CooLikeDat Exclusive: Interview w/ Phaze One!

This is an exclusive CooLikeDat Interview @ThisIsPhazeOne Check out this preview and check out the full interview in the March/April Issue of CooLikeDat Magazine! 

     Who Is Phaze One?

-A rapper from London City.

How did you get the name Phaze One

-It means the first step, the first stage. I found regardless what I was doing, whenever I was at that first stage, I had the most drive and most hunger to do well. It's easy to lose that drive after time passes, so Phaze One is about maintaining those attributes you only get at that stage.

Where are you from originally?

-My mum is from Mauritius and my pups is from Dominica. Mixraced is the future right?

How did you get into rapping?

-I think it happened very naturally. I always liked creative things. I used to like drawing but was never good at it. Tried poetry but I didn't enjoy it. I started to write rhymes, felt like it was the only way I could enjoy expressing myself creatively. As soon as I delved into rapping I got hooked, engulfed in it. I had my moment of clarity.

How do you maintain your style of gritty and lyrically rap?

-I think every rapper is a product of who they listen too. I maintain my style by listening to good music, good rappers.

How does it feel to be a part of something that originated in a completely different country from you’re from?

-It's not something I really think about. I think more about the fact that no mc from London has really gone to America and had that massive impact. Slick Rick don't count!

Do you think there is a difference between the state of Hip Hop in London and in the states?

-Not too much. I think everything America does the UK mirrors. The problem with that is the majority of the time America does it first, then we come with a bullshit version of it. We've got our own culture, own accent etc etc, it's cool to take inspiration from others, but if you're not doing you, its never gonna work out.

Who are some of your main influences?

-Biggie Smalls, J Dilla, Madlib, Slick Rick, Pete Rock, Eminem when he made infinite, some old skool Redman, Common and Busta Rhymes. All of the early Deathrow westcoast stuff. I can go on for days!

Do you have a top 5 MC’s List?

-This list changes everyday, its undecided! There are so many factors to consider but I'd say:
- Biggie
- Oldskool Eminem
- Elzhi of Slum Village
- Pharoah monch
- Nas

Phaze One Freestyle [Video]

Here's a new freestyle from London rapper, Phaze One. Look out for a CooLikeDat Exclusive Interview with Phaze One coming on the blog AND March/April issue of CooLikeDat Magazine!

"The only emcee's that could stop me ain't livin'"

Hol Dat | Phaze One [Mixtape]

London rapper @ThisIsPhazeOne delivers seven tracks on the debut mixtape ‘Hol Dat’ in his trademark slick flow. Honing his craft in Hip Hop, Phaze possesses a song writing capability and vocal delivery that’s unparalleled – just read some the comments on his YouTube videos.

 Freestyle Check Yourself! over Madlib’s ‘Another Gateway’ kicks off the mixtape and is an all out blitz on rivals. Inhale Breathecomes with that classic hip-hop sound and is uplifting and playful, featuring some of the cleverest word play around.

Overnight samples Twista’s ‘Celebrity Overnight’ and like Inhale Breathe is produced by Crankz. It’s where Phaze turns the spotlight on himself, reflecting on what’s gone and what’s coming in his music and life.

Blue Cheese Commandments pays homage to one of Phaze’s all time favorites; ‘Ten Crack Commandments’ produced by DJ Premiere and received it’s seal of approval by DJ Semtex after featuring it on his website. 

Phaze observes the life of a regular Joe from his streets on the melancholic All Good followed by the dubstep infused and Von Dee produced Show Me, illustrating a personal account of a destructive relationship.

The curtain call is Old Skool Music and is the rapper’s underlining statement on what’s to follow this mixtape and his uncompromising take on music.

Where does Phaze fit into the scene? It’s not about that… fair play to those at the pop end and those at the hard end of what has become the UK urban movement (or Team UK if you prefer) but this is less about scenes, sales and stars – it’s about taking Hip Hop back to it’s real form. For more information check out:

 Myspace.com/thisisphazeone

www.youtube.com/thisisphazeone

 Phazeone.bandcamp.com 

 General enquiries: van.skoric@gmail.com / 07590 757 079