With Mr. 13’s new release ‘Firts Featuring’ now doing the rounds, as well as a new music video featuring Supar Novar & Big Frizzle, as well as working some of the UK’s most respected producers such as 7th Dan, Beat Butcha, Deadman Walkn, Nutty P, Jabba Tha Kut and more, everything’s go for this London rapper. We had to get this interview.
Easy Firts, thanks for doing this interview. So how’s it going with the album? It looks like the response has been good!
My pleasure, thanks for your time. Yea I’m very happy with the feedback the album has got from my peers, and well respected people in the UK Hip Hop scene such as yourself. I’m still trying to get it out to as many of the listening public as possible, and will continue to do so for the rest of the year, as I think a project with this much underground talent on it should be a must have in anyone’s UK Hip Hop collection.
There’s loads of guests on the album (hence the name of the title) and a lot of talent on there. Did this mean it took a long time to make?
I’d say it took roughly 6 months to complete in it’s entirety. Which isn’t bad I guess given there is 20 MC’s featured on the project and 9 Producers. There where some stressful times as the deadline for it’s Friday the 13th of May release date, but I want to thank everyone who took time out to be involved with the project.
7th Dan’s production is all over this and he smashes it. How did you hook up with him?
I have been working with 7th for a couple of years now. We met originally through a mutual friend on Facebook. 7th also mixed and mastered the project, and in my eyes is a top UK Hip Hop Producer and Engineer. I’m definitely looking to work with a lot of different talented Producers, but 7th Dan will always be featured on my future work.
Good to see Cons & Cobane up on there too, I’m feeling The Colony and what they do. Have you known Cons long and how did you meet?
I agree, The Colony definitely have a lot of good music on their C.V. I’ve known Cons probably a little over a year. 7th Dan has worked with him throughout his career, and he introduced us at a studio session one time. I’m a person who goes with my gut feeling about people when I meet/work with them, and Cons has always come across as one of the most genuine people I’ve met in the ‘game’. Cobane is very good peoples as well so it was only natural for me to reach out to them for Firts Featuring.
There’s a whole help of rappers on the project like Loudmouth Melvin, Big Cakes, Cyclonious, Phoenix Da Icefire, Iron Braydz, Supar Novar, Pyro Barz, etc, but out of all the tracks on there, which one do you think come out the best?
Ooooh, your putting me on the spot here haha. I’d say different tracks suit different moods for me, but my overall favourites would have to be ‘Let It Rain Ft Supar Novar & Big Frizzle Prod By Wizard’, and ‘Flow Fitness Ft Loudmouth Melvin & Pyro Barz Prod By Wizard’. ‘Let It Rain’ is the type of track I love making. There’s a reflective type of vibe to it that really inspires me to write about very real issues that I think a lot of people can relate to. ‘Flow Fitness’ is just so fun to listen to for me! Loudmouth Melvin and Pyro Barz are definitely 2 of my favourite MC’s right now and they have a good chemistry on tracks. So for me to add a little something to that, and for it to just blend in nicely, it was a happy moment for me.
Loving the new video with Supar Novar & Big Frizzle. That video came out real nice man; you must be chuffed with it?!
Thank you! Yea I was extremely happy with the video. All credit to GlobalFaction for their great work on the Directing/Editing. For me they are 1 of the best youtube channels promoting positive UK Hip Hop right now, and it was a pleasure to work with someone so professional.
How important are videos to artists these days do you think?
I think it’s very important to put a face to your name if you want people to buy into what your doing. Plus these days so many people treat Youtube like a jukebox. All of the music they listen to comes through that website, so if you haven’t got a strong presence on there it’s east to slip under a lot of people’s radar.
So as well as a rapper, you’re also a radio deejay too right? Tell us more about that.
Yes I am. My show alongside DJ Bones promoting UK Hip Hop has definitely helped me build up some great contacts throughout the UK scene, and I’d like to think people know myself and DJ Bones for promoting up and coming artists without any politics or hidden agenda’s. You can listen to our show on http://www.WeAreBANG.com or 103.6fm every Thursday night 10pm-1am. Radio is something I really enjoy doing and has always been a great way to get my voice heard. It can sometimes be hard balancing trying to promote my career as an MC, and promoting a hole genre, but for the most part to two jobs can run in tandem and benefit each other.
Don’t you also host and interview people for a You Tube channel too?
Yes myself and DJ Bones are also know as ‘2 Skinny Guys And A Camera’. We have got over 200 videos on our channel, and have had the pleasure of catching up with some of the most talented Hip Hop artists the country has to offer. Please stop by http://www.youtube.com/djbonesandmr13 to see me interview the likes of Wretch 32, K Koke, Lowkey, Akala, Mic Righteous, Mystro, Rodney P, and many many more. We have also interviewed international artists such as, J.Cole, Joell Ortiz, Saigon, Homeboy Sandman, and more.
So how long have you been releasing music now and what have you released to date?
Well my 1st release was ‘My Life Life Rhymes’ on 13/4/08. Since then I’ve released ‘Head Rush’, ‘Smokers C.O.F.’, ‘Boiling Point’, ‘Firts Featuring”, ‘Best Of Firts’ and my latest release as part of a collective ‘Red Tape’.
Are these titles still available to get?
The 1st few can be downloaded for free at http://www.mediafire.com/mr13 the latest projects can be found at http://www.mr13.bandcamp.com
You play live to quite a lot, any gigs coming up?
Not in the very near future, but I’m sure there will be towards to end of the year. I need to get back into the studio and start working on my next release for now.
Okay before you go, do you wanna shout out anyone?
Well firstly yourself for continuing to promote good UK Hip Hop artists. My family for always being there for me. My boy DJ Bones for always giving me an honest opinion and believing in our vision. Dr Psycho for always giving me a kick up the arse to work harder. Everyone who contributed their time and/or free beats to Firts Featuring. Everyone that has taken the time out to go and download it. All the people that did what they could to spread to word on the project when it dropped. Thanks to the top UK MC’s who have taken the time to let me know they like what I’m doing. Lastly thanks to all the Blogs who have supported my work this year.
Interview by Tricksta
Download all of Mr. 13’s music from:
www.mr13.bandcamp.com
Follow Mr.13 on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/firts
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