hiphoplifeandtimes

Birmingham, the second city, has always produced good quality Hip-Hop for years now, but there is one camp that is really making waves. The label & movement known has Jailhouse Records, headed by rapper & producer Sir Tomz has just dropped their debut album, a label compilation called ‘Lockdown’ as well as dropping music videos that have had over 4000 hits on You Tube. Their grind seems relentless and their passion for music is immense. We sent Tricksta to get this exclusive interview for us.

Hi Tomz, hope you’re good. So for those that don’t know you or maybe think you’re a new artist can you tell us about your previous affiliation with Big Dada Records and what else you’ve achieved in music before you started Jailhouse?

Sup Tricksta, I’m good fam.  Yeah; to some I’m a new artist, but the fact is I been making Hip Hop from time.  I can go back to the year 2000 for my first official recording that actually made it to release. The track was Titled “Supreme Confidence” on Gammas first album called “Permanament” released on Big Dada Records.  Shout Out To Blackitude, Juice Aleem, Lord Redeemer and M3 because they made that happen.   But to answer your question, before starting Jailhouse these are my most creditable achievements:

Featured on Track “Supreme Confidence” released on Gammas first album called “Permanament”; released on Big Dada Records (2000).

Produced a Roots Manuva Remix “Bashment Boogie” released on Big Dada Records Compilation “Extra Yard”.(2002)

Produced Gamma Ft Shadowless “Killer Apps” released on Big Dada Records as a single and on the Compilation Album “Extra Yard” (2002).

Produced Infinite Lives “No More Bannanas” released on Big Dada Records Compilation “Extra Yard” (2002).

Track selected for Compilation CD “Westwood UK Hip Hop 2002 Vol: 1”; Track “Sky Fall” produced by “Joe Buhdha”; released on Trust The DJ Records (2002).

Produced Infinite Lives “U Get Di Seed”; Single “Sum fink 4 Nafink” released on Big Dada Records (2003).

Produced Infinite Lives “Coco Pilot”; on the Album “Bush Meat” released on Big Dada Records (2004).

Produced Nih’illi (Nihiliss’sis) “Bounce”; on the “Freeness Compilation Album” released on Ice Box / Blacktronica (2005).

Produced Tesha King “Believe”; on the “Freeness Compilation Album” released on Ice Box / Blacktronica (2005).

Produced Juice Aleem “Who Is He”; released on his first solo album “Jerusalaam Come”; released on Big Dada Records (2009)
 
The videos on You Tube have blown up the spot, with both videos getting over 4000 views, which for two tracks that are ‘remixes’, I think that’s superb! It’s obvious you have an underground fanbase that is feeling your music. How important are your fans to you?

Those videos were for the fans.  Some of the fans had the music, and they requested the visuals.  To add a little twist we remixed 5 album tracks on Industry beats; and ended up recording videos to “Lockdown” and “The Struggle”.  In this day and age, visuals are so important.  The fans wanted to see the full package, so we put 2 videos together for them.  What the fans want, the fans get.  That’s how important the fans are to me.

The album sounds really good, I found it very inspirational. You talk on various topics and it seems you do so with certain wisdom. For those that haven’t heard the album yet how would you describe the album lyrically and conceptually?

Thanks Tricksta; I know you know a lot about Hip Hop so that’s big.  I like to share what little knowledge I have, so lyrically and conceptually this particular album is my interpretation of what an authentic Hip Hop album is.  We deal with relevant topics and issues and bring them into the realm of discussion, the usual poverty that become’s most inner cities, street life realities, social corruption, injustice, deception.  The objective is to make you think and nod with hard subjects delivered creatively. I’d describe this album of music as creative, animated, enjoyable, informative, relaxing and intense.  Its real music fuelled by life, experience and emotion with skilled diverse stories, hooks, topics and beats.  Check it out!

The production is amazing too. Did you produce the whole album?

I’m getting a few compliments today,  lol.  Other than track 15 – “I Amaze Myself” which was produced by Nih illi.  Shout Out to Nih illi, she got mad skills.  Yeah I produced the whole album, I got beats for days. 

Yeh it’s got some great ideas that are executed well. You seem to have inspiration from that Three Six Mafia/No Limit/Cash Money era, with lashings of New York styled musicality’s that you can hear in older DMX, Styles P and Mobb Deep tracks. Would I be near in my estimations of your influences?

You would be correct in your estimations but let me add a little more, because I do like what’s going on in Hip Hop currently.  I’m not always down with the lyrical content but I do like the music, the swagga and the delivery of a lot of the newer Hip Hop.  You might be supprised but I listen to acts like Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Beenie Segal, Jada and Drake too lol.

The label has some great acts, but for those that don’t know can you tell us exactly who is in Jailhouse and what you think each member brings to the table?

Other than me the Jailhouse roaster currently consists of:

Nih illi:  The ultimate combination & fusion of the Soul/ R&B/ Hip Hop.  A real powerhousein the game, she is about to GLOW.

Cyrus:  A Real Brum Town Soldier.  His talent is as raw as it comes, uncut real deal street barz and production to match.  Watch Out.

Blackitude:  A straight veteran in the game; my Gamma / Shadowless connect.  He is a wizard, he do Web, Graphics, Production, Promotion and Barz. 

Juice Aleem:  A straight Legend in the game; he is also straight my Gamma / Shadowless connect.  He is a lyrical genius, a true MC.  If put him to the test, he don’t need a pen or a pad.

So the album is out now right? Is it a CD release or is a digital release?

Yeah the album is out right now as a digital release on Itunes http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lockdown/id434152916 . 

I do have some CD hard copies that I sell or give away by hand.

Sounds like a mad question, but why do you think people should buy this album?

This album is worth a purchase.  If you want to listen to your music and get more than just a head nod from it, you need “Lockdown”.  Its a classic album, the missing link in this Hip Hop game.

What plans do you have for the future, any new releases, another album, more videos, any gigs?

I got many plans for the future.  We started on the new mixtape and its getting so deep I might have to let off 2 mixtapes.  We are working with a Top Industry producer for a couple a tracks and some UK and French production on a few others.  The rest will be produced by us. Nih illi is working on here album, that’s gunna be crazy.  And Cyrus working on his mixtape, that’s gunna be straight fire!!

I’ve also hooked up with a few independent artists; so get ready for some Jailhouse Presents EP’s in the near future.  We Working Over Here!!

Okay well thanks so much for your time and good luck with all future releases fam!Word Up Tracksta. Thanks for the Hook Up!

Interview by Tricksta

There are a few people in the UK scene who never really get the props they deserve. Me personally, I think Stealf is one of those people. A talented producer and now CEO of his own DeFacto Entertainment imprint, Stealf is repping real Hip-Hop both sides of the pond and has worked with some of Hip-Hop’s biggest names.

How you doing bro, first up I want to say big up on the last two EP’s by Mr. Flix (UK) and Jackitdown Brown (USA). There’s some tight production on those projects, tell us about how long it made to get these EP’s done?

Thanks, Both artists really bought their A Game on these EP’s so I had to step up too, and I’m really proud of both of them. It’s always good to work with Jackitdown too, he’s a real professional, he does exactly what he says and he delivers every time. In my opinion, he’s got one of the most distinctive flows I’ve heard for a while too. Flix was an unreleased artist, so Conceptualized Deceit was his debut project, and it was a real honour to be the producer he chose to over see the entire project. Both EP’s took about 3 months to get done, I think Flix got his done slightly quicker, but we did have to arrange the Kool G Rap collabo on Beats & Rhymes. Jackitdown didn’t sit there waiting though, he went and shot a video for I’m Real in the mean time lol

Did you find it interesting doing one with a UK act then one with an Us act? Were there any main differences between the two attitudes of the artists approach to music?

It was real interesting, mainly because I was expecting some differences, but there weren’t any really. They both worked hard, they both delivered when they said they would and they both have the same passion and focus. I think, regardless of where you’re from, when you have the passion to make music, and music you love, the grind is the same.

The Mr Flix EP also featured St. Laz, a true underground New York vet who has appeared on as many tracks as 2Pac! What was that experience like?

Laz is a real hard working guy, and he was more than ready to get involved. I had done a track previously with Laz and I knew his work ethic, and it was the same with this project. There were some delays, but that was down to communication issues, it didn’t hold up the EP though. Like you said, he’s appeared on as many tracks as Pac, so that alone tells you the guy aint messing about.

The Jackitdown Brown featured Kool G Rap. That must have been a nice feeling and ticked a box in the ‘must do before I die’ box!!! Lol. Tell us more about that fam.

That was epic for me. I’m a real big fan of the old school hip hop, so be offered the chance to have Kool G feature on a Stealf produced EP was a no brainer for me. Jackitdown arranged it, he dropped me a message one day asking if I wanted to produce a track for him featuring Kool G Rap, and I wasn’t about to turn that down. Originally it was meant for Beats & Rhymes Vol. 2, but we just wanted to add something special to vol.1.

So you dropped your singe which featured Nu jersey Devil, that’s a big tune bro, and then you dropped the video track with Clas-Sick. Will there be any other singles or videos dropping from the album?

Rain Bring Pain did really well for me and introduced a lot of people to Stealf and Killer MC with Clas-Sick helped the UK heads hear more of my work too. The album has stalled a bit, so there will be one more single released before the album go out, but I’m not saying which track yet though.

Now I know I’m one of the lucky guys who have actually heard the album and I got to say it’s a corker! What are the plans with it now release wise?

It’s still definitely coming. I’ce recently had a number of artists ask me to produce EP’s for them, so I held the album back and wanted to drop these EP’s to help get the name out there a bit more before the album drops. Beats & Rhymes Vol. 2 will be coming too, but the album is a sort of holding que until I think the time’s right to release it. It won’t change from the version you’ve heard, there’s no more work to be done on it either, it’s purely down to timing now.
 
For those that don’t know can you tell us the name of every vocalist on your album?

There’s not quite as many as your album Tricky (LOL!), but here goes…Manny Moscow, Late, Deeze, Konny Kon of Broke N English, Jadakiss, Sir Mic, Cyclonious, Wordsmith, Black Knight, Kontact, Suus, Jackitdown Brown, Ruste Juxx, Dap C, Phil Ashmore, Nu JerZey Devil, Parv, H.O.O.D. Fellaz, Joell Ortiz, Capital R, Clas-Sick, Carolyn Yates, 40 Glocc, Bo Roc & R H Bless…phew!

Haha! There’s still loads of ptalent there family! lol. So what else are you working on at the moment, production and with the label?

Production wise I’m working on Beats & Rhymes Vol. 2, I got another EP with a new artist that should go in to production early October, I’m also working on the new installment of my OST Instrumental series which will be called “Sweeny Tood – The Demon Beatmaker Of Fleet Street” and I’m getting a stack of beats ready for a trip to NY at the end of October. De Facto will be releasing an EP from Chicago rapper Solomon D’ Augustine called “The Artful Dodgers EP” which features 8 tracks as well as the 8 instrumentals too, and then I’m planning to get a mini-album put together with Clas-Sick. It’s all go.

The Hip-Hop scene seems saturated at the moment, but out of all the artists you’ve been checking out from the mainstream and the underground, who do you think is making the best music?

I can’t stop checking out Premiers stuff all the time, he’s timeless and he’s still making the hip hop I love. Wu Tang’s new album Legendary Weapons has been getting a lot of play too, they still make that realness. I gotta give it up for the indie guys too, cos people like Jackitdown, Deeze, Clas-Sick and Tabanacle are still delivering hip hop that is sadly missing from hip hop.

Okay before you go can you give us one production tip for any up and coming producers please?

The best piece of advice I could give would be to develop your own sound. Imitation is not flattering when it comes to production. You’re not gonna stand out or get heard if you’re making generic boom bap beats, or using the same Triton sounds that every producer uses. Finding your own sound involves every part of the recording process too, from the source material all the way through to the mastering, so there’s countless ways to find your own niche

Interview by Tricksta

Connect with Stealf:
www.stealftheproducer.com
www.defactoentertainment.co.uk
www.reverbnation.com/stealf
www.soundcloud.com/stealf
www.twitter.com/stealf
www.facebook.com/pages/Stealf-The-Producer/138192169527382

Check out these music videos (all tracks produced by Stealf)