OK, can you first introduce yourself and let the readers know a bit about where you are coming from?

Ez folks, this is REGGIIMENTAL from the midlands collective GNOSTIX (silent G) also known as The Gnow, G.N.O the stix. The group and the terms Gnostic or Gnosticism revolve around knowledge of self and the teachings and expression of this knowledge within the lyrics contained d in our music.

Where in the Midlands are your crew located? Is that where you grew up? What do you make of that area of the world?

The crew apart from myself are still located in the suburbs of Tamworth town, home to the Snowdome and also Drayton Manor family theme park. I myself am now finding reside in the East midlands due to my university commitments as well as the prices of housing being a lot cheaper, enabling me to make a foothold and get a hold on a mortgage, therefore making this my new home for now. Growing up in Tamworth was a nice experience with access to many surrounding cities as soon as you reach a certain age with Birmingham City only 15 minutes away down the M42 / M6. As with all areas in the world there are rough and council estates in Tamworth as well as the really nice areas that seem to just ‘pop up’ out of nowhere on some derelict land in the middle of nowhere. Being a town of convenience I must say that I have seen many changes living in Tamworth (more than your average town) gradually over spilling its borders and attracting many new businesses and residents, therefore making it a quite exciting place although the long-term residents can only complain.

So your  crew name Gnostix - that is a touch unusual. Can you explain more why you chose it and what it means, what does it signify?

As I was saying earlier, the name came about from some sorcery books that Semantix was looking through. The Gnostics were like early day Christians who had their own beliefs and also claimed to have the supreme gnosis or knowledge as human beings (Similar to how they think now ay!!) We basically adopted to term with an ‘X’ on the end and came out with intentions to do as the Gnostics did, and spread knowledge from what we know, and to what the average person should be able to relate to.

Right, so how did you first get into Hip Hop, and when would this have been? Who introduced you to the sounds and which tracks opened your ears?

Not like I was late starter, but I must say I was still listening to pop and anything good that caught my ear until about 1994. Doggystyle and the Chronic has passed my ears from fellow Gnostic Bigga, who was heavily into all that Hip Hop had to offer, including Gza, Ice Cube, Pharcyde and others like NWA who were blowin up at the time. With All Eyez On Me coming out, I must say I was transformed into a HIP-HOP HEAD, due to the raw talent and attitude in the songs that were being produced by Pac at this time (Hah, I didn’t even believe that he wrote all dem songs at first when I looked at the credits, just thought b*ll*s**t, this dude is too hype to be this creative). From there I started to really feel the NY vibe of Wu-tang and Nas where their rhymes seemed to be a lot more work towards making a reflective piece, especially with songs like CREAM and Can It All Be So Simple, where the artists managed to capture the feel of their residence and put it into rhyme form with the maximum effect in oppose to the gun-toting, pistol popping brought to my ear by the sounds of the Westside likes of Snoop, Dre and NWA. Milestone songs that turned me were Regulate by Warren G and also heart felt tunes such as Pain by 2pac on the above the rim soundtrack. As I said my boy Bigga was already ahead and listening to all that shit on a daily basis making it only a matter of time before 95 hit and I was a full-blown Hip Hop head listener and critic.

For some reason the Midlands seems to have been under represented in Hip Hop, with big conurbations, but not too many acts making it down to London. Why do you think that this is, or is the perception wrong?

Good question, but I really don’t have the answer. It even seems like the Upnorf heads have more of a lock on this industry that the Mids, with Doyen D and Hoodz Underground showing that these barriers are minor setback before they get the recognition that they deserve. I would personally love to stay in the midlands but the market does really seem to be an unconquerable obstacle from this point where I am standing at the moment. I know mans who are contemplating on moving down south do make more of the limited exposure that is available from reside in the midlands. From contact with peoples from down South like yourself it does give us hope that we can possibly move things forward and look towards pushing product in the capital, although I can say that I have had conversation with people who have been moving with the game and the industry a lot longer than me, who claim that the divide is more than real and that artists from further up north can find themselves locked out no matter weather they are a good artist pushing records or not. From what I have seen over the past few years is a slow change where the cream of crop will be respected down in the south without having to pick up and move there to follow their dreams. There is no doubt that London has a more happening / diverse and supported scene in oppose to the midlands, which has its moments before artists are discarded and the cream of the south start to take over!! I even heard Klasnekoff is living up these ways and no doubt he has clout that could even match the buzz that can be created by people like Moorish Delta 7, and he's playing away from home!! No bitchin dere cus I love that guy, but that’s word man. No doubt the South is a great supporter of this UK game from all aspects.

So, after speaking about why, can you break down some of what has been happening Hip Hop wise in your manor and the surrounding areas over the last few years? What I mean is who were the local heads who have been performing, putting on shows and setting up pirate radio stations?

From about 2002 things really started to happen with gigs etc, where I created a CD mix tape called the Dark Ages of which I was using as a marketing tool for the Gnostix. Through this I have met up with people like Corrupt Village Records, Blood and Jonez and Deprogrammed, Wolftown Recordings and Vicious Circle, Moorish Delta, MSI and Asylum, Yogi, Baby J, Ruckus and Hoodz Underground. Each of these people that I have met have been moving in the same ways as the Gnostix, doing gigs, organising workshops and basically trying to move it forward. There is a whole hoard of underground crews that I know from the Birmingham area that are trying to make things happen with crews like Class A, L.O.Z and Hill Camp being a few that have managed to get product into a deliverable format to my ears.

Radio stations seem to play shy of our tunes although I can boast play from local peeps such as Newstyle FM, Stingdem FM, Centre FM and Galaxy. Big props go out to the man behind the Main ingredient show DJ CRO, who has no doubt supported myself and Raze (producer) in all that we do, with appearances in the show to mark releases and spread word on products hittin' the streets soon. The work done by people like Wolftown and Corrupt Village records with magazines like RAGO is admired as it aims to help artists in similar a position to gain exposure on a street level, which in turn can become a fan base if utilised correctly. Only this year have I been signed to the On The One DJ and artist agency located in Derby, alongside Blood / Jonez and Deprogrammed, Shlomo, Yogi, Baby J as well as a host of other artists and DJ’s. This link has helped me to move my products through the setup of gigs and proposals to do workshops to keep our bills getting paid!!! In the light of artists, I have had chance to see the MSI and Asylum studio when first opened and also the brand new Seven Entertainment and Moorish Delta studio located in the Jewellery Qtr, Birmingham. I myself built a studio in my basement back in early 2003 and am now working with Bigga on his own laboratory for creation back in Tamworth in preparation for work on the new Gnostix group material.

Do you remember back before then? Who were the first UK heads that brought Hip Hop to the public?

My boy Raze is a little older than me and no doubt he is connected from day one, with Gunshot / London Posse and all other kinds of classics that litter his studio floor!! Me personally, I must say that the first Black Samurai was the first real UK shit that I had ever really put in my stereo and the thought…. Shit, there is some English dude on here! `¬? After that I downloaded some Skinnyman and also some Taskforce which if I admit out rightly, may be the record that brought it straight too me, when Wah Blow!! was a regular feature on the Radio 1 Rap Show. Although I didn’t really dig the tune and straight be looking to get that shit I kind of slept on that shit, but now blud, I’m all into that shit like some classic Nikes man!! From there I can’t explain how I have stumbled on so many artists who UK artists who got nothing but rhymes for days.

OK, what are the main club nights round your way? I remember going to the Hummingbird for a Stetsasonic gig once….

Right, My boy DJ Cro and Deadline do a regular night down at the medicine bar in Birmingham. (Heducation )The Custard Factory is the spot when it comes to Hip Hop from the West Midlands. Birmingham Bar Academy (used to be the Humming Bird) also used to hold and event that was banging along with the Raindow in Digbeth again in Birmingham. Things going on around where I am at the moment are the remnants from Off The Hook, which can be held at either the Gatehouse or the 5 lamps, both in Derby. The scene in Notts is the better equipped with venues like Isis which hosted the UK Takeover earlier this year (Westwood likes to go there) and Hiphoperation in Leicester which is only a small drive from either Tamworth or Derby.

What makes a good night out for you? Would it be a night when you were performing, or do you have a better time when you go to watch acts?

It can differ, but I generally enjoy the performance more as the whole perspective is different and can go either way to being top of the world or top of the pops!! I ain't a regular on the going out tip, as my kind of night out don’t seem to be catered for in addition to the fact that I too busy spending any many I got on my music investment! Lots of things to do also!! But straight seys, I do have to go to good events where they is playing the right kind of music etc. UK Takeover was Off the Hizzy in Notts man!!! A live act can make an evening all that in my opinion, and no doubt man that shit had a line up longer than the night that they was putting on there…..That’s a good night.

What have been the best gigs you have done and why? And have there been any mad experiences you can share with the readers?

With the features on the Deprogrammed release, I have had the chance to make moves on the guest appearance scene which has enabled me to see mad fans straight up bomb the set for a hot minute which is a nice feeling. It has also enabled me to see how good shows work with the ability to simply stand back and be a part of the show although you are able to observe the whole atmosphere and how the crowd reacts to different MCs, songs etc. A tight set that went down was @ the On the One Launch Party, @ The Gatehouse where myself and Blood did a set between us to a wild crowd that was already hyped on some Friday night shit from the acts previous to ourselves. With the release of W.F.T.R (Wordz From Tha Regiment) I have been able to showcase my solo efforts and have been able to secure top of the bill status which always helps to keep an act in check to the standard that they should be hitting with many up and coming acts pulling out energetic and effective sets to make their mark on the crowd. Bad write-ups and comments have been aimed at the Gnostix show on more than one occasion which can obviously dishearten folk, but still fuels mans to go get themselves their deserved respect in respect to the way that we made shit really happen when it comes to shows for my local crowds that end up going all night.

Is it a problem being from an area where there is, on the surface not much of a Hip Hop scene and less competition to make you raise your game? What are the bad points and what are the good things about being so far away from London where most of the UK’s music business is?

The competition shows all around no doubt I always try to keep up to date with the scene and I am always listening to new / unsigned and hungry MCs who are often in the same position as myself. With the crew Gnostix, there is always a next man doing something to keep each one on their toes with some competition between us being evident but not really addressable if you know what I mean. Simple example is that each MC wants to shine in the song, right? And I should hope so too. No doubt the London scene is so much deeper than I can ever imagine but to be honest there is a depth to the midlands and further up norf with underground crews getting their stuff out on the streets for you to pick up and compare to what your writing yourself. The business around these parts is shit and yeah, I heard so much about London and I am sure that things are really moving at pace. The time for myself may still come, as I‘m still kind of young and game for uprooting and relocating in the future. In the light of competition, maybe there isn’t enough good competition out here to get us something to bandwagon or ride fame from!!!!

What label are you connected with? You need a way of getting your music out there. Can you tell us about how the label came into existence, who runs and owns it and what the main aims of the label are?

The label that did the dark ages mixtape was Splattahouse Productionz, which is owned by Gnostix Main Producer Semantix Tha Sorcera. The release was just on a mixtape level with b/w covers a slipcase and a thermal print on the CDr Face. The distribution was on some street level, before we sent the product to a site called www.cdbaby.com. This basically established the label and the shit was selling from there, which in turn handles business with Tower Records, Apple iTunes, Rhapsody, Sony Connect, the new Napster, AOL's MusicNet, BuyMusic, Emusic, MusicMatch, and more. The label that has handled the WFTR release is Urban City Productions, which is owned and run by Raze Brooks and myself. Again the same basis is the Splattahouse Productions label, except on a larger scale making sure that all paper work gets done to make ends meet properly. The main aims of the label are to promote Gnostix and the affiliated artists through releases, tours and promotions. With the basic setup being based with myself, we are all looking for the right deal in order to take us to the next level, which in itself must be proportionally better than what I can already do off my own back.

I also was working with Alex Blood from deprogrammed productions, which will be used to release an EP consisting of sample free production that aims to stand out in a crowd of rough cut releases and recordings.

Is there anyone else in your crew we need to know about?

Well… here's the low-down.. 1. Semantix Tha Sorcera – Producer / MC – no doubt he had a review in the Crate Estate back in 2002 w/Stabbing Weapons / Semtex Semantix when we were still on some studio demo level but no doubt the production received a wicked review driving peeps to make more to fulfil the void. Responsible for the majority of the productions on the Dark Ages Mixtape as well as the cut from the WFTR 12” ‘Day of Reckoning’ he has proven his worth in the Gnostix show and no doubt he is on point with Splattahouse Productions picking up additional producers like Illiziv and the second Suspect Joe Rizzle. He has a new album coming out titled ‘Cloak’ coming out soon, sampler is available from the website. 2. Bigga (Phil Blunt) – My boy Bigga is no doubt on WFTR and can be heard all over the Dark Ages mix tape. He also appears on Friends Of The Family and WFTR with nuff quotables appearing in reviews of the material. Myself and Bigga work quite close together and therefore have a joint album titled 'The Gnow' which is available on some underground shit (Soulseek) but is still yet to hit the streets. If you have ever seen the Gnostix Video What The Rahz, then you will no doubt know this dude to be frontin with a big spliff int mouth. Biggaz album is comin soon, (delayed due to his new studio investment) titled ‘So Ghostly’ and believes its bangin man!! 3. I rank number three myself Reggiimental 4. The Agent (Ryall) – A dark star always down from day one and all in the lab on some hard graft, Can be heard on the Dark Ages Mixtape on tracks such as ‘Bass Heavy’ and ‘Call Ya Bluff’ and can be seen in the ‘Whos Tha Crew’ video. I got nuff mans comin on strong but that’s the base of Gnostix, with 5 being 3rd Degree who is on production for Whos Tha Crew as well as WFTR.

OK, so can you take us through your recording career so far? I know you have made numerous demos and there was the Well Of Souls project in 2002?

Well of Soulz was the first track from the Dark Ages which we used as a single, which in turn appeared to remain in the Crate Estate, top ten joints for a reasonable amount of time. Before the Dark Ages we made a shit load of group tracks that we used to send out to anywhere that was half interested on some 24 tracks CD shit!! After the Dark Ages we kind of been our separate ways with each artist making moves towards creating solo projects. Semantix has an album called the Great Grimiore, consisting of tracks from 1998 – 2002; I myself have WFTR 12” EP and CD LP and a mix tape of earlier tunes entitled ‘The Circles EP’. These were no major releases but we got 'em on order or free to download from the website. My self and Bigga (also known as ‘The Gnow’) also have a project between ourselves titled ‘Joe Rizzle Presents: The Gnow’ which is again floating around on programs like Soulseek and Kazaa. I must boast that in my recording history with Gnostix being a collective of four MCs, we must have made around 500+ tunes in the space of around six years which gives great listening pleasure to hear the progression as time has gets older.

Then I believe you hooked up with the Deprogrammed guys to appear on the Friends Of The Family EP. How did that come about and what was it like to work with them?

No doubt them boys is my mans. I simply met Blood and Derby University when he was on some promotional bid, a friend introduced me and I was looking for a studio to record in at the time. We did an exchange of CDs that we were each trying to promote and I hooked up to use the studio to make some demo tracks. I met Fierce on my first visit to the studio and no doubt these guys were pretty serious about their music (as well as smoking that good shit) and I simply got to know them from Blood's services. When Blood had the idea for the Friends Of Family project he called me up and asked me if id be down, (…hmmm…. Why the fuck not…..t'wud stupid to say no!!…. no doubt). From Bloods studio setup I got the idea to fix up my own lab and from there we would vibe write and record. I dig the whole Deprogrammed as a they are no doubt some innovative people who are in the right mind to strive and keep things moving forward. Working with new producers / artists can be awkward at the best of times, but I must say that Deprogrammed is like family on the real. Always pleased to work any of them mans.

Now you have the Wordz From Tha Regiment dropping with the help of Suspect-Packages. Can you break down the tracks on there and tell the punters what they can expect both in terms of beats and lyrical content?

WFTR is a collection from the work that I have done over the past 18 Months with the addition of the National Fruit track that is featured on the Deprogrammed FOTF release. Its basically a different point of view on things in word form attempting to paint pictures of our lives as we see them. From the tizzy 1.Mic Check is like an intro and believe that this is some 2001 style rap to which the improvement should be evident as the albums progresses. A strong track produced by Raze fittingly mentioning all of my crew on the hook. 2. Milestone ’82, this is a track to give you an insight to the mind of Reggiimental with the bridge explaining how the troubled mind keeps one tense and one focussed. 3. G.N.O News 24 feat Blood / Jonez and Bigga, contains a catchy sample from the U2 hit Sunday, Bloody Sunday with guest vocals from three strong MCs who hold it down on both theme and style. 4. All In The World, Al Blooberry production with a prayer theme running through expressing concern for the world state. 5. Kids Dem Straight up battle rap for the haters, biters and what ever else you wanna call then 6. Alot Of Mics, Vinyl track No2, dub shaker with fly rhymes 7. Step Ya Game Up, a statement to weak foes who keep coming with that weak shit 8. WFTR, Title track with a life living theme on how we doing in this crazy world at this point in time. 9. Study Of Biznez, Metallica based Raze Production feat some gritty street wise rap on studying the game. 10 How It Iz Now – as the title says. 11.Peoples (wat u want), a wish list in rhyme form proposing questions to MCs who is are the same boat 12. If U Admire, Raze production feat Bigga based on a Souls Of Mischief Sample also featured on Radio 1xtra Homegrown cuts 13. The Skirt – Old school track with Raze production of vocals, Midlands Bitches ain't shit 2004, 14. Grill (Grimy / Ill), Rolling baseline drivin' cross-over tune for the badmans 15.Day Of Reckoning, life incite track based on the feelings at one present time. 16. National Fruit, as featured of FOTR. 17. The Background with Semantix on both the hook and production, underground number from early 2002. 18. Semantix Tha Sorecera ‘Cloak Sampler’.

Have we missed out any other work you have done, collaborations etc. Stuff that people may not be aware of?

Not too many unfortunately man! Except that the website is host to some music videos from the Gnostix as well as appearances on the Jalporte Dubstates mixtape and The Funk On The Side Mixtape available from www.Deprogrammed.co.uk. We got a 12” Gnow EP coming up soon featuring productions from Second Suzpect / Semantix Tha Sorcera and featuring a production from Baby J. That project is gonna be called Intent To Supply and should hopefully be ready to drop at the end of this year.

You have been pretty underground and had little exposure (sorry). Is there a reason for this, have you had other things on your plate which have meant that in the past you haven’t been able to devote as much time to this as you would like, or are you working on a longer term game plan?

I’m still studying at the moment and I really can’t afford to gamble with ballzing up my education, especially when it’s costing me. I also got a mortgage to pay and with a degree in the process this can be mean working some fucking stupid hours and still trying to find time to look at your books properly. This means that I ain't even able to go all out really if your nahmsayin, but my final year is just around the corner so Sept 2005 will register myself ready to got all out like I've seen so many artists do. I really am looking to continue to work and get good money to pump into my product before dropping off from the real world and going out for the deal like a savage. I'm still on the play that artists need to make noise for themselves in order to score themselves a reasonable deal of any sort. You may never believe this shit, but I got prospects to become a teacher and to throw that away for the music can’t be done with haste like that!! The game plan is to get the setting and qualifications before I let go and go seek my destiny in this pimped out industry. The point that we have had very little promotion does keep me in the right frame of mind to keep progressing and doing as we do like some soldier shit so that when or if peeps stumble on the Gnostix, then they got a shit load to choose from, with each and every tune hitting hard and being of the hungry artist nature.

That is all a very mature attitude. What will you be doing to promote your new release?

Before the actual release I was busy planning gigs and sending out promotional copies for review / DJ use etc. and making use of Disorda to move promotional goods to corners and buyers that I myself have little chance of reaching. No doubt I got on some promotional sticker style shit wherever I got the travel with me, we also still in the habit of selling out of the boots of the car. With the signing of myself to the On The One agency DJ and Artist agency, I have been put into the mix for a lot of workshop work as well as plans for a tour and no doubt some support for Yogi on his round trip for his Bear Necessities album. With the next release featuring the Baby J production, we are aiming to get the shit into corners that it failed to get into before, especially with credits and name checks for his work with Skinnyman, Moorish Delta and M.S.I and Assylum, Black Samurai, Dead Prez and Yogi. The Intent To Supply EP is complete but still waiting on the funding to make it go the places that it needs to be. I'm also in the faces of all record shops pluggin them the vinyl and making constant use of the net to locate Urban oriented radio stations for airplay. I also have a whole remix of the WFTR project with some new tracks in production and set for release through the Coventry based 4thFront Productions.

Can you let us in on what we can expect from you in the future?

Lots of releases, especially if we get a deal, at present we are riding high with Radio 1Xtra coverage of the track ‘If U Adimire’ From the WFTR LP and featured in the 12”. If we maintain the spot in the competition for a further three weeks then you could bee looking at a Gnostix video on channel U very soon!! No doubt tho you will be hearing a lot more in the future as we only just starting to get out things moving as they should be.

Continue on to Part Two
 

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