On our never ending quest to find the best underground talent, Finebeats this week caught up with an upcoming artist by the name of Ego Trip, an emerging talent who has already shown that he is serious and has alot to offer the Hip Hop world.
Finebeats: First Up can you give the Finebeats faithful a quick introduction to let us know who you are and where ya comin out of .
I go by the name Ego Trip, representing Hi-Risk Records. I'm from Consett, Co. Durham but I'm currently living in North Wales
Finebeats: What was the first Hip Hop track you remember hearing ?
I used to listen to anything with a rap in even if it was by 5ive, the boy band lol but the first hip hop track I remember is Jump Around by House of Pain, who doesn't know that track lol. But when I was starting out writing rap music it was Eminem's My Name Is. I think I was about 13 when that came out, the song had me in stitches.
Finebeats: Who or what inspired you to start creating Hip Hop ?
I always loved writing poems in school, and I grew up in a family who worked for The Salvation Army so I was always there with them, believe it or not. I learnt how to play brass instruments and also read music scrips which gave me an ear for music. It wasn't until I got to College that I decided to try my hand at rapping. It was a lad by the name of Michael Taylor (Mad Dog) who told me I should take it seriously after hearing me in a corridor! Unfortunatly he passed away tragically a few years ago so he hasn't got to see how well the music is developing. So I'd have to say he's my biggest inspiration. Music wise it would be lyrical artists such as Talib Kwali, Mos Def, Eminem of old, Nas, Reks, Sha Stimuli, Bekay etc. I love their poetry.
Finebeats: Who are your biggest influences in music ?
My biggest influence would be my good friend and mentor Stu-Tay. We've had this dream drawn out for some time now and he has never once given up on me, well not that I know of anyway lol. The guys knowledge on the genre is second to none, he knows what's gonna work and what needs scrapping. His honesty is his best asset, its turned me into a much better artist.
Finebeats: If you were to describe your style to someone who had never heard your music how would you describe it ?
I'd like to think my music is thought provoking and real. I enjoy painting pictures for people in my songs and making them feel how I felt when making the particular record. I have that rough rugged and sound style but its smoothed over by witty wordplay and catchy chorus'
Finebeats: What is your favourite track that you have created so far and why ?
Wow! Erm! Either Toy Box which features CeeJay from Click22 or So Far, So So. Toy Box because the flow is so bouncy and it talks about getting a record deal in the form of toys. On the first verse its a clown puppet followed by a verse about a ballerina in a music box, and the 3rd verse is like a conclusion of why it could be a bad thing getting signed. Plus CeeJay's vocals in the hook are amazing. So Far ,So So is a more person song. I wrote it my bedroom one night after getting a bad review on a free album I put out. It talks about how i need to stop thinking I'm bigger than everybody else, concentrate on my own work and never give up no matter what happens. I also sent that track to Sha Stimuli and he said it was a real nice track. That put a smile back on my face lol.
Finebeats: Do you have any superstitions or set patterns you stick to when you are creating music ?
I always create track lists before I start on a project! Don't ask me why coz I don't know lol. I guess I do it to see what the overall album or mixtape is gonna look like and sound like. I never stick to the original track list though so its kind of pointless lol but yeah that's what I do lol
Finebeats: Who have you worked with so far ?
So far I've worked with Hip Hop duo Click22 (Prospekt & CeeJay) who are also a part of Hi Risk. I actually taught Prospekt how to rap and to see the level that he's at now is amazing! I've also worked with Brinkworth aka Double E, MK a london based rapper and a few artists from the states such as Sikadime who's linked with Cypress Hill, Jizzle and Elliot Ruckus (look out for her). I've also got a track coming featuring Block McCloud from AOTP, hopefully Tah Mac and Mister Flix
Finebeats: Is there anybody in particular that you would like to work with ?
Yeah, Sha Stimuli is a person who I've been following for some time now, so he'd be at the top of my list. I'd also love to work with Tricksta on some stuff. He'd defiantly take me back to my hip hop roots
Finebeats: What can we expect to see from you in 2012 ?
Hopefully a lot. I have a few projects in the works at the minute including a joint EP with Click22 called "#NoBrakes", a solo EP called "Back To My Roots" which is a pure underground hip hop EP and my debut album "The Establishment" which I'm hoping will be out round summertime. I'm also putting together a mixtape of North East artists called "The Slept On Region" too many people sleep on the north, we have some crazy rhymers
Finebeats: Have you had any recent airplay or any live performances recently ?
Yeah I've been played on local radio both in wales and back home in the North East area. I wanna thank everyone who supports the music I post out to radio stations/ blogs etc. big or small, every play counts because you never know who's tuned in. I didn't perform as much as I'd of liked to last year but I did manage to headline 2 nights at a venue called Central Station in Wrexham, which was named the best live venue in North Wales by Karrang Magazine, so that was special. Apart from that I just did sets at little nights here and there.
Finebeats: Can you tell us a little more about any upcoming projects you have on the go, and who is involved ?
My "Back To My Roots EP" is an EP I've been wanting to do for a while, concentrating more on lyrics than trying to find hooks for radio play. You could say its going to be my underground release. I'm hopefully going to be doing a joint EP with Brinkworth which will be crazy, that guy makes people raise their games whenever he's on something. Hopefully going to be doing a track with Late from Wolftown which will be crazy because his work ethnic is amazing, the guy never stops.
Finebeats: Do you have any links we can use for Hip Hop lovers to check out your work ?
www.thisisego.com
www.facebook.com/thisisego
www.soundcloud.com/egotriphrcvr
www.reverbnation.com/egotriphr
Also follow me on Twitter @ThisIsEgo
Finebeats: Many thanks for your time, please feel free to leave any closing comments alongside any shoutouts that you might want to include.
Thanks for the interview, it means a lot. I appreciate everyone who allows me to promote my stuff. Just wanna give a quick shout out to my Hi Risk Team, Stu-Tay and Click22. Also I wanna give shout outs to Brinkworth, Young G, Anabolic, Pegz, Aeon, Reg Regis, Skrufz, Chris 4Sit, Text Offenders, Rick Fury, Mister Flix, Elliot Ruckus, Sean Stiles and his team, Tricksta and Late... Who ever I missed (Your Name Here)
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