Straight from North-West London, Pokah AKA Tony Grade brings raw talent and characteristic rhymes to the urban music scene. His first mixtape will be a taste of whats to come, the mixtape which is nearing the end of production will be out soon.Straight out of the RepDaScene camp, Read what the man himself is saying!!!
1. So how long have u been rapping for?
I’ve been writing for years, I would say I’ve been writing lyrics since I was about nine/ten years old, I accumulated a passion for putting words together, I first started writing rap lyrics, developed a little flow and when Garage blew up from the underground to the overground in the late nineties I got caught up in the craze, (now called old skool garage), speeding up my flow mashing up 16bars, I was doing regular sets and 1 or 2 pirate radio appearances until about 2002, I realized I had more to say and there was only so much I could say to an up beat tempo, I never really got into da hype when garage evolved into Grime. I wanted to slow my flow down so people could understand me properly.
2. Even though you have not made your place in the scene...yet, What are your plans for the mixtape?
My plans for this mixtape are kinda like a test, as you know its my first bit of material we’re putting out there so it kinda like I wanna see what the feedback is on the street, whether people are feeling my tunes, liking my flow and can relate to what I’m saying. I’m just looking to push this mixtape out there as far as it will go and sit back and hear the feedback. I’ll still be doing my thing of course.
3. What do you think about the UK hiphop scene right now?
There are a lot of hot talent out there in the UK hiphop scene, my personal being Klashnekoff, Sway, Kano, Mitchell brothers, Mike GLC and my boy Bashy badding up da grime scene with man like ghetto and D Double E. I also think there’s a lot of swaggish so-called rappers, lyricists and mc’s out there that just chat a whole lot of shit and the thing that kills it is they go to so much trouble with flashy promotion and distribution and they’re just swag, Don’t waste your time, get a job, stay in school or college or watever. Just leave it to those who can rap.
4. Who are your musical influences?
Every since I can remember I’ve been listening to Hiphop, R&B and soul. My influences vary from Big daddy kane, Rakim, Jay Z, Biggie smalls, Music Soulchild, Method man and Redman, Common, prodigy (Mobb Deep) but mainly I’m inspired by Nas who for me is the best lyricist/rapper on the planet or that I’ve heard anyway.
5. Tell us about yourself?
I aint on no beef ting I can be da kindest person u could meet as long as its on good terms, I like to think of myself as a loyal, down to earth, thoughtful person who looks out for his peoples.
6. Finally, what do you think about the whole RepDaScene UK Movement?
The RepdaScene UK movement is gonna keep on moving and I’m look to keep on moving with it. I’m confident that The Executive will buss it up, lets just hope we blow together.
Its pokah a.k.a. Pokaman a.k.a. Tony grade and I’m out. My people keep ur heads to the clouds’
Big up Pokah, Mixtape will be released soon!
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tonygrade
Interview by: The Executive
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