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Issue 46 2012

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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DRUM N BASS / DUBSTEP 42 www.guestlist.net IN TE RV IEW Issue 46 / 2012 MC LOK-I Lok-I is a well-known MC in the drum n bass scene. With 14 years experience, his authentic and powerful chatting, inspired by his experiences in urban London, is the trademark of underground raves all around the UK. We met at Yummy���s, Cheshire St, a cafe that feels like home for him. Jenny Allbrook and Laura Vila | @guestlist.net You started MCing in 1993, how has the drum n bass scene changed since those years? There is a lot of ways in which has change, good and bad. But for me, back in that day, the music was jungle, which was orientated on the raga vibe, and the hip hop vibe, a bit more underground. And as it���s come through and progressed, the music is a little bit further out there. Other genres of music being played in drum and bass, which might make it more acceptable to other people to come and listen to in a party and getting involved. Was it harder or easier to make yourself a name back then? I���m talking the truth about drum and bass, 2012. Basically you have lot of help now because you have the internet, when I started, I was 13 years old, and I had to phone up to the radio station and say who I am, and they will say ���Ok, chat some lyrics. What are you about?��� I would have to sell myself to them. But nowadays, you can pretend you���re big and put it all on the website, but nobody really knows if you���re big or not. Back in the day, you have to sell your soul, not going to school or have a girlfriend. You need to find out who are the people you need to get in contact with, and go to their doorstep or turn up at a rave. What experiences led you into the drum and bass scene? Who helped you along your way? It helped that my neighbor was Mampi Swiff, he was from KOOL FM Radio, and he first introduced me to jungle music. He took me to a rave, where I should not have The music when I grew into was drum and bass which was formed through jungle. There was very raga orientated, very hip hop orientated, and that was what draw me into liking jungle: the lyrics, the flows and the different patterns. If anybody knows Lok-I, I���m sort of that street white reggae guy who loves reggae and hip hop of that era. But if jungle music had never been about, I wouldn���t have connected the way I���ve connected. What���s the most difficult part to free styling? in your brain, you only bring that information out in a freestyle, that���s why it���s so powerful. On your new album you dedicate some tracks to London and Jamaica. How is the album going? It���s selling worldwide. I have 13 tracks drum and bass, hip hop and ragga. In London so much is going on, and I���ve been a big part of it. In London you have to reach your goals, if you don���t reach your goals, there are plenty of sewers and lanes that you can get run ���If you���re doing freestyling, and you nail it, it smashes everything apart.��� been going, and told my mum that I was sleeping at his place. The rave was in Peckham and it blew me away. I was only 13 years old and it was so much to take in! When I saw the MC���s chatting , you could feel the reaction from the crowd, and what the MC was doing, it just took me all in. I was meant to be on there, that was going to be my platform. And from there I knew, ���Oh, I���m going to be an MC���, doesn���t matter what happens in life now, that���s what I���m going to do. And I���m here now. Where does your style come from? People always tell me: ���Lok-I you are de maddest freestyle and you���ll always be freestyle���, and you know what? I used to freestyle only because there was a lot going on in my life, nothing bad, but I���ve seen a lot, I���ve done a lot and I know a lot, and my brain is constantly moving, and because the love of the music, I can translate that at any time and any place. If you���re doing freestyling, and you nail it, it smashes everything apart. It���s so spontaneous, you can chat something that nobody thought about, it���s coming from your heart. It���s like you���ve opened up a trap down, and you see it everyday, so it���s a reminder that you need to be good, you need to be better. London for me is the main vibe, the main heart, it breathes, keeps on going no matter who is here or whose not. So I���m being me just doing my album. Your album is called, On The Edge Of Dark.How does it feel to record an album? I���ve been chatting everywhere, but I think: ���if I don���t wake up tomorrow, what have I got to show for as an MC? What is of me, MC Lok-I?��� .I���ve got nothing. And I played in every club all around the kingdom, Canada, France, Switzerland��� and I still have nothing to show, a part from some people who would say: ���I���ve recorded him or heard him on a cd or a tape���. So I said I want to do an album, so it���s a part of me, it���s my right hand. So you can listen to my album and get a feel of what I���m about. What my life experience has been, the music way. You have loads of events coming up, such as Back to 93 LittleJo Birthday Bash in Collussium Vauxhall and Sly & Shaydee Birthday Bash in Bristol. Also NYE Random Concept in North Hampton. What is it that makes your shows different? Sometimes it depends on how promoters want to run their raves, you have to figure it out. If it���s a jungle vibe, you catch me on a ragga muffin tip. If it���s up front drum and bass, more of a party vibe. Also there is the dark side, where you catch me getting really gritty. I���m very lively when I perform, remember if you see me in a rave, don���t get too close, I���ll be dripping with sweat. It���s all luv and energy. For more info check out www.lok-i.com

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