The scene was introduced to Lethal Bizzle way back when he was a member of the More Fire Crew who released some big hits like Oi which reached the Top 10 in the UK charts.
Since then, Bizzle (as we affectionately refer to him) released the single Pow, also known as Forward Riddim, which was banned from airplay by some mainstream stations for stupid unknown reasons. It entered the UK Singles Chart at #11 in the first chart of 2005. He also has hits Uh Oh and current hit, Mr., under his belt. Lethal Bizzle has a forthcoming second album titled Back To Bizznizz due for release in June 2007 on V2 Records. Fire Camp, are also going to release their debut album sometime in the summer.
EUT talks to Lethal Bizzle about his music, life in general and the Comic Relief controversy.
EUT: What's new with you, Bizzle? Where have you been the past few months?
Lethal Bizzle: I've just been munching on a quick fake Nando's. As for where I've been, I've been making a lot of music and my second album. I've also done some touring and performances up and down the country. Everything I've done lately has been music related.
EUT: Tell me a bit about Back To Bizznizz, is it different?
Bizzle: It's a bit different compared to my first album but I have a few signature tracks on there, like the Grime/Garage ones. I'd say this album is more musical than the last one as well. I've got a few different producers and artists on there that I haven't worked with before. It's not just a bag of hype or in your face. It's a progression for me lyrically, musically and concept wise. I wanted to try new things and take it to another level.
EUT: Do you think it's more geared to the charts?
Bizzle: Everything I do suits the charts, just like Pow was. I like to inspire myself to keep it fresh and do different things to my peers to stand out from the crowd. It's not all about the charts though, all of my biggest tracks were street tracks. Different audiences will like different tracks on my album and relate to them.
EUT: Is there anything with a catch phrase, like Pow, that everyone will be shouting this Summer?
Bizzle: Yeah, my street track Mr. is definitely one of those. It's like the street single that's out right now causing a little buzz. I'm grown up now and the Pow thing happened about three years ago so I've kind of matured with the music. Mr. is the track closest in likeness to Pow. I'm acting my age now, I can't still be a kid.
EUT: Who did you work with on this album?
Bizzle: I worked with Babyshambles and a girl called Kate Nash. Ghetto and Fire Camp are also featured. It wasn't all about the collaborations on this album though; I wanted to make this album more about me. After listening to this album you'll know who I really am and what I do. The album is all about me.
EUT: How is your label, V2, treating you?
Bizzle: Yeah, they're doing good for me. When I first went there they didn't fully understand The Bizzle or what I was doing. After the whole Pow thing it was hard to get my music out there. My manager and I had to go out on the road and perform for different audiences. We started doing clubs that you wouldn't expect a UK rapper or MC to set foot in. We went to places where rock and indie bands were performing. It was weird to find out that I had fans there. My label is a punk/indie kind of label so when they realised that, they finally got me.
EUT: I saw your skit on Comic Relief, do you want to explain that more?
Bizzle: How comes nobody get it? It was a joke ting for Comic Relief. It probably came across as racist but I didn't think that at all. It might have looked that way because of how they edited it. You know how these things are; when you record them they never show the whole finished product. It was all for charity and the money they paid me I donated to Comic Relief. I wanted people to know who I really am. Back in the day I was really serious and aggressive and when people hear my name they automatically think, 'pow, bad boy, guns.' I wanted to help to raise money to give people a better life. At the end of the skit I was laughing to myself so it was obviously a joke and the whole thing was planned.
EUT: How do you want people to perceive you now?
Bizzle: I'm just a normal person who likes to buss joke and have fun. If you see my Bizzle Cribs on YouTube and MySpace you can see I'm a little joker. I'm trying to get rid of that crazy and intimidating image. I don't like the image that people have of me at all. I'm up for a little bit of a joke.
EUT: I read somewhere that you said Wiley's retirement won't last, why do you think that?
Bizzle: I think he sometimes talks before he thinks. At this moment in time he really feels like he wants to retire but what is he going to do apart from music? He's not a multimillionaire to sit back and chill out. More than anything, he'll come back for his love of music. Wiley always has to be involved in everything; he can't be away. I think he's come to a point where he's tired and wants to chill out. We haven't seen the last of Wiley.
EUT: What else are you doing with yourself apart from music, if that's possible?
Bizzle: Music is my life to be honest with you. Apart from that I've been buying a few houses and all that for another little business I'm doing. It's all music related really. I want to try and break Africa and America this year. It's about world domination and being more successful than I already am. The response in America has been really good so far and people are into it. I'm interested to see their reaction when my album is released out there. Jay-Z and a few Dirty South rappers recorded over Pow which has made them think I'm cool already. Pow is huge in Ghana as well which is where I'm from. My family keeps ringing me to go over there.
www.lethalbizzle.co.uk
Rashmi Shastri – Mar '07
