How and when did you come to start rapping? Hi, well I started out back in 2000 aged 15, after meeting a guy who shared my passion for Hip-Hop and we'd just get together and freestyle etc. This led onto us writing our own tracks which we'd record through a karaoke machine haha, which obviously back then it was all just messing around, making these little demo tracks, cyphering at house parties and such. Anyway, a few years later my mate started losing interest and so i put together a solo demo CD in 2004 on my own which i'd just hand out to everyone free of charge around town. One of these got into the hands of another Macclesfield MC called Chris Leese, and he sorted me out with my first gig and I've just taken it from there really.
For someone who has not heard your music how would you describe your style? I'd like to say my music is quite varied track to track, in both sound and content. I try and challenge myself with various flow and delivery techniques and most of my music is very honest, bar the few battle tracks which maybe aren't 100 percent accurate haha, but it all helps to keep my music well rounded. I've been known to drop on all kinds of beats too; If it's a good beat I'll write to it regardless of bpm or whatever.
You hail from Macclesfield, whats the Hip Hop scene like over in the North West of England? Well Macclesfield itself is quite sparse as you can imagine with only myself, Benny E and Gouki Productions doing anything at all in the town, but its nice being big fish in a small pond haha - and we can get nights quite easily. If I'm out and about though, I'm usually in Manchester which I think is really gonna come through very soon. You've got the likes of Surreal Knowledge, Ganggreen, EdXL, Pediree Chumps and more coming through now, and the Hip-Hoperation night that is becoming quite a regular occurance, bringing the best acts the country has to offer up here is really helping the scene up here. It's looking good.
in 2005 you droped "Cheap as Chips" as a demo EP how was that received? Yeah, we put that out at the end of 2005 to test the water really. I was still very sceptical about putting something out, as prior to that all i had put out was a freebie CD the year before, and although it got good feedback, I was unsure whether people would actually pay for my product, so I thought it was a bit of a gamble really at the time. We managed to sell over 400 and that was purely off our own backs, with no PR help or distribution so I was really pleased at the time with how it was recieved.
You sold over several hundred units through your own promotion, how did you manage that? To be honest the majority of it was word of mouth, on a local tip. I spent many hours out and about just 'shottin'' them myself, and then we managed to sell quite a few on the internet aswell, just through the forums and Myspace etc. We did alright.
Being based in the North West do you find it a stuggle to push your music as far as you would like to?
Well to be honest I think from my own experience and comparing it of that of other artists in the same boat as me, but based in the more predominant areas; I'd say it has it's pro's and con's. Take London for example.. there's someone trying to sell you a CD on every corner, and everyone's trying to push there music and get gigs. Someone to be pushing and promoting their music is a very common sight, and there's only so much money in a man's pocket to buy CD's with, and there's only so many slots at shows. Where I'm based and it not being as common, I feel people definately appreciate it more and actually find it refreshing to see someone doing something like this. But then again, we miss out on the nights and the culture definately as you'd expect. It's not easy nor cheap for me to simply just go out to a Hip-Hop night with an actual atmosphere. So yeah, it has it's pro's and cons I'd say.
Who has inspired you to get where you are at this point? I'm not really inspired by anyone in particular. I'm inspired by the fact that I can see a healthy future in UK Hip-Hop, and that I'd most certainly like a part in that. I'm also inspired from the feedback I get when i put out a release, whether it's good or bad, and that i can take that feedback and work towards my next project with a new challenge.
You have your own label "Innit Records" who is involved with that? Well Innit Records was set up by myself in 2005 with the intention of putting out good, refreshing, solid releases from various artists based around the UK, and distributing this as minimal profit. I put out the 'Cheap As Chips E.P.' that year as a demo with plans for 2 releases from other artists in 2006. For personal reasons I had to put it all on hold through 2006, then after various setbacks in 2007 i eventually compiled a compilation CD of various tracks I had worked on myself over the last 2 years which is titled 'Where The Art Is (Vol. 1)' and is out now. This year Innit Records is once again hoping to put out new releases from other artists, this time as a team effort with a couple of like-minded friends.
What is key to making an independent venture like "Innit Records" work? I think just having faith in the music you're putting out, and to know your audience. I think it's very important to have a good relationship with all involved, and most definately the artists themselves. Having good contacts in the industry is very important and also not to exceed a realistic budget which should be based on the response from an earlier trial run.
This month your dropping a 14 track compilation, what's it all about and what can we expect? 'Where The Art Is (Vol. 1)' is a compilation of 14 previously recorded tracks featuring a whole host of collaborators from all over the UK. The CD starts off with an introduction of who I am and what I'm about with a few bouncy battle tracks, followed by a few conceptual tracks, and then from tracks 7 - 12 the songs are loosely based on my own thoughts, feelings and emotions as of 2006, as I question whether or not I'm going the right way in life and questioning what I need to be happy - a VERY personal tip. This is then rounded off with a remix and then a nice posse cut featuring fellow Macclesfield-based artists Gouki Productions.
How do you plan promoting this release? I am currently doing the rounds locally with interviews on local radio, gigs around the town, features in the local newspaper and a Macclesfield highstreet store already has them on the shelves with accompanying poster displays. Obviously the interviews online, as well as various magazines, websites etc. reviewing the product, followed by any gigs that I can manage to get around the country.
What else is in the pipeline for 2008? For me personally, I am currently working on an E.P. alongside Bare Records producer Bare Beats, and judging from the beats I've already been given, it's gonna be a very different vibe to what you'll have already heard me on; I'm really looking forward to that. I've also been busy featuring on releases from various other artists from the UK, aswell as various mixtape exclusives I've been recording and working towards Volume 2 of 'Where The Art Is'. Outside of recording, I'd like to get Innit Records back on track, and also work on helping Macclesfield rekindle it's music scene. Should be a good, productive year.
You have done some work with schools and youth groups can you talk a bit about how it came about and what is involved?
Yeah, last year I went around Manchester helping under-priveleged youths do something productive with their time and use their energy and experiences to put into something worthwhile. It's basically a case of teaching them how to write and perform Hip-Hop music, as it's quite obvious it is of interest to them and a few of them showed really promising talent. If it means keeping them off the streets and making them feel positive about something and put their feelings onto paper then i think it's great. I'd love to partake in more of that kind of work, but having now got myself a 9-5er it makes it almost impossible haha. But yeah, I felt that work was really rewarding and a shame i can't do more.
Do you get to play many live shows? Not as many as I would like. The thing is, getting shows in Macclesfield isn't hard at all and we've done quite a few but the problem is there's no actual scene for Hip-Hop so it's either a case of bringing people in (which costs) or to do a set amongst other genres. And I find it very hard to come on stage after a guitarist, when everyone's all nice and mellow, and then try to bring all this energy from nowhere and expect a response from the crowd. With live Hip-Hop I really feel there's a time and a place, and Macclesfield never seems to really be able to capture the atmosphere required to be inspired enough. I've done a few gigs in Manchester which is all good, but it's not an often occurance I can get there.
Good luck with the forthcoming releases, is there anything else you would like to add? Yeah, can I just thank you for taking the time to interview me and to everyone out there supporting me in any way you can. My new CD is available now direct from me at my myspace page www.myspace.com/mrbeitnun at just five pounds with free delivery! I'll also throw in a copy of the Cheap As Chips E.P. as an added bonus haha. Shouts to Gouki Productions, Greg (Greyaye). Benny E, OJB, 777, Dan Bull, Pedigree Chumps, Filthy Rich, EdXL, Analyst and anyone else!! Cheers, peace.
How and when did you come to start rapping? 
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