“Do you want more....” Ty

Artists are first and foremost fans of their genre. Sometimes you know a lot about a genre before you step in, often times you think you know a lot, till you jump in and realise how much more there is to learn. I got to know more about the history of spoken word once I was deep in the world of words and performance. I started out as a fan of Jonzi D, Zena Edwards, 3+1 and Brother Courtney. But as a hip hop inspired poet, I soon discovered the forerunners to this genre; the Saul Williams’, and Ursula Rucker’s. Ursula’s voice for most people was discovered when her smooth soulful vibrations beamed through the early Roots albums. And as a fan of the roots I became an admirer of Ursula.

No matter how many interviews I’ve had with well known individuals, no matter how many shows I’ve done with people who are famous. There’s a difference when you share the space with people who’ve touched you personally, or who have trail blazed the genre you are in. People you’ve asked for at the counter of your record store. Whose music bumps in your ride. You just hope when you meet them they aren’t dickheads. 

          

On Friday afternoon I strolled through the hotel lobby on the way to watch some tennis and I saw Urusla Rucker chilling on the sofa. I kept my head straight and continued to the bar lounge saying to myself “S***T THAT’S URSULA RUCKER.” I later heard that Lord Finesse and Black Thought were also in the manner.

What I loved about Punch records was that they did not give any artist priority over the other. The South Africans were treated with as much respect as the Americans and the national MCs. It wasn’t about catering to egos and diva tantrums. At the beginning of the weekend, Lord Finesse with his New York swagger was a little guarded, but by the end he was rapping to his favourite hip hop tunes with Jonzi D. We all met in the lobby, connected for a minute and went out for a Chinese. I had the pleasure of having Ursula and Lord Finesse in my car, with a sister called Maori. She’s a film maker, manager of Ursula and Tariq and also organiser of the Black Lilly festival. I slipped in some British rap on the way to the restaurant, and they were duly impressed with Klashnekof’s music.

    

When we got to the restaurant, Ursula commanded me to sit next to her, as I was already familiar with the people on the other side of the table. If the ice wasn’t broken already it was crushed now. I knew I was dealing with just cool people. They were as interested in everybody else as everybody else was interested in them. I got to know Rich Medina. A name I had heard about before, he had produced for Jill Scott, was supposed to be part of Lauryn Hill’s return, (that never came) a spoken word artists and DJ, mad intelligent, witty and funny as hell. It turns out Black Lilly before it became Black Lily was a jam session that took place in his basement before going to ?est Love’s crib. Upon hearing this I recounted my meeting in New York. (Read NY 3 story Wednesday) with Philly based mc Who I Am? I asked the Philly collective if they were familiar with him. They said Who? Maybe he told a little lie into the ears of a naive foreigner. Who would've thought a lie told to a Londoner in New York would come to light in Birmingham 6 months later. But still, to give him the benefit of the doubt, he did say he was more familiar with Mos Def, Black Thought and Bahamadia, so no doubt I’ll ask them when I meet them.



After chilling at Giles Peterson’s show, we went back to the hotel. The Night was over, and the conference was only starting.