You will have seen the adverts about tonight’s show on RTE 2 at 9.30pm about Irish Rappers. Hip Hop by it’s very nature is a divisive subject. People love it or hate it.
Some time back we asked our readers what they think about the Irish Rap Scene and every bit of feedback we got was negative. So I tracked down a collective known as the Class A’z (Redzer, Terawrizt and NuCentz) and asked them a few questions and tried to find out why people were so against the thoughts of Irish Rap.
I fully expected this to be a hatchet job on the cringe-inducing Irish rap that I was going to hear. Like most people, when I think of an Irishman rapping, I immediately picture Spiral from Big Brother shite-ing on about Finglas. But these guys have already picked up quite a large fanbase (large in comparison to most rap groups in the country) and their videos have been viewed an extraordinary amount on YouTube.
And genuinely, some of the tunes are not only not bad, they are damn fucking good. “I’m Back” for example is a stormer of a tune. It will not be to everyone’s taste, that’s for sure, but it is worth developing your own opinion on. Could the Class A’z be the ones to buck the trend and finally break hip-hop into Ireland’s mainstream?
I spoke to Redzer and Terawrizt and tried to find out about their views on women’s rights, every Irish woman being over rated, and un-insured drink driving:
How did the Class A’z come about?
Redzer: Meself, Tera and Nuie knew each other from the scene! We were all down recording a track for Tera’s mixtape I think, and we basically haven’t stopped making tunes together since! We actually ended up with a mixtape done before we even had a name for the group but luckily I came up with a great one for us.
What kind of reaction do you get when you tell people that you are a rapper?
Redzer: I try not to tell people to be honest, but if it comes up, they usually look shocked, so think I’m gonna tell people I’m a rapist instead…less shocking haha!
Terawrizt: People tend to be shocked but they are generally impressed once they check our stuff out.
What are your usual audiences like?
Redzer: Scarce. There doesn’t seem to be much of an awareness out there at the moment. The people who know about hip-hop are dedicated and are into our work, but it’s tough to get the word out there.
So is that the biggest problem that Irish rappers face?
Redzer: Trying to get the big wigs to take a chance on us! They just don’t seem to want to and it’s a problem!
Terawrizt: Another huge problem is trying to get people to over look their preconceptions. People always seem to judge our music without listening because we don’t conform to what people automatically imagine when they think of rappers.
Who are your inspirations?
Redzer: Bill Hicks, Christopher Hitchens & George Carlin. Basically anybody that can entertain and make you think at the same time, is an inspiration to me.
Tera: Immortal Technique.
You aren’t exactly from South Central LA. What do a couple of guys from North Dublin rap about?
Redzer: Whatever’s on my mind
Terawrizt: It depends on the beat or whatever mood I’m in. We rap about what is relevant to us and about our own life experiences, we don’t try to be anyone other than who we are.
Are there any things you won’t rap about?
Redzer: Of course! I wont rap about stuff I don’t care about, like women’s rights or Jedward
Describe the Irish rap scene at the moment:
Redzer: Stagnant but less stagnant than last year
Terawrizt: It’s evolving….but at a snail’s pace.
Tell us about the upcoming DFI:
Redzer: Ireland’s original rap battle league is back! After several month’s hiatus, Da Fighting Irish (DFI) have announced the line up for their first event of 2012 and it is huge. The Mezz venue in Dublin’s Temple Bar will host the March 3rd show, which will see DFI’s top battlers take on some of Britain’s best in a series of Ireland vs. UK match ups; including the long awaited Me vs. Pamflit and Nugget vs. O’Shea battles.
There will be a total of eight great battles on the day. Doors open at 2pm and entry is 10 Euro. It’s a jam packed line up and it’s an experience. A cross between real rapping talent and stand-up comedy.
Is there an innate reverse racism in the general public that assumes Irish White Rappers won’t be good?
Redzer: I don’t know if I’d call it racism but I suppose everything can be considered by the PC brigade these days so I may as well jump on the aul’ racism bandwagon, so maybe it is. Realistically, I think it’s more perception of Ireland in general. Irish versions of anything are always shitter, so I don’t think it’s reverse racism saying Irish hip-hop wont be good, i think Ireland’s track record of creating shite merits that assumption!
Terawrizt: No it’s a perfectly normal way of thinking because if we are honest, most of the rap in Ireland isn’t good. There is a lot of shite out there that you have to get through before you find the few proper acts like ourselves!
What sets you guys apart from the rest?
Redzer: We are articulate and we don’t really have a set style, so people never know what to expect from us where as a lot of the others are one trick ponies.
Terawrizt: We are different emcees with different styles so we often jump outta our comfort zone which sets us apart from the majority that stick to what they know.
What is your opinion on the current Indie Irish music scene?
Redzer: It’s not getting enough attention, there is some deadly underground music going around at the minute. With bands such as Funzo (and of course ourselves) the underground is thriving, the problem is it’s still underground!
Terawrizt: It’s still growing and still trying to find its legs. Hopefully it will be up and running soon.
Apart from yourselves, who is good out there in the hip-hop scene?
Redzer: Rob Kelly, Nugget, Siyo, Lethal Dialect, Costello, The Animators, Rubber Bandits, GMC, Collie and a few more.
Terawrizt: What he said!
Jaysis! You’d class the Rubber Bandits as good?! Who is shit then?
Terawrizt: 90% of the acts…too many to name. Genuinely, there is some absolute shit out there.
You’ve made quite a few tracks and they are huge hits on YouTube. What tracks are you most proud of?
Redzer: Sin City is probably are most viewed and liked video and it was also the first ‘proper’ irish hiphop vid out there so i’d say Sin City
Terawrizt: Irish Tune, a song we featured on for Nugget! It’s got a lot of views and a lot of positive comments and it’s a whopper track!
What track of yours do you not like?
Redzer: ‘Say Goodbye’ cos it’s gay.
Terawrizt: ‘I’m Back’ cos its a cunt to do live.
Describe the members of the Class A’z in 3 words:
Both: Absolute fucking quality.
It’s no secret that Ireland is pretty fucked at the moment. What would you do to fix it?
Redzer: Separate politics and money, get rid of the current bunch of fuckheads in the dail and replace them with people that actually care!
Terawrizt: Knock it all down and start again.
Most over-rated irish person?
Redzer: Gerry Ryan, he was just another junkie really. No loss.
Terawrizt: All the lads in Westlife! Being good at karaoke doesn’t merit the respect they get.
Most over-rated irish woman?
Redzer: Pretty much all of them haha.
Terawrizt: Can’t argue with that haha.
Obviously you haven’t been looking at the quality on our site then lads. Who would be your guilty shag?
Redzer: Aggie from How Clean is your House! Bit of GILF action never hurt anybody.
Terawrizt: Fizz from Corrie..she just looks like she could do with it haha.
How generous! If you had one super-power what would it be?
Redzer: Turning people I hate into wads of money! That way the person I hate no longer exist and I have money..best super power ever!!!
Terawrizt: The ability to turn water into wine….apparently people are impressed by that kind of stuff.
What is your most controversial opinion?
Redzer: That’s a trick question! I’m of the school of thought that opinions aren’t controversial, but people’s reactions make them controversial. But if I had to pick something it would be my attitude towards political correctness! I think it has destroyed the world.
Terawrizt: My most controversial opinion would be that Redzer isn’t controversial.
If you could kill one celebrity who would it be and how?
Redzer: Gay Byrne. I’d drive over him while speeding drunk in my un-insured car! Who does that prick think he is telling me to drive safe?
Terawrizt: Bertie Aherne. I’d have Mary Hearney sit on his face and choke him to death with fanny farts.
So there you have it! Give the Class A’z a listen for yourselves and decide whether or not the Irish rap scene is for you. I reckon if you like hip hop you will be genuinely surprised about the level of talent out there under your nose if you just look for it.
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