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 Ahead of his two day China tour in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, France’s top Hip Hop DJ Cut Killer talks to www.hkclubbing.com about the French Hip Hop scene and the secrets to staying in the music circuit.
Nilly: Tell us a little about yourself. (What are your roots, where are you based now…)
Cut Killer: I’m originally from Morocco but I spent my entire life in France, in Paris.
Nilly: What got you in to hip hop and who were your early influences?
Cut Killer: My first experience was in 1984, when I heard hip hop music on a famous TV show call “H.I.P.H.O.P”. From that time onwards, I never stopped listening to hip hop. Of course the other major influence was from ‘The Godfather’ DJ in France, "Deenasty" who was playing on Radio Nova show in 1987. Other inspirations and influences were from US DJ Jazzy Jeff in 1989. Finally the DJ who really drove me towards DJ-ing is 1988 DMC World Champion Cash Money. Nilly: Were you and are you still part of any crews?
Cut Killer: Yes of course. I am part of the ‘Funkmaster Flex Crew’ in New York and called BIG DAWG PITBULL. I represent France for Europe with TIM WESTWOOD based in UK and in 2006 I became a new member of the SHADYVILLE DJ’S the same crew as DJ WHOO KIDD and DJ 50 Cent. Nilly: How much involvement do you have in promoting the local scene in France?
Cut Killer: I’m really one of those workaholics DJs. I’ve got two radio shows on a National Commercial radio called SKYROCK. There I promote the French and US tracks and I have a mix tape session. The market is still growing so we do an international mix tape combination. It’s really interesting from a hip hop point of view. Nilly: Why do you think that the French Hip Hop scene is the biggest in Europe?
Cut Killer: The reason people say that is just because, off other countries in Europe, we (the French) have many nationally famous artists right now. When you go to Germany, Switzerland or Spain....the artist profiles are just not the same. Having said that, I’m not saying that what French artists are working on, is better than US artists. Sometimes it’s a copy of it....but we have another feeling between the music and the lyrics, our musical history has a lot of things to inspire us. Nilly: What do you think the other countries lack?
Cut Killer: Like I said before, they have some artists but really only Germany can expect to be doing something better than the French scene. Nilly: Who do you respect most as artists in the French hip hop scene in the present day? They are so many artists I respect. I can’t choose someone particularly but IAM (who are from Marseille) are my buddies so it would have to be them as there is so much love for HIP HOP IN THERE MINDS!!!! Nilly: What about on an international level?
Cut Killer: Whao! Right now Nas, Busta and Jay are part of the New York vibe I like.
Nilly: In the US the hip hop culture and scene is portrayed by the media as violent and degrading towards women. The scene in France is relatively ‘cleaner’, or rather you don’t hear bad press. What is the main difference or does this stigma exist internally in France?
Cut Killer: The riots in France don’t help us but it’s a reality in the suburbs where young kids don’t have as many choices. They want make money right now without working hard, some choose the bad way and some think the better way is to be an MC and Rap, for the rest of their lives !!! Sometimes is boring sometimes it s interesting . But we have a lot of genius artists who inspire us and come out with some really nice lyrics. Really it’s a question of getting involved or not and where the passion is....What I can say, is that a lot of hip hop artists mobilise right now to influence many people to vote so it s a good thing for the young generation and the old too. Nilly: You are seen as a role model in the French hip hop scene. What have you done to keep hip hop alive, fresh and away from bad press in France? Has it been difficult?
Cut Killer: Doing it like we did back in the day; working, showing the best in our music and of course having a good expression! Lots of people in France think Rap is really for young kids and that’s it! But in reality most of the good hip hop artists have been around for almost thirty years now, so they really understand how to speak about hip hop clearly and in a smart way and not tarnish the image! Nilly: What was the major driving force behind your commercial awareness and success?
Cut Killer: When you sign on a major label, you know you can have much more visibility, so when you are conscious of that, it can be a good thing and at the same time bad!!! You just have to assume it! Just because you sign a major label you’re supposed to enter in a market competition. So the first thing is to be on rotation radio and sells a minimum. To do another project, if you can’t pass the steps you get kicked off the label, it’s like that.... So sometimes artists don’t assume and do some wacky songs just to be on the format. Some artists are intelligent and take the bet on the label and do what they want but only after experience! Nilly: Do you still have your own radio show on France’s Radio Nova and are you still involved in making mixed tapes with various French artists?
Cut Killer: I’m still on the radio on the N°1 Hip hop radio in France called SKYROCK. I know it sounds a bit rock and roll, but they play only hip hop and R N B, dancehall, commercial…I try and play a lot of new stuff, classic hip hop and underground French rap. There are two shows, one on Saturday called “CUT KILLER SHOW” and the second one is on every Tuesday, called “BUM RUSH SHOW”. You can listen to them on the net www.skyrock.com or download it on http://cutkillershow.blog4ever.com Nilly: The six Hip Hop Soul Party compilations proved very successful, are you in the process of making a seventh?
Cut Killer: No, I don’t think so. The process changed the market too! With downloading and burning copies we have to think differently with it. So I prefer doing the official mix tape independently with my own company. I have thirteen people working with me. We do the production, marketing and booking!
Nilly: What are your latest planned releases and appearances?
Cut Killer: I was in New York last month, Melbourne in Australia, Zurich last week…I’m always on tour all the year. I enjoy it every weekend. Nilly: Your appearance in La Haine propelled you to move into making a few soundtracks for French films. How involved are you with this?
Cut Killer: Cinema is my other passion! So after four soundtracks I’m preparing something bigger. We are working on a big project coming really soon ... the only thing I can say is it’s gonna be wild! Nilly: You are also known to have produced music EA games. Do you enjoy this and do you have plans to produce more?
Cut Killer: Of course! It’s so inspiring to do something like that but it’s really hard when we discuss money (laugh) ....... Nilly: On to live gigs, which is your favourite party/ gig city?
Cut Killer: Really New York but I have been to a lot of countries. It’s hard it there’s Portugal, Japan, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Spain, North Africa, Poland, Russia, Australia........really it depends! Nilly: What one tune always makes you smile/ dance?
Cut Killer: Eric B & Rakim : I ain’t no joke Nilly: This is your first time in China, what are your feelings?
Cut Killer: Really, I’m really excited about being here! It’s so crazy but I hope the Chinese people are gonna like me??? Nilly: What can we expect to hear at both MINT and French Kiss in Shenzhen?
Cut Killer: A good sound, a personal mix from France and all things sexy as well! Interview By: Nilly Chaudhuri Catch Cut Killer on the 19th January at MINT club in Hong Kong and at French Kiss in Shenzhen
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