Yesterday, I mentioned my introduction to UK hip hop via three great shops in Soho. The good people of Dark n Cold have always helped me keep my ear to the British streets and abreast of new talent. The scene in London is ever evolving and new kids are jumping on every opportunity to sell a mixtape or release a Channel U video. The ridiculous rate of changeover in the British scene makes it ever more important to champion the legends and pioneers of UK rap. MCD is one of those. He is universally respected, if not universally acknowledged as one of the finest behind the boards and on the mic. From wicked R&B production to intricate double time rhymes (and let me just say this, there is one track from the Dark n Cold dub plates mixtape where MCD rips a double time verse that makes everyone from Skibadee to Twista rethink their style) the man known as the Rothschild Kid got you covered. GET TO KNOW!

 
Most of us know that their ain’t no MC like MCD, but some of the readers might not be up on things. So, for their benefit, how would you describe your rhyme style?

 

My rhyme style changes constantly, as I grow and I learn things and experience things some of these ideas, feelings and emotions encapsulate their essence into my rhymes, constant motion, passion, pride, happiness sadness as an experiences in life change a writers lyrics as do the same parameters effect a rappers rhyme style. 

 

I once saw a video that had you producing and writing a song in minutes. It was amazing. Is this typical for you, or does your production and general studio technique change depending on the artists involved in a given project?

 

My production, and studio techniques change depending on the artists involved in the project, if for example I’m producing a track for an artist who has less experience in the studio I try to accommodate the lack of studio knowledge by the artist by slowing the process down so that they can keep up with what’s taking place, and by also explaining to the artist what it is that I am doing with their vocals and how what I’m doing will change the final product, this I find helpful as it puts the artist at ease;  I have worked with very talented artists who have possibly gained their experience on stage or in their bedrooms and the studio can be a very daunting place for them, by letting them know what the process that’s taking place is they can learn different studio practices and I can also learn from them as new minds in the studio also have ground breaking ideas.

 

If on the other hand I’m working with experienced artists the process can be much quicker as they know what is taking place.

 

 

 

You are comfortable producing both R&B and hip hop. Do you approach the genres differently?

 

To be honest with you, at the moment I produce more R&B than Hip Hop, this came about by my quest to advance my production skills, R&B can often be more musically challenging than hip hop although hip hop can be just as complex but in different ways.

 

I enjoy producing music in general regardless of the style of music that I am producing.  The end product is always enjoyable if one’s heart is in the project.  I approach both Hip Hop and R&B projects with the same energy, that being the constant aim of perfection.

 

What is amazing to me about the UK is the multitude of sub-genres of what is essentially break beat based music. What do you think inspires all these permutations, and is there a lost sub-genre that you miss?

 

In the UK The sub-genres of music have been a good thing, and a stumbling block, the different names that the UK has given to styles of music in the UK have enabled originality to a degree, the problem is when you have so many sub-genres of styles of music you economically loose out as there are less people at any one time into any sub-genre; for example if Jungle music had totally separated itself from drum and bass the mass amount of audience into any one of those styles would have divided itself in some way or form thus leaving venues, and record sales in decline.

 

What is your earliest hip hop memory?

 

My earliest memory of hip hop was perhaps when an aunt of mine bought me Rappers Delight when I was a Kid, or perhaps when I was another one of my aunts houses and Mike Allen came on the radio and played hip hop. I can’t exactly remember which of those occurrences took place first, but it was one of the above, totally life changing!!!

 

It’s Monday night, 8pm, are you watching Eastenders?

 

I used to watch Eastenders all the time, I never wanted to miss an episode, but now find it lacking in story and depth, so now on a Monday night about 8pm I’m probably relaxing looking at my gold fish lol. 

 

If you had to pick 5 rappers for a posse cut, who would they be?

 

If I could pick 5 rappers in the world for a posse cut I would probably pick four females and myself as the fifth can you imagine the studio with Remy Ma, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, Trina and Mwa, lol Wow!!! What a day and night that would be I would hope the session lasted for as long as possible.

 

The Grime MCs seem to be building steam, particularly Kano, Ghetto and Scorcher; have you followed the scene at all, and if so did you see any similarities between how it grew and how the strict hip hop scene developed when you were younger?

 

The world of grime has done wonders for the UK scene with regards to the artists being seen to be super stars and thus enabling many artists to become more economically viable, I have worked with a couple of grime artists “Neeko, S Dot K, and Shakaspear the River, I can’t say that I have kept up with the grime scene but the artists that I have heard are extremely talented, people often hate on grime because of some of the lyrics in the songs but one has to remember it is an extremely young entity; I believe that with time and investment the grime scene can be a powerful lyrical phenomenon, I think the music has passion, energy, style,  ingenuity , and power, the economical frame work in quote unquote urban music is much bigger than how the hip hop scene was when I was younger so I say that the grime artists see a viable business in what they do whereas when I was growing up we looked at rapping as much more of a hobby until it turned into a business.  The mental perception of rap artists   with millions wasn’t as in your face as now so the grime artist can look at the success of groups like So Solid, Kano, and More Fire and see the level of success that is possible and aim for that.

 

Who has the best boobs in the world?

 

My future wife has the best boobs in the world.

 

You’ve worked with Destiny’s Child, who has the best ass in the world?

 

I would say Buffie the Body or Naughty Neshelle.

 

Seriously though, what was it like working on the “No No No” track?

 

It was hard work, I never got to meet Destiny’s Child unfortunately, I featured on a remix by Wookie who was working with Soul II Soul, Jazzie B had me re write my verse, as he is a perfectionist, but at the time I was very blessed and honored to be a part of that project.

 

You recently spit with Paradise, Skinnyman and KRS on the song “U Must Learn,” how did that track come about and what did it mean to you?

 

That track was put together by Paradise and the producer of the track Charlie Parker from 57 Dynasty, the two tracks you just mentioned the Destiny’s Child No No No and U Must learn have been the biggest tracks that I have been a part of in my career those kinds of features change your perceptions of yourself as an artist those were mind blowing aspects of my life any time your fortunate enough to be considered to work with legendary artists you yourself grow as an artist.

 

The song was part of the Good Samaritan Music Project. How important is it for you to be active in the community and raise awareness about important issues?

 

I’m more active in bringing through artists with production, studio time and advice than actually speaking on awareness issues, I believe that right now it’s important for the youth to realize their self worth and potential, but I rather do business with youth as in producing tracks, or lending my rap talent to projects than preaching it.

 

For you, what causes of are tantamount importance?

 

Recycling, there is so much more that human beings can do to save the environment and its so important all of the other world issues aside we need this planet to be lush and beautiful and to give back some of the nutrients and blessing that it has given to us.   And the youth to know that they have the potential to succeed as businessmen and women in love with themselves and their lives and care about other people’s pain and suffering to make the people of the Earth more loving.

 

How did Silent Eclipse form?

 

In the same way that most groups form, groups of like minded people with ideas collaborating to build a better future for themselves.  Silent eclipse has been more of a phenomenon than a rap group as the group members have never been obliged to solely be a part of the group but to rather use it as a stepping-stone in their careers.

 

There is always a push to see more UK music on the airwaves, do you think that BBC has done its part with 1xtra and what has the new(ish) platform meant to the scene?

 

1xtra has opened doors for many dj’s and artists and given a wider audience to UK music; I believe the platform has brought the sometimes-corporate business world closer to the artists involved on street level.

 

What is your favorite 1980s comedy film?

 

I would have to say that my favorite 1980’s film was Stir Crazy and Eddy Murthy’s Delirious.

 

Is there a song that you are reluctant to admit liking that you might listen to only when you are assured that nobody will catch you?

 

No but I love Heavy Metal, and many of my female friends and artists are concerned about this.

 

There are rumors that you were once picked up by James Bond (well, just MI5 really), are these true?

 

No, I was homeless at one time in my life, I was stopped by the Police and taken to a Mental institution, I think that the kind of lyrics that I have dropped in the past made the general publics perception of the situation slightly more exaggerated than the actuality.

 

What does the future hold for you?

 

I have an album being released by a record label in Switzerland entitled “Binary Code” out on mouthwatering records.  I’m very excited about it as it’s the first album that I have done all of the production on, It features artists from the grime world, Neeko, S Dot K, artists from the hip hop world Skeme, MC Intenz from the Bury Crew, artists from the Bashment world, Baby Chann, and Tubby T, and artists from the Drum and Bass world, Shabba D, MC Det, and the Ragga Twins to name a few.

 

I am also doing a lot of production with new artists that I hope to see succeed, and at some point I aim to release music on my own record label.

 

You can check out some of my new material at http://myspace.com/rothchildkid or http://www.silenteclipse.com keep in touch and thanks for listening.