This Is Cappo by Anna Piranty:
This Nottingham UK Hip Hop Legend has to be one of the most hardworking emcees to date.
His relationship with hip hop has been a constant ladder of progression with his first vinyl release in September 99, a crazy debut album in 2003 ‘Spaz the World’, The Get Out Volumes 1 & 2 with Zero Theory, Genghis, the list goes on.
Thankfully, this heavyweight multi-talented musician spared us a few moments of his time for this written interview..
For the people that don’t know how would you describe Cappo?
LL Condor, irresistible Don Juan, God’s gift to the female form.
You’ve been a prolific figure in the scene for a while now; can you take us back to your first memory of making music?
My first memory of spitting bars was in my mum’s garage with two of my best friends rapping at a Dictaphone.
We would rhyme written and freestyle verses for as long as we could, Stryder Mcloud was always the best MC out of all of us.
He would be able to concentrate his focus and spit the truth when it counted.
You’re a role model for many aspiring artists, who did you look up to when you were younger?
I used to look up to a lot of New York MC’s who I would see as father figures, I would also watch a lot of breakers and I had a lot of respect for them as well.
I used to draw and paint graffiti a lot when I was a youth so I looked up to Mode 2 and Shok 1.
When I first took rhyming seriously I would always be listening for advice and I was influenced and inspired by Courtney Rose from Take 1 studios and Trevor Rose from CRS studios in Notts when I was building my first demo tapes.
When I met Styly Cee I was heavily influenced by his knowledge and also the P Brothers who are like a powerhouse of Hip Hop knowledge, so I would constantly be picking up ideas and inspiration from the culture and those who took part in it.
How would you describe the Hip Hop scene in Nottingham when you were growing up?
The first time I realised there were rappers in Notts was when I heard Mr 45 on the BBC Tim Westwood show, I could hear the accent and the concepts and rhymes he was using and how it related to Notts and that made me realise that Notts took rhyming very seriously.
As I grew up in within the culture I witnessed MC’s such as Lee Ramsey and MC Law from Pure Genius, who made me realise the talent and skill level that I wanted to achieve.
Your lyrics convey a lot of meaning, which of your songs is the most significant to you?
Right at this moment and what I immediately thought of was Gilgamesh II from the Genghis album, it was written at one of the darkest periods of my career and I think the content of the song depicts my mind set at that time.
It’s not just the lyrical content I think it’s also the rhyme pattern and flow of the verses that hit me when I listen back to it. Some of my darkest shit to date.
Has becoming a father changed your outlook on things?
It definitely had positive effects on my work ethic and my outlook on others as well, it was the greatest moment of my life and has given me a focus to achieve success and a drive to leave behind me a respected legacy more than I had before.
You have an impressive career to date, what stands out to you the most?
Right now I’m going to say the highlight of my career so far is the overall ability to write my ideas down freely on the page and the ability to harness emotion in rhyme form by utilizing the English language.
When I consider all the highlights I have had I believe that the chance I have been given to continue my work and to keep using the music as a catalyst to inspire and to be inspired is the greatest blessing.
You played at the UKs First Hip Hop Festival, Boom Bap in Peterborough. How was that?
Boom Bap was a sick show, the reception I got was humbling and definitely gave me the energy to perform to a high level.
I think that was the first time I had showcased some of my newest material and to get a warm response was dope.
Greatest sample you have found and don’t mind sharing?
The Grand Final, Farewell to the Supremes vinyl.
Tell us, If you could be anyone for the day who and why?
Probably Carol Seleme, but that’s for bad, bad reasons.
If you could, would you rather produce for Wu Tang or feature on a track?
I would definitely rather produce then I would be able to fully concentrate on how to utilize each MC’s unique cadence and flow to its best effect.
I would use 15 snares and 10 kick drums at the same time and drip guitar blood on the drum pads until the speakers catch fire.
Then I would get ODB to rhyme over the sound of the fire.
If you could choose anyone to produce for who would it be?
I think I would want to make a beat for Raekwon and Big Daddy Kane. Or I would want to make a beat for LL circa ‘87.Or the Cold Crush Brothers.
And feature on a track for?
It would be Kendrick Lamar, I would try to spit a verse that lasted longer than his verse on Rigamortis without taking a breath.
I would spit the verse until I passed out in the booth.
Lastly, what are the new projects in store for Cappo Fans?
Cappo & Sam Zircon ‘Unprogrammable Salt Beef’ e.p on Boot records.
Cappo & Nappa ‘Red Hot’ 12” on King Underground.records.
Cappo & Wytfang ‘Beasts’ e.p.
Cappo & Theorist ‘Untitled’ album.
Cappo & Cappo ‘Untitled’ duet solo album. (laser disc only).
To connect with Cappo, check out his Twitter here.