After we spoke to Da Buze Bruvaz emcee Him Lo last year, it was only natural we should follow up with an interview with the other half of the crew. Grown Up Rap caught up with Clever 1 to talk about his new project with producer Giallo Point, Kiss Da Converse.
I’ve heard you guys use the phrase ‘bully rap’ to describe your music. Can you elaborate more on exactly what that means?
What we describe as bully rap is self-explanatory. Rap is the Verbal element of hip-hop which is the voice for who’s behind the lyrics. As we have a takeover attitude towards the art in its pristine form, we stand adamant to do this how it was originally formulated with no questions asked. So whoever is offended by our approach can come see us personally.
Similar to your partner’s recent OJ GLOVEZ album, Kiss Da Converse is produced by the excellent Giallo Point. What makes you gravitate towards his beats in particular?
Giallo Point is by far one of the illest out there. Again, he has the beat version of bully rap to a science. Also, he sticks to the formula; hard crispy drum patterns and melodic sample techniques – pure hip-hop.
Other than Giallo’s production, tell me more about the new album, Kiss Da Converse?
Expect heavy wordplay, sketchy rhyme patterns, a glimpse of street activity presented aggressively. More importantly to spread the skills around. Me and Him Lo hold it down as a duo but try to show our listeners we can hold it down as solo artists as well.
Your music often has a theme running through it, giving it a cinematic feel. Does the new project have a running story or any specific aesthetic you are trying to capture?
We always try to give our projects their individual identity. Therefore our themes can consist of actual concepts or just the metaphorical. On this one it’s more a metaphor type of thing as far as theme. I felt the villain-like character of Sho Nuff is how I can describe the way things are delivered.
As Da Buze Bruvaz, it feels like you guys release music sporadically, when you feel like it, never under any pressure – an approach I have a lot of respect for. Having said that, you’ve recently put out a lot of new music in quick succession. Are these projects you’ve had done for a while and felt now is the time, or have you both actively been making more music recently?
We stay going in the stu. We definitely have catalogues of material in which we can easily hand pick from. However we always run into new beats and beats make us want to rhyme when they’re dope, so we will always be ready to drop something fresh for our listeners.
When I interviewed Him Lo last year I asked him about how he shuns social media. I get the sense that you dislike it even more than him. How do you feel about that whole world?
The social media world has its pros and cons. I keep something running just to monitor and keep up with what’s going on. If it was up to me I would have someone designated to promote and advertise via social networks. You just gotta be careful as there’s a lot of weird people on there.
You and Him Lo have been rapping since the 80s, and he mentioned how, back then, you were more serious about rhyming than he was. Describe the local scene in the 80s.
Growing up hip-hop was top priority. Of course you had sports and clothes but if you wasn’t hip-hoppin right you was wack. I actually started out breakin and graff’n but would write rhymes in between and discovered I wasn’t bad at it. Being younger, I guess it was more in amazement to hear the others in the squad spit a rhyme, so I started living up to it. Him Lo was more of the judge commentator, master of the mix tape. We all thought he would become a DJ more than anything but he always knew how to spit ‘em. He would give you one every now and then just to show u how it was done.
Is there more new music on the way soon?
Expect us to hit ‘em off with new material. We will definitely keep it coming and will always be on attack. Salute to all the pure hip-hopperz from the golden era and all the new cats who do it for the craft.
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Kiss Da Converse is out now. Purchase it here. Keep up with Clever 1 and Da Buze Bruvaz on Twitter via MarQ Spekt. Follow Giallo Point here. Interview by Grown Up Rap Editor Ben Pedroche.