hiphoplifeandtimes

Adam Turner is a 24 year old rapper, singer/songwriter from the SouthCoast of the UK. Having previously released music & competed in numerous rap battles including a win at a Dont Flop battle, he is about to compete at the next stage of Live and Unsigned, we took some of his rehearsal time to ask him some questions about his music and the competition…..

How’s things bro? So for those that aint familiar with you, tell us a bit bout yourself and how your musical journey started?

Im now 24, (25 in may) and I started rapping when I was 14, I went through some tough times as a kid so writing down my feelings and thoughts was a good release for me, I grabbed a cheap mic and set up recording in my bedroom, anything from something deep and emotional to something funny and bizarre, and from there I started doing shows in my home town and basically trying to make a name for myself.

You use to rap under the name ‘MMT’ what was the reasons behind the name switch?

The name switch was for many reasons, I tried getting a manager from the age of 16 and everyone I contacted told me “mmt is a marketing man’s nightmare” and I was told MMT just wouldnt stand out to anyone etc, I didnt believe it and ignored it for a good few years, but the music I make is a lot of my own experiences, the way I feel, what ive done, good times and bad times ive had etc, so my music was simply explaining myself, I spent months trying to create another name, but just everything I thought of was either being used by someone else or it just didnt sound right, so I thought, why not go with my name, so for the past 2 years ive been recording as “Adam Turner”

How would you describe your music to someone who may not of heard you before?

My music is basically my life story, it captures peoples imaginations, and many people relate to what I rap about, it isnt just bars of “look how gangster I am and how big my gun is” there’s way too much of that music about, ive had people at my shows as old as 75, who can also relate to what I talk about and put in my songs, I talk about real life, real situations and issues amongst young and older people.

You recentley dropped your second studio album, had you planned a ‘pop-hop’ sounding album before recording or was this a direction the producer you were working with took you in?

Ive been making hip hop/rap music most of my career, and although there is nothing better for me than getting a banging hip hop beat and lacing it with whatever comes to mind, even though I gained a lot of respect for this and kind of made my own stamp of hip hop, I wanted to venture out of my comfort zone and make something that would be suitable for radio play, it was a bit of an experiment making some club/pop records, but I really enjoyed it and knowing its all fit for radio play and a wider audience makes me even more confident.

I’ll be honest fam,  personally I wern’t feelin the production and being as this is an underground Hip Hop site, with many passionate followers of the culture i gotta ask this question, what would you say to those readers that may criticise you for making a commercial album and ‘selling out’ the culture of Hip Hop?

I appreciate all comments and critisism, pop hop as you call it isnt everyones cup of tea, anyone who would question me for maybe selling out, I would say that is untrue in all aspects because I still make hip hop tracks just like my previous material, the cheesier pop type tracks are to simply try and get my name out there to a wider audience and for my own knowledge that I can at least “pull off” that type of music.

Ok, thats enough of the grilling! Lets talk about the present, tell us a bit bout the competition you’re currentley competing in?

Live and Unsigned is the UK’s biggest unsigned competition for all musicians, I entered last year with a hip hop track that was a bit dark and not everybodies flavour, and got a no from the judges, but this year I came back harder than ever with a really strong club/hip hop track called “who I am” and got a yes from all 4 judges. Im currently in the finals, and on the 22nd of this month I perform again at Highlight in Portsmouths Gunwharf Keys to a live audience and also some big named judges from Radio One, Kerrang, and also some other big names! Im really hoping to impress and have been practicing for the next audition ever since I got through the first round. I have to perform a cover song along with one of my own tracks, im really excited to get on stage and give it my all! I really want to win and am going to perform my heart out. The prizes consist of £10,000 cash, festival slots and loads ofother prizes aswell,  ive sold lots of tickets to loyal fans and supporters so im really hoping to get through and have a shot at winning the competition, fingers crossed!

I was feelin some of your previous material you recorded with US producer Sinima, do you have any plans off working with him again in the future?

I have just joined a team called “Execution Music” their C.E.O Tim Ross is such an excellent guy and ive been following his production for years, so to finally work with him is an amazing opportunity for me, Tim works closely with Production company Shadowville Productions, which SINIMA is a part of, so il be doing more work with him, I still speak often and have regular contact with Sinima, my mixtape due for release later this year, more than 10 of the beats on there SINIMA produced, so he still plays a big part in my music and I plan on working with him for a very long time to come.

Are there any producers that have inspired you as a listener that you’d like to work with in the future, or any rappers you’d like to collaborate with?

Labrinth is an amazing producer, along with Wiley and also N-Dubz Fazer, as for collabs, id love to collab with Edd Sheeran, Dappy, Pro Green and Clement Marfo.

Id also love to work with artists such as Black The Ripper, K-Koke, Devlin, P-Money, Wiley, and loads more!

Apart from the competition what does the rest of 2012 have in store for you?

Ive got lots in store for 2012, a fresh mixtape, a new album, and also joining Execution Music has opened a lot of doors for me.

Finally, Where do you see yourself 5years from now within music, what are you’re hopes and dreams?

In 5 years from now, i hope ive made it and achieved major success, even if i just had the whole of the UK knowing who Adam Turner is, would be amazing for me, id LOVE music to be my work, and earn a good living of the privilidges of being a proffesional musician, its my passion and my life, I plan on working my butt off until i get to where i want to be!

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, all the best for the rest of the year, anything you’d like to add that we may have missed or anyone ya wanna give a shoutout to?

Id like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me and had faith in me and my music over the years, from my super girl who pushes me hard daily, to my mum who has supported me from day one, to my little daughter who has been an inspiration to me and willed me to carry on, and of course the fans that have travelled up and down the country to see me perform and played a big part in getting my name spread! thank you!

 

Adam’s album ‘Life In Lyrics’ is available to purchase from bandcamp and iTunes

www.facebook.com/adamturnerukmusic

twitter: @adamturneruk

http://www.soundcloud.com/adamturneruk

http://www.youtube.com/mmtukhiphop