winter meal deal - Now Then

Dr Syntax made his name in 2003 with Foreign
Beggars on the quasi-classic UK hip hop
magnum opus Asylum Speakers. Since then
he’s toured the world, supported Wu Tang
Clan, the Pharcyde and People Under the
Stairs, made a solo album and formed various
collaborations. Now Then chatted to the Doc
about past success and future promise.
NOW THEN: First off, what got you in to emceeing?
I’m from Oxfordshire, a proper little village out in the
sticks, so I had a lot of time on my hands. Watching MTV
Rap and MTV Base and listening to Westwood’s radio show
led to me getting obsessed with hip hop. This was a time
when people weren’t really listening to hip hop, especially
where I’m from, so it was new, exciting, deviant. I started
listening to Public Enemy, NWA and Big Daddy Kane, people
with a very rebellious message. So I started writing little
kiddy raps and it went from there. My attitude towards it is
just to be myself and to speak on things that I find amusing
or important. I feel like as long as I can have an interesting
conversation with someone about a topic, I can try writing
a rap about it. I’m going to sound like David Brent here, but
I’m just an entertainer.
NT. Your most recent album is called ‘Self Taught’ as
well, that’s a nod towards the way you developed
early on, isn’t it?
Yeah, the name does reflect my background in the
country and having limited exposure to things. You’ve got
kids now whose parents are playing them Dr Dre, so they
see it as normal, but I had to go out and find it.
NT. Foreign Beggars’ Asylum Speakers kickstarted
your career. How did you get involved with them?
In 2003 the hip hop scene in this country was very
different. There were nights going on in cities all over the
country, sometimes two or three a week. Me and a few
friends were totally hungry and got up at every open mic
night we could. I’ve got to give props to Pavan (Orifice
Vulgatron) - he was the ringleader of the whole thing. I
bumped into him because he was just all over the scene,
everywhere in London. Foreign Beggars’ timing was perfect,
they had something fresh. There are loads of guests on that
album because it reflected a close-knit scene. It was great
fun. Everyone’s old and bitter and jaded now, though(!)
NT. You’re part of the Beer and Rap Roadshow with
Stig of the Dump. Your sense of humour seems to
be a key element of the collaboration , was that
intentional?
Yeah, semi-intentional. When we started touring there
was a lot of serious, po-faced hip hop. I’ve got nothing
against ‘serious’ music, but for people outside the scene
it looked like no-one was having any fun. Me and Stig are
serious about having emcee skills, but we just want to get
up there and have a laugh. We’ve also got DJ Manipulate
on board now, who’s absolutely ridiculous at cuts and
scratching. We’re trying to incorporate these different
elements into our show, along with some freestyle sections.
I learnt a lot about putting together a proper show from
touring with Foreign Beggars.
NT. You’ve just released ‘Breathe’, a collaboration
with Skrein under the name Skreintax. How did that
come about?
It’s been a long time coming. We were both touring
with Foreign Beggars and just started writing together on
the tour bus. We’ve got different styles and approaches
but I think it ties together quite well. Our first album, Scene
Stealers is out next month, with productions from Dag
Nabbit and Nutty P and guest appearances from Stig, Sir
Smurf Lil’ and Metropolis, among others. It’s a nice little
package. It was due for release in a previous incarnation
a few years ago, but there were label politics, and then we
both did our solo albums...
NT. Your verse in ‘Breathe’ is about the environment.
Is that something you feel strongly about?
It’s something everyone should feel strongly about
because it’s so fucked up, but it’s not something I profess
to be an expert on. Also if you look at the whole album,
there are parts where we’ve come up with a subject and
both approached it completely differently. I don’t like to
get too preachy when I’m rapping, like I know something
you don’t. Being a big fan of people like Sage Francis and
Aesop Rock - people who take an authoritative tone - I think
it’s interesting, but you have to be telling people something
they don’t already know or you’ll come across pompous.
NT. What’s in the pipeline?
Scene Stealers next month, a mixtape with new
material and a few dubs called Off the Radar Vol. 2
with DJ Mac-Man and Manipulate, out in March
(hopefully), and a tour to promote it. Stig also has an
album called Moodswings coming out next year.
NT. What’s your advice to aspiring emcees?
Everyone and their gran is an emcee nowadays.
Everyone’s got a Myspace page and a demo. Take your
time, build on it, don’t be too quick to get out there and
make sure you’re in it for the right reasons.
Scene Stealers by Skreintax is out next month on Dented.
Dr Syntax will be administering vocal prescriptions with
Stig of the Dump, DJ Manipulate & the Edger at Wordlife
on 27th November, Raynor Lounge, SUSU. MIMO.
myspace.com/drsyntax
SAM WALBY
speaking to
DR. SYNTAX.