allowing you to literally be one step ahead of the opposition at all times. £145, nikestore.com
AUTO:
JUST IV YOU Renault gives the Clio a whole new beginning... Check out... the next big (or small) hot-hatch to hit our streets; the Renault Clio IV. Due for release in early 2013, the French automotive giant’s latest adaptation of its classic supermini features an R-Link integrated touch screen, an efficient dual clutch and TomTom connected navigation. If that doesn’t mean anything to you, then all you need to know is that it looks awesome and even on release, you won’t have to re-mortgage your house in order to afford one. 14 / RWDMAG.COM
Check out... Live and Unsigned, the biggest original music competition in the UK. With 40,000 musicians entering and £10,000 to spend on development, basically, they’ll sort you right out! Check liveandunsigned.uk.com
REFRESHED:
TERRY’S ALL GOLD British brand Ben Sherman go for Gold with their brand new premium fragrance...
STYLE:
PALLADIUM x BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB
Check out... the best looking aftershave bottle you’re going to see for a long, long time. Underneath the layers of vibrant gold paint, patriotically moulded glass and whatever else it is that they make aftershave bottles out of, sits 100ml of Ben Sherman’s latest Gold fragrance. Featuring notes of Jasmine and Sandalwood, and priced extremely reasonably at just £25 for the 50ml bottle and £40 for the 100ml version, the iconic British brand should have no problems in establishing themselves as major players in the über-competitive world of cosmetics with this nostril-pleasing effort. Ben Sherman Gold is available at Debenhams, Lloyds Pharmacy and The Perfume Shop
Sometimes collabs from two big brands are dead and at other times they need to get an instant purchase. This is the latter...
ART:
PLASTIC PEOPLE
Want to be a superhero? Check out... The Wellcome Collection for the latest in a long line of brilliant free exhibitions. Explore the weird ways that people have tried to improve their bodies, think extreme plastic surgery, sex aids and comic book superheroes. Superhuman is free from 16 October, for more check wellcomecollection.org
Check out... the reason that your bank account is cowering behind the sofa. Following their collaboration with Pharrell Williams last year, it was only natural that Palladium would team up with Billionaire Boys Club. Launching in November, these limited edition suede camo boots feature a unique print created by Japanese designer Sk8thing (best known for his work with Bape). With the BBC logo laser-etched onto a leather patch on the tongue, Palladium’s signature rubber soles as well as cushioned liners, the boots offer durability and comfort. Available from 1 Nov at palladiumboots.com and selected stores
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STYLE:
STORM COMING
Missed all of the patriotic memorabilia from the Jubilee jubilations and the almighty Olympics? Check out... Storm’s latest collection for the ideal solution to subtly show your true colours all year round. Storm have created a limited edition collection of Nexon watches appropriately coloured in red, white and blue purely for those who aren’t quite over the Olympics and want to fly the flag/carry the torch for good old Great Britain. £109.99, stormwatches.com
CULTURE:
BIKE x DESIGN On ya bike!
Check-in... to London’s Design Museum for the freshest velo fix around. Everyone loves a good bike don’t they? But if you really (and we mean really) like them, we suggest you get involved with this evening of bike-related discussions, demonstrations, screenings and presentations. Hang out with some of the leading people in cycling design and basically get shamelessly geeky over bikes. Join the bike party on 7 September at the Design Museum, London. Check designmuseum.org for tickets and more info 16 / RWDMAG.COM
STYLE:
FIDDYS WORLD OF WHATEVER
CLARKS x HARRIS TWEED
This month: Edu-tainment
Scottish vibes are a-brewing over in the Clarks Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. Check out... a very British collab. For a proper back-to-school kind of feel, head down to Clarks this September, get your feet measured on one of those cool machines (just for jokes) and invest in some brand new Clarks. Mixing things up with a spot of classic tweed and very on-trend silhouettes, they’ve even given their classic Desert Boot a plaidinspired makeover. Harris Tweed is the world-renowned cloth created from pure wool gathered and hand-woven in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. You don’t get fresher than that. All styles available now at clarks.co.uk
TECH:
LETS GO Introducing the indestructible Sony Xperia™ go... Check out... the Sony Xperia™ go. Its tagline reads ‘Made To Resist’ and RWD can vouch for it having seriously put the slick handset through its paces down at Wireless Festival. Available in black, white and yellow, the phone built with all your modern needs can also sustain being submerged in liquids - whatever they might be - so feel free to live that very, very, very wild lifestyle. From £229, head to sonymobile.com to get your grubby hands on one
Also the title of a Tracy Chapman album, new beginnings isn’t just another 2012 concept, it has legacy, it has context it has...Whatever. But, if we’re talking about fresh starts and all-that flat cap in the present, let’s look no further than Clement Marfo, (who at the time of going to press had just leaked his group’s album online ala Wiley). While he certainly isn’t the first or the last to realise that being signed to a major label isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, let us not languish in such outpourings of dissatisfaction. As sudden inspiration rushes through my cranium courtesy of The Game, allow me to refer Start From Scratch, recorded post funeral and under the influence (big up Hattie Collins pon di knowledge). Yes life, much like the music industry, is really all about time, place, chance and perhaps luck. We are of course dealing with two very different kettles of fish; Clement isn’t delivering bars like “change a couple of lines in soldier/so I don’t have to be looking over my shoulder”, afterall. But there’s no doubt that the stress of our everyday world, what’s gone wrong and is going to go wrong hinders our creativity. So, with that in mind, please can we collectively agree to seize any whispers of inspiration that remain from London 2012 and just do what makes us happy? Whether you’re an accountant looking to hit Rio with the javelin or an artist just trying to get your work to the masses, do it your way. And if it isn’t working, remember, life is too long not to have new beginnings. RIP Harvey Adam, forever dancing. x Useless chat also available via @chantellefiddy @RWDmag
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EXCLUSIVE FROM:
DREDD
2000 AD never looked so good... Check out... this exclusive pic of the new law enforcer in town, Judge Dredd. Delving into John Wagner (writer), Carlos Ezquerra (artist) and Pat Mills’ (editor) murky, science fictional comic book world, Entertainment Film have given Mr Dredd an all singing, all-shooting, 3D reboot. If you ignore 1995’s pitiful Sly Stallone rendition – seriously, pretend it was never made – and focus on this forthcoming action-packed thriller, you’ll be donning leathers in no time. Violent, futuristic and sporting some of the best 3D we’ve seen in a while – with exploding body parts and all sorts – DREDD will literally leave no prisoners. DREDD is out 7 September
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SIVE U L C EX AGE IM
WHERE WE’VE CHECKED IN We’ve been checking in all over the place, from Plan B’s ill Manors launch to the Olympics...
PLAN B ALBUM LAUNCH:
TECH:
ANYONE FOR DARTS
Where: Great Suffolk Street Warehouse When: 23 July Who: Frankie The launch of Plan B’s album ill Manors (the soundtrack to the film of the same name) was pretty damn sweet. With projectors throwing clips from the flick around the room, Plan B was joined on stage by Labrinth, Kano, Etta Bond and John Cooper Clarke.
Who remembers when headphones were all about the audio quality?
LIVE MUSIC:
WHP x RINSE FM’S 18TH BIRTHDAY
Check out... these bass-rich, in-ear beauts from Atomic Floyd, the SuperDarts giving us that premium sound. £199 from atomicfloyd.com and store.apple.com/uk
Where: The Brickhouse, E1 When: 25 July Who: Tego, Sam, James & Frankie We can’t speak too loudly, we’ve only just recovered from this launch party. Pro and Relentless energy drink are a great combo. WithDJ Q, Manny Norte and RWD’s DJ Chewy in the mix, the music matched the beverages.
Warehouse Project’s autumn/ winter season is kicking off... Check-in... at Warehouse Project. With nights in both Manchester and London (28 and 29 September respectively), it’s set to be massive, boasting one of the biggest line-ups we’ve seen in ages. Rinse FM will be collaborating with the project to celebrate their 18th year in the game. The underground music-heavy nights will feature the likes of Skream, Diplo, BBK, Roska, Joker, Dismantle and Artwork, to name just a few. For tickets and full line-ups check thewarehouseproject.com
Professor Green X Relentless Energy Drinks
COOL:
SECRET SCREENINGS Calling all secret cinephiles! Check in... at Future Cinema who have just launched a brilliant project bringing a monthly mystery film night to London. Combining incredible unseen films with unforgettable immersive experiences Check secretscreenings.com
Olympics (Table Tennis & Basketball)
Where: ExCeL, Olympic Park Basketball Arena When: 29 June - 1 July Who: Danny & Tego Knowing that Team GB were set to get more gold medals we went to check-in on their progress. After the hustle and bustle of getting in (and the odd palaver over security) we witnessed nothing but greatness.
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illustration Jacob Armitage jacobarmitage.co.uk
ENOUGH ALREADY: THE ONESIE
Enough is enough! We’ve let onesies slide for far too long. They were moderately funny/cool at first but now those joyless jumpsuits make us physically sick. Listen up students/dimwits/those who are seriously sans-style; the days of lazing around in an adult baby grow are over... words by Danny Walker.
“…MADE FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, URINE-RICH POLYESTER.” So what is it? When you drag yourself from your pit at 2.03pm; you can’t brush your coffee/tea/Jägerbomb-stained teeth, comb your nit-infested hair or navigate clothing unless it’s made from a single sheet of highly flammable, industry-rejected, washing machineneglected, urine-rich polyester? Or, is it simply the fact that you’re one-quarter Teletubby (from your mum’s side) and your ancestral roots urge you to look like a fool at all times? Onesie wearers, please let us know. Please take time out 20 / RWDMAG.COM
of your non-busy schedules (maybe inbetween the second helping of Jeremy Kyle and learning to read), and drop us an email [subject: I’m Sorry RWD] to chavtastic@RWDmag.com. We’re actually dying to find out what makes you tick, and when we do, surgically remove it with a blunt instrument (or whatever they use to cut will.i.am’s hair). When onesies started to infiltrate the wardrobes of the weak, they didn’t venture out of untidy bedrooms or student halls. Now, confused cowboys are starting to canter along the High Streets in one-pieces, on invisible horses of shame – with most resembling the love child of Dopey of seven dwarfs fame and Natalie Cassidy – and alarm bells are starting to ring. Since those early days, certain celebrities have taken to these idiotic ensembles and the names stretch far and wide. From A-listers like Brad Pitt,
to the bottom of the scale-listers, like Imogen Thomas (I think they’re still trying to work out which category she’s in. Just below Winston from Eastenders, maybe?). Every time a member of One Direction zips up a onesie it takes mankind into a further state of regression. If this snug-slob-chic continues, we’ll just be lying in caves in a few year’s time, covered in our own p***, trying to remember how to tie our shoelaces. If Joey Essex had his way we wouldn’t even bother with shoelaces; he’d just be lying there in his customised ‘J.E.’ garment of choice, sunglasses and slip-on loafers (having not bothered with the complexity of laces in the first place). If you want to follow in the footsteps of JLS, Justin Bieber and Rita Ora, grab your weird little onesie (including the quirkily stupid monkey/tiger/ dinosaur variety) and join the biggest fashion fail of the decade.
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As tranquil/tormenting thoughts of impending university life wash over you (or avoiding uni altogether as the case may be), we take a look at the financial implications of taking on this new beginning... compiled by James Humphrys Illustrations Lucas Jubb lucasjubb.co.uk
Of UK medical students lives are spent carrying out their degrees. The average medical degree lasts around seven years, or so, spanning roughly 1734 days between the start and end of the course. That is a LOT of days. Average price of Pot Noodle x 252 Days = £201.60 Cost of food for a year, if you were to live off one Pot Noodle a day for three terms. The average serving contains “meat”, peas, tomato and of course, noodles. Sounds balanced to us!?!
The decline in university applications from prospective arts students between the years of 2011 and 2012. What are they doing now?
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The alcohol percentage of the cheapest priced vodka in the UK (£12.46 p/l). The value brand supermarket alcohol, which also doubles up as paint stripper, will be seen flying off the shelves around the nation when Freshers’ Weeks begin to kick off later this month.
Overall cost, per year, of a degree for the average Mathematical and Computer Science student, as they have to spend almost almost £1.5k on books, fieldwork and equipment. With their vast knowledge of maths and computers and all that other clever stuff, you’d have thought they’d have found a way around that by now.
Amount of debt that students are expected to be in from the average three year university course. That’s £53,000. Fifty three. THOUSAND. That’s A LOT of money by anyone’s standards.
The yearly cost of an NUS Extra card, which entitles students to discounts in a huge selection of shops, bars and eateries that, in theory, they should not be able to even afford anything from in the first place. Still, it does entitle cardholders to a free McFlurry at Maccy D’s.
Lowest cost p/w of on-campus student halls in the UK, located at Bradford university. The Yorkshire-based halls come in at a whopping £162 cheaper than the most expensive, in Edinburgh (£216.44). Or 216 and a bit pints of lager at the union. The approximate cost of an animal onesie. That’s a year’s worth of (admittedly lazy) fancy dress for under a tenner. Oh yeah, you’ll need to factor in the price of your dignity during the long walk from the mens’ sleepwear department. Even so, that’s a pretty reasonable price to pay. (Sources: ucas.ac.uk, guardian. co.uk/education, nus.org.uk/en/ nus-extra, mysupermarket.co.uk, sainsburys.co.uk, push.co.uk, BBC, The Virgin Guide to British Universities (2010), ons.gov.uk) 23
UPFRONT WITH... RDC YOUNGERS
AT RDCYREW N I O J DEMC RUN UNGERS. YO LR.COM TUMB
Over the past few months we’ve documented the RDC Youngers 360 experience from the extensive training to achieving the goal of crossing the line of the British 10k, powered by Nike+. If you’re inspired by the RDC Youngers project then make sure you get involved by signing up to rundemcrewyoungers.tumblr. com as they’re currently on the lookout for more talented young folk to join the crews across London. Words Nardene Scott Main image Pharaoh
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PRE-RACE
We caught up with the RDC Youngers ahead of the 10K, the atmosphere and the energy was something else. Are you interested in smashing your 10K times today? Jerome: No, I’m doing YOLO pace which kind of means whatever happens, happens. My idea is to just go and not stop running. Jammz: I’ve not got a personal time but hoping to go 50 minutes or under. Shameek: You know what it is... I’m just so proud of these guys here that stand before me. The project that we’ve been on, they’ve made it their own. Race day is just a celebration.
What are you looking forward to seeing along the course? Jammz: The supporter zone on the Embankment. I’m hoping there’s a sound system so I can skank past. Jerome: I’m just looking forward to finishing the project, it’s been a long time and we’ve done lots but I’m just looking forward to finishing in one piece. What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced getting to this point? Darkz: Time management and sorting priorities. I’ve learnt how to get along with people. Now we have international crews, we’re getting to know quite quick, very quick, a bit too quick, [cough] Andre...
NIKE+ FUELFEST Achieving your goals is an incomparable feeling which is part of the appeal of the Nike+ FuelBand; a daily way of keeping track of your goals.
FuelFest made the most of the FuelBand technology and congratulated the British 10k runners at the same time. Raving to the sounds of Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe and a pretty riotous Tinie Tempah performance in the spectacularly projected Battersea Power Station, Nike+ FuelBand’s tracked the crowd’s energy levels throughout the night. In a gender challenge the girls came out on top as it appeared the boys dancefloor efforts fell short. What an awesome ending to a great journey. After seeing RWD’s Matthew succeed, we’re tempted to get involved ourselves! FuelBands are available at Nike stores. See nike.com/fuelband
POST-RACE
At the celebratory soiree we found the RDC Youngers making the most of the on-site masseuses and vibing to the DJ, so we grabbed them for a chat. What was the most difficult and best part of the race for you? Michel: It was around 7K, I got cramp in my thigh muscle so I literally dug in... it was my mentor that pushed me and the crews from LA and Paris too. Venetia: The first three kilometres running with the music along Park Lane and Pall Mall was the best part. What has the whole RDCY experience meant to you? Venetia: It’s meant a lot to me...along
the way I got a stitch and Elizabeth said to me, ‘Don’t stop, your dad is watching you’; and it meant so much to me; to just feel everything that was going on and just keep going and to cross the finish line and think I’ve done it feels amazing. Charlie: That’s a big question. It’s emotional when you work on the Youngers project and you get to see them cross the finish line and they all overcame obstacles during the race. It’s a very special moment for me actually. What’s next on the agenda? Michel: I haven’t even been in the country because I model so I was in Milan and running in 35 degree heat. So I didn’t have as much training as I
should have. I’m disappointed but I’m happy and looking forward to the next one. I’m looking to get sub 40. P Casso: Just enjoying this VIP hotel with the family! Got my mum here with me and then from here, it’s home, sleep, Fuelfest! Venetia: I’m gonna keep running. I’ve already signed up to do the Amsterdam half marathon. Charlie: We start working on the next group. We look for young people who have potential, need some direction, or basically just need an opportunity. Trace back the RDC Youngers journey at RWDmag.com/rdcy and to become a RDCY sign up now at rundemcrewyoungers.tumblr.com
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ONE TO WATCH LOVEABLE ROGUES
Known as the Lovesick trio of talent who strummed their way into our homes via Britian’s Got Talent, Eddie Brett, Sonny Jay and Te Eugene Qhario make up the Syco-signed, triple threat Loveable Rogues. Danny Walker finds out about their new beginning... Image Sam Bond “No it weren’t a French Crop, it was more Lady Gaga,” laughs 19 year-old Te about Sonny Jay’s original hairdo, as they wait for their chips in the upper sanctum of a London pub. “It was a big old Jedward thing.” As the comical debate raged on (“So now it’s gone from Lady Gaga to Jedward?” retorts 19 year-old, Essexbred Sonny in a way which both retaliates and defuses the discussion) the Loveable Rogues naturally play off each other. One quick look at a now defunct social network, which Te has tried to remove several times (“MySpace have hacked it - knowing they’re going to plummet, you can’t delete it.”) and you can see they’ve put the work in. “We’ve had some bad gigs,” recalls 20 year-old Eddie, who originally recruited his mates for a singing competition, whilst they were in college. “The worst one was in Coventry. We stayed in this Texas Chainsaw Massacre hotel and the guy at reception had no fingers.” As I chuckle, Te insists Eddie is not joking as the guitar playing, Big Daddy fan contiues with just one of the many gigs that have shaped them into the band they
are today. “We got there early for soundcheck and it was packed to the brim full of drunk skinheads. It was awful but in the end we all played a quiz with them.” The other Big Daddy fan, Sonny, basically finishes his sentence: “It’s gigs like that that you learn a lot from. Playing in front of different people.” Post BGT and pre Lovesick release (“We did the video the other day and Eddie’s mum turned up,” smirks Te, the self-confessed diva of the group, and Eddie sits up and replies, “She’s been stalking us on Twitter, cos she doesn’t get to see us anymore.”) it seems, as their fanbase steadily grows, their new beginning is shaping up quite nicely. “I’m sure we could dedicate a song,” Sonny remarks of TV judge, David Walliams’, initial interest in the band. Eddie soon disagrees before avid Harry Potter fan, Te, reveals more about the forthcoming music, “I think he’d relate to some of our songs. For our first single, we worked with FutureCut, and [the album] really caputes our sound.” Whether Walliams buys the album or not, they’ve got fans in the RWD
“MY MUM’S BEEN STALKING US ON TWITTER, COS SHE DOESN’T GET TO SEE US ANYMORE” [EDDIE]
office. If for the use of pork pies, Reebok Workouts and Migrane Skanks in Eddie’s infectious lyrics alone. “Yeah, I come from like a wanky poetry background,” the former Fiat Seicento owner [remember that car?] leaves us with. “[I like] Stephen Berkoff - who does monologues about c**ts. The fact that he’ll sell out a theatre and they’re are literally eating it up, excuse the pun [room laughs]. It’s things like that that make me think that you don’t have to conform to anyone or anything.” And the debut single, Lovesick, has it conformed? “We’ve changed it since to make it work but we haven’t sold out to make it appeal to radio and stuff, it kind of just adapted.” For more follow @LoveableRogues
SCARLETT COOK
“I’ve always wanted to model,” says 21 year-old Scarlett Cook. And having just been signed up to top UK agency nevs, we’re predicting big things for the little lady. The East Londoner saw a model search competition advertised on the agency’s blog, got involved, managed to beat almost a thousand other hopefuls and won not only a modeling contract but also a cheeky £1000 prize. “I was so happy! It was really unexpected!” the Leeds Uni-grad says of winning the comp. When she’s not modelling/getting her Zumba on, Scarlett can be found doing yoga, pilates or even meditating! With what the agency refer to as a “unique, edgy face”; they already have a whole host of projects lines up for the sporty stunner, so expect to see her face popping up all over the place! @ScarlettCook
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XXYYXX
Super-talented, Orlando-born xxyyxx aka Marcel Everett is currently living in Sanford, Florida and making stuff that RWD (and Kreayshawn, apparently) absolutely love. Two years ago, at just 14 years-old, the Flying Lotus fan started delving into the electronic realms that he’s already completely owning today. “I can vibe to this,” Marcel says of his music when only given five words. Inspired by “sounds and memories”, his music is modern, minimalist and pretty damn magic. On his recently released self-titled album (available at xxyyxx.bandcamp.com), he samples the likes of TLC’s Scrubs as well as Amy Winehouse and a whole host of distorted sonic joy. xxyyxx is currently touring Europe, with highlights including playing alongside Madlib in Poland and gracing The Camp, London with his presence on 18 September. Get involved! @prayformarcel
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RWD & COME AGAIN NEW BEGINNINGS
NEW BEGINNINGS
Oh, September. Month of back to school, back to college, off to uni, end of summer, launch of miserable autumnal doom followed by a long cold winter of sh*t. Wicked. Can’t wait! Francesca Dunn gets views on university, their own new beginnings and some very useful tips for success from Reggie Yates, Amy Childs, Jakwob, Man Like Me and Mistajam...
MISTAJAM
“THERE ARE SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS ON THE HORIZON.” MISTAJAM ON UNI:
I got a job instead! These days so many people have degrees and I find that the work you’ve done gives yourself an edge over others. Getting experience in the field you want to go into is invaluable, so volunteer work, interning and supporting established people is key to success.
MISTAJAM ON HAVING A BABBA: So good I’m having another!
MISTAJAM ON HIS NEW SPEAKERBOX PROJECT:
Speakerbox is the brand I initially created a few years ago to encompass everything I was doing outside the BBC, and we recently expanded. I’m 28 / RWDMAG.COM
personally involved in the events aspect and we’ve had a very successful summer with stages at Beach Break Live, Snowbombing, Wireless (we hosted the Pepsi Max stage), and Creamfields. We’re also putting plans together for compilations to hit the market later in the year. I’m not involved in the label side of Speakerbox, but there are some very exciting things on the horizon.
MISTAJAM’S TIPS FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO SET UP THEIR OWN NIGHT:
1) Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 2) It can take a while to build up your reputation with agents, artists and venues - so start small and work your way up. 3) Don’t get into it if you want to make money quickly. You’re more likely to lose money than make it in the promotion game. Check speakerbox.co.uk for the latest Speakerbox news and events. @mistajam
RWD’S EMERGENCY UNIVERSITY KIT
MAN LIKE ME
“IF WE’D BEEN SMARTER WE COULD HAVE BEEN RIZZLE KICKS OR SOMETHING.”
Every month we show you how to make crap. This month we bring you the ‘RWD’s Emergency University Kit’. 1) Get yourself a good sturdy cardboard box.
MAN LIKE ME ON UNI:
I [Pete] went and thought it was rubbish, Johnny came to visit a couple of times and still laughs at how grim it was. If you want to do music, I’d say skip uni and get cracking.
2) Purchase/ borrow from your family home: a massive bag of pasta, cheap booze, condoms and last but not least, a pen (you’ll probably have to take notes at some point).
MAN LIKE ME’S TIPS FOR SURVIVING UNI:
1) Make sure you pick the right course and city in the first place. 2) Get a job. No matter how big your loan is you’ll need more money. 3) Go easy on the drugs.
3) Put said items in the good sturdy cardboard box .
MAN LIKE ME ON THEIR NEW LONDON TOWN VIP RELEASE:
It’s a reissue of possibly our best known track and we thought it was a good time to give it another go because everyone kept banging on about how perfect it’d be for some sporting event that happened this summer! We’ve been working with Mike Skinner who’s tarted up the production and mix.
MAN LIKE ME’S TIPS FOR A CAREER IN MUSIC: We’d like to point out that we learnt all these rules the hard way. If we’d been smarter we could have been Rizzle Kicks or something. 1) Start early. 2) Work hard. 3) Get a manager and a lawyer.
London Town VIP is released 20 August. For more info check manlikeme. net. @MANLIKEME
JAKWOB
“KEEP FOCUSSED AND KEEP CREATING!” JAKWOB ON UNI:
Although I went to university, I don’t think that’s necessary. There are so many other things to spend the time and money on, like business ventures, travel and exploration.
JAKWOB’S TIPS FOR SURVIVING UNI:
1) More than one alarm clock. 2) Make sure you have a good TV (you’ll make lots of friends). 3) Plenty of instant noodles.
4) Proudly stroll into halls and prepare to, urm, make friends.
JAKWOB ON HIS NEW LIVE PROJECT:
It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I started creating beats. I play drums and piano, Rocky Nti sings and Etherwood plays guitar. We perform songs from The Prize as well as future singles and album tracks. I’ve learnt lots about live performance and learnt how to live on a tour bus with five other people.
JAKWOB’S PRODUCTION TIPS:
1) Try learning through online tutorials. 2) Keep focused and keep creating. 3) Always get a second opinion. Check jakwob.com for live dates and to download The Prize. @jakwob 29
Photo: CAN Associates Ltd. Amy wears dress from her clothing collection which is available from amychildsofficial.co.uk
RWD & COME AGAIN NEW BEGINNINGS
AMY CHILDS
“I WANTED MY BOOBS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PERT.” AMY ON STARTING SCHOOL: The way my mum and dad brought me up was not to be nervous in life. I remember putting myself down at school, I never thought I’d do anything like have my own business, it just goes to show you don’t have to be the cleverest in the class. 30 / RWDMAG.COM
AMY ON HER NEW BOOBS:
I always try and look good. I have a DVD, Fit In 30 Days... With the cosmetic surgery - I’ve had two boob jobs - I wanted to feel more confident; I wanted my boobs to be a little bit more pert. People say I did it to get more attention from guys, I didn’t. I did it for myself.
AMY’S BUSINESS TIPS:
1) Put your mind to it and research. 2) Whatever you do, enjoy it. 3) It’s hard work but the best feeling ever, so just go for it. Check amychildsofficial.co.uk
REGGIE YATES
“AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU’RE A DRIVEN AND DETERMINED PERSON YOU’LL SUCCEED.” REGGIE ON SCHOOL:
When I started primary school we had a pancake disco. My mum couldn’t really afford to send me to the barbers so I had this horrible afro and she combed it out and put me in a suit because she thought you had to go dressed smart. So I went and everyone was in the same stuff they’d been wearing all day, so I told them I’d come as Michael Jackson and everyone thought that was really awesome!
REGGIE ON HIS NEW SHOW:
I’ve got a documentary out in September on BBC Three called Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You, about young people with Tourettes Syndrome who all have an ambition to sing.
REGGIE’S TIPS FOR TV:
1) Always pursue your passions. 2) Always remain true to yourself. 3) Never allow a make-up artist to get carried away! See reggieyates.com and @REGYATES
REDLIGHT
Having already worked and won over the underground crowd as D&B’s DJ Clipz, Nardene Scott meets up with Hugh Pescod aka Redlight who’s just about finished terrorising festivals across Europe. Now, having signed to major label, Polydor, to the delight of many, the DJ, producer and songwriter is working on an album which will reveal more of his mixed-culture dance music.
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”When I was growing up, jungle, for me, was one of the first breakthrough British dance music that people could call their own. It’s 100% British,” Bristol born Redlight insists. “Within that, you’ve had horror movies, you’ve had samples from ragga, American R&B, and everything from hip hop to Motown,” he continues, accrediting the melting pot that is jungle music with his first experience of other cultures. Jungle music would be his introduction to dancehall artist Buju Banton alongside other cultural insights including films like Evil Dead which came to the DJing don’s attention off the back of samples in Ray Keith records. It’s not all just about a good ol’ mix and blend though, he decides. “I don’t want a Redlight tune with like nine remixes. It’s like nah, two remixes, f**king good quality music and different directions. It’s not so I can go fishing and try and get Guetta to play my tunes. It’s fair enough if other people want to do that, but it’s not what I wanna do,” Hugh makes clear of the Lost In Your Love EP package containing the highly rated Mickey Pierce and DJ Sega refixes and DJ’s current fave selection Basscone. Redlight has embraced all areas of dance music; Source 16 and Mosquito to Get Out My Head and new single LIYL transport you back in time to the Haçienda one minute, then to a bashment party and a Bristol warehouse rave the next. Not just a don in the studio, decks are not a problem for the Rinse FM DJ either; last year he supported Tinie Tempah, whilst this year has involved steady stints all over the shop, including Ibiza, where he managed to have fun/ get drunk without any mishaps. “When you used to play dubplates and vinyl, needles could jump, all you can do now is eject the wrong CD or USB key”, the tatted creative states before chuckling, “If you’re making mistakes as a DJ now, you’re in the wrong career mate”. Not something that can ever be said of the man on the opposite page, always in high demand on the DJ circuit, following Radio 1’s Ibiza event, Bestival and it’s wildlife theme is next on the agenda. “I’ll think of something like make a massive leaf mask or something like a fir tree,” the mix and blend aficionado jests before admitting he’s not one for dressing up. Whether remixing Kano, Cee Lo and Delilah or putting in face-to-face studio time with Cleo Sol, Roses Gabor, Maver-
“WHEN YOU USED TO PLAY DUBPLATES AND VINYL, NEEDLES COULD JUMP, ALL YOU CAN DO NOW IS EJECT THE WRONG CD OR USB KEY… IF YOU’RE MAKING MISTAKES AS A DJ NOW YOU’RE IN THE WRONG CAREER, MATE...” ick Sabre and more, his creativity seems to know no bounds; finding another outlet for his thoughts and ideas in art. “I paint and stuff, as well, when I make tunes. I create a canvas with a tune. I’m not good, but it’s an outlet, it just keeps you working within it all,” the perfectionist says, as he shows us the four colourful canvasses he’s created for LIYL. Over our lemonades - don’t judge, we hear it’s been a hard week juggling promo and playing out - we discover there’s even a plan for some real crossover action with a potential exhibition to line up with the album release. This will hopefully showcase some of the equally artful videos, something the slight control freak loves getting involved in. “My friend Chaz, [Charles Golding] is a really good editor and good at coming up with ideas. I was talking about getting a really grimy video for GOMH and we found out it was the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico. So we put ‘em all out on a f**king budget flight for two days and rolled it out.” Control is scaled back on his own strictly vinyl label Lobster Boy where he allows New York Transit Authority aka Mensah, Animal Youth and others to make some bloody good experimental music. Taking a whole month’s break to base himself solely in the studio, we can definitely expect more original, genre-defying music from Mr. Pescod very soon. The Lost In Your Love EP is out now, keep up to date with the super producer @UKRedlight
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STYLE GUIDE STYLE | COMPETITION
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WHAT TO WEAR AND HOW TO WEAR IT...
We pick the items you need to ensure that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fresh for Freshers Week... images Kevin Joseph styling Sophie Robinson styling assistant Cosima Chi 2 3 2. Starter varsity jacket 1. Starte snapback 3. Converse All Star canvas bag 4. The Duffer of St George shoes
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1. The Duffer of St George backpack 2. Nike blazers 3. Evisu shirt 4. Lyle & Scott check shirt 5. Breo watch 6. Superga trainers 7. Fly 53 T shirt 8. Supremebeing sweater 9. Lyle & Scott sweater
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FRESHERS’ WEEK PHOTOGRAPHY: DORRELL MERRITT STYLING: KUSI & NAZ STYLING ASSISTANT: MERCEDES ASARE GROOMING: ALEXANDER SOLTERMANN MAKE-UP: SOO JUNG PARK MODEL: HASSAN, NAHEL @ D1, CHARLIE @ OXYGEN
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Opposite page: Hassan wears shirt and long sleeve T shirt by Crooks & Castles, jeans by Replay This page: Hassan wears Crooks & Castles sweatshirt, back-pack by The Duffer of St George, cap by Jelly X Cream
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This page: Nahel wears windbreaker and T shirt by Nike, jeans by Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, trainers by Nike, bag by Converse, beanie by New Era Hassan wears gilet by Marshall Artist, jumper by The Duffer of St George, chinos by Mishka, trainers by Pony, socks by The Duffer of St George, snapback by Mighty Healthy @ yukka.co.uk
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This page: Hassan wears shirt by Wrangler, T shirt by PXL, chinos by Wrangler, trainers by Pony, cap by PXL x Starter, backpack by Converse Nahel wears jumper by Wrangler, shirt by Marshal Artist, trousers by Luke, trainers by Lacoste, back-pack by Converse Charlie wears jumper by The Duffer of St George, jacket by Luke, jeans by Wrangler, trainers by Pony, back-pack by Converse
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Opposite page: Nahel wears jacket and jumper by The Duffer of St George, Jeans byLevis, trainers by Lacoste This page: Nahel wears long sleeve T shirt by Luke, T shirt by Replay Charlie wears jacket by Marshall Artist, jumper by PXL
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COMPETITION CONVERSE Converse bag & snapback
BAG IT UP If you’re heading back to uni or college this month, you’re going to need a load of new stuff and a decent bag to carry it all in. Thanks to the circles RWD moves in, we’re able to offer you lucky readers the latest gear, courtesy of Converse, and more top brands - we really have got you covered. Image Kevin Joseph styling Sophie Robinson
Where better to keep all of your newly acquired swag than an electric blue, leatherlook Converse shoulder bag alongside a cool Converse snapback too?
Ben Sherman aftershave
Make sure you’re smelling good on those big uni socials by covering yourself head to toe in Ben Sherman’s new Gold fragrance.
Griffin iPhone cases
Uni or college life can be notoriously tough on your phone, so to keep it protected you’ll need a Griffin iPhone case made from actual vinyls.
6 month Netflix subscription
Too busy studying to watch TV? Yeah right. Well, if you genuinely are, this Netflix subscription will make sure won’t miss a thing.
Pioneer STEEZ Headphones
Don’t miss a beat on your daily college commute with Pioneer’s revolutionary, new, must-own STEEZ over-ear headphones.
A year’s supply of Lynx Dry
Stay fresh all year round with a 12 month supply of Lynx Dry: Full Control anti-perspirant, Attract For Him bodyspray and Sport Blast shower gel.
Gear4 AirZone Series 1 speakers Take control of your playlists from across the room with Gear4’s super sleek, AirPlay enabled, smartphone and tablet friendly speaker dock. To enter what is quite possibly the best competition ever just tweet Hey @RWDmag and @Converse I want to Bag It Up For those not lucky enough to win the whole lot, four runners up will also receive a Converse bag and snapback, Pioneer STEEZ headphones and a Netflix subscription.
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COVER STORY FAZER
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Arriving relatively on time – which is always a pleasant surprise, considering his current schedule promoting his radiofriendly, debut solo single, Killer – a relaxed Fazer takes one look at our studio set up and mouths one word, “Sick”. Literally using his production company, Sky’s the Limit, as our inspiration, we wanted Fazer to leap off the page. “I’ve done this before for an N-Dubz video,” the shaded star gleams of the flying idea, “love this!” And with that the interview took off... RISE OF RICHARD RAWSON
I’ve always wanted to ask you, why didn’t you use your own name? ‘Richard Rawson’ sounds like a comic book hero... I dunno. I always thought I had a weird name; I always looked in the mirror and asked, ‘Do I look like a Richard Rawson?’ I even asked my mum the other day, she told me I was named after Little Richard. [Does impression of his mum] ‘He was a
singer and I knew you were going to be a singer, so I named you ‘Richard’’ I used to drive a 600cc [Yamaha] Fazer motorbike and that name just stuck. If Richard Rawson was a superhero, what powers would he have? You know that film, Jumper? Those powers. I’d be able to see the world in a day. I’d go to Fiji and check out the scenery there and check out the Maldives, Thailand, New Zealand and Australia. Do you ever look back at some of the teachers at Haverstock School and think about how they might not have given you that backing? [Laughs] Yeah, I had a teacher that told me I was a piece of shhhhiiii... I see her the other day and she was riding in a piece of shhhhiiii. I had teachers, especially my maths teacher, telling me, ‘I’m gonna see you in Burger King and I’m going to ask for a family meal and you’re gonna have to serve me.’ I went back to the school a couple of weeks ago and he said, ‘You’re doing very well for yourself, Richard’ and I said, ‘You’re doing pretty crap for yourself, aren’t you, mate.’ [laughs]. What’s the difference between Fazer and Richard Rawson? I swear I’ve got a split personality; it’s not even a joke. Richard Rawson is very respectable; he’d come around to your mum’s house, eat dinner and your mum would say, ‘That Richard Rawson, he’s allowed here, he’s a very respectable young man.’ Fazer now, he’ll probably come to your house, take a No.2 in your toilet, leave it smelling, it’s crazy. You don’t know what to expect from him. One minute he’ll be jamming and the next thing you know he’s flying on the cover of RWD magazine. It’s mad.
IN T “WE HE PAS AB WERE T, W OUT N’T FAZER’S NEW BEGINNING So tell us about the new Fazer? GOI E’RE T ANYTTRYIN G NG H all about expanding on everything R T I TO YING NG R O TH It’s I’m about as a musician, branching out BE I on and showcasing DOI TO TH HANN INK allandofcapitalising my talents. Whether I’m workNG INK A H artists or doing IN T AB AS ing withmyother stuff. I really HE OUT DON own want to document FUT W E capable of URE HAT what I’mdoing as an .” all- SHE rounder. ’ S The new Fazer is very stylish, very cool. I’m not saying I wasn’t before but I didn’t have the money to go out and buy nice clothes or dress in a certain way but now I’m ok, I can do that.
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COVER STORY FAZER
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and I go outside and I get kisses from girls. I don’t even get that at home. Imagine that. I’m not even looking for a relationship though. My main focus is my music. On Killer you say, “The way she moves like Shakira, in and out of love, I’m a killer.” Are you just getting with Shakira-type girls now... Nah, girls who come across like Shakira and everyone is saying, ‘You should wifey that,’ I just disagree. ‘I don’t care what she looks like, I’m not gonna wifey it. That is not what I’m looking for right now.’ Soon as she falls in love you make an exit, you break her heart and you become a love killer. That’s the concept.
THE UNTITLED SOLO DEBUT
How do you feel when you look back at the original 2006 Better Not Waste My Time video, and you’re in tracksuits and you’ve got that little bucket hat on? [Laughs] That was the young pup Fazer, the wild Fazer. That Fazer swag back in the day was just mix and match; whatever worked, worked. I was in my own lane, I thought I was flexing in my bucket hat. I swear I pulled out some cash in that video as well, thought I was balling with like £120. Whhhhhhhaaaatttt!!!! [Laughs] What would you have done with £120? I probably would have done something a bit wrong with that money and tried to make it a bit more money. Camden life.
Tell us more about Sky’s The Limit? That is basically me and Pete ‘Neros’ Ibsen, who I met eight years ago. He’s signed to Roc Nation as a producer and he was supposed to work with us for the whole of the N-Dubz career but never got the chance to. I bumped into him again last September and we haven’t stopped since. Anything I work on this year will be under STL Records. The Jak Frsh directed Killer video is a great start... He brought what I was thinking in my head to life and we ran with it. There are no videos like Killer. it’s very creative, it’s very stylish. It’s done by fashion directors not urban music directors. And you looked worryingly comfortable in the straitjacket... The straitjacket was kind of swaggy though, I’m not going to lie. When I looked at it when it came out, I was thinking, ‘That is a stylish straitjacket!’ One arm out with the tatts and that and the other arm strapped up. It was kinda crazy.
...READY TO MINGLE
Did you get to handpick the Killer video girls yourself? Nah, they wouldn’t let me go to the casting. Imagine that. I know why though cos I can’t help myself sometimes. My madness hands. The Lord gave me hands and sometimes I feel like I must use them. Are you single at the moment? Yeah man, I’m single to mingle at the moment. Seriously ladies, wow... it’s overwhelming. I wake up in the morning
We just heard an exclusive of Firefly, which has a slightly slower BPM. Tell us about that track... That track is more close to home. It’s about my lifestyle as it is now. If you don’t know me, it’s an introduction and if you do, it’s a story of how I’m moving forward. It’s a feel good song, [it’s about having] bad times but there being a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not meant to be a downers cos I’m not feeling depressed. I’m happy. I’m feeling on top of the weather and it’s called ‘Firefly’ cos I know I can make my light shine. On the track you say, “I tried to make it work each and every way,” is that about your daily grind? Nah, it’s just talking in general. I always say, you can’t help someone who doesn’t want to help themselves. Tell us about that unfinished track we also just heard, No Rush... It’s basically for the ladies. My album is a best of album, the best of all genres. So if you don’t like Fazer, it’s cool. I don’t mind, but there will be one song that you’ll say, ’You know what, I don’t like this guy but that song, I really do like that record.’ That is what it’s about for me. Do you feel like you still have a lot to prove? Do you still feel like the underappreciated member of N-Dubz? Everything I do now; whether it’s a photo shoot or an interview or a performance or a record or a freestyle, I’ve got something to prove. You’ve got to understand, coming from N-Dubz, there were no expectations for Fazer, so anything I touched, everyone would have been sceptical. For me that is the best position I could be in because I’ll just continue to shock people and create that wow factor and I’m having fun with it. 51
COVER STORY FAZER
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CONVERSE PRO STREETS
BELLATRIX 23 BEATBOXER BRISTOL @BELLATRIX_LIPS BELLATRIXONLINE.COM
MAKE YOUR MOVE WITH CONVERSE PRO STREETS Knowing your local area is everything. It’s the place where you hang out with friends, chill at the weekend, walk through on your daily commute and for extreme unicyclist, Jason Auld, yo-yo freestyler, Krisztian Kalusza, b-baller, Kelvin Appiah and beatboxing Bellatrix, it’s the place where you learn your skills and bring them to the streets... Image Pharoah Styling Nasrin Jean Baptiste
How did you get started as a beatboxer? I began beatboxing when I was about 15. The first beatboxer I ever saw was a family friend called DukeBox. He impressed and inspired me so much with what he could do. Do you have a background in music? Yes, my Dad played keys so I was into a lot of groove music. I started off on the cornet in primary school, moved on to the bass guitar, then started playing the double bass. Since then I’ve been working freelance as a bass player. What is the music scene like in your neighbourhood? The Bristol music scene is pretty special. So many exciting hybrids are born from the vibrant and eclectic communities in the city. It was the perfect place for me to start out! Has your gender effected the reaction you’ve got from people? Of course! People, as you don’t see many female beatboxers, so they usually don’t expect me to be any good, or to be able to make half the sounds that I can make.
Do you have a unique street skill, like any of these four icons? Converse Pro Streets are giving YOU the chance to win £10k to invest back into your community. If you’re based in London and want to enter, go down to one of the five locations (Brixton, Camden, Finsbury Park, Ladbroke Grove and Mile End) where you’ll find cameras set up to film you in action. To find out more go to prostreets.com Not a Londoner? No worries! You can still get involved by recording a 45 second video of you doing what you do best on the street, uploading the clip to converseprostreets.com and chasing votes from friends and family via facebook. The prize pot includes a trip to USA and a Video Street Kit, so get recording! 54 / RWDMAG.COM
JASON AULD 23 EXTREME UNICYCLIST EDINBURGH @VOODOOUNICYCLES How did you first get into unicycling? I just saw a unicycle in a shop one day, when I was like 13 and thought it looked pretty cool! I wanted to do something a bit different, attention seeking I guess. How has your neighbourhood influenced your sport? The people that know me and what I do, are very supportive
KRISTIAN KALUSZA and very positive. They see that I’m trying to do something productive and putting my energy into it. In terms of the area itself, there are lots of obstacles and it’s good for BMXing and subsequently very good for me too. What would £10k mean to your community? Do you have plans? I already do quite a lot of work within my community in terms of promoting unicycling. I often go into schools, community centres, and so on. So, yeah, I’d like to put more money into promotion of the sport in my area.
24 YO-YO FREESTYLER TOTTENHAM @ECIVED How did you get into yo-yoing? I was watching Hey Arnold and the ‘football head’ showed some crazy yo-yo tricks - they were the first I’d ever seen! After that I started to practice on a yo-yo which came with a box of Corn Flakes. Can yo-yoing return to its glory days? For sure! Yo-yos have completely changed – it’s very high tech now.
How would you define street culture in your neighbourhood? People are very open, I pull yo-yo tricks and people radiate to me but the street culture is hidden here. How has the neighbourhood you live in influenced you? It’s a source of inspiration. My neighbourhood have been a great support for me. I’m surrounded by amazing people. What would £10k mean to your community? I’d get yo-yo clubs running in all schools and set up a place for them where they can collaborate.
KELVIN APPIAH 16 BASKETBALL PLAYER BRIXTON What made you choose b-ball? Probably the love and passion I have for the game. As long as you have that it doesn’t matter what your surroundings or circumstances are, you will still play. How would you define basketball culture in your neighbourhood? With places such as the Jordan & Regal Court nearby, basketball events are more likely to happen here than anywhere else in London, which means we regularly face high levels of competition. What are the defining characteristics of your neighbourhood? Like most areas, we have the
good and not so good parts which makes the area unique. Despite this everyone is friendly and able to go out and enjoy local parks such as Kennington Park and Lilian Baylis old school. How has the neighbourhood you live in influenced what you do? Some parts of my area are known for youth crime and gangs. I wanted to get away from it so the basketball court was a place where I could go to get peace, surrounded by people who just want to ball. What would £10k mean to Brixton? If my area was fortunate enough to win, it would mean a lot. I would like to see a lot of facilities renovated and new equipment bought, instead of youths just hanging on the streets. 55
UNSUNG HERO
PROUD TO PRESENT You might recognise the stunning Laura Whitmore from MTV, or I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here NOW, or maybe even from the BRIT Awards. Given that the leggy lass kickstarted her career by entering a competition, we thought it fitting to send RWD’s newfound Unsung Hero, aspiring presenter Will Manning to interview her, show off his skills and maybe get a few tips while he’s at it. 56 / RWDMAG.COM
You’ve interviewed a lot of big celebrities - Rihanna, Noel Gallagher, One Direction, and Rizzle Kicks, to name a few. Who was your favourite? Well I’m in love with Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, so when I met him, it was like a personal ‘OMG I LOVE YOU’ moment. Then there are people like Rihanna who are megastars but when you meet them they’re lovely and down to earth. Noel Gallagher was really nice, very funny and witty. It was a real pleasure to interview him. There must have been moments where you’ve thought ‘Please can this interview just end now’? Yeah... mainly at things like the BRITS when people have had a few drinks and
you know, they’re not even making sense anymore! I interviewed Marilyn Manson once and he was very rude and very dirty! It was so uncomfortable for me to be there, but it was good viewing. Who’s your Unsung Hero? Who doesn’t get enough credit for what they do? Just everyday people, like the mummies that make our breakfast and put us through college and university. I was always told that there was nothing I couldn’t do, and even though I didn’t know anyone in the industry, there was no reason why I couldn’t go for it if I wanted to. So I love people who encourage people – they’re the Unsung Heroes. CHEESY!!!! Tell us, what’s your key tip for aspiring
MEET WILL MANNING This month’s Unsung Hero...
After our call to action last month to find the finest emerging fashion stylist and photographer in the UK, this month it was all about the search for the freshest presenting talent and we came across the showreel of South Bucks resident, Will Manning. The intro of Will’s showreel revealed an equal obsession with both music and chicken - any which way it comes - so RWD had no choice but to get this Unsung Hero involved. Oh yes, and the fact he’s also won a young DJ of the year award, covered shows on BBC Radio 1Xtra, plus he’s just auditioned for Channel 4’s Freshly Squeezed show, we can’t be too far off the mark. See officialdjwm.wordpress.com for more
“I INTERVIEWED MARILYN MANSON ONCE AND HE WAS VERY RUDE AND VERY DIRTY! IT WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME TO BE THERE, BUT IT WAS GOOD VIEWING.”
presenters hoping to make it in this fast paced industry? Contacts. It’s very hard to even get your foot in the door, so when you get it in there, just don’t leave, that’s what I did. I had a year contract with MTV but I just told myself that I’d never leave and four years later I still work there! So definitely get work experience, get the name of the producers and email them, because when the time comes to get an intern in, they’ll go to you. It’s unpaid, but you can do it for a couple of weeks. I know that at MTV, all the producers started out as interns and worked their way up. So just get those contacts, don’t let them go, and be persistent! Also, just be yourself!
Follow @thewhitmore and @ItsWillManning. Rising clothing brand Unsung Hero continues to give young creative talents that very much needed platform. For more information head to Facebook.com/UnsungHeroOfficial
See Unsung Hero Will Manning grill Laura Whitmore on RWDmag.com/UnsungHero 57
INTERVIEW KENDRICK LAMAR
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RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
The newly hailed King of the West Coast Kendrick Lamar briefly rolled through London a few weeks ago, so Nardene Scott didn’t hesitate to jump into his ride to find out more about the lyrical G.
“…WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY IS KNOWING THAT I WENT OUT THERE AND CHALLENGED MYSELF…I WOULDN’T CARE WHAT NOBODY ELSE THINK.”
The Compton lyricist had only just landed - in a dramatic emergency landing and he doesn’t really enjoy flying - half an hour before we meet him and tag along on his journey to Radio 1. You could say we were a little hasty but sitting alongside some of his TDE team, the former battle rapper is as chilled as ever, and playing true to his gemini traits, the complete opposite of the five foot monster with a mic we witness that evening at his first ever UK gig. If you’re a fan of his real life tales told in an unconventional enunciated manner, (of which everyone from Lady Gaga to Dr Dre is), you’ll understand his music already speaks a thousand words. So with that in mind, we thought we’d let his lyrics do (most of) the talking... This is physical and mental / I wouldn’t sugar coat it / You’ll die from diabetes if these other n****s wrote it Hiiipower “I think there was a build up of confidence going to that day when I woke up and said I wanted to change my name. Me just being 100% about whether I wanted to put stories in the world like that, it’s not an easy thing to do. A lot of people can’t look at themselves in the mirror or make music that reflects on their character. It came with maturing as an artist, and more so as an adult and a man, being able to accept these responsibilities and put them on record.” Everybody heard that I f**k with Dre / And they wanna tell me, I made it / N***a I ain’t made shit / If he gave me a handout / I’mma take his wrist and break it Spiteful Chant
“My situation was a lot different to everybody else’s. Dre told me to go out and do what I’d been doing and that’s exactly what I did when I made my album and brought it back and he certified it a classic... I mean not on his approval... what makes me happy is knowing that I went out there and challenged myself. I feel like I accomplished the unknown. I wouldn’t care what nobody else think.” I put a lot of pain in the sh*t I write / If you going through something, this the sh*t you recite Celebration “Definitely music be my scapegoat. My sanctuary to what was going on in the city, I think it saved a lot of lives. So me doing music is not only helping myself, it’s helping the listener. The easiest thing for me to write is personal records, the hardest is a track probably y’all never get...I don’t even wanna say the name, some things I’ve got to save for myself. The world can’t get everything, some things can’t be told.” Me I’m just a good kid trying to keep it positive / Though I know its chaos forever my heart will live in Compton State Of Mind “I know my story is relatable to probably at least 80% of the people in my city and around the world who are put into a situation and get distracted and try to escape their influences, fighting that temptation. That’s what I’m tryna get across, the reasons why, rather than just putting it out there for the street credibility. I can do that all day but if we put something behind that then it opens up a whole other door and that’s my whole purpose. Once I get that I think the legacy will go on forever because what I’m saying, will always stick.” good kid, m.A.A.d city is out 2 October. For more follow @KendrickLamar 59
INTERVIEW ELIJAH WOOD
“TO BE HONEST, I DIDN’T WORK ON THE HOBBIT FOR TOO LONG ANYWAY. I WAS ONLY IN NEW ZEALAND FOR ABOUT A MONTH.”
LORD OF THE BOOTH We’ve grown up with Iowa-born Elijah Wood and know him for his successful roles in 2005’s Green Street and as fearless Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings forthcoming prequel The Hobbit. But what’s next? The 31 yearold tells RWD about the second helping of BBC Three’s humourous Wilfred and voicing ‘Beck’ in Disney XD’s new animated series, TRON: Uprising...
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You’ve had a busy couple of years with your work on The Hobbit, as well as Wilfred. How did you manage to fit TRON: Uprising into your schedule? It’s not been too difficult to fit in the voice sessions. Whenever I had any spare time, I’d go and record a number of sessions with the TRON team. The beautiful thing about animation is the fact that it’s relatively easy to get into a studio and run through a ton of material, so we’d do it at the weekend or whenever I had time off. To be honest, I didn’t work on The Hobbit for too long anyway. I was only in New Zealand for about a month. There are some massive Lord of the
Rings fans in our office, we can’t reveal who they are though, what can you tell us about The Hobbit? It feels bigger than before. It’s only two movies, but there are more trailers than we had last time. However, there was still the same atmosphere on set. Everything is still run by Peter Jackson and the same incredible team. It was wonderful to return for The Hobbit. It was also a treat to meet a lot of the new cast members. Martin Freeman is wonderful as Bilbo. How did it feel to play Frodo again? Putting on the feet again was very surreal. It was strange because it felt incredibly weird and yet totally normal.
IN THE BOOTH Elijah fills us on life in the soundbooth...
“I was alone for most of my sessions, but I did get to work with some of the other actors from time to time. I worked with Mandy Moore [who plays Mara in the show] a couple of times, but I also got to work with Bruce Boxleitner [who plays Tron] and that was really interesting. It’s always nice when you get the chance to work with the other actors. It brings the scene to life in a way that’s not as easy to replicate when you’re on your own.”
I did that for four years solid a while ago, but it felt like no time had passed. Suddenly, I was there in the same costume and the same wig. Everything was the same. It felt like I was back again. What attracted you to this new TRON project, TRON: Uprising? When I was approached, I was superexcited at the notion of making a show that fits in-between the two films, in terms of the mythology. Sometimes new projects are designed to be offshoots of the original project and they don’t always have much of a connection to what’s already been established in the series. I jumped at the chance to be part of the new project.
Were you a fan of TRON before? TRON wasn’t something that I grew up with, but I’m a huge fan of it now. Lastly, describe the animation style of the show and your character Beck? The animation style is very unique and I think the audience will love it. It’s a very interesting amalgam of 2D animation with 3D digital animation. Beck’s faced with the tyranny of an army led by Clu and his evil henchmen, General Tesler. They are threatening to infringe upon the freedoms his city, Beck tries to rise up against them – along with the help of another rebel, Tron. TRON: Uprising premieres on Disney XD from 10 September
RWD TEAM Editor Deputy Editor Senior Staff Writer Staff Writer Contributing Editor Online Editor Contributors
@dannywalker1 @nardenescott @francesca_dunn @jameshumphrys @chantellefiddy @tegosigel Briony Gaffer, Alex Johnson, Cerriann Taylor
Art Director Dacre J. Bracey Designer Sam Hardy Fashion Stylists Sophie Robinson Nasrin Jean-Baptiste, Style Assistant Neesha Sharma, Janine Jauvel, Cheyenne Davide Illustrators Jacob Armitage, David Flanagan, Lucas Jubb Video Team Greg Bond, Felix Kemp Photographers James Pearson-Howes, Andres Reynega, Response London, Adrian Nettleship, Verena Stefanie Grotto, James Carnegie, Ravi Sidhu, Sam Bond, Pharaoh, Odi Caspi Publisher Sales Director Senior Sales Brand Relations Dir. Operations Thanks
Nigel Wells Paul LeFevre Matthew Richards Hattie Collins Martin Ferguson Bob Austin
CONTACT RWD Suite 107 Holywell Centre, 1 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4PS Tel: 020 3176 4299 staff@RWDmag.com @RWDmag RWD Magazine is published monthly by Rewind Creative Media Ltd. All material copyright (c). All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the publishers. RWD Magazine: 25p where sold Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, for which RWD holds no responsibility. The opinions of the contributors do not necessarily bear a relation to those of RWD Magazine or it’s staff and we disclaims liability for those impressions. Distributed nationally. RWD is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations
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INTERVIEW VASHTIE
CRAZY SEXY COOL
A little over a year ago Vashtie Kola unknowingly set off a world-wide fashion trend. Before that she was the first woman to officially design her own Jordans. Her fashion brand Violette is stocked in spots like Colette, plus the Trinidadian chick makes super cool music videos and holds even cooler parties. Nardene Scott gave the New York It Girl a call to delve into her creative mind.
“SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THEIR LABEL OR THE TEAM AROUND THEM SO THERE ISN’T MUCH OF A VISION...” Did you start your brand Violette as a reaction to people being influenced by what you wore? It kind of started just because I was wearing boy’s brands: there were girl’s brands but they didn’t seem to fit my style. It’s pretty much a small brand and homegrown, which is how I like it. I do have dreams of making it bigger, but for me I’d like it to be a slow growing process. Violette has been the most fulfilling part of my career in the sense that if I have an idea, I can just make it happen because it’s my brand entirely. Tapping into a different creative side, you’ve directed videos for Justin Bieber and rapper Joey BadA$$. Do new artists keep you motivated? It’s kind of hard these days because sometimes you have to work with people who are heavily influenced by their label or the team around them, so there isn’t much of a vision. When you find an artist like Joey, it’s so rare. The fact that he’s tying in all of these influences in such an authentic way is just totally mesmerising. Working with him was incredibly inspiring. He 62 / RWDMAG.COM
just turned 17 so I felt it was really important to document his life; going to school, getting into trouble at home and making music that is turning heads. That transition, whether you’re famous or not, is hard so that was important to capture, it’s one of my favourite videos. Who else would you want to work with? I would say Bjork for sure. When I was really young I spent so much of my time recording her videos, memorising them, figuring out how she did what she did. I’d also really like to work with Frank Ocean and I love Azealia Banks. Your 1992 parties attract a lot of attention what made you start them? That era of time was so influential to me. My friend Oscar who runs the parties with me, named it ‘1992’ and it just seemed to sum up what we wanted to achieve...that era evokes this amazing nostalgia. The early to mid 2000s to me were really boring, so the parties were an escape. You were a massive fan of Jordans, so how did it feel being asked to design your own by Nike? It’s still an overwhelming feeling. It’s still shocking in my head for someone who is essentially a no-one coming from not being able to afford Jordans which created this obsession for them. Being old enough to buy them for myself and then to make my own is just a wild idea. It just doesn’t happen. What advice can you give young, cool, fashionable creatives? I think that it’s important to know that anything is 100% possible. I don’t come from money at all. I put myself through school to do what I wanted to do. I’m still paying my student loan (laughs). Try and keep up with the artistic one over at vashtie.com and @vashtie
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A DAY IN THE LIFE...PIONEER STEEZ
CHECK MY STEEZ
11:47am. Waterloo Station, south London. Mid-Air, Spin and former b-boy champion Mouse stand alongside event organisers Rob and Hooch around the Pioneer STEEZ. Taking it in turns to show each other their breaking skills as they wait for the arrival of their fellow Soul Maverick and one of the hottest prospects on the UK b-boy scene, 17 year-old, Bristol-based Sunni Brummitt Image Krzysztof Grychnik
As the youngster emerges from the entrance of one of London’s oldest stations, the b-boys bump fists and embrace the former Got To Dance finalist. Starting off as an individual, Sunni explains how he met the rest of the guys, “I needed more, and the Soul Mavericks gave me more. At every competition I went to, they’d be there teaching me. Then they asked me to come to train with them and it all kinda happened naturally.” With fists bumped, Rob reveals the reason Sunni has made the trip from the west of England - The Pioneer STEEZ, the sponsors of this year’s b-boy Championship World Final. “It looks pretty fresh, innit,” he remarks as he lifts up the beat boosting tech savvy unit and we all find a spot to put the STEEZ and Sunni to the test. “I could definitely see us using this (to train with) in the future,” he adds, sizing up the stylish piece of kit. “It’s a good look that Pioneer are backing the b-boy scene.” As Sunni and the other dancers dump their bags on the famous floors of South Bank and start limbering up, a crowd forms around the barriers on the bridge above, the public looking on in anticipation as they showcase some new techniques whilst the STEEZ pumps out some hip hop tunes. After doing his thing for the crowd, the Bristol b-boy wonder pauses to express his first impressions on the latest addition to the crew? “Yeah, being able to change the tempo will be good for battling. Cue points will be really useful, too, for when we’re training new routines and the hard drive is dope! It’s a great all-around device for b-boying” the one to watch expresses. Along with 64 / RWDMAG.COM
“YEAH BEING ABLE TO CHANGE THE TEMPO WILL BE GOOD FOR BATTLING... AND THE HARD DRIVE IS DOPE! IT’S A GREAT ALL-AROUND DEVICE FOR B-BOYING” the auto DJ mixes, the new portable Pioneer device is pretty much a b-boy’s best friend. With onlookers more than impressed with what they’ve just witnessed, the boys finish up, pull on their sweatshirts, and pick up the STEEZ before they head outside. Whilst the rest of the crew head to lunch it appears they’ll be no peri-peri chicken for Sunni, he’s got a train to catch. As he finishes saying his goodbyes to the rest of the Soul Mavericks, he turns to Rob, STEEZ still in hand, “I can actually take it home?” He laughs in disbelief. For more info on the Pioneer STEEZ head to pioneer-steez.com. The 2012 B-Boy Championship World Finals take place on October 14 at the O2 Academy, Brixton. Check bboychampionships.com
Witness Sunni and the STEEZ battle head to head on RWDmag.com/CheckMySteez
SUNNI’S TOP TIPS
The 2011 UK B-Boy Championships finalist tells us exactly what it takes in order to reach the heights of the scene. Love The Culture “You need to listen to the music, know the people. It’s more than just going to a competition, throwing down and then leaving. It’s should be more than just the dance.” Be Humble “If you’re dope, just be humble with it. It’s not important to flash it all the time. Just do your thing.” Determination “Injuries and setbacks happen all the time, so you need determination to succeed. You just need to push through it.” Do your own thing “Don’t be looking like everyone else – there’s nothing cool about that. Don’t look to other people. Take inspiration, but don’t take their style.” Pick up a Pioneer STEEZ now at HMV and receive a free pair of STEEZ Headphones (RRP £49.99) Subject to availability, T&Cs apply
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INTERVIEW PROFESSOR GREEN
RELENTLESS ENERGY DRINK x PROFESSOR GREEN
Chart topper Professor Green and Relentless Energy Drink are the perfect pairing - both refusing to do anything by half measures. Recently named as their ambassador, RWD went behind the scenes to chat to the former battle rapper and director Ross Cairns about filming the explosive TV advert which kicks off the first of many collaborative projects.
How does it feel being a Relentless Energy Drink ambassador? Professor Green: Yeah I’ve got plenty of energy... or maybe I need some? Maybe they saw me looking tired one day and thought, ‘He could do with a bit of picking up,’. It feels like it fits, I never work with brands that don’t fit. Ross, as creative director of the advert how did the concept come together? Ross Cairns: When we found out Stephen was involved we re-wrote everything based on his character. Today he’s in his comfort zone in the stage scene - it’s all gonna be quite fun and you’ve got an audience. Tomorrow is the difficult time, he’s going to be running across cars in a traffic jam at high speed... PG: I can’t complain about being tired on this shoot can I? And me being athletic, this is not a problem for me... I’m not athletic. Simple. So, what can we expect from the finished advert? RC: We’re going to be adding some pretty intense special effects in the post production plus with the 60 people on set today. Expect brilliance! PG: Yeah, there’s loads of people running around. I’ve done loads of shoots and I’m not putting anyone’s names out there but it feels properly organised. Avalon features in the advert, tell us a little bit about the track? PG: Avalon began with Emeli Sandé and Mojam - who produced Remedy and 66 / RWDMAG.COM
Monster - when I read the chorus, it was really triumphant, so I was racking my brain and trying to think of how I could approach it. I really took the whole Arthur and the Knight concept and Avalon is the bit where Arthur retreated and he was handed the Excalibur from the river. I used that as the metaphor for the triumphant, so it took me a little while to write because the metaphor was continued throughout. It’s a bit different for me, it’s got a rock feel to it and it’s one of the tracks that’s been working best live so now it’s gonna become a single hopefully. What’s the plan for your set? Are you going to do the rock star thing and start smashing up all the chandeliers in Bush Hall? PG: They probably don’t want me to touch the chandeliers. They do have insurance however so...it’s all a bit too cliché, throwing TV’s out of windows though. Knowing my luck I’d hit someone anyway and then it would be murder by TV, so I just don’t throw TV’s out of windows. What’s the most rock star thing that you do do? PG: I walk the dog sometimes. Yeah. To see the advert in full head to facebook.com/relentlessenergy and let your thoughts be heard via Twitter using #progreenad and @thisistheorder. At Your Inconvenience is out now and you can follow @professorgreen
“APART FROM JUST THE PERFORMANCE, THERE’S NOTHING TOO ROCK STAR, IT’S ALL A BIT TOO CLICHÉ NOWADAYS, THROWING TV’S OUT OF WINDOWS. KNOWING MY LUCK I’D HIT SOMEONE ANYWAY…SO I JUST DON’T THROW TV’S OUT OF WINDOWS.” PROFESSOR GREEN
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COMPETITION SONY XPERIA
JUST LIKE HEAVEN When he’s not collaborating with Wretch, in the studio with Frank Ocean or writing for Rihanna, Angel even finds the time to meet some of his doting fans. RWD’s Nardene Scott and super fan Tanzima Jahan get the low down on what the future holds for the Wonderful singer. Image Sam Bond
“SO WHILE I WAS VOCALLING THAT, FRANK [OCEAN] WALKED IN AND IT WAS LIKE... I JUST CAN’T EXPLAIN THE FEELING OF THAT VIBE.”
ON WORKING WITH FRANK OCEAN...
It happened really organically. Midi Mafia were over from LA - we were doing some recording and they were like, ‘We’ve got this tune that Frank wrote that we think you’d do justice’. So while I was vocalling that, Frank walked in and it was like...I didn’t even know he was in the country, let alone in the studio! I just can’t explain the feeling of that vibe. It was random but it was real.
ON WRITING FOR SOME OF THE HOTTEST FEMALES IN MUSIC…
Yeah, I’ve been writing for Rihanna. That, for me, is massive – it’s obviously a big opportunity but at the same time you’ve still got to get the work done as opposed to being star-struck. You’ve got to deliver. I’m doing some writing for Cheryl Cole, Stooshe and Claire Maguire... it varies. There are no set genres really, just good songs! 68 / RWDMAG.COM
ON THE SUCCESS OF WONDERFUL…
The reception was crazy and it’s just like, ‘thank god’! At last I get to exploit my stuff that I’ve been holding in for so long. It’s been so crazy! I’ve been going places, getting recognised and seeing thousands of people singing my songs.
MEET & GREET Tanzima Jahan meets her musical idol courtesy of Sony Xperia and puts her nerves aside to ask a few questions...
ON HIS OWN MATERIAL…
My mixtape, In Between Time, is out now, and the album, About Time, will be out soon. You guys should look out for two singles Victory and The World. Victory is all about growing and saying that you don’t need to hide when you’ve achieved something. It’s like Wonderful, just be yourself and passionate about it. Everything just keeps on going and every day it gets bigger and better! Wonderful is out now. @thisisangel tests out the ultimate @SonyXperiaUK handest for those on the go on RWDmag.com/SonyXperia
What is your dream collaboration? Michael Jackson – all day, every day! Which song do you wish you had written? Most Beautiful Girl In The World by Prince. So tell the team, what do you think about the Sony Xperia go? The phone’s good! I’m not really a clumsy person. I’ve never dropped a phone before but it was really cool dropping it into drinks and stuff! I couldn’t believe it still worked.
INTERVIEW A.M SNiPER
READY FOR THE ROAR
Ex-So Solid Crew Anthony Melas aka A.M. SNiPER has been doing big things since we first spoke to him a year ago. Aside from making his own music, he’s been working on his label 3Fifty7 Music and creating festivals with Charlie Sloth in his native Ayia Napa. About to drop his next single, ROAR, with his debut album not far behind, we thought it was about time for a catch up...
“I SET UP FIRE ON THE BEACH WITH CHARLIE SLOTH IN AYIA NAPA AND THAT CREATED AN AMAZING PLATFORM FOR UK MUSIC. 5000 PEOPLE... LIKE THE EUROPEAN VERSION OF SUMMER JAM.”
SNIPER’S SOUND:
At the moment, I would say my sound is in exploration mode. I am #NOTFAMOUS, which means I can experiment and try and create something original. In the short run that might not be effective, but our vision is a lot bigger than NOW... I rap, I rock, I reggae, so I fuse those elements and each time get something different. I would prefer to do something special or nothing at all.
FROM 11 TO 2012:
Well, a year ago I released 11, my debut EP, and went straight into debut album mode, which is pretty much done now. I set up Fire On The Beach with Charlie Sloth in Ayia Napa and that created an amazing platform for UK music. 5000 people came out for that - that was a big step up, like the European version of Summer Jam. The rest of the year was mad smooth - the clubs, the water park, the beach parties, etc.
WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FROM ROAR:
I don’t know... I don’t care... We don’t make music based on expectations - that is so 2002... nothing is controlled like that anymore. It’s the result of the 11 EP... I took the sound of 11 and explored it further. I love ROAR, it’s so... different. 70 / RWDMAG.COM
ROAR VIDEO:
Well, some videos inspired it - an indie act called Woodkid and elements of Jay-Z’s On To The Next One. The process was amazing, the director Alexandros Hadjikostas...The whole team was great; the sexy models, the boxers, my crew, and the horse and lion! If you think you are cool, try moving to a model when a LION is nearby! I’m the lion pimp!
COOL COLLABORATIONS:
This year I have worked with Lethal Bizzle, JME, Scrufizzer, Anamate and Paperbwoy the others will be revealed soon... shout out to my cousin K Koke!
AYIA NAPA ANTHEM:
No matter what I do with my alternative sound, I cannot forget hip hop. Every year I honor my hometown with a freestyle... it’s only right. #AYIANAPA2013
FAN SUPPORT:
I started doing music for fun, and although it’s getting more and more serious, I’m still having fun, I try to figure out who was having more fun as well. The crowd? Or me? I have no mad machine behind me, just a great team and very honest people. @snipermusic ROAR will be released on 2 October through 3Fifty7 Music
UNWIND FILMS | GAMES | MUSIC | LIVE
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THE BEST OF STAYING IN... AND GOING OUT...
THE SWEENEY Ray Winstone and Ben Drew team up for the modern day, big screen re-imagining of the iconic 70s cop drama. Turn over the page for our full review, or else!!!
RE YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;E ! D K NIC >> 73
UNWIND FILMS
FILMS New beginnings aplenty in the world of film... The Sweeney Entertainment One 18 Even an accidental glimpse of the original Sweeney, whilst flicking inbetween ‘10 minute previews’ and Big Brother highlights, will tell you that this Nick Love directed remake is a distant, distant cousin to the cult classic. Not even the occasional “You’re nicked” (or “I think this is giving me a hard on”), unrealistic car chase or the dreary overuse of Regan’s stereotypically unorthodox policing methods could bring it back. However, what you do get is another excellent performance from Ben Drew, as he joins forces with Ray Winstone and the other hard hitting members of The Flying Squad to give the 2012 rejuvenation a quintessentially British and thoroughly thrilling update. Remove all aspects of trying to pay homage to the huge shadow cast by the television series. Instead, revel in the fact that they’d rather use baseball bats to get answers and fully-loaded knuckle sandwiches to keep the criminal underworld at bay. Well worth the watch in the end; shut it, crime! (DW) 74 / RWDMAG.COM
MUSIC Each and every issue we give you the latest music to download, buy and/or avoid that month...
FOR
THE WATCH VISIT MOREAG.COM/ 20th Century Fox RWDMFILM 15 An all-star cast of Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade are placed in familiar roles as they combine to form a neighbourhood watch in order to combat the threat of an alien invasion in their town. A severe lack of plot and a tirade of forced, crude humour condemns this one to the dreaded rental list. Sorry, Rich, we still love ya! (JH)
“Full of cheeky little features”
“It’s no Gucci Gucci but we love her”
Jack Beats Careless Sony
Kreayshawn Somethin ‘Bout Kreay Sony
The first in a series of audio-friendly mini albums, Careless features six tracks plus three instrumentals. With Takura on the title track, a brilliant re-hash of Leonard Cohen’s End Of Love , and a track featuring both Diplo and Example, the album is truly diverse. (FD) Track to check: End Of Love
“Soul Twister” Jessie Ware Devotion PMR Records
DREDD 3D Entertainment Film Distributors 18 If Sylvester Stallone’s Judge Dredd is the only Judge Dredd you’ve ever known, then Karl Urban’s ultra-violent incarnation might surprise you. Three dimensions of drugs, guns and exploding faces; DREDD 3D will leave you speechless with its relentless pursuit for the perfect kill. If you like comic book gore, you’ll love this. (TS)
Joker and SBTRKT (and RWD) picked up on this talented Londoner a while ago. Now, finally, we have a whole album to wonder over. Modern soul at it’s finest and lyrics to make you want to shimmy, sway and shed a little tear (on the sly) at the same time. We recommend you jump on the bandwagon now. (NS) Track to Check: Devotion
Despite a feature by 2-Chainz on Breakfast, Somethin ‘Bout Kreay is samey, pretty annoying at times and just doesn’t blow us away. However, Kreayshawn is norty, super fun and since Gucci Gucci she has had our heart. (FD) Track to Check: Summertime
“Remember old Ne-Yo?” Ne-Yo (Preview) R.E.D Def Jam Well you’ll have to, because there’s only a few traces of that artist on this album. Trying hard to please ALL of his fans, there’s pop, dance, R&B, and country. Forgive us if we don’t flex our iTunes finger for this one. Ne-Yo, if you’re out there, you’re why we’re so sick we can’t turn on our radio. (NS) Track to Check: [Shrugs shoulders]
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UNWIND GAMES
GAMES
Sequels, re-makes and re-hashes. James Humphrys rounds up a month of new beginnings in the world of gaming... MONTHLY MUST PLAY
Darksiders 2 THQ PC, PS3, Xbox 360, OnLive We didn’t pay a lot of attention in our Religious Studies classes at school, so the whole Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse story kind of passed us by. It’s unfortunate, as it would’ve made it far easier for us to understand the back story for THQ’s sequel to their 2010 hit Darksiders, which places you in the sizeable studded boots of one of the four, Death, who’s out to prove that his brother (another of the horsemen), War, was part of a conspiracy which led to him being sent back to earth. Or something like that. Darksiders 2 does everything the first iteration of the series did well and then some; more epic boss battles, more hacking, more slashing, more vast landscapes to traverse and explore. More EVERYTHING. A must for action RPG fans everywhere. We know you’re out there. 76 / RWDMAG.COM
FOR ISIT V MOREAG.COM/ M D RW EVIEWS R
MUSIC Borderlands 2 2K Games PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Each and every issue we give you the latest music to download, buy and/ or avoid that month...
After winning the affections of gamers worldwide thanks to its quirky humour, striking celshaded graphics and absurd arsenal of weaponry, 2K Games’ RPG-FPS amalgamation Borderlands is back and apparently this time it’s going to make you ‘joy puke your face off’. Everything we loved about the first game returns, but this time it’s bigger and brasher than before.
“Ad libs for days”
Rick Ross God Forgives I Dont Def Jam
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD Activision Xbox Live Arcade It’s been a long 12 years since Tony Hawk and co. first graced our bulky grey PlayStation’s flip up disc drives. If you miss those days and fancy a bit of 90s boarding nostalgia without the subpar resolution, grainy textures and blocky edges, you’re in luck, because Activision have faithfully recreated a selection of levels from PS 1 and 2 in HD. Easily the best remake of a classic gaming franchise we’ve seen.
You know what, if you take away all the nonsense repetition this is actually a good album. Probably a great album if you’re actually a Rozay fan but hey you’re not writing this review, so as far as we’re concerned, it’s really good background music. Rick Ross King request pending... (NS) Track to Check: Sixteen Ft. Andre 3000
“Big, bad and heavy” Rinse 20: Uncle Dugs Compilation Rinse There’s something about carnival time and sunshine that makes you fall in love with jungle all over again, each year. 2012 is no different, although now you can pick up Uncle Dugs mix and enjoy it in the wintertime too. (NS) Track to Check: Origin Unknown - Valley Of The Shadows (Long Dark Remix
“Effortless” Plan B iLL Manors Atlantic Jumping from genre to genre, in front of the camera to the director’s chair, Plan B aka Mr Ben “save some jobs for the rest of us” Drew effortlessly delivers his succinct third album. Features from Kano and Labrinth are good, but they’re eclipsed on both the title track and the Track To Check. (DW) Track to Check: Deepest Shame
“Trap-a-thon” 2 Chainz Based On A T.R.U. Story Def Jam This album proves there’s more to 2 Chainz than a catchy verse. Anthem after anthem enhanced by Chainz’s trademark bounce and deadpan wit. Treading the line between devastatingly simple and understatedly complex with a feature list to drool over, this is one of the albums of the year T.R.U Story. [TS] Track to Check: Birthday Song
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LIVE KISS IN SHARM
SHARM x SAVOY + KISS = HAPPY RWD
We’re massive supporters of homegrown everything, and in the last issue we even repped Team GB! Well remember that when we say... KISS FM moving their weekenders from Great Yarmouth to Sharm El Shiekh was the best thing they have done, like EVER! That’s not just because we were invited along to witness the best KISS FM DJ’s do their thing in stunning and equally sweltering surroundings. Journeying with the Savoy Group (because that’s just how we roll), RWD were literally whisked away as soon as our Egypt Air plane touched down, breezing through 80 / RWDMAG.COM
customs VIP style and arriving at the 5* Sierra Hotel feeling like royalty. Swerve got the party into full swing on the first night at Pangea where the roof actually opens up so you can skank under the stars. Before his set, RWD somehow found time to back a quick vodka shot in the Ice Bar downstairs - yes we’re aware
an ice bar in the desert is cray. The next day the sun and probably a little too many mojitos got the best of RWD - we’re like eleven next month give us a break - but we were gutted when we heard reports of Shortee Blitz playing the best mix of hip hop out in the middle of the desert at the phenomenal Taj Mahal venue. Shame faced from the night before, we were willing to go all the way in for DJ EZ’s set at Space a quick drive from the Sierra and that we did as EZ blended old skool garage and funky vibes to perfection urging most people to jump in the indoor pool whilst other decided to create a pool or what they called a champagne shower popping off a least twenty corks at once. It was basically a big night which is why we
WE HEARD REPORTS OF SHORTEE BLITZ PLAYING THE BEST MIX OF HIP HOP OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT had to treat ourselves to a Thai massage the next day and catch a few jokes off Melvyn and Abs regular daytime parties. This time festivities had been taken from the beach to the pool as they urged wannabe Peter Andre’s to dance under the waterfall in one of the three hotel pools for a prize - we’re not quite sure what they won but it was jokes. Manny Norte ended things in a classic way with his KISSTORY set which he kind of gave up on after midnight and drew hits across the board at the Royal Savoy’s elaborately kitted out cave looking club, Caligula. If you’re heading to Egypt be sure to book with savoy-sharm.com. We urge you to join the party next time by keeping it locked to KISS FM and kissfmuk.com 81
BE KIND REWIND RWD
BE KIND REWIND RWD KEITH ‘CHEGGERS’ CHEGWIN
BE KIND RATING
Famous for appearances on the likes of Swap Shop, GMTV and The Big Breakfast, Keith Chegwin is the latest celeb to park himself in the Be Kind RWD hotseat in preparation for a throwback grilling. Wahey!
Keith, it’s been a while! Tell us what’s going on with you... I’ve got Dancing on Ice coming up in 2013. I did a show called Life’s Too Short last year and we’re doing a special one of those next year. On top of that, I’m playing Aladdin in Swindon at Christmas. I’m really busy! You sound it! Not surprising considering you’ve become a bit of a cult hero... [Laughs] I think it’s because I’ve been around for so long. There’s been cult shows that I’ve been part of that people remember me from. Maybe that helped! It must be nice being referred to as a ‘cult hero’... It is! One minute you’ve got an 85 year-old going ‘Hello Cheggers’, because that’s my nickname [Thanks, Keith] and then you’ve got a kid who’s 12 to 14, going, ‘I know you from somewhere!’ How did Dancing On Ice come about? I was meant to be in it last year, but during the pre-show tests I hit the ice like a splattered duck and cracked my shoulder in three places. After I’d been diagnosed, I found out I’d broken three 82 / RWDMAG.COM
ribs as well. But they’ve been kind enough to invite me back. Have you thought about routines yet? I haven’t, really. It’d be quite nice to do Titanic, skating to Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On from the movie and my partner’s Kate Winslet and I’m [pauses] what’s the other bloke called? Leonardo Di Caprio? Thank you very much. Yep, him. Will that be your winning performance? [Laughs loudly] Probably not! I’d love to win, but I can promise the nation I’ll put all of my effort into it! Your jokes keep popping up on our Twitter timeline... I love Twitter! I can’t get back to everyone so I decided to just put jokes up there. Which joke has got the best reaction? A JCB. That got a terrific response. And the worst? That’s difficult - there’s a heck of a lot of bad ones! Probably this one, ‘I called SeaWorld and they said they were recording my call for training porpoises’. Yeah, that’s not great. Is this Twitter
Phrase we had to get in, ‘Naked’: Fail. He brought up Naked Jungle himself. Quote we had to leave out: “I’m not saying I don’t enjoy I’m a Celeb... or BB, as a viewer, but they’re not my sort of thing.” What we’ve learned: Keith was in a band called ‘Kenny’ in 1974 that got to No.4 in the charts. Be Kind Rewind RWD Rating: Off the chart. You can’t be cruel to a British TV icon like Cheggers. Man’s a legend.
lark a pre-cursor to you doing standup? No way! I didn’t want to go around for a year with the same act. I like to vary what I do. Tell us about next year’s Life’s Too Short special... Myself, Les Dennis and Shaun Williamson are going to feature quite heavily in it. The script has had me in hysterics. I can’t wait to get started in February. You’re coming into the twilight of your career now, any regrets? I did a naked TV show, but I don’t regret doing it. I thought nobody would watch it. How wrong was I?! It still holds the highest viewing figures on Channel 5! And finally, how would you like to be remembered? Just for being a bit of a laugh. That would do me! If it says that on my grave, I’d be over the moon. For more follow @thekeithchegwin
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