Anyone who has followed hip hop music in the UK over the past ten years or so will be familiar with Cappo's work. Hailing from Nottingham, Cappo is renowned for his intricate lyricism as well as impressive production skills.

In 2003 Cappo released his first album Spaz The World to wide acclaim; this month marks the release of Cappo's second album Genghis, an entirely self produced monster of an album. This is one not to be missed. Kmag caught up with Cappo to discuss his origins as an MC and beat maker as well as how this album came into existence.


Your new album is entitled Genghis, what was the reason for choosing that title?

I took a long time thinking of a title for my album and eventually I came with Genghis because I looked at it like he was an all-out warrior who conquered most of the earth and who was truly global.

I wanted to come with something obscure like Spaz The World and I had Genghis in mind for a while. When I say the title it has a meaning that I rap in Genghis mode, because when I spit I go in as hard as humanly possible.

It's a name and a word that symbolises going all-out barbarian style and gaining international acclaim. It's the same for the cover of the album, it took a long time to come up with the idea for it and it was my mum who eventually came up with the idea of laying a cap on a atlas globe to symbolise that I'm taking my music global and out of reach of the constraints so many artists fall into.

How do you feel your sound has progressed / evolved since you dropped Spaz The World?

I feel my sound has become far more polished and developed, I feel like I am able to harness my energy more accurately now and I'm more focused on what I have to accomplish in the near future. I am still in the same mind frame as when I began but now I have more determination to bring real knowledge and skill to the table when I write.

I coined a phrase recently for a new track which was 'I earn freedom through repetition'. That's my way of thinking at this point, I'm solely focused on bringing as much information in each track as is possible.

I'm not concerned if it doesn't reach certain groups of listeners because it's too dense or complicated, I make music to advance the art form so I'm not trying to cater to anyone's tastes for sales purposes. I'm lucky enough to be able to make the music I respect and which I believe is important. I don't believe people want everything given to them easy on a plate, I think a lot of people want to work and concentrate to get rewards, I know I do. That's how I feel lyrically right now, I'm trying to set myself apart from the rest and be a one off, an individual who is multilayered and enigmatic. 

 

 

Genghis is entirely self produced, what made you decide to handle all the beat-making for this project?

Beat-making has been my occupation for a decade now, I have been building tracks since a long time before Spaz The World. It was always my intention to work solo on the Genghis project so I could prove how I have advanced my craft.

Genghis is my product that I have spent a long time building and production is my equal to lyricism in many ways. My ideal work pattern is 40 bars a day verse writing and production for the rest.

I have worked with Nottingham's legends and I have learned from the best, so I'm really trying to showcase the skill I have behind the boards as well as in the booth. I had been putting a lot of music in the stock pile whilst I was coming up with the idea for the LP so when I was ready to write I had a lot of the beats in the vaults already.

With this album I made sure no two sequences were the same on the MPC so the beats would really stand up on their own. I worked harder on Genghis than I ever have before for any music project I have ever released.

Taking it back a bit, what came first for you; production or rapping? How did you get into hip hop in general?

The MCing came first purely because I didn't have my sampler back then. The production followed fast after and they have both been hand in hand since I can properly remember. I was introduced to hip hop through an NWA and Public Enemy tapes and I started graffiti writing soon after that. I tried my hand at breaking and that eventually lead to working out where the breaks came from on the tapes we bought which lead to the music side and the freestyling lead to writing properly and releasing demos.

I understand that Genghis has been released on a limited edition USB stick. What made you decide to embrace this new format? What can listeners expect from the USB version of the album / how does it differ from the other formats?

The USB version of Genghis is the platinum edition. I spoke with Al at the label [Son Records] about an idea I had a while back about using memory sticks for the project and Al really put the work in to bring it to reality.

Once the idea was in process it flew and now the USB contains the album plus the instrumentals in full, the accapellas, audio and video footage of exclusive radio freestyles, all the album artwork and a 'making of' video of Turns and Twists.

I feel the most important feature of the USB is the extra two tracks on there that were meant for Genghis but were kept for the platinum release plus Psychological Warfare. We really are trying to put the most effort we can to give back to the hardcore supporters. 

 

 

What projects are you currently working on?

The key for the longevity of Genghis is to bring heat after it and that was always the plan. I am busy preparing the first stages of my new album and that involves stockpiling more vinyl than ever before.

I have some ideas for the new LP that I'm looking forward to bringing to fruition but before that I am in the final stages of what I would call a landmark album that I am blessed to be involved in with my mentor Styly Cee.

The tracks we have already are sounding so important, I feel like it's the best way to follow up Genghis possible. I'm getting ready to finish the final few tracks on that and then we will be going to the mighty Gamblers to mix. The music is produced entirely by Styly so it's sounding pure and raw and I'm confident I have excelled myself on the flow and rhyme schemes.

You dropped The Needle Drop EP with Endemic at the end of last year, how did this come about? Do you have any plans to work with Endemic on future releases?

The Needle Drop was a real alarm call to the industry here that real hip hop is still thriving and that there are artists out there who are still going strong for the prize. It got a lot of praise and respect from high up and we are still killing shows all over and getting success from it. It was a real privilege to be a part of it and to work with the MCs on there. Shouts to No Cure going in with the promotion and production, Demic is really getting international recognition and that's how I want my music to move in the future.

There are no guest MCs on Genghis, whereas on Spaz The World both Scor-Zay-Zee and Mr 45 feature. What was the reason behind the decision to have no guests on this project?

I honestly felt I could handle the LP on my own. I have been writing for a long time and I had a lot to get off my chest so I took the reins and made my own lane. I'm a MC who works best solo cus I like the control of knowing I am able to craft the whole song myself.

I like the process of coming with hooks and bridges and then fitting as much information in the verses as I can. I know myself best and I'm my own worst critic so my standards were so high on this LP I wanted to give the listener the full 360 degrees of my skill and I am very sure I have achieved that with Genghis.

Scor-Zay-Zee also features on The Needle Drop release. Can we expect any future collaborations between you and Scorz?

I haven't seen Scorz for a long time but it was dope to get the verse from him for The Needle Drop. Endemic really worked hard getting all the MCs on there and when they had laid their bars I could really see his vision of how the EP should sound. Cyrus Malachi and Iron Braydz really came with pure flames so I had to raise my game up when I heard the final tracks. Plus Lee Ramsey stepped it up once again on Eagles to represent Notts to the full.

Which artists are you currently listening to?

I got the Pay Jay album that I listened to a lot, the Raekwon album was outstanding and Boi1da is ill with the production right now. I'm looking forward to the new Big Boi album and Clipse album. Also the Pharoahe Monch album should be amazing hopefully.

Words: Aaron Jackson

• Cappo
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• Son Records

Related Links:

• Cappo Interview
• Endemic and Cappo Top 5
• Cappo Interview
• Laid Blak Release Bristol Love Single
• Mowgli - 93 LP Review

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