Rewd Adams, formally known to all by the name Skandal, has been killing the underground hip hop scene for a hot minute now, and is ready to take it to the next level. I managed to get an insightful interview after Rewd opened up for former Aftermath Records and current Shady Records signee Joell Ortiz:
Rewd Adams - Cargo March 2011
T: Opening forJoell Ortiz, that’s a big look…
R: Yeah man, it’s sick. We’re doing Raekwon (this) week as well!
T: New album, new name…everyone asking you the same question about if its an evolution from Skandal. Did you feel the pressure to switch it up, or did you just keep doing you?
R: I don’t feel pressure to change the music, but I definatly feel the pressure to up the levels. It’s almost like I’ve taken a step forward in the terms of branding. The music will always be me. But, I want to release bigger music now, I’ve done the underground, paying my dues. I want to start releasing bigger, commercial music. Not just to make money, It’s that I’m the type of guy who can’t keep doing the same type of thing over and over. I get bored n what not! But, there’s a lot of pressure to deliver, to keep up the momentum that I built up as someone else (Skandal). The producers on Rewd Awakening came with their A-game, they sent though some real nice beats.
T: You collab with a variety of other artists on the album…are they artists that you’ve always looked to work with, or did they just naturally come about?
R: It didn’t really come naturally. Loudmouth and FaithSFX introduced me to Black (The Ripper). Little Dee hooked up the thing with P Money. I got hooked up with the artists through people I already know. I’ve stayed working with Blacks, so that’s been a natural progression. We just work, tracks just happen.
T: How do you see UK hip hop growing in the next 5 years, do think it will start seeing some chart success?
R: Hip hop is doing well, Professor Green, he’s hip hop!! He came from the hip hop scene. To me, Pro is hip hop, Pro will always be hip hop. Don’t forget about Plan B! He’s about to drop a hip hop album. I don’t want to just fucking section off, like Pro, Tinie, Tinchy, Chipmunk, all these lot are shining light on the whole fucking scene. The media, the press do all that genre stamping. It’s like fucking classism bruv. It’s like segregation. Don’t segregate music. *Interruption* –Lupe Fiasco’s new album, Lasers, is trash hahaha!- RA: Is it really? I ain’t heard it yet – Yeah, it’s shit – RA: Words I Never Said is big though!
T: In a previous chat we’ve had you mentioned that you’re a fan of System of a Down, what other non hiphop influences do u connect with?
R: I love System of a Down, they’re sick!! Mostly it’s a mood thing, but I always find myself going back to the hip hop or soul music bruv, like shit from the 60’s and 70’s, I’m really into that.
T: You can hear that with the Loudmouth production…
Yeah, Loudmouth. That guy, fucking sings, raps, produces, acts a little bit, like he does a bit of filming as well. I hate him! He’s talented haha!
T: Would you ever consider creating a non-core hiphop album track or album?
R: Of course, yeah man, if I catch the vibe of it!
T: If you could put a UK supergroup together, who’d be in it?
R: Beat Butcher on the beats. Black The Ripper, P Money, Wiley. The Bait artists! They’re bait cause their fucking amazing! Klashnekoff as well! I’d put Lowkey in the group. Pro Green, he proved on the Game Over shit, super dope! And, Example can make some good tunes too man! Example is super, super, super sick!
T: Who would you advise us to keep an eye on this year?
R: Me, I’m gonna be a selfish cunt and say me!
T: What have been your 3 most inspiring albums of the past 5 year?
R: These are going to be the first that pop to my head…the Kanye West album, for some reason the Rihanna Rated R album…fuck, what else…Oh, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool is a very, very important album to me *Interuption #2* – My man! Rewd Adams! He’s smashing it at the moment!! Opening for Joell Ortiz, say no more!!
T: Last words…
R: Big yourself up, thank you for interviewing me bruv. Big up everyone, it’s love thing, not a hate thing, big up everyone!
Rewd absolutely smashed it on stage, at one of the best shows I’ve attended lately! He’s in a good place at the moment, it’s time that more people started paying attention.
Rewd Adams – Questions
Rewd Adams – Kill ‘em Wit The Flow ft. Klashnekoff & P Money
