#150 Summer Festival Guide
Ryan Mason
hate away
Q3/14
With Haters on the mind, we talked to J. Cole about changing the game, Elliphant about fighting through the b.s, Harry Kane about seizing his chance, Adam Lallana about making the biggest step of his life, Theo Walcott about entering the second phase of his career and Royal-T about what it takes to make it as a producer.
Jon Attenborough
eds letter / 6
we wanted to channel the kind of focus, energy and strength it takes Ryan Mason, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, James WardProwse, Patrick Roberts and Dan Crowley to get the better of their Haters, because if anybody knows then they do.
Eds Letter It was the mid-90s when a tracksuited Puff Daddy took the ‘player hater,’ exposed it, destroyed it and used it as motivation, and in the process made it part of the international lexicon. 20 years on and the Haters are just as strong as they ever were. Ready to strike in a Tweet, YouTube comment, cut of the eye or one of those late tackles and as easy as it sounds, brushing off the negativity that plagues us all in moments of triumph and defeat defines how hard we fight the next time around. Highlighting five of the most exciting young football players in the country,
Elsewhere in the mag we’ve got Usain Bolt talking London and training, Zak Abel is About To Blow, Bonkaz is One To Watch and the best of the year’s festivals are rated in our 2015 Festival Guide. Just before we went to print Skepta and Kanye West set the Internet alight with a couple of major on-stage appearances and you know we had to discuss that.
RWD Team Editor Feature Writer Staff Writer Online Music Editor Contributing Editor Contributors
@tegosigel @benkeablefaw @josephlwalker @grantbrydon @chantellefiddy Alex Johnson, Andres Albert, Hattie Collins, Julius Pepperwood
Creative Director Fashion Editor Stylist Illustrators
@profitxloss Kyran Low Neesha Sharma Art Jaz, Funny Tummy, Rachel Goslin, Matt Glasby, Sam Taylor Jon Attenborough, Andres Reynega, JPH, Pharaoh, Response London, Adrian Nettleship, Kevin Joseph, Sam Bond, Liam Ricketts, Verena StefanieGrotto
Photography
Video
Greg Bond, Felix Kemp, Darren Rahaman, K-Nite
Publisher Operations Thanks
Nigel Wells Martin Ferguson Bob Austin
@tegosigel
Contributors
Contact RWD
Felix Kemp
Joe Walker
Ben Fawcett
In a word, I’m... possible You’ll normally find me... down the Wetherspoons which I walk into like I own This issue... was a surprise to us both I’m all about... this life I’m so over... this line of questioning Get at me... car @kemp1988
In a word, I’m… Pengaleng You’ll normally find me… preeing tweets. This issue… I got to speak to some great artists. I’m all about… South London’s imminent domination I’m so over… Palace not winning every week Get at me… @JosephLWalker
In a word, I’m… Frengaleng You’ll normally find me… in your mum’s DMs This issue… I’m all about I’m all about… see? Told you. I’m so over… your judgement! Get at me… sooner rather than later @benkeablefaw
RWD 4th Floor 60-62 Commercial Street Greater London E1 6LT 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. 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.
Regulars 10-18 Check-In Check Out 20-21 One To Watch: Bonkaz, Ady Suleiman, PBGR 22-23 About To Blow: Zak Abel
Football 24-27 No Kane, No Gain: Harry Kane 28-29 The Evolution of Lallana: Adam Lallana 30-35 There Will Be Haters: Ryan Mason, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Patrick Roberts, James-Ward Prowse, Dan Crowley 36-37 Two Sides: Football Vs Society 38-41 Second Phase: Theo Walcott
Style 43-53 Just a Norm 55-59 Stripes
Features 60 - 63 64 - 67 68 - 73 74 - 77 78 - 81 82 - 83
Empire State of Mind: Usain Bolt Shutdown 2015 Festival Guide Walking With Elliphant Ruling The Realm: Royal T Changing The Game: J. Cole
Photography James Pearson-Howes
CONTENTS / 8
C O N TE N T S issue # 1 5 0
Check-in check out / 10
C heck - in check out What Women Want Supply & Demand move into female swag Check out…. Supply & Demand’s debut women’s collection for 2015. Following on from their fantastic success with the men’s collections, the JD Sports-exclusive brand have released their monochromatic female exclusive range, which features subtle floral nods. Get the new collection at jdsports.co.uk
Look At Wrist
Ink Up Play
Attitude Era
G-SHOCK release series of Gold x Black watches
adidas drop tattoo-inspired F50
Jerri-curl drip on a biopic
Check out… the latest incarnation of the all-new adidas F50 inspired by the creativity and self-expression of tattoo culture. The Tattoo Pack sees left and right boots given love and hate themes with a menacing skull motif offset with a rose design. The limited edition Tattoo Pack is available at adidas.co.uk
Check out… the trailer for the NWA biopic that Hollywood has been promising us for nearly 10 years. Straight Outta Compton should be the most accurate hip hop biopic of all-time with Dr Dre and Ice Cube serving as producers, but time will tell. Straight Outta Compton hits cinemas this summer
Check out… the new G-SHOCK series of Gold x Black watches for SS15. The four-piece collection includes rose gold and a more brassy option. The metallic design aims to enhance G-SHOCK’s reputation of toughness. Hit g-shock.co.uk to get yours
RWD Check-Ins
Marvel’s Daredevil on The Small-Screen Superheroes aren’t just for the big-screen anymore Check out… what we hope is the first palatable incarnation away from the comics of Marvel classic Daredevil. One of the most anticipated shows in Netflix history, the blind lawyer/crime fighter will aim to wipe Ben Affleck’s tragic 2003 version from our memories. Daredevil hits Netflix on 10 April
Existential Gaming Because games are too violent, right? Check out… the latest game from the makers of Unreal Tournament, the insane puzzle game Pneuma: Breath of Life. Taking gaming to a logical extreme – Pneuma makes its player a god, challenging our understanding of life, love and the universe. Pneuma is available on PC now
B. Traits’ mixtape launch
Radio 1’s B. Traits headlined the launch of her Red Bull Studios Mixtape, held at the studio in which it was recorded. The night also featured sets from each of the nine artists she commissioned for the project, providing a winning combination of good vibes and free vodka.
D’Angelo at Hammersmith Apollo
D’Angelo’s first show for 14 years gave a whole new context to the gig for those like us who got their tickets in the autumn. There were hits from all three of his LPs including a spinetingling rendition of Untitled to finish.
The Jump Man Keeps It Retro Nobody owns enough pairs of Js Check out… the 2015 Holiday collection of Jordan drops as the cult favourite trainer range goes retro and pays homage to the historic career of the man on the shoe. The new Air Jordan VIII, Air Jordan I, Air Jordan XIV Low and Air Jordan VII, are all likely to break Instagram this year. Keep an eye on @jumpman23
adidas Superstar Exhibition
The adidas Originals London store hosted a celebration and exhibition of the iconic Superstar. You famously can’t ask Stormzy where he gets his creps from, but having provided a mean set we know his hook-up goes straight to the top.
Check-in check out / 12 The Wiretap We’ve got dinner and tickets for Wireless 2015 to give away Check-in… to Finsbury Park in July for Wireless Festival. Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj are among the headliners, and we’ve got more info in our festival guide in this issue. We’ve teamed up with Wireless to give away a pair of weekend tickets and a dinner for two at barbecue restaurant HotBox, so be sure to enter for a chance to win. Details on the competition are at rwdmag.com/wireless2015
DOWNLOAD THE JD APP
Check-in check out / 14
Pump The Jam Starter release second wave of their Space Jam collaboration Check out… the new SS15 collection from Starter’s collaboration with classic 90s film Space Jam. Whether you’re with the Tune Squad or the ‘Monstar’ Nerdlucks, there are tees, tank tops, caps and hoodies that will tap into your nostalgia. Check out the full range at starterblacklabel.co.uk
Cole World J. Cole to go one fan a day in the UK Check-in… to young Jermaine’s European tour as the North Carolina born star brings his 2014 Forest Hills Drive tour to Glasgow (May 13), Manchester (14) Birmingham (15), Cardiff (16) and London (17), with support from Pusha T and Jhene Aiko no less. Tickets are going fast so hit livenation.co.uk ASAP
Smarten Up
Four The Hard Way
PRhyme Time
Two-twos it’s the fortwo and the forfour
Ben Grimm and the gang give it another go
Hip hop legends hit the UK
Check out…. the most recent update of the urban vehicular staple Smart Car. With both four-door and two-door options, the fortwo and forfour both focus on comfort and style, while maintaining the impressive £15k price-point. More info at uk.smart.com
Check out… the new look Fantastic Four. In typical Hollywood fashion, this is a re-imagining of the iconic story rather than a follow-up to the Jessica Alba series. The trailer did enough to pique our interest. Fantastic Four hits cinemas this summer
Check out… hip hop’s new deadly duo PRhyme as they hit the Islington Assembly Hall this spring. Legendary producer DJ Premier and underground king Royce Da 5’9” hooked up in 2014 and released one of the best albums of the year meaning tickets will fly out quick. If you’re lucky gigsandtours.com
Air Max Day Nike mark 28 years since the first Air Max release Check-in… to nike.com/airmax through which Nike will be celebrating all things Air Max this month. Turning 28 on 26 March, fans are being asked to honour the most iconic style and performance innovation in trainer history by wearing their favourite versions of the shoe, while places at an exclusive celebration event are up for grabs. Air Max has always been there for you, so you’re going to need to get your 1s, 90s, 95s and 97s fresh for your big homie’s birthday. Pay homage to the great Air Max at nike.com/airmax
Check-in check out / 16
Feel The Rhythm The new grime interview series from Elijah is a must-listen
Morphing Time Power Rangers gets a grown-up de-boot
Check out… Butterz co-founder Elijah’s recently launched Rhythm & Cash podcast, on which he speaks in depth with key figures from grime music. The first few episodes have seen Logan Sama, P Money and Lethal Bizzle among the special guests, with each offering insight they wouldn’t otherwise have the space to provide. Get to know. Follow @RhythmAndCash, or subscribe on iTunes
Check out… Texas director Joseph Khan’s awesome fan-made reimagining of classic 90s TV show Power Rangers. Set in a dystopian future with coarse language and a bad attitude, this image of the Power Rangers is something we would all love to see in full length on the big-screen. Check out the short film on rwdmag.com
Real Life CSI
Up The DUFF
Press Play
Get up close and personal with some real crime scenes
Who doesn’t love an American high school comedy?
New music series Play It to be aired on Channel AKA
Check-in… to Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime exhibition held at Welcome Collection in London. If you’re a fan of CSI and Law and Order, you’ll love this. The exhibition contains original evidence, photographic documentation and film footage. Get your lab work done at welcomecollection.org/forensics
Check-in… to your local cinema to watch the film being described as something like Mean Girls meets Superbad. The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) has stepped into that most cherished of Hollywood niches, satisfying the always-potent demand for teen comedy drama. DUFF hits cinemas on 6 April
Check out… Julie Adenuga’s music show Play It. Launched as a web series last year, with freestyles from the likes of Stormzy and P Money, the show’s new episodes will be broadcast on Channel AKA before appearing online later. Watch at julieadenuga.com
The City Is Mine
The legend of Peter Rosenberg has grown year-on-year since he first grabbed international attention by breaking a slew of rappers on his underground radio show on iconic New York station Hot 97 beginning way back in 2007. Now one of the most controversial voices in the genre, the Maryland born entrepreneur made his first trip to London last month to tell us just what it is about Rosenberg.
Keep It Casual Two big brands come together for Scotts exclusive collab Check out… the exclusive track top collaboration between Fila and One True Saxon at Scotts. The legendary Italian brand’s Matchday range gets new burgundy and navy marl colourways with the One True Saxon dog brand on the chest. This will look hard on the terraces. Get them exclusively at scottsmenswear.com
You seem to be equal parts loved and hated in New York, is that something you’ve had to come to terms with? Oh I get it! It’s because I’m not from New York, and guess what? I’ve now been on the radio in New York for eight years! Eight years I’ve been the guy and if I was from New York I would hate me too. I would have been like, ‘Who is this guy who showed up with this underground show?” Do you think you get the credit you deserve for pioneering the hip hop podcast game? I’m big on taking credit for sh*t, because if you don’t take your credit then someone else will and they’ll run away with it. So I invented, along with Cipha Sounds, this historical hip hop podcast, and there’s not a soul out there who can claim someone else did it first.
Get Grimy
Start a Fire
Grime takes over Fabric
PUMA’s new Ignite running shoe is a game changer
Check-in… to London superclub Fabric on 10 April as Butterz host the main room with the likes of D Double E and Joker as guests. Meanwhile in room two, Mumdance launches his new Fabriclive mix with a DJ set accompanied by Novelist and Riko Dan. Tickets at fabriclondon.com
Check out… the PUMA Ignite, a running shoe nine years in the making. Designed to maximize energy while optimising comfort, we were at its launch in NYC with sprinting superstar Usain Bolt, but more on that later. Go to jdsports.co.uk to Ignite your running performance
It feels as if your contemporaries are very respectful of you though… Look. Elliott Wilson is great at doing his live interviews and Combat Jack gets great guests, he’s super smart and he gets hip hop, he’s a knowledgeable guy, but there’s a reason I’m a professional broadcaster and they’re guys who are just first doing it now in their mid-40s. Do I think I’m on a different level? Absolutely. I love you Combat Jack, but you’ll never stand next to me as a broadcaster. Follow Peter Rosenberg at @Rosenbergradio
Check-in check out / 18
Untouchable Totti
3DSXL 2.0
Take Flight
Nike honour the great Totti
Devon, get the tables!
Check out… Nike’s homage to one of the best to ever play the game and one of the coolest to ever touch turf. Roma legend Francesco Totti has been immortalised with a black and metal version of the iconic Tiempo Legend V. There are only 3,000 pairs, so get to nike.com now
Check out… the latest update of Nintendo’s dominant DS. Taking the pinnacle device in mobile gaming, the 3DSXL, Nintendo have added face tracking 3D, which is cool, but the re-boot of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is what’s got us hooked. The New Nintendo 3DSXL and Majora’s Mask are out now
Alpha Industries’ classic NASA jacket gets the BBC treatment Check out… Billionaire Boys Club’s reworking of the Alpha Industries NASA MA-1 flight jacket. Customisations on the black piece include starred print on the left sleeve and a BBC space mission patch on the chest. Sick. Orbit bbcicecream.eu for more
Join The Academy RBMA are touring the UK with star-studded events
The Game Is The Game You can all stop holding your breath now Check out… the newest series of the most popular show on the planet, Game Of Thrones. Overthrowing the pretenders to its crown, GoT is officially the most talked about TV drama since The Wire and its assault on your Twitter timeline has only just begun. Game Of Thrones returns to Sky Atlantic on 13 April
Check in… to the Red Bull Music Academy UK tour, which visits Glasgow, Bristol, London and Manchester across March and April. There’s everything from lectures and workshops to club nights and live shows, with Culture Clash kings Rebel Sound and Boy Better Know among those involved. Tickets and more info at uktour.redbullmusicacademy. com
ONE TO WATCH / 20
o n e t o watch
Bonkaz As the birthplace of dubstep, Croydon already has a sizeable legacy when it comes to modern music, but the hotbed of rap talent in the area means there is more history to be made. We’ve seen recent awards for the likes of Krept and Stormzy, who have amassed considerable followings on the way to what are hopefully long and successful careers. Next up from the borough is Bonkaz, a 22 year-old whose #NewGeneration movement has the potential to lead the way this year as fellow Croydon-ite Joe Walker discovers. “It’s an open invitation for creatives that are willing to do things their own way,” he says. “You’ve just got to be sure of your own talent enough to not have to latch on to anybody else.” As well as linking minds from fields that go hand-in-hand in the current age, such as photography and videography, there was a successful #NewGenLive show in February for supporters to experience and enjoy the movement’s music with the respect some showcase audiences don’t necessarily give, “I don’t feel like we need to be introduced,” Bonkaz says. “I don’t feel like artists should be coming on the stage apologetic for what they’re about to do, like ‘oh, I’m just going to do a couple of songs for you…if you don’t mind!’ That’s why we needed to do that, to show a proper representation of what we’re doing.”
“You’ve just got to be sure of your own talent enough to not have to latch on to anybody else.” Bonkaz certainly has nothing to be sorry for. The steady build-up of support since his 2013 debut mixtape Quality Control reached new levels with December’s incredible N.B.A. (No Boys Allowed), a free collaborative EP with singer and #NewGeneration affiliate Renz. The first song of 2015 is his new single Run The Block, produced by The Heavytrackerz (German Whip, Not That Deep) and a stark contrast to the girl tunes of N.B.A. The next Bonkaz project – Forgive Me When I’m Famous, a three-parter - is unlikely to stick to the same theme as Run The Block (“I haven’t got that much frustration in me right now!”) as he continues to take on his new moods and experiences in his music. “As time progresses, there will definitely be more styles to come,” he says. “I listen to a lot of indie music and I’m just waiting for the right producers to come and bring that vibe.” Looking ahead, Bonkaz is keen to do more music video directing (he’s had a hand in a number of his own videos) and has a forthcoming acting role that he is very excited about. Until then, though, it’s his music that has us impatient for more, “I find it hard not to speak so much because I’m so confident in the direction that I’m heading,” he exclaims. Wherever his journey goes, it will surely help put Croydon back on the map. Follow @OfficialBonkaz
Ady Suleiman Set to release his debut EP, 22 year-old Ady Suleiman is already attracting the attention of Joey Bada$$ and Labrinth with his crisp, soulful sound. The Nottingham born singer-songwriter has found himself supporting Laura Mvula and Lianne La Havas on tour, while honing his live pedigree at Glastonbury, Bestival, Leeds and Reading festivals. Working with producers SMV, his State of Mind EP is released in May and looks likely to set him up for a huge summer. @adysuleiman
PBGR East London rappers Baba Crunch and Swarve Sutton together make PBGR – Play Broke, Get Rich – a group whose debut project The Black Market came as a pleasant surprise last year. Tracks like Gas Pedal and MindURStep demonstrated mic skills, production and visuals that were outstandingly polished for a new unsigned act. The free album set a high standard for the duo’s next music, and based on the guest features we can expect a similar quality of output from their extended Play Broke Nation family when their time comes, so keep an eye out for these guys. @PBGRMusic
About About To To BLOW BLOW / 22
A bout T o B low
ZA K A B E L
North London teenager Zak Abel has a voice to match the greatest singers of the classic soul era, and with Bill Withers cited as an influence you’d be forgiven for expecting his music to follow their aesthetic. Zak has however shown with his early collaborations that he very much belongs in the now. Joe Walker, wonders whether that was a conscious decision… “If you look at the likes of Marvin Gaye, Al Greene and Bobby Womack, they did possibly the best versions of soul music with that kind of production,” says Zak. “You’re not gonna beat them, so I just think why not do something that they couldn’t do?” In the 19 year-old’s case, that meant lending his vocals to dance producers Wookie and Gorgon City, with whom he reached the UK Top 20 last year before clicking with a certain Bristol legend.
“If you look at the likes of Marvin Gaye, Al Greene and Bobby Womack, they did possibly the best versions of soul music with that kind of production” Joker is perhaps most famous for his ‘purple’ brand of dubstep, but following an enjoyable session together Zak soon realised their potential as a duo. “I wasn’t sure how the two would go – my vocal and that kind of harsh, in your face sound – but after we did Wise Enough that’s when I thought this could be a cool avenue to go down.” Joker went on to produce Zak’s entire debut EP, the appropriately titled Joker Presents…Zak Abel, which we’ve had on replay since its February release. “I’m happy I made that decision, to work with someone that works for me,” he says. “I’ve been very grateful for the response, people are enjoying it and that’s all you can really ask for.” Having mostly been in the studio since signing with Atlantic Records at 17, when he’d only ever written three full songs, Zak was delighted to be able to tour recently - as Bondax’s live vocalist, “It definitely opened my mind to music in general,” he explains. “When you’re just writing for a year and a half that’s only one aspect of it, but when you’re gigging as well…that’s why you’re writing. It was the best thing you can ever experience.” As he continues to hone his skills as a performer and songwriter, we can only see great things ahead for Zak, who already has his sights on evolution, “I constantly want to challenge myself in terms of going deeper and being more honest,” he says. What’s his advice for other artists? “I think if you spend at least two hours a week nurturing your creative side, you’ll be alright. Whether that’s reading a book, having sex, going out…it’s all good!” The combination of food for the mind and Zak for the soul is certainly something we can get behind. Joker Presents…Zak Abel is out now @ZakAbel
Harry Kane / 24
N o K ane , No Gain The last time we featured Harry Kane in RWD the Tottenham Hotspur striker was in the process of forcing his way into the North London side’s first team and had just netted a hat trick for England’s under-21 side in a game against San Marino. Almost a year to the day since our last meeting, we caught-up with the Chingford born star amid an absolutely unstoppable run of form which has seen him forced into the senior international picture as the Premier League’s top scoring Englishman. Speaking just days before his match-winning performance against bitter rivals Arsenal at White Hart Lane, Kane - or is it Hurrikane? – talked to Tego Sigel about motivation, Christian Eriksen, taking chances and of course Justin Bieber. First thing’s first, a lot has changed since the last time we spoke and you are in the middle of an incredible breakout season, what do you think has triggered this run? I think just getting the chance. I got an opportunity under Tim Sherwood at the back end of last season in the Premier League and I managed to score a few goals, which helped with my confidence. Then it was the pre-season under the new manager who plays a more physical game, he got me fit and strong. I think that’s definitely helped me this season and you can see it in the way I’ve been playing. Every time I step out on the pitch is an opportunity. I’ve enjoyed playing this season.
“[Christian Eriksen is] only a year older than myself so we have the same sort of interests and we’ve both been scoring when it matters recently and yeah, we’re enjoying our football and hopefully it continues.”
You mentioned that you worked on the physical side of your game this summer, how important has that been for you? I think naturally you just get more physical as you get older. I’m 21 now and I think that’s a big part and a lot of work in the gym as well during this pre-season, trying to find ways of getting faster and getting stronger and better. That’s definitely helped me so far this season.
confidence, which I did, and I knew that if I kept playing well and working hard then I would get my chance in the Premier League. It’s started well, but there’s still a long way to go and hopefully I’ve got a long future ahead where I can get better and better.
You made your chance as much as you seized it when it came around, so how did your fight for a place in the first team motivate you? I just had to keep doing what I was doing. I got some chances in the Europa League, which was a great opportunity to just go out and score my goals and gain some
One of things you mentioned last time we spoke was how you were using Andros Townsend’s rise as inspiration for your own path into the first team – would you say you’re consciously trying to set a similar example for younger players at the club? Yeah, I think so. I think when you take your chances as a young player it’s a good example to other young players coming through. It’s been a good season so far for
Harry Kane / 26
me and hopefully I can continue it. Younger players will be trying to emulate what myself, Ryan Mason and Andros have all done this season. You highlighted Nabil Bentaleb as a young Spurs player to keep an eye out for last time we spoke and you weren’t wrong. Who do you think we should we be watching out for in the youth ranks at the moment? I think there’s a couple. Harry Winks is a very good player. Josh Onomah too. They both made their debuts this season, so hopefully they can push on from there and come good. You saw Bentaleb’s rise coming, but has it surprised you at all just how far he’s come? No, like I said to you guys last time he is a very solid player and it was only a matter of time before he did well. It’s great to see him doing well and helping the team. You seem to be forming a great partnership with Christian Eriksen this season, what can you tell us about your relationship with him? He’s a great player and a great lad to be around. He’s only a year older than myself so we have the same sort of interests. We’ve both been scoring when it matters recently and we’re enjoying our football and hopefully it continues. So much of your game is based on instinct, but I see a lot of efficiency and physicality in your game, how much that game would you say comes from training and straight from coaches and mentors who are helping you to develop? I get to train with some of the best strikers and best finishers there have been. Jermain Defoe is one of the best finishers I’ve ever seen and to train with players like that day-in and day-out, learning things like how to get that extra half a yard to get the finish, it can only help you as a young lad coming through. You’re in a position where a lot of young strikers will be watching you, were there any particular strikers that you watched and tried to learn from when you were younger? Teddy Sherringham and Robbie Keane were top players for Tottenham who scored great goals and were great players and I kind of model myself on them. They were role models of mine. We caused something of an Internet storm last time we spoke because you declared an undying affinity to the music of Justin Bieiber, is that something you stand by? He’s still on the iPod, I listen to him now and then although I’ve been listening to Ed Sheeran and I like his music, but there’s nobody else really new that has interested me, so yeah, I’m still a fan. I usually just listen to the radio to be honest, but maybe after a game if I score a couple goals I’ll pop it on. Harry Kane was speaking in London as he tested the Nike Revolution Jacket, which is available now at jdsports.co.uk
“[Mauricio Pochettino] got me fit and strong. I think that’s definitely helped me this season and you can see it in the way I’ve been playing.”
FOR 14 // 28 28 Adam 14 Lallana
THE EVOLUTION OF
L A L L ANA Following his transfer from Southampton, a club at which he spent 12 years of his career, Adam Lallana has found his stride as a star at one of the world’s biggest teams. Fresh from his first World Cup experience, the 26 year-old faced a new set of challenges including his first appearances in the Champions League and jostling for positions at the very top of the Premier League with Liverpool. Sporting the new PUMA evolution apparel collection available exclusively at JD, the Hertfordshire born midfielder spoke to Ben Fawcett about his connections with his former club Southampton, the England set-up, the competition at Anfield, the importance of comfort and rehabilitation after a game and more.
ENGLAND There seems to be a real element of youthfulness in the England squad now. There are a few players from Liverpool and now a few at Southampton, it’s always good for you to know each other’s game, and it certainly puts us in a good position on the international stage. When you’re part of a newly promoted team, which Southampton were, and you get that call, it can be quite daunting playing alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard, but it’s made easier when you’re playing with people you train with week-in and week-out. The lads do always make an effort in helping you settle in any way when you get your call-up and that’s something I’ll carry with me as more young players come through - making sure people feel welcome in the squad. LIVERPOOL We’ve got a tremendous squad and a lot of competition for places and there’s always going to be injuries, so it’s an honour to be playing with such fantastic players and competing for that role. I’m really enjoying it. We’ve enjoyed a good run of form and we’re very confident. To take that into the tail end of the season will be vital, we didn’t have that at the beginning of the season but the competition within the squad is certainly helping with that league form. MARIO BALOTELLI Mario is one of those players who, for one reason or another is spoken about a lot. Even though he may not have shown it, he is over the moon to have gotten the goal [against Spurs]. It would be huge if Mario
“Even though he [Mario] may not have shown it, he is over the moon to have gotten the goal.” works hard, plays well and continues scoring goals. The talent is there obviously, he’s a proven goal-scorer so we knew it was just a matter of time before he got his first goal and hopefully this can be a good launching point for both him and the team. SOUTHAMPTON They have shown a great level of consistency, which is difficult to achieve for any team in the Premier League. If you’re that consistent you are going to finish in the top four and/or challenge for the title, we must give massive credit to them; the management, the recruitment, and the lads who managed to stay and show their fantastic mentality and their urge to prove people wrong. I stay in touch with a lot of their players and I’m delighted that they’re doing so well. EVOLUTION APPAREL The day after the game or training when you need to feel comfortable, you don’t want to put that pair of tight jeans on, so you pop on the PUMA tracksuit and it’s beyond ideal, especially a day after a game when your legs are a bit stiff and you just need that invaluable comfort when getting around and getting in and out of the car. Adam Lallana is wearing the new PUMA evolution apparel range exclusive to JD Sports and jdsports.co.uk
“I’m learning stuff about my body. I think the last two seasons I played over 70% of games, so that was big for me to make sure that I can do that”
There Will Be Haters / 30
T here W ill B e
H a ter s The things that separate the good from the great, the success stories from the also-rans are often very obvious. Talent will carry you a lot of the way, hard work will make that talent count and then applying the talent and hard work whenever you’re given the opportunity will force the agenda. One of the things that really marks a winner though, is just how well they cope with the Haters. For every win, there’s a loss and for every up, there’s a down. Your success might be somebody else’s failure, which means negativity is never more than a win away - so speaking to five of England’s most exciting young football stars, we wanted to understand exactly how they use the ‘Hate’ as motivation, how they avoid negativity and what they use to drive them in their earliest stages in the game. Concept Dacre Bracey Photography James Pearson-Howes / Jon Attenborough Styling Kyran Low Grooming Jodie Hyams
R ube n L o ftu s - C heek Age: 19 Club: Chelsea Position: Midfield Boots: Predator Instinct On pre-match preparations… I just try and have fun really, I don’t think about much other than the game. I just stay focused on the game and what I need to do; I think it’s important to stay relaxed. I’m not very superstitious. On frustrating the opposition… I move the ball quickly and that could get in their heads a bit, but also when I run with the ball and there’s a big space to run into, I think I’m hard to stop. I think it’s a good sign if you’re getting fouled and people are tugging your shirt, that’s a sign you’re doing well and they want to stop you. I take it as a compliment. On developing as a player… I don’t think there are many midfielders that have my kind of game and the way I play, so I just watch loads of different footballers because I like all aspects of the game. I’ve been in academies since I was really young and just progressed through the ranks. When people say you can’t, you always want to prove them wrong. That’s when you have to stay positive, in those situations - you’re at a big club with good players in front of you, you’ve just got to work hard in training and try to impress. Stay focused, keep positive and remember hard work is the biggest thing, Make sure you try and learn in training, not just go through the motions, and develop each day. I think you’ve got to take the negativity on board and keep it there, but after that you’ve just got to move on, keep trying to be positive and try and learn from it. I think it’s very important to think positive throughout.
“I think it’s a good sign if you’re getting fouled and people are tugging your shirt, that’s a sign you’re doing well and they want to stop you. I take it as a compliment.”
There Will Be Haters / 32
Ryan Mason Age: 23 Club: Tottenham Hotspur Position: Midfielder Boots: Predator Instinct On overcoming adversity… Having close knit friends and good family behind me helped me stay positive and kept me believing in myself. There are always gonna be haters, wherever you go and in any walk of life – you’ve just got to learn to ignore that and use it as a motivation to drive yourself forward on the pitch. Believe in yourself and enjoy what you do - there’s nothing worse than being depressed and unhappy on a football pitch, it’s the best place to be. On the evolution of his game… It’s changed massively but I’m enjoying the change. As a youngster I used to play in a completely different position, where part of my game was scoring goals and that’s what I went out on the pitch to do. Now, it’s being in the positions that help the defence out, breaking up the play and starting attacks for our attacking players to do their business at the other end of the pitch. You thrive on getting
“The derby at White Hart Lane was the best atmosphere I’ve played in by some distance. It was fantastic; one of those games where you feel like you could run all day.” the better of your opponent on the football pitch, there’s no better feeling. On his North London derby experiences… My Premier League debut against Arsenal, the manager put me in and it showed a lot of faith. It was massive. For a Tottenham player that’s one of our biggest games of the season and the fact the manager put me in was a great feeling. The derby at White Hart Lane was the best atmosphere I’ve played in by some distance. It was fantastic; one of those games where you feel like you could run all day, the adrenaline that’s going through your body. It’s just amazing and the crowd were fantastic, they drove us on and to win the way we did late on was brilliant.
D a n C r o wle y Age: 17 Club: Arsenal Position: Attacking Midfield Boots: F50 On dealing with the haters… When I was younger I didn’t respond in the best way. Say they were trying to kick me, I would let them get in my head, but now I’ve grown up I’ve started just ignoring them. On the moment you knew you would make it… I don’t know if it was really a moment it was just that you play football and you’re better than everybody else, scoring more goals. It’s more natural, you just enjoy your football and you start to get scouted and start winning games. On responding to those late challenges and niggling fouls… If they keep fouling me it means I’m getting to them, but it’s easier said than done to remain calm on the pitch. When things aren’t going well and you’re not performing or maybe you keep getting fouled, you just need to stay focused. I just think about how I’m going to affect the game in a positive way.
“You just need to stay focused. I just think about how I’m going to affect the game in a positive way.”
There Will Be Haters / 34
P a trick R o bert s Age: 18 Club: Fulham Position: Right Winger Boots: F50 On pre-match music… I’ve always been motivated by 2Pac Changes. I put my headphones in, stay focused, put my head to the ground and just concentrate on what I need to do and block everyone out. On dealing with the haters… You always get people that hate on you, you just try and do even better, try and prove that you’re better. I get that a lot so you just get up, go again, do it again, and make them do it again harder. I love to wind up the players, go at them, take them on, let them try and foul you. On your favourite players… I’ve watched a lot of Steven Gerrard for his leadership. Lionel Messi has been my idol all the way through my life, and he wears the same boots as me so that’s a plus! I think his intelligence of the game is unbelievable, and with his skill I think it makes him the best player in the world.
“You always get people that hate on you, you just try and do even better, try and prove that you’re better.”
J a me s W a rd - P r o w s e Age: 20 Club: Southampton Position: Central Midfield Boots: Predator Instinct On dealing with the haters… I block out any negativity by just thinking about myself and being positive on my own. Spending time with my family [is how I stay focused], I think that’s a really good way of keeping myself centered and my feet on the ground. On the moment you knew you would make it… I think my set pieces do that. I think that’s a good way to get into the opposition’s head. I respond by just keeping doing what I’m doing. I think it gives me a lot of confidence and obviously the more confidence I’ve got the more I can impact the opposition. The best advice that I was ever given was that you only get out what you put into it in this game, so I always put 100% in to make sure I get the right results. On learning from his idols... The players I grew up looking up to were probably
“The best advice that I was ever given was that you only get out what you put into it in this game so I always put 100% in to make sure I get the right results.” Steven Gerrard and David Beckham, I think they were the big players I wanted to be. They’re the type of players I try and be like today. If you look at their careers, they worked hard and used [the Haters] people to bounce back and show positive results. The adidas F50 and adidas Predator Instinct are both available now at JD Sports and jdsports.co.uk #ThereWillBeHaters
TWO SIDES / 36
TWO SIDES:
F OO T B A L L V S SO C I E T Y The issue of prejudice plagues society on every level, but when it rears its ugly head in football, it becomes a national issue, so with the recent event in Paris in mind, Ben Fawcett and Joe Walker consider how much responsibility the game should take.
“I am proud to call myself a football fan, with the game having influenced so much social change in my lifetime”
of prejudice to come out of the game appeared when a group of Chelsea fans were reportedly filmed in the process of refusing a black Parisian access to a train in his own city, an incident that can easily be passed off as isolated, which would be nice to believe, but hard to guarantee.
Developments and innovations in and around football keep it at the forefront of global sport, from the technical playing of the game to the way its marketed and promoted, but perhaps most importantly, the role it plays in society. Football has seen all nationalities embraced for what they can do with the ball, smashing the boundaries that restrict people in all other fields of business. For that reason, incidents involving racism, sexism and prejudices of any kind so quickly throw the game we love into disrepute, which is why football has such a unique position in British society and one it should relish.
As a sport and as a community we have come a long way on matters of integration, tolerance and prejudice, but there’s a long way to go. I am proud to call myself a football fan, with the game having influenced so much social change in my lifetime, but that means that every time prejudice rears its ugly head, I want to see a reaction equal to the disgusting crimes being committed. It’s all too easy to isolate the few who are caught and punished, pretending that there aren’t still dangerous elements within our game, after all, what did those fans on that train do that John Terry and Luis Suarez weren’t found guilty of doing before them?
I believe the English game stands above all others for the acceptance, diversity and cultural symmetry that we see up and down the professional divisions, however we are far from perfect. The most recent and disturbing rumblings
If we are to finally kick racism, sexism and every other ism out of football then clubs must be prepared to bare the brunt for the behaviour of their fans and players. @benkeablefaw
Dani Alves Dani Alves is a perfect example of a man treating racism in football as what it is, an unfunny joke. In April of 2014 whilst playing against Villarreal, a banana was hurled at the Brazilian as he prepared to take a corner. He picked it up, peeled it, took a bite and made those fans the joke, not him.
Kevin-Prince Boateng Kevin-Prince Boateng is famous for leading his side off the field during a friendly in 2013 after receiving racial abuse from opposing fans. The first player to ever abandon a game, the German-born Ghanaian set a precedent we should all follow to this day.
When considering ways that football can take serious action on racism, it makes sense to look at what seemed so effective in the late 1980s. Before then, racism towards players from the stands wasn’t uncommon, as one of many deplorable elements of the English match day experience during the hooligan era.
“It’s no coincidence that some of the worst violence and racist incidents we’ve seen from English fans in recent history have been abroad”
Attempts to deter, such as the ban of English clubs from Europe, didn’t do a great deal. It was only after the Hillsborough disaster, and subsequent Taylor Report, that football began to change. Allseater stadiums were implemented as mandatory in England’s top two tiers, and so clubs not only had to make up the cost of installing seats, but also ease the financial hit coming their way from the considerably reduced ground capacities. Ticket prices shot up, and almost immediately the ‘glory days’ of hooliganism came to an end.
ago. This could be attributed to better education or perhaps increased cultural diversity, but football is an unlikely factor.
Their increasing invisibility is as much about the progress of society as a whole since then, which closer reflects the inside of football grounds now. Just as the 1970s television series Love Thy Neighbour would not be commissioned today, any racist abuse in a public place would certainly draw more outrage now than it would have 30 years
There’s no easy answer to dealing with racism, at least in the sense of preventing it further. The ignorance and inhumanity of people is a problem society faces on a regular basis in all walks of life, so to hold football up especially as an enabler of such abhorrence is conveniently deflective. @JosephLWalker
There’s only so much football as a collective body can do. It’s no coincidence that some of the worst violence and racist incidents we’ve seen from English fans in recent history have been abroad – clubs try to track banned supporters with the help of police intelligence, but how do you stop Chelsea fans entering France?
Luis Suarez
John Terry
After a 2011 match between Liverpool and Manchester United, Patrice Evra accused Luis Suarez of having taunted him with racial abuse. Both clubs backed their players’ stories but it was Liverpool who were left with red faces when Suarez was banned for eight matches. They clashed when they met again, with Suarez refusing to shake Evra’s hand.
In 2012, Chelsea skipper John Terry was caught on video allegedly shouting racist language to then-QPR defender Anton Ferdinand. Stripped of the England captaincy, Terry could not be proved to have racially abused Ferdinand (who he is yet to apologise to) in a court of law, but was given a fourmatch ban by the FA for his choice of language.
Theo Walcott / 38
S E C ON D PHASE Speed and lethal instinct have always been crucial parts of Theo Walcott’s game and since joining Arsenal in 2006 the forward has accelerated through the early stages of his career, playing on the biggest stages, scoring incredible goals and striking fear into the hearts of defenders the world over. Now moving into a whole new phase, Theo will will be rocking a brand new look having joined the Three-Stripe army, making the Kanye-switch to adidas, with whom the lightning fast attacker will wear the perfectly suited F50 adizero boot. Tego Sigel caught-up with the England man at his first photoshoot with the brand to talk about making the switch, moving on from injury, team spirit at The Emirates and more…
Because we’ve been aware of you from a very young age, it feels as if your career has moved in chapters, do you feel like you’re starting a new one now? Yeah. When you reach 25 the potential comes out even more and this new beginning is going to be great for me. I believe I’ve worked so hard to come back from this injury and I’m a better player for that. This is when I need to be pushing on and with these Three Stripes, it’s going to help me along the way. It’s a new chapter in my story so far and I’m loving every minute, it’s been exciting and I love a new challenge. How big of a test did you find that period of your career? It tests you mentally, because physically I was always going to be there, so that’s the side of it that’s never really hit me before, but that’s why you have a lot of people around you to support you and help you through that process. I’ve had some great achievements in my career and that’s what I look at, that’s where I wanted to be again. When you miss football for so long you just think about all of the good times and I’m back with that, which I’m very pleased about. What did you learn about yourself having to be away from the game through injury for the first time in your career? You miss something you enjoy doing every day, but the great thing is I had all of my teammates who were fantastic to me, there were so many messages from
“It’s a new chapter in my story so far and I’m loving every minute at the moment, it’s exciting and I love a new challenge.”
Theo Walcott / 40
the fans, it meant a lot and without that I might not be here right now. Things like that always help you along the line, but you’ve got to look at yourself as well, how you deal with it. I didn’t think about how long it was going to be, I just always thought I wanted to hit a target every week and when I hit those I would try and hit the next one. The arrival of my son [helped] as well and to be honest it took no time to get back to fitness. I’m happy and enjoying scoring goals again.
“I know the people to listen to. My family, the people close to me, coaches, my teammates – they’re the most important people in my career, I tend not to listen to anybody else.”
How do you stay focused on your game when perhaps there are negative forces trying to knock you off your stride? I know the people to listen to. My family, the people close to me, coaches, my teammates – they’re the most important people in my career, I tend not to listen to anybody else. I just want to be committed to them, because if we’re a whole unit then we’re going to push on and we’re going to win things. We need to make sure we keep things within the group and we can’t let anyone else affect our team. Everyone is very tight in the dressing room and we don’t let people get us down.
you together as well and I think that’s something special about the club at the moment.
There’s a strong British core at Arsenal, but you’ve had a few massive signings from abroad recently, how are they settling into the dressing room? The new signings have settled in very well. It’s always going to be difficult when you come from a different culture and that is difficult for some players, a lot of them take time to adapt, but these guys seem to have adapted so easily, especially Alexis Sanchez who has shone this season, and Mesut Ozil just getting back and scoring three goals in four games is very special. He’s worked hard as well to come back from his injury. We all get on, it’s a big family in that dressing room, and we have good banter together. In training, everybody wants to win, no one wants to be on the losing team and Alexis always wants to train, even after games. It’s always a buzz; we always want the ball at our feet. At the end of training there’s always a fake team photo for the winning team, which annoys the others, so it just gets that bit more out of you and it brings
You seem to use the energy you get from away fans in a positive way… Yeah, fans like a little bit of banter. I think it’s important for them to get on your back at times and the great thing is that football brings people together and you can show what you can do and silence them, and that’s the best way. What do you think has been your biggest moment at The Emirates? There have been a lot. I’ve had some great nights in the Champions League, scoring an equalising goal against Barcelona, but I quite like the Newcastle [7-3] game in particular. Scoring my hat trick and the manner in which I scored the third goal especially. We already had six I think, it was the 90th minute, I managed to get up, the referee played advantage for a penalty, then doing a cheeky chip over the goalkeeper for the hat trick. That was a special night for me. Theo Walcott’s all-new adidas F50 adizero boots are available now from jdsports.co.uk #ThereWillBeHaters
STYLE
Photography James Pearson-Howes Asst Photography Olin Brannigan Stylist Kyran Low Grooming Bobana Parojcic using MAC Cosmetics Hair Sofia Sjoo using Kiehl’s Models Jordan, Max at Models 1
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Usain Bolt / 60
E mpire S tate of M ind The fastest human being to ever grace the earth, most athletes would find themselves totally defined by their victories and defeats and while Usain Bolt’s six Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship first place finishes tell a peerless story of ultimate achievement, there’s something about the Jamaican sprinter that suggests he’d be a superstar whatever he chose to do. Speaking to Tego Sigel as he unveiled the innovative new PUMA Ignite running trainer in Times Square, New York, 28 yearold Bolt explained his distain for training, chasing success in other disciplines, his love for London and more.
You’ve had some memorable runs in London, but what do you think of the city as a whole? I’m always in London, that’s where we’re based every summer, so I know I’ve got a great fanbase there. I can’t go out in the city and not get mobbed and that’s always crazy [laughs]. I don’t get to shop in London anymore, but it’s always been wonderful. The summers are better there now, which is good. [The Jamaican culture in London] is always wonderful! Especially the food! If we don’t feel like cooking then I know I can always get Jamaican food somewhere around the place, so for me that’s always a good thing and you can always find a Jamaican party somewhere, or just somewhere to chill out. What was training like when you first started running? Surprisingly I didn’t train much when I first started [laughs]. Growing up I was just really talented, so I didn’t train as much as people think I would. I was not big on training when I was growing up. When you ran in Osaka, was that when you realised the potential of what you had? I think that was the area. 2007 was the year when it dawned on me that I could be great. I’m very competitive, as you know; I remember I was in a race and thought ‘I probably could win this.’ I came out and I ran so hard and I still got beaten and I remember I went to my coach and I said, ‘We need to do something.’ He said, ‘You
need to actually go to the weights room!’ [laughs] Because I used to hate going to the weights room to workout, he said, ‘The problem is you came off the corner, you have the speed, but there was no power there.’ That’s when I really started working. Why did you pick running over cricket and football? I was a big fan of cricket. I loved it. I love it. But when I got to high school I couldn’t do both, so it was either cricket or track and field and my dad told me, ‘Listen, do track and field because it’s an individual sport and there’s no politics involved. As long as you run fast, you’ll be okay.’ How often did you train in high school? I used to threaten to go to training [laughs]. The first year I didn’t train that much. I used to just leave because it was harder. When I first started it was just fun, I was running and I was winning, so I just did it. When I got to high school they wanted me to train every day and I wasn’t used to stuff like that, so I didn’t go for the first year that much. The second year I went more, three or four times a week maybe. When you triple-doubled in London you declared yourself a legend, what would it mean if you triple-tripled in Rio? [Laughs] It would just be adding to my accolades really. That’s the key thing. You only can keep making yourself greater by adding great moments. I think when you
“For me, before I knew [my rivals were doping] I was always competing, so why should I worry now? My focus is always to go in and compete with the next seven athletes in the lanes.�
Usain Bolt / 62
keep adding great things then people will say, ‘Yo! He’s one of the greatest!’ All you can do is keep adding to your greatness until it’s time to leave the sport. Do you ever think about where you stand in relation to the greatest athletes in other sports? I can’t decide that. I just do the best for my sport and try to be the best in my sport and then you leave that up to other people to decide where you’re at. I can’t really say because then I would be arrogant if I put myself into different slots [laughs]. What is the hardest part of the 100 metres for you? The hardest part is getting out of the blocks [laughs]. As long as I get a good start I’m okay. Do you prefer the 200 metres? No. It’s just years of practice. I’ve always done the 200 metres. I used to do the 200 metres alone, then I did the 200 metres and the 400 metres and then the 100 and the 200, so I’ve always been running 200 metres and it takes years to fully understand how to run the corner and to run it efficiently and not use too much energy so that when you come into the straight you have enough energy to bring it home, so it took me years and I really appreciate the craft and effort that goes into running the 200 metres, it’s not just get up and run. The 100 metres is technical in the drive phase, but that’s it [laughs]. The 200 metres is a lot more technical and it takes a lot more work. You missed a lot of last season and in that time Justin Gatlin has come back from his doping ban and found some form, is that rivalry something you’re looking forward to rekindling? [Pauses] I want to say something. I’ve been reading a lot of articles and interviews and I felt like I had retired the way people were talking about Justin Gatlin [laughs]. I felt like I had retired from the sport. I found it really funny, because, wow, I’m one season out and it feels like I’m retired. It’s just one of those things, but I’m always going to be running fast as long as I’m in shape and for me Justin Gatlin did well, he kept the sport exciting, he kept people wanting to see us compete, so for me it’s good, I’m always looking forward to competition. I live for competition. Do you ever get disheartened by your peers failing drug tests? No. For me, before I knew it was going on I was always competing, so why should I worry now? My focus is always to go in and compete with the next seven athletes in the lanes. That’s just me. I’m very competitive, I work hard, I stay focused. I don’t go
there thinking about the next guy is doing whatever, you’ve just got to think about yourself and go out there and compete. Can you go even faster? The possibility is there and one of my biggest goals is to go under 19 seconds [in the 200 metres] so I would say yes. That’s one of my biggest goals and that’s something I want to accomplish before I retire. I’m pushing myself and I’m working hard, so we’ll see what happens. What was the difference between your first 100 metres record in New York and when you set the record in Beijing? There wasn’t much difference really. For me I think in the first one I was really just there to compete. Tyson Gay was the one to beat and I was just there to beat him and that was it. As I said, I’m so competitive and he beat me the year before, so now I want to beat him. I didn’t realise I’d beaten the record until I heard it over the announcement and it was the same in Beijing. I was just there to win and I wanted to win my first gold medal. I was happy and I didn’t know I had beaten the world record until I did my victory lap. I think after that I started looking at the clock [laughs] but for my first two records it was all about making the point that I want to beat Tyson Gay and I want to be Olympic champion. What is your favourite part of daily training? My favourite part of what? [laughs] I think there’s no fun in training. It’s just being around your friends in training. You can laugh, you see people in pain and you laugh at them, they laugh at you. That’s the only fun part, just being around your teammates. You seemed to enjoy the Commonwealth Games in Scotland last year, how much fun was that for you? It was pretty fun. The Scottish people were really into it and that’s what I love. The crowds were really into it. They were full of energy. It was just wonderful. It was a good experience. There was talk about you doing the Long Jump, was that serious? Yeah, it was! Until my coach shut it down! [Laughs] He was saying I would have a lot of knee problems because I’m so tall and it’s really rugged on the knee and I knew I wanted to go for the double again at Rio, so it was not going to be worth it to do that do yourself, to get knee problems. He explained that it doesn’t make sense to try and then it doesn’t work and then you injure yourself and disrupt your whole career for something you just want to try. Usain Bolt was speaking at the launch of the PUMA Ignite available at jdsports.co.uk
“I don’t get to shop in London anymore. But it’s always been wonderful. The summers are better there now, which is good. [The Jamaican culture in the city] is always wonderful! Especially the food!”
SHUTDOWN / 64
SHUTDOWN The so-called grime revival has been speeding through the gears since Meridian Dan, JME and Big H espoused the virtues of their German Whips at the end of 2013. That’s Not Me, On a Level, Not That Deep and Rari Workout followed in the song’s wake and just like that the genre was back on its feet. Words Tego Sigel
“By sharing the stage in a track-for-track set, going from Mercy to German Whip, Jesus Walks to It Ain’t Safe, it’s fair to say that all requisite dues were paid.” If you had the will to stay engaged with the music, then you shouldn’t need to be told that the likes of Boy Better Know, OGz, Newham Generals, Preditah, Royal T and Big Narstie were responsible for defining releases in grime’s down period, while the Midlands movement saw MCs from Birmingham, Nottingham and beyond drive the culture and its sound forward while developing a new independent spirit, which struggled for oxygen through most mainstream outlets, but ignited a fire in many that proved that the genre was still very much the sound of a generation. Add the rave and DJ culture, which was expanded and embraced by the likes of Logan Sama and Elijah and Skilliam, and the foundations for grime’s second assault look far more assured than they were when British MCs became the pop sound du jour in the late-2000s.
SHUTDOWN / 66
“While nobody British was handed a microphone in that moment, Skepta, Novelist, Stormzy, Discarda, Krept & Konan, Frisco, Jammer, Shorty and Fekky made a statement that grime, should it ever exist in the mainstream again, will this time do it in its own way.” grown to love and acknowledge as its own, to the biggest stages. While nobody British was handed a microphone in that moment, Skepta, Novelist, Stormzy, Discarda, Krept & Konan, Frisco, Jammer, Shorty and Fekky made a statement that grime, should it ever exist in the mainstream again, will this time do it in its own way. There is a necessary degree of protectionism when it comes to grime culture this time around, with labels, brands, commentators and hangers-on having run wild with the tag in the post-N Dubz universe. So when Kanye West brought Skepta and a host of grime luminaries on stage with him at the Brit Awards last month, that protectionism forced many to question its value and more critically its motivation. The idea that one of the biggest stars on the planet giving his co-sign to the culture could be seen as negative might surprise a few, but Yeezy’s use of grime iconography, its heroes and its fashion could easily be viewed as the kind of cultural tourism that saw not just grime, but British art and street culture ravaged in the not too distant past. When Kanye unveiled his Yeezy Boost in New York last month, he was surrounded by models, artists and celebrities who all willingly traded their relative levels of cultural capital to elevate his shoe and his new brand partnership with adidas. When Mr West hit the UK he got the same thing from the <King of Grime> and a few of the scene’s biggest icons. That moment, on prime time British television and later blogs around the world, was great for Kanye. But what did it mean for us? Not since So Solid Crew in the early 2000s has street culture truly been afforded the luxury of positive mainstream attention. A campaign of negativity soon brought the South London crew’s still unmatched reign of credible, street inspired, youth powered music, style and attitude to an end, and since then it has been an uphill struggle for artists and personalities to transfer the kind language, style and attitude a generation has
Big Sean told Grant Brydon on rwdmag.com that Kanye West only birthed the idea of a UK x Boy Better Know concert in the days following and that not many believed he would actually pull it together. Lo and behold, one week after their epic Brit Awards performance Yeezy had pulled together a grime-style set for his G.O.O.D Music roster and a UK force of Skepta, JME, Meridian Dan and Novelist to perform a secret show at Koko, shattering the theory that the Chicago MC saw these emerging British artists as nothing more than an art installation. By sharing the stage in a track-for-track set, going from Mercy to German Whip, Jesus Walks to It Ain’t Safe, it’s fair to say that all requisite dues were paid. This is a defining year for grime and UK urban music, with Skepta, Krept & Konan and Wiley all expected to release albums in 2015, the levels of quiet optimism mean the summer is neatly poised. Kanye West didn’t press the button, because were there not something already bubbling on these shores then you can bet he would have come and gone without so much as a nod, but what he has done is offer that shot of confidence the recovering scene needed, those scabs are scars, but they’re fading – all set for the long awaited rematch. So, who wants it? Stay up to date with all the best emerging grime and hip hop music and have your say at rwdmag.com
Festival Guide / 68
2015 SUMMER FESTIVAL GUIDE The grey skies would suggest otherwise, but summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means…festival season! We’re sure that, like us, you’ve lost count of how many events there are to choose from these days, so we thought we’d give you a helping hand in sorting the must-sees from the mustnots. Our 2015 guide has got you covered from May right through to September, highlighting the best festivals in the UK and a select pair in Croatia that you need to get up on. We’ve also spoken to regular festival act Redlight, who has another busy schedule this year, about his experiences, so the first-timers among you know what to expect. There are a variety of options given across Britain, from camping trips that will muddy your Timberlands, to inner-city weekenders where you can show off your best creps, but all have one important common factor: amazing music. Whichever ones tickle your fancy, make sure you get booking as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment as many of these sell out fast.
“Boy Better Know are back at Bestival for another year after bringing the house down in 2014” Only The Best We’ll start with one of the biggest and best festivals in the UK, although the ferry trip to the Isle of Wight makes it feel like a little holiday abroad. Bestival returns for a 12th year with a Summer of Love theme this September, boasting a mightily impressive line-up announced across its 24 venues so far. Live acts confirmed include Boy Better Know – back for another year after bringing the house down in 2014 - Duke Dumont, Action Bronson, Gorgon City and George The Poet, with DJ sets from the likes of Mike Skinner, Mistajam and The Heatwave. More RWD favourites will surely be announced in due time, but with the amount of markets, food and entertainment across the Bestival site, you might not find the time to catch them all. Bestival will be held 10-13 September. Get tickets at 2015.bestival.net
The Wild Side The newest festival in our guide has the potential to be one of this year’s very best. Disclosure and Rudimental have teamed up with The Warehouse Project to curate Wildlife, a brand new weekend event in West Sussex this June where they will be joined by a host of their favourite acts and DJs. These range from singers Sam Smith and Jess Glynne to hip hop legends in Nas and the Wu-Tang Clan, while US rap prospects Earl Sweatshirt and Vic Mensa join British talents including Novelist on the bill. The strong list of DJs across the two days include Mark Ronson, Julio Bashmore, Skream and a back-to-back set between garage dons Wookie and DJ Q. This is going to be huge. Wildlife takes place 6-7 June. Get involved at wildlifefestival.com
SUPPLY Festival & DEMAND Guide / 70
“After pulling out of his 2014 slot through illness, Drake is confirmed as a Wireless headliner alongside his OVO affiliates PartyNextDoor and ILoveMakonnen” To The Wire
Marc Sethi
Britain’s premier urban weekend festival Wireless is back in Finsbury Park, and having announced a big chunk of its line-up there’s plenty to get excited about. After pulling out of his 2014 slot through illness, Drake is confirmed as a headliner alongside his OVO affiliates PartyNextDoor and ILoveMakonnen on the Friday. Hip hop fans will be treated to the likes of A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj and Rae Sremmurd across the three days, while Krept & Konan, Wretch 32 and Stormzy are among those repping for the UK. Plenty more names will be added, so there’s no excuse not to make the trip to North London. Wireless hits Finsbury Park 3-5 July. Get your tickets at wirelessfestival.co.uk and win tickets at rwdmag.com/wireless2015
Double Trouble Technically separate festivals, we’re grouping Reading & Leeds as one category because as we’re sure you know by now they share the same line-up and dates. The main stage acts are generally indie and rock bands, with the exception of Kendrick, but there are plenty of names to pique our interest elsewhere. Culture Clash winners Rebel Sound and runners-up BBK are confirmed performers, with Run The Jewels and Tyler, the Creator on board for hype sets. New York will be represented through A$AP Ferg, Flatbush Zombies and Ratking. Reading & Leeds each take place 28-30 August. Check out readingfestival.com or leedsfestival.com for their respective performing schedules
Redlight
All You Need Is Love The South West of England hosts one of the ultimate music festivals in Glastonbury, but even if it weren’t sold out we wouldn’t be telling you to go (hour long walks to your tent? Nah). If you really fancy an amazing event on that side of the country then look no further than Love Saves The Day, the Bristol weekender with a line-up that promises serious vibes. Jessie Ware and Azealia Banks headline the two respective days but there is oh so much more to see. How does a festival with Newham Generals, Skepta, Wiley and Stormzy sound? What about one with garage legends DJ EZ, Artful Dodger and Matt Jam Lamont? They’re all here, so gunfingers so will be out. If you like the sound of Bristol between 23-24 May, visit lovesavestheday.org
No stranger to festival season, Bristol producer and DJ Redlight has yet another packed international live schedule this year. Love Saves The Day, Bestival and Hideout are among those he will be playing, and ahead of his busiest period he spoke to us about a few of his festival memories. Are you looking forward to the summer festivals? Yeah, I love festival season - nothing better than raving in the sun! Everyone seems to enjoy them a lot, which always makes the vibe really good. What are your memories of festivals as a fan, or before your career? I used to go to Glastonbury growing up, so that’s always the one that sticks in my mind. Bunking off school to go down there and seeing people like Cypress Hill and Bjork was pretty mad. I remember my friend accidentally burning someone’s tent down on acid - that was pretty funny.
Daniel Watson
What has been your favourite festival experience? Playing at Glastonbury, Hideout, Bestival and Exit Festival. I once played a festival way up in a forest in Canada too, that was pretty mental - it rained all the time and I had to sleep in a tent, but it was on a volcanic beach so the whole thing was pretty trippy.
Park Up Manchester’s leading festival Parklife is back again with another big line-up in Heaton Park. Taking place on the same weekend as its new sister festival, most of the acts mentioned in our Wildlife preview (excluding Sam Smith) will also be performing at Parklife on the alternate day. Being the bigger and more established event, though, there are plenty more acts across several genres on board for Parklife. James Blake, Fuse ODG and former RWD cover star Ella Eyre are among the singers, while hip hop is represented by The Roots and a Kaytranada stage that includes Madlib, Benji B and more. The North West has once again been well looked after. Parklife is going down 6-7 June. Get in early at parklife.uk.com
What does it take to not to be a lovely time, then? Rain, no tent, no sleep and soaking clothes usually puts a downer on everything - or losing your car. What can we expect from a Redlight festival set this year? Vibes, vibes and a whole heap of vibes! I’ll be playing a lot of new music from that, alongside a mix of party tunes, beats and bass. Redlight’s single Gold Teeth is out now. Catch him at Hideout’s 5th year in Croatia 28 June – 2 July.
SUPPLY Festival & DEMAND Guide / 72
“The festival to catch our eye for the first time this year is Fresh Island, a hip hop and rnb festival on its fourth outing at Zrce Beach.”
Ride Out Donnington Park is known the world over as a racing circuit for superbikes, but towards the end of May each year electronic music festival Outbreak takes over the site. Falling on the same days as Love Saves The Day, this one might be more your fancy if you’re heavier into electronic music. Katy B, Melissa Steel and Karen Harding are the few big singers to appear on the main stage, with the majority of acts beyond them more of the speaker-shaking variety. We’re very keen on the Sunday line-up in particular, with Wiley, Mumdance and the Newham Generals holding it down for grime, while garage is represented by both the old (Oxide & Neutrino, Pied Piper) and new (Preditah, Flava D) generations. Outbreak is 23-24 May. Sort your tickets at outbreakfestival.co.uk
Boxing Clever The line-up hasn’t been announced yet for this year’s edition, but you can always rely on Lovebox to deliver on a decent live schedule. Hackney’s picturesque Victoria Park will be taken over by the festival once again in mid July, and based on previous years we’re sure to be in for a sick weekend. The likes of M.I.A., Nas, A$AP Rocky and Snoop Dogg have headlined previously, while the RBMA’s annual stage consistently delivers an incredible mix of DJs. Fans of hip hop, house and dnb are catered to across the festival. As day festivals go, Lovebox is usually right up there, and with the line-up expected imminently we can’t wait to see what they have in store. Keep 17-18 July free for Lovebox. More at loveboxfestival.com
Dan Medhurst
BEST OF THE REST
Fly Out No festival celebrates soundsystem culture better than Outlook, and the first wave of 2015 performers announced suggests it’s going to be another phenomenal few days at Fort Punta Christo later this year. MCs performing include BBK, Wiley, P Money and Big Narstie, with Roll Deep duo Flowdan and Manga guests on The Bug’s set. Hip hop legends Pete Rock, The Beatnuts and Rodney P are along for the ride, with Killer Mike and El-P headlining. There’s also a wealth of dnb, dancehall, dubstep and jungle acts across the venue, be they on beachside stages or the dozens of boat parties. Pula airport is very close by, but there are alternative routes that are much cheaper (and longer) If you can afford it, find a way out there. Outlook goes down 3-6 September. Stay tuned to outlookfestival.com
Brownstock Held about half an hour’s drive south from Chelmsford, Brownstock is the best camping music festival Essex has to offer. Among those acts announced so far for July are Basement Jaxx, Example, Lethal Bizzle and Meridian Dan. brownstock.co.uk Creamfields The legendary dance festival isn’t normally our cup of tea, but we raised our eyebrows at the announcement of Mistajam’s stage this year. His Speakerbox imprint will be hosting the likes of Shift K3y, Preditah and Kurupt FM, while grime fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of a Logan Sama b2b Slimzee set with guest MCs Riko Dan, Flowdan, P Money and Stormzy. creamfields.com Sundown Norfolk welcomes Sundown festival for another year, and the first performers revealed highlight the broad scope covered as chart-toppers Rudimental, Sigma and Fuse ODG sit alongside stages hosted by Ram Records and Defected. Campers will also be treated to a DJ EZ after party. sundownfestival.co.uk
Something Fresh A few hundred kilometres south of Outlook’s location is the Croatian island of Pag, on which numerous festivals are hosted during the summer. The one to catch our eye this year is Fresh Island, a hip hop and rnb festival on its fourth outing at Zrce Beach. The first line-up announcement included Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown, Migos, Skepta and Tinashe, with Statik Selektah the pick of the DJs confirmed. Those to have previously performed at Fresh Island include Snoop, Westwood, Rick Ross, Pusha T and DMX, so there may well be some strong additions to the line-up to come. Tickets are phenomenally cheap compared to some of the other festivals this summer. Fresh Island is the spot 15-17 July. Go to 2015.fresh-island.org
No Tomorrow The Nottingham festival sees a number of interesting acts, including MNEK, John Newman and Bondax. Blonde and Eton Messy are also among the DJs announced so far, so it’s worth considering if you’re nearby. notomorrowfestival.co.uk NASS Somerset will be hosting the NASS Action Sports and Music Festival, and while the BMX and skating courses might not be of interest you may be tempted by the live music. Public Enemy, Mike Skinner and Sigma are among those on the lineup, while the Sika Records stage includes rap legend Klashnekoff and sets from grime MCs Devilman, Sox and their guests. nassfestival.com
Elliphant / 74
W alki n g W ith
E lliph a n t Ellinor Olovsdotter, better known as Elliphant has exploded into our world since featuring in our One To Watch section in May 2014. After signing to legendary singer/songwriter and record producer Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records in the summer of 2013, the fantastically enigmatic Swedish singer began work with one of the hottest producers on the planet in Skrillex. Since then, Ellinor’s career trajectory has been drastically altered as she became one of the hottest prospects in the electric/new wave scene thanks to her no nonsense lyrical approach and phenomenal ability to form genuinely unique melodies. 2014 saw Olovsdotter hit the road in support of Charli XCX on a nationwide tour of North America, in front of sold out audiences that earned her a whole new audience before the placement of her song All Or Nothing in a major iPad advert took the Elliphant story to the next level. Ben Fawcett met up with the charming singer at London’s XOYO before her debut performance at the cultural hot spot. Unsurprisingly casual in her demeanor, the refreshingly forthcoming starlet opened up about her approach to recording, her humble upbringing and the influences that have come together to create her fantastically original counter-culture pop music.
Your approach strikes me as being more akin to a rapper or grime MC than a pop star, would you say that’s fair? This is the thing; the difference between myself and the grime rappers or the rappers in general is simply that I don’t rap. I look at myself and my music a lot like it’s grime or hip hop and that culture, because I try to be very creative with my language and my subjects. I don’t have to try to be street. I am street. I don’t come from one of these music schools where you dream of this, I’m coming from a place where it’s more like ‘Oh sh*t, I can speak my f**king mind over a track? Let’s do this!’ It turned out not to be rap, but it’s still that spirit. I’m from a sixth generation single mum, we only had one friend who had both parents and when they broke up we cried. I grew up on the South Island, which is like Soho in Stockholm, super posh now, but we still rent our place from the social services.
Elliphant / 76
So, with the upbringing providing the fuel for you to pursue Elliphant, what music actually inspired you in your youth? I think the whole journey of Elliphant is inspired by the 90s, I pick some sh*t up from here and there, but I think that’s the only time I really listened to music. I haven’t really listened to music in the last 10 years. I don’t have any favourite albums that came out after 2000, everything is before that and that’s also when I lived at my home and when I was home I had a mum who was a constant music player, just 24/7 mixing tapes and constantly doing music projects. I’m painted by her music really. I remember buying some stupid album when I was a kid, but I couldn’t play it in my house, my mum was like ‘F*ck this, NO!’ So it’s her I think who inspired me. I can feel it when I hear for example a B-52s track, or David Bowie, or Frank Zappa, or Portishead. A lot of punk rock sounds from England, I think that’s where my inspiration comes. I can hear it in my music! But I mean the new album, which was done in America, doesn’t really have that 90s influence too much because they can’t really handle it like we can here. It’s still my inspiration though. It’s powerful dirty women, I can’t help it, I just love that sh*t. I don’t like pretty girls! Not at all! I like rough girls! Do you listen to any new music? I just don’t have that openly diverse way of listening to music, the music finds me. Now that I’m surrounded by it and I work and live in it with these crazy producers who are writing for all these pop princesses and suddenly you’re more interested in Rihanna’s new song, but most of it’s sh*t. Like the new Ellie Goulding song, I hear it and I’m like, ‘What the f*ck is going on!?’ I’m not surprised that there are so many stupid people in the world if that’s what we are going to teach our kids, ‘Love me, love me, love me…’ All this stupidness, I can’t handle it. I’m not going to say how I’m in love and there’s tears falling on my pillow, they would love me to, but no, I’m going to find another way of explaining it. Considering the fact that you work with huge producers the likes of Diplo and Skrillex, how hard is it for you to maintain that consistent Elliphant sound? Diplo is a bad example. It’s really hard to get sh*t done with him in the room because he’s like a sound system. He’s always circulating around and then suddenly Katy Perry comes in or flipping Lorde with her whole crew and he’ll just be like, ‘I’m just going to have a chat with Frank Ocean.’ There’s just so much going on. Obviously he has become one of my mentors and a good friend and I’m a big
“...Like the new Ellie Goulding song, I hear it and I’m like, ‘What the f*ck is going on!?’ I’m not surprised that there are so many stupid people in the world...” fan of his energy and the way he inspires acts, but with him it’s not so easy to just sit there and find the song, but usually that’s how I do it. Somebody has an idea and they play me tracks to see if I’m interested and I usually just pick my phone up when I first hear the song, because for me that’s the magic moment, when you hear that melody. I usually get bored with a track after about four times and I don’t hear anything, so I need to record it the first time I hear it. So I do my pretend language and sing melodies and we get our song. I’m not a professional singer, which is why, like you say, you get that sound that is Elliphant. You don’t feel like you force any specific sound or genre when you’re recording? For sure, I’m very free in that situation. I’m not pretentious at all and I know many producer friends who meet artists and they already have an idea of what they want to do. They play songs and show examples of their old stuff and they’ll say that they want something in this world, and I believe that’s more the people that have had this dream for a long time and they are usually performing under their actual names and there is a different kind of creativity, but when I do it, it’s not like that. I think the reason people were so interested in working with me and my project was because I was more like ’Yeah! Whatever!’ Which I think has actually made a problem because I work with so many producers now, we have so many songs now and just a million sounds and now we have to pick 12 that come together somehow and they then need to be finished. It’s tough because one guy who I worked with will be in France and another in Turkey, so stuff like that means that when it comes to the actual creativity, it’s amazing because it is me, I can be me while meeting new people and making stuff with them. I try not to be too hysterical with the sound of the track because you can always work on a track after. Elliphant’s new album One More is set for a June release. Follow her at @elliphantmusic
Royal-T / 78
R uling T he R e a lm The notion that grime is ‘back’ has been one mooted by an alarming few since a handful of artists made the national chart last year. Those paying attention again need only be shown the acts to have emerged and thrived underground since the last time the wider world looked upon the genre to see that isn’t the case. Among these is Royal-T, a member of the Butterz family whose productions first made inroads at the turn of the decade, and his journey towards the position he is in today is one of many that can be held as an example of the DIY ethic through which grime music thrives. Words Joe Walker
Mark Taylor was still making beats for fun while at college in Southampton when Elijah & Skilliam played one of his productions on their student radio show. Within a couple of years he had joined their Butterz label, home to a wealth of his releases including new single Shottas with P Money, out at the end of March. To align RoyalT’s success strictly with the bring-in would be a discredit to him, though. Regular nights sleeping on the sofa at Rinse FM, home of the Butterz radio show, was just one instance of the commitment made by Royal-T to turning his talent into a career - Rinse certainly seemed to be impressed, releasing his debut album on their label in 2012. The life of a grime producer isn’t one that’s massively celebrated, certainly in comparison to the genre’s MCs, so we spoke to Royal-T to find out how he’s made it work for him. We’ve mapped out the key decisions and steps of his journey, and any budding producer looking to make their own mark on the scene would be wise to take notes.
Royal-T / 80
“The bigger I got, my output had to be more refined. It meant each song I had to release or play had to be better than the last because I was playing to bigger crowds or a bigger audience.” Do not depend on MCs I started around 2008 in the MySpace days. I’d like to think even then I was an artist, because I just liked to produce beats and they’ve always had a beginning, middle and end. I was contacting a lot of MCs to jump on the beats and they would not reply to me [laughs] so I had to find a way to still be able to provide stuff for DJs, be MC-friendly, but also still make myself stick out. So right from the off really I’d always had a different approach, rather than just making like a 16-bar loop or eight-bar loop. I had songs.
thing was just getting started - so I thought if I wanted to be amongst them then I needed to do it. I was told by a lot of people in the industry not to - some DJs had told me it would mess up my production and stuff. I knew where they were coming from in terms of not having time, and also my production would change because my whole approach would be for the clubs, but I was stopping myself providing something they wanted rather than what I wanted to do. I knew exactly what I wanted and I could foresee the next two to three years.
Perspective is crucial Because I wasn’t in London amongst the community, I didn’t have a biased opinion and wasn’t influenced by trends. I felt I had a completely different outlook to other producers at the time because I was outside the fishbowl and that really helped me to develop my own identity. Preditah was definitely one of the first people I knew to have that attitude as well, because we’re both from outside London and sort of already had to take a loss before we’d even started, knowing that it’s a lot more work for us.
I guess the sound was changing and my whole idea was to get it back to clubs. That was the grime I fell in love with: the darker garage sound - Jon E Cash and Pulse X. It’s got its own identity – it’s not garage and it’s not anything else, but it’s still got that accessibility of being danceable or just sick.
I thought how I liked to hear grime and how it was being portrayed were two different things. I wanted to bring the skippiness back because I knew that eventually that would bring it back into the club. I was making sure I was doing more 2-step sounding grime and that was a way for me to infiltrate the scene a little bit. Learn to DJ I’d like to say the fairytale story that I always wanted to be a DJ. Not that I didn’t love it - I loved seeing DJs - but I was just a fan. I was getting bookings offered to my email account and I’d never touched a pair of decks in my life! It wasn’t something that I necessarily wanted to do but it was just something I had to do to stay ahead in the game. I saved up money, bought Serato and got some sh*tty turntables, and then I think within a month of just practicing in my bedroom I had my first booking. Then let it benefit your artistry At the time, I feel like I was part of a very small number of producer-DJs. I think it was only Rude Kid and Teddy Music that were starting to play out – the Butterz
Work with other producers I do love collaborating. When it comes to production I’m sometimes a bit of a control freak, but there’ll be a time where I come to a dead end with a song and I need some inspiration. Or, they might come to me. Like Flava D - even though we have a similar sound, she is so good on keys it’s just second nature to her and I’m not a natural at that, so sometimes it’s needed and we can just create something that’s sick. Always look to improve your music The bigger I got, my output had to be more refined. It meant each song I had to release or play had to be better than the last because I was playing to bigger crowds or a bigger audience. I never try to do the same thing twice. It does halt the creativity a bit, but it just means that I’d put a lot more effort into it and it serves more of a purpose in the long run. Finally, don’t ever forget why you do this I’d still be a fan of grime even if I wasn’t making it, and just having some involvement and influence is sick. I don’t need to be held up by every veteran - that’s not what I’m doing it for. I’m doing it to contribute my view and identity and that’s one of the most rewarding things. When I’ve created something for a purpose and someone totally gets it, which is priceless. @RoyalTMusic’s Shottas EP arrives end of March. Catch him at Fabric on 10 April
Image James Gould
SPEAKER’S CORNER / 82
ch a n ge T he G ame He might not jump up and down screaming about it, but J. Cole is officially one of hip hop’s heaviest hitters on the Billboard chart. Growing his fanbase with a personal and innovative approach to marketing, Cole has retreated from the traditional music business model of club bangers, high-priced music videos and a slew of headline making interviews, instead choosing to connect with fans on the road, speak only when he has something important to say and release his music only when he deems it perfect. With his third LP 2014 Forest Hills Drive reaching number one in its first week of release and going on to outsell many of his more commercially minded peers, it’s clear that 29 year-old Jermaine is onto something.
The whole plan for this release was about finally having the confidence to say ‘F*ck it! I don’t care! I want to do it like this!’ I don’t like putting out singles before the album, I don’t like begging people to come and buy my album for three or four months, I don’t like that. I like making a project, finishing the project, putting the project out and performing it from there, releasing a video from there and talking about it from there and completely do it the other way. This year while I was working on the album [I realised I was going to take this approach]. I was just thinking about the best way to release it and on the last album I told myself I didn’t want to do singles, but I didn’t have the confidence and I didn’t have the clout within the label to get them to go for it, let alone the fact that I didn’t have the confidence in myself. I was too scared myself to take that chance, but I didn’t want
to do singles. With this album I realised it was really a body of work, it was really an album, [I was] like ‘I don’t want to give you a single!’ There’s no one song on this album I can say represents the album, not one song, it doesn’t exist. The decision was purely personal. It wasn’t based on what anybody else was or wasn’t doing. I’ve learned what I like and what I don’t like. I’ve learned what makes me feel good and what doesn’t, and becoming aware that I don’t want to release a single and begging you to buy my album. No, I’ve worked hard; I’ve got a fanbase of people who are going to come day one regardless. Now I don’t know how many that is, but I also don’t care. That doesn’t stop the fact that people will appreciate it regardless, so I put my faith in the music ultimately.
On my last album I was absolutely trying to compete and keep up and I just realised, ‘Yo! Why am I trying to compete with anybody? Why am I trying to keep up with anybody?’ I’m my own man. I’m my own artist. I can’t race anybody, or even care what anybody is doing and I let all of that go and really just focused on being grateful for what I have and the ability I have, which is to make music and make a career off of making music and being an artist and putting music out and having people that are going to receive it. That’s ultimately what it came down to, so I let all that other sh*t go and it feels way better than had I been considered the “Top rapper in the game,” like if I’d have been a Drake or a Jay Z or whatever. It feels way better this way like ‘I don’t give a f*ck! Haha! I’m cool!’ That’s a way more gratifying feeling. I felt successful before the album even came out. J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive is out now.
“On my last album I was absolutely trying to compete and keep up and I just realised, ‘Yo! Why am I trying to compete with anybody? Why am I trying to keep up with anybody?’ I’m my own man.”