Over the weekend we caught up with a few of the guys from the EIGHT (!!) man strong UK South West (Weston Super-Mare to be exact!) based group Tectonic Plates. If you live in the South West and have good taste in music then chances are you’ve heard of these guys, if not then consider this interview a little taster into the world of Tectonic Plates. We’ve been wanting to pin down these guys for time as we all feel they deserve more exposure and attention. Enjoy! Thanks once again to the guys for doing this.

For those not in the know could you give us a description of yourself and a little history of how you got into hip-hop?

[Kaos Theory] I’ve been listening to Hip hop half my life, got into it through my Dad playin’ NWA and alot of Ska music. Became part of the group around 2006.

[Matchstick] Got into Hip hop through my brother playing Wu-Tang Clan a lot. To begin with I didn’t get it but started to discover other artists, especially when we first got Sky TV and used to record MTV base whilst I was at school.

[Satch] Before I was into Hip Hop I used to go round Matchsticks’ as a kid, and his brother was always listening to ‘Wu-Tang Forever’ (hellz wind staff being the particular track). I was instantly drawn in to the music I was hearing for the first time, which lead me to discovering other artists and sound, before making the natural progression to practice making music myself.

How would you as rappers describe yourselves in the sense of what do you usually address or talk about within your music? Or is it simply anything goes?

[Match] For me, I try to keep it technical with style and flow. I don’t like sounding too robotic or generic. I’ve covered alot of topics in my time writing, and I’m always try to keep open and versatyle with subjects. In last few years I’ve developed a deeper sense of self so I’m always trying to come up with some kind of message that’s more relevant regardless of era…

[Satch] There’s no method to my madness….

What would you say were your influences? Other rappers or other things?

[Match] Some of my biggest influences are M.O.P, Dead Prez, Shady, Wu, DMX, Mobb Deep, House of Pain, Luda…all the regular heads that were big throughout the 90s…but when I stumbled on the UK scene that’s when it all changed for me…

[Satch] My influences are artists like…Wu Tang, Redman, Big Pun, Big L, J-5, Eminem, Klasnhnekoff, Jehst, Genesis, Task Force…John Lennon, Bob Marley, James Brown…But I also draw alot of influence from films and stand-up comedies.

Coming from the South West how would you say that that scene is developing and yourself along with it?

When we were starting off we didn’t even see what was going on around us (musically) we were oblivious to it. Soon enough CDs we were making for friends were reaching Bristol and other areas and people were loving it! We started meeting alot of Bristol artists when we went out to gigs or open mic nights, so it’s been wicked seeing local heads progress over the years.

What are some projects you’re currently working on?

The Mercalli Scale, a Compilation album, Satchman’s solo album ‘So Low’, and -solo project from Matchstick, 2012 will be the year for releases…

What are your plans for this next year? And shout outs?

Next year we will be GIGGING……If you want us to play at your venue, email us at techtonicplatesttp@gmail.com

SHOUT OUTS

…Big thanks for the interview, to everyone showing us love and listening, and also a BIG shout to Lash…watch out for F.T.L.T…..PEACE!

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