Guestlist

Issue 98

Monthly newspaper and online publication targeting 18 to 35 year olds. The ultimate guide to the hottest parties, going out and having fun. Music, fashion, film, travel, festivals, technology, comedy, and parties! London, Barcelona, Miami and Ibiza.

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In three words sum up your mentality. I'd say raw, conscious and untamed (as of now). Originally you are from Saudi Arabia, tell us about how you got started in music? Actually, originally I'm from the UK but I moved to Saudi Arabia at a young age. A lot of people assume I am Saudi but I'm ac- tually from the Midlands. Saudi has played a major role in my life as I started music there. I started first by seeing a friend of mine named Majic who's also a rapper now, write a verse in-front of me. I thought it was weird at first but he was my boy so I was like ''iight whatever'', then I saw a friend of mine show me how to record at home. I wasn't writing or anything at the time but after I knew you could record I started, I was like 13 making songs on Mixcraft at 15- 16 I met JFAM. JFAM was a music collective in Saudi which I joined in 2008 and then later left to make The 4't Knx my own music group. How has music positively affected your life? Music for the most part kept me out of trouble because making beats wasn't easy when your competing with the whole world . So while some others were getting in trouble, I didn't care about that. For me being outside in the rain hustling wasn't going to help my production or pen game. I've never been clinically depressed but I can tell you music can really block out a lot of negativity. Could you tell us about your 'Poverty Tunes' project? Poverty tunes was a movement my friend #KosherAbz made, who then later wanted to drop the movement as a whole. So I made a student society at Stafford- shire University so that students could use all my instrumental EP's at mafftheconcept bandcamp, for their own music, videos or events that they have running. How can people get involved? Well really just download my music, all the instrumentals I've provided on mine and the individual members of the 4't Knx's bandcamp page. Either sing or rap on them. If we like it, we will repost it and cosign your work. There has been a lot of talk about Dice X Dominos. What is that? Dice X Dominos is my clothing brand where I have artists and illustrators draw out conceptual images I have. I have over 100 designs written down. The Dice X Domino concept is my own version of the Ying-Yang concept. Where the dice represents a game of chance, a gamble, recklessness.The domino represents a game of structure, of system and rules.So which are you? A deeper meaning for it comes from my background of being Muslim, though you wouldn't guess so from my music or videos. It means Dunya X Deen, the 'Dunya' which is the 'Dice' is the world we live in. 'Dunya' can be used a synonym for 'the World'. The 'Deen' is the 'Way of life' in which we can conduct ourselves in the reckless world we live in the 'Dunya'. What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a musician? I don't think I've gotten that far in my career to really say I've faced big challenges yet, but there are some that I and other produc- ers or musicians should be aware of. Fake supporters and fake music friends, people that want to exploit your talent. There are also people who say they want to work or make music but never come to the studio. Do you feel that up and coming artists get enough respect? I think respect is the easiest thing to get. I don't think upcoming artists get enough of a means to get paid for their talents. Who would you say are your biggest influ- ences when making the music that you do? My drive or goal. I make music depending on the state that I'm feeling or a goal that I'm reaching. Making and listening to good music influences me but music alone isn't enough. Honestly it's your whole mental diet. The things you watch, the things you eat, the conversations you have. What artist would you love to work with? See Ab Soul is an artist I would like to work with because I like people who talk their perspective. I might not agree with every- thing but it would be interesting. That's an artist I would like to rap with. Sean Price also woulda been someone cool to rap with (RIP). SZA, Kanye West, MF Doom, Drake, Maxo Kream, Snoop, Raider Klan, Pro Era, Pouya and more. So what are your future projects? I have a couple projects lined up but I don't want to jinx them. I'm going to tell you about one spoken word EP & my 'Hybrid Kids' album, the project is a bit sentimental for me because the time I made the produc- tion for it was a defining moment in my life. I have a habit of piling up beats and lyrics for projects, telling people about them and keeping them waiting. So bare with me. 2017 / ISSUE 98 37 HIP HOP & RNB "I'VE NEVER BEEN CLINICALLY DEPRESSED BUT I CAN TELL YOU MUSIC CAN REALLY BLOCK OUT A LOT OF NEGATIVITY." With one foot in Saudi and the other in the Midlands, Guestlist met with rising hip hop star Maff The Concept. follow @mafftheconcept Tom | Guestlist

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