UK Hip Hop: Artists & Discographies www.low-life.fsnet.co.uk
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Intro Early Doors:
1979-1985
False Dawn:
1985-1990
Underground Years:
1990-1995
The Renaissance:
1995- 2000
The Future:
2000 & Beyond
Artists &
Discographies
Artists and Discographies index
Fat Club
Fat Club
Fat Club - Monk
Fat Club
Fat Club - Monk
Fat Club - Turro
OK, lets get straight into this. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about where you are from / coming from? Where were you born, where did you grow up & where do you live now?

We're Fat Club, comprising of MC Turroe and MC/Producer Mr Monk. We met and started recording together in 1989, but we always saw it as a hobby more than anything else, doing it for the love, hence shitloads of underground tapes over the years but no real releases. We only recently decided to put some time and effort into releasing our music, and people seem to be digging it, which is good. We were both born and bred in boogie down Bristol, and we're still here!

What is the Hip Hop scene there like?

The scene in Bristol has always been pretty healthy, and Bristol's always been seen as a 'hotbed' of talent by the 'media', a lot of people make it big coming out of Bristol, but it never seems to be the pure Hip Hop, it's always something that's watered down the sound. As for a pure Hip Hop scene, it fluctuates. a few years ago it was real good, everyone was networking, lots of events going on, but it seems to have quietened down. There are people of note if different areas doing different things, but it's fractured. We're trying to do something about that, putting on a night called 'Pass The Mic', showcasing talent with live PA's and freestyle comps, trying to get a bit of that Hip Hop community spirit back again...

Can you break down some of the history of Hip Hop where you are from back in the day? What I mean is who were the local heads who were performing, putting on shows and setting up pirate radio stations? Who influenced you and made you think, yeah we can do this? Things like who was the first guy from your area to put out a Hip Hop record?

It's Bristol mate, there was really only one bunch of guys that started it all.... the Wild Bunch! I remember being at school and trading Wild Bunch tapes, they were like gold dust! Rock On 85 was my personal favourite, they used to put house parties on in St Pauls, they played outside of shops in the city centre. The rest is history, they went on to form Massive Attack. Then you had the likes of Fresh Four, Smith & Mighty, 3PM... The first proper Bristol 12 I ever bought was Smith & Mighty's 'Anyone', with Kelz, Chrissy Chris & Lynx... that bassline still drops to this day.

Since those early days, how has the scene developed over the years? Who are the acts that have come and gone and apart from yourselves, who is prevailing and building a bit of a following?

You got the people like Kelz who are like Stonehenge, they're still there doing their things. The new generation were crews like Undivided Attention, Parlour Talk, Aspects, all still doing their thing at different levels, some under different names. Of course Aspects are the high flyers at the moment, good luck to them, they represent a whole style of their own. Prominent people right now.... All Creatures, Sir Plus, Sir Beans' Wordsworth Surgery... there are too many to mention! If everyone actually got together it would be wicked. Fight the Apathy!

How would you describe yourself and how did you come by your name?

We're just Fat Club. I don't think we sound like anyone else because we don't let other things we hear influence us... we just do what we do and hope people like it. If you don't, who gives a fuck! We like big, heavy breaks, battle lyrics, a lot of people say we're funny as well, but don't pigeon us with fucking GLC! We also like to try and rap about stuff that's out of the ordinary, but close to home. Stuff you can relate to. We do all sorts.

How did we get our name?

A few years ago we used to get together on a Saturday afternoon with Junior Disprol to record (that turned into the 'Worth the Weight' LP, just a collection of demo's really), and as we're all a little rounded we called it Fat Club.

Are you affiliated with any other crews and are you working with any young cats you are hoping to bring through? Who should we look out for?

Not really affiliated with anyone, although we do hook up with people through socialising, and we're always up for a collab. Working with the Headcase Ladz at the moment for a release next year. Miracle mouth Monkey Moo from Aspects is on our album as we know them quiet well. Junior Disprol was on 'Worth the Weight' with us, and he's on our next release 'Mixtape Culture', as is Rola from Numskullz. Hopefully there will be a few more surprises on there as well.

Describe for us your production and recording set up. What equipment do you have? And how do you use it? Would it be a matter of getting samples and sequences together on your home equipment and making demos, which you would then take to a professional studio to record and mix down on a multi track?

Up until 6 months ago we used to do all our beats on a laptop and then take it to the studio to drop the lyrics and mix it down. However, since then we've built our own studio... nothing mega flashy, but it does the job. Pro Tools on the Mac, Digi 002 Pro Tools Desk, Alesis M1 Monitors, Rode NT2000 mic. And the Technics.... never forget the Technics!!

So talk us through your recording career so far. Have you had any records out in the past or collaborated with other artists?

As we said before, we put out lots of stuff on tape & limited edition CD, Turroe's 'Shitstarter' being the most prominent. Last year we put out 'Worth the Weight' on vinyl, 10 tracks of stuff we did with Junior Disprol. Our new album, 'Venomous Tongues' is out now, 19 tracks of pure venom! Ha ha ha. Turroe has done a load of collabs in the past, most recently 'Brink of Extinction' on sir Beans OBE's 'Ear Infection' EP.

What sort of a response do you get from the rest of the country, and are there regional differences you can discern? Are there any reasons for this?

We rap with proper full on Bristol accents, 'cause that's where we're from. I think regional differences are becoming a lot more acceptable these days. We get a lot of love from the rest of the country, as people from Wales, the Midlands, Scotland, Down South... we're all in the same boat, trying to get people to accept us as we are. The only place we don't really get any respect from is London, basically because the whole London scene seems to be wrapped up in this 'Ya Get Me' rubbish, I mean how many times can you rap about being brought up on an estate and robbing people? I grew up on an estate, I don't feel I have to tell everyone about it though. Just my personal opinion!

Who are your influences? What is it about them you like?

We have very few people we'd class as 'influences'. We just listen to everything that comes out and what we like we like. personally i will name one person... Slug from Atmosphere for his live shows.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Everything! I'm partial to the Rhymesayers stuff, Eyedea & Abilities, Brother Ali... Love Ironbridge, they're raw as fuck. Like some of the tracks on the new Skinnyman album, for production rather than content, but then again that's just down to personal taste. Turroe loves the US horror-core stuff like Nonphixion, Mr Hyde, then again we listen to the more mainstream stuff too, love Redman, Methodman, etc. Just now hearing all the Headcase Ladz back catalogue.... Turroe is 'educating' me.... they crack me up.

How long have you been involved in music?

I started mixing in 85, moved on to recording around 88, teamed up with a very young Turroe in 89 when he first started rapping.

So, when did you first move to become a Hip Hop practitioner, rather than consumer? What elements did you toy with? Was it straight MCing from day 1?

As above, me in 85, Turroe in 89, although I never started rapping until around 89 myself. To be honest though, it wasn't until like a year ago that I really started practicing. At this level it's relatively new to me.

How do you feel about the current state of UK Hip Hop? Do you object to being categorised in this way?

We'd all like to think that Hip Hop is just Hip Hop, but sadly it's not like that. I remember when if you were into Hip Hop you listened to loads of different bands and styles, but they were all accepted as the same thing. now the scene and the music has fractured, there are all these different styles, and no one seems to be willing to cross divides. It's sad really, UK Hip Hop heads hate on US mainstream stuff, Grimey cats hate on more 'classic' style UK stuff, and everyone hates on back-backers! It's a fucking mess. Yes we object to being labelled, we ought to be a little more open minded, but then again I'm guilty myself to a certain extent... there's no easy answer.

Do you think it is getting better or worse and why?

It's defo getting worse, as more variations of Hip Hop appear, more barriers go up, but you can't stop the music moving forward.... maybe this fractioning is healthier than the music becoming stilted and boring.

Who are the UK artists you listen to and admire?

Numskullz, Sir Beans OBE, Junior Disprol, Aspects, Rodney P, All Creatures, The Nextmen, Ironbridge, Headcase Ladz & the rest of the Wonky Wax guys, Beefeaterz...

When's your new album out and what will be on it?

Our current album 'Venomous Tongues' Is out now, we're working on our next release now... it's a little different; basically we've recorded another albums worth of stuff since VT, so we're going to release it as a mixtape, cut up all the tracks and mix them with guest spots from other artists, fingers crossed it will come out with a DVD featuring live sets and our new video 'Decrease the Peace'.
Fat Club - Monk
Fat Club - Turro
Fat Club - Turro
Fat Club - Turro
Fat Club - Monk
Fat Club - Turro

What did you aim to achieve with the record and do you feel you did it?

At the end of the day it's just about making good, honest Hip Hop. That's it, no goals, no ulterior motives. We did it for ourselves, and we like it. If you like it too, great.

Tell our readers why they should listen to you.

If you like heavy, raw beats and killer battle raps, funny shit and also something a little deeper, check us out. It will definitely be entertaining, and it might make you think as well....

For the uninitiated, which of your single or album tracks would you highlight to others?

Personal VT favourites... 'Members Only' for your party, 'Split lips' to make you laugh, 'Taste the Blood of Fat Club' to give you nightmares, 'Open Ears & Broken Tears' for the meaning, and 'Never Pass The Mic' for the flows!!!!

What have you learned from your recording, performing and business experiences so far? What advice would you have for anyone trying to get out there now?

Yes, D.I.Y!!! Too many people sit around and moan about the state of the record industry, moan about not getting to put records out, moan about no recognition. Get off your lazy asses and put some fucking work into it. Be a cheeky cunt if you have to, be hungry. If you're good enough somebody will appreciate it.

Do you do many live shows? Do you have plans to get out to a wider audience?

We're just starting to do live shows now, now all the recordings done, we have to get out and sell some records! That's what it's about, after all.

How do you view the Internet? Do you think it is a useful promotional tool and a good way of getting out there and loosening the grip that the major media companies an their TV schedulers have on what is broadcast, or are there too many idiots too willing to spout a load of rubbish with no control over them?

The internet: In some ways it's a godsend.... communication with other musicians is much easier, it's a good way of networking, showcasing your stuff, but there's a downside. There a million and one ejits out there who think they're the next Eminem and have no grasp of how the real world works, and they're all given a voice. You just got to hope the quality of what you do shines through.

Do you have any plans to get your own online presence? What would you want to achieve with that?

Check out www.fatclubonline.com - lots of useless but well presented info, some downloadable tracks, we're adding stuff all the time. It's a conduit to us, but we're also open to anyone else who has anything they want to push, announce, etc.

I ask everyone about politics, because I think it is important that we have knowledge of what is going on, but most current Hip Hop heads decline to answer. I guess they don’t want to upset anyone. Do you have anything to say on that? Any issues you think people need to open their eyes too?

The basics really. The war sucks, America is evil, ra de ra de ra... If I'm honest I don't take a lot of notice of what our politicians are up to... they're all as fucked up as each other.

Did any of you vote in the last election and why?

No, don't think I did... it doesn't matter what the different parties all promise, whoever gets in will probably make a dogs dinner of it...

Why do you think the urban youth and people in general are so pissed off with the government?

God knows... one thing I will say though, when Labour got into power they didn't deliver all of their promises (who does?) and the people who voted them in turned against them almost immediately... people don't seem to get that the Tories fuck this country up good and proper, and it's gonna take more than a few years to fix it. Ooooh I've got all political....

What do you make of the so called ‘War of Terrorism’ that the US and the UK are perpetrating on some of the poorest people in the world? Do you think this is legitimate after what happened on September 11th or is it total overkill?

Well, it fucking sucks, doesn't it? I was at the twin towers a couple of months before it happened, and as I watched it on TV I could remember the faces of the people who worked there that i had met... especially this nice old black woman who served teas right at the top of the tower. She's probably dead now. It was a real pisser, but the war's that resulted were uncalled for in my opinion. America needed to look like it was taking care of business, so they fucked up Afghanistan, which in itself was just an excuse to go in and take Iraq which they had been itching to do for years. A rational president would have launched a proper investigation, found those responsible and taken those specific people out with a strike team or some black ops shit like that. Osama bin laden would have been eating beans with his mates, next thing you know, two in the back of the head, everything's right with the world again.

If you could change something about society, what would it be and why?

No one would have to work! I know society would collapse, but I'm a lazy bastard.

What do you do when you are not doing Hip Hop stuff? And away from music, name one thing you’d like to do if all things were possible?

I write now and then, just finished my first novel called 'To Rule the Dead' which I'm shopping around literary agents at the moment. Written a couple of screenplays too, hope to make a movie at some point... and it won't be a wack Hip Hop movie!

Where can people hear your stuff?

You can download some tracks off the web-site, we're getting airplay in Bristol and I think Riz (Eastborn) is rinsing it in Scotland... other people could be playing it, but we don't know! Or you can come and see us live where-ever you see the Fat Club name!

Where can people pick up your stuff?

Local Bristol shops like Replay, Soundsville, Disk & Tape, etc are stocking it. On the net you can get it from Disorda @ www.suspectpackages.com or from www.headnod.co.uk - you can also get it direct from us, we accept paypal through our website, www.fatclubonline.com.

OK. To wind this up, what is going to be keeping you busy over the next few months?

Putting together a new album, gigging (catch us at the Fleece, Bristol on 23rd December!), making a success of 'Pass The Mic'.... and whatever else pops up!

What are your longer term plans and objectives?

Just keep doing what we're doing...

Anything else you would like to say?

Yeah, fuck eating those greens, grease is the word, order a pizza now and join the Fat Club!

Do your shout outs here:

We usually don't big people up 'cause no fucker ever bigs us up, but... Aspects, Dead Residents, Headcase, loads of peeps... you know who you are.

Thank you very much for your time.

www.fatclubonline.com
 

Intro Early Doors:
1979-1985
False Dawn:
1985-1990
Underground Years:
1990-1995
The Renaissance:
1995- 2000
The Future:
2000 & Beyond
Artists &
Discographies

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