EYE FOCUS SERIES WITH UNCUT HIP-HOP FOUNDER MOHAMED
OKAY! Had to switch up the font on you to check ya'll ain't sleeping!
I am honored and excited to bring another EYE FOCUS INTERVIEW to the mix!
I met this gentleman in my first year here in France with Lord Faz while traveling to Rotterdam to do one of my first shows here in Europe, along with DJ SNIPER. It was an eye-opening and life-changing experience to really gain a taste of how similar music and life bring people together. Mohamed was very hospitable and also arranged meetings and links to a number of musicians in the scene. His family was very understanding and welcoming to us and I will treasure the moment forever. Enough teary-eyed reminiscing! This man is a pioneer and holds a LOT of wisdom and knows his HIP-HOP history well!
I hope you gain as much from this interview as I did!
We are about to take you back and forward in time....
12:51: Introduction, background etc..
My journey into Hip Hop started in 1984 in Le Mans (France) when I put my first step in the dance floor as a street dancer / Bboy. During this period the show H.I.P H.O.P (the French version of Yo ! MTV RAP) was on TV and I was introduce to the culture through it. Street Machine, SugarHill Gang, Grand Master Flash, Afrika Bambaataa & & the Furious Five…were already playing in my walkman. Beat Street, Wild Style, Breakin’ were already the center of discussions at school. Especially the dance moves .
With my oldest brother and a couple of friends we start a dance crew called Sablons City Breakers. My French teacher, who was a known poet, had a piece about Hip Hop and was invited on national TV. As our reputation was growing he brought us with him. While he was saying his poem we were dancing in the background. About 4 Millions viewers got introduced to Sablons City Breakers that day. Unfortunately shortly after the crew splitted off. We had to make some priorities in our lifes…
Still dancing and battling whoever in basements, clubs or underground parties I was also tagging my name ($mall) in every white wall I could see.
Time pass by and my interest with emceeing starts to grow. A friend introduces me to Run DMC, LL COOL J, Beastie Boys & Public Enemy but Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers & Gangstarr really got my attention when I discover them. I made my first steps in rapping with Guru as a model for his flow and the Black Power movement and Malcolm X as inspiration for my lyrics. My producer/coach at the time, was busy developing his own structure so he couldn’t really push me. I decided to stop.
With my cousin, my brother and some friends, we start organising parties. It went on for awhile.
Around 1987 my family and I move next to Paris. My love for the Hip Hop culture never went away.
Because of my father, the music has always took a big part in my life. As he was buying records by the pounds I slowly start crate diggin’ as well.
In 1997, I decided it was time to leave the nest and move to Rotterdam. In 2000, I had my own radio show on the first internet radio in the country. After one year I had an worldwide audience (France, Spain, UK, Italy, USA, Brasil, Japan…)
During that time I was also doing promotion for clubs, organisations. My relation with the venue Nighttown was so good that I was given the opportunity to organise my own event. It will be “UNCUT” a platform for the local scene. The best of the underground artists made their way thanks to this event.
In 2005, Uncut is co-organisator of Hip Hop 4 Asia. A benefit concert for the victims of the Tsunami. 15 hip hop groups from across the country are invited to come perform. The coordination of the event and the collaboration went so good with the other organisation that it was decided to work together permantly. The foundation of Pass The Mic Events was born.
MOHAMED: The production of large events such as Bounce pre - and after-party, premiere of the film Rize (Dave La Chapelle), and smaller party events will reveal the strength of the organisation. In 5 years the foundation succeed to have companies, associations and the Ministry to make use of his services such as productions, workshops, concepts, design, consultancy, management and bookings.
With difficult times for the cultural sector in early 2010, Uncut and the other organisation decided to end their marriage.
Uncut become uncuthiphop.nl, a media platform doing promotion and management of artists and also partnering with companies & events around the world.
*I know you all remember RIZE!
12:51: What moment in life, did you realize that Hip-Hop would become a more permanent part of your life?
MOHAMED: The moment I start dancing and later on being challenge all the time (sometimes for money) was maybe the trigger to be part of this culture.
12:51: Favorite moment in Hip-Hop.
MOHAMED: Actually I got several favorite moments (not in a particular order in time):
- one of my best friend introduce me to IAM album “Concept”. We play the tape over and over till early mornings.
- witnessing the last show of Tribe Called Quest.
- The concert of the Fugees in Paris. That was the longest show I’ve seen so far. They didn’t wanted to live after their set they ended up making a soundSystem. The venue had to turn off the lights to chase them.
- Chilling with De La Soul watching Wyclef Jean perform.
- Going with Lootpack to an after-party after their show.
- Taking care of Q-tip during North Sea Jazz Festival.
- Meeting Guru in Rotterdam again. After all these years he recognized me. As a big fan of Gangstarr I enjoy their legendary show at club Ornano in Paris. The opportunity to meet Guru present itself when he was holding a sign session at Virgin Megastore promoting his project Jazzmatazz. A release party was held at New Morning at night. On my way to the venue I bump into him again in the street. Very accessible as always Guru (and I think that’s one of the reason Gangstarr was so big) took time to chitchat. The highlight of that day was for me and my best friend to end up in the videoclip “Le bien et le mal” with MC Solaar that was shooted that night. After the show we bless buddah and talk randomly.
- going to see a dance show from one of my friend and bumping into a youngster from my old neighborhood. He told me that because of me he started dancing as well.
*C'mon now, it's SOLAAR and GANGSTARR! You remember this, yes you do! If not, check this out!!!!
12:51: As an organizer in NL, do you feel the future of live shows is in any jeopardy due to technology and ease of access to media?
MOHAMED: What I notice is that less and less people are going to see live shows. One of the reason could be that labels, don’t promote artists like they used to do back then. There was a marketing campaign done and the artists only had to worry about making music. With the booming of the social medias, it seems easier for artists (or labels) to reach their fanbase, but to get them to come to their show is another story.
Making an online flyer or creating an event on FB is not enough to get their attention. You still need to get in the street and handle flyers directly to them. One of the other reason why people don’t show up to shows is that everybody nowadays is making music or is an mc, so why would they bother…
What really works are festivals, but the real problem is the politics in place and the “crisis” we have to deal with.
12:51: Favorite snack combined with your favorite album (example: Parliament funkadelic and sandwich grec)
MOHAMED: Shrimps sandwich and the soundtrack of Dead Presidents
*What a classic movie! I can't believe there is NO official trailer online, but click on over to YouTube as you can find the movie in parts.
12:51: What acts in the Hip-Hop scene in NL have really made you inspired to push yourself more?
MOHAMED: The Proov, Mike Redman, GMB
*Here's a tight clip from THE PROOV
12:51: The best line from a favorite song (english, french, netherlands, any language)
12:51: The best line from a favorite song (english, french, netherlands, any language)
MOHAMED: "Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold” – Bob Marley
12:51: Closing statement or last words...plus any links you'd like posted etc.
MOHAMED: Follow your dreams and don’t let anything or anyone come in between. Rome wasn’t built in one day, so if you fall, find the strength to rise.
For the young generation, I would say know your history. Know who are the architects of this culture and what they did…
Give a like on uncuthiphop / Facebook
www.uncuthiphop.nl for new music, videos from the underground scene.
*Walkmen is a documentary about the history of Hip-Hop in Rotterdam and directed by Mike Redman.
*GMB with a very fresh sound....
THANK YOU to Mohamed and UNCUT HIP-HOP for bringing wisdom and some insight on the Rotterdam scene. It was an honor to have you bring my viewers some insight and to break the stereotypes that we all too easily set upon one another. I support UNCUT and highly recommend you visit UNCUTHIPHOP.NL !
Let them put you up on what is new and fresh in the scene in NL!
In fact, I'd say you should personally further your boundaries and do some research on a few of the following artist I had the pleasure of making acquaintinces with. There is great music no matter where on this small world that you travel.
TERILEKST (Big up! Many thanks for the recording and the firecracker. DAMN!)
GRANDSON (Big up and thanks again!)
KOHFIE KONNECT
MOODS
GMB
BEATSOFREEN and SO MANY MORE!
Blessings to everyone and have a great new year!
"It don't stop..."
12:51