Beezy is one of a host of musicians currently making waves on Jakes‘ HENCH Recordings label, with recent collaborations with Dream as well as Eddie K & Minus released on the label and picking up a lot of support. Add to that a top notch release on Rinse, an abundance of collaborations and a long career as one of the biggest MCs in the game, and you’ve got one of the most established and exciting artists on the scene.

With a load of releases and collaborations on the horizon, Beezy took some time out of his busy schedule to put together an exclusive mix for us in the run up to the Chew The Fat! HENCH Takeover at Cable on Sept 21st, and we caught up with the man himself for a chat about all things Beezy…

Beezy, what’s been keeping you busy lately?

Loads really mate. On the vocal side I’m trying to attack every spectrum of this scene and music as a whole in general so I’m doing collaborations all over the place. Got tracks I’m working on with heads on the deep aspect of the scene to artists in the hype based side of dubstep. Also am dabbling in few other tempos as well. Some 170 range stuff. My work varies really. I like to keep myself creative and trying different things. Also I do a bi-weekly rotation show with me HENCH braver Lost on Rood FM which we do every Monday 6-8pm(GMT) Make sure you check that out for fresh beats and banter - www.rood.fm

Tell us a bit about your mix?

Well it’s got a mixture really… this one was just more about me having a good crack and expressing meself. The main aim was to keep the mix quite upbeat and energetic as that’s what ill expect you’ll be getting from the artists playing at the HENCH takeover so wanted to keep it along them vibes

Tell us about your musical background, how did you first get into electronic music and dubstep?

Well I’ve used music as an outlet since I was a kid. Always was my escape to just put a pair of headphones on whilst listening to a tape or vinyl and just zoning out. Then when jungle come to light around my early teens I knew I wanted to be more than just a listener so I first started to MC basically biting everyone else’s lyrics cos I knew no better, lol. With DJing a pal taught me how to mix then I started my journey from there, doing pirate stations, local gigs. Just basically perfecting my craft as much as I could. In terms of dubstep just was basically from being a Croydon boy, I had the chance to witness first-hand the early stages of what formed into dubstep. From doing bedroom tapes with the likes of Benga, Skream, N Type, Cyrus and Hatcha to name a few I heard a lot of material first hand so adapted and rolled with it.

Dream ft Beezy – Pornstarrrrrr by BeezyHENCH

In terms of your own musical style who have been your biggest influences?

Dunno if I could pin point just a couple people who have made an impact. I’m just a fan of music as a whole. I listen to a vast variety of selections so I guess they’re all influences some way or the other. I mean…… when I first heard Slim Shady was I amazed? Fuck yeah, lol. Geeza is something else and that’s just an obvious choice as being the whole cliché white MC.

How have your tastes changed over time?

I think all tastes change as you get older. One thing about being in the music scene is you find yourself a bigger critic now than ever before, always listening for certain things and can notice any mistakes straight away but at the same time you can appreciate music much more when it’s well-rounded!! It also opens up your mind as well to checking out all spectrums of music.

And how has your production style evolved?

I just roll with the punches to be honest. I was having this conversation 5 mins ago with someone on aim. When I was signed to Rinse a few years ago and did my album it was all quite deep concept based with meaningful lyrics but the one thing I lacked was club records. I honestly felt back at the beginning that the scene wasn’t ready for someone like me. I’ve always kinda been ahead of my time or am just honestly SHIT and no fucker likes me lol. Even when I was on Rinse FM with Hatcha and Crazy D I was always looked at a different way because I was on that dark humour even back then in 2003-4 but it didn’t take. I think I was too dark for people. I was the devils pet! Then when I did leave Rinse and had a serious think about things I knew kinda from being a DJ myself I wasn’t overly keen on full vocal tracks to play in my set. So I came up with the formula of doing a verse over the intro of the track to give it extra build up and I knew DJs wouldn’t have any objection playing a vocal in the mix and that way I would be heard! So I had to adapt again cos I have a policy of writing to the music rather than just chucking random lyrics over things and I knew no one wants to hear deep lyrics over a club track and I wasn’t getting that vibe from them so I thought fuck it and went back into the dark humour as I am a shady fucker anyway and I’m not the type of person to write party lyrics having a happy happy happy time lol. The same thing applies to the deeper material I get to vocal as I become more serious because that’s the feeling of the track so I bring a more conscious style with the lyrics.

Perverse – Cross Examination Ft Beezy by BeezyHENCH

Which do you prefer, MCing or DJing?

Honestly I would say DJing. That is a big passion for me and I do get such a buzz behind the decks spinning. Although I do love being in the booth laying down lyrics on tracks. That’s something I enjoy very much. I’m happy enough mind you hosting at a gigs but I’m not the type of MC to just splatter bars out everywhere no more. There is something about looking at the crowd though and seeing a few people singing along to your words. That’s crazy to see.

What are your thoughts on the dubstep and bass music genre at the moment? Where do you think the scene is headed?

I couldn’t honestly say where I think its heading. It seems healthy enough. You know yourself soon as anything gets in the charts it will always be hated on and classed as sell out shit (cos half the time it is lol). At the moment the scene seems to be divided. There’s a few different bass genres all spinning off dubstep and being labelled different types of music. Soon as anything becomes popular though it becomes bandwagon cliché and starts to get saturated and becomes the same old same old. There are a few artists though out there building some really good material at the moment and I’m excited to be able to support their stuff in my sets. End of the day you gotta just stay true to yourself and roll with the punches.

Dream Ft Beezy – Pornstar by Hench Recordings

What does the rest of 2012 have in store for Beezy?

Well there’s a few things pencilled in. I’ve just had a vinyl release drop on Innamind Records with a track Cross Examinations with Perverse. My latest HENCH release dropped a few weeks back with Dream (Pornstar & X Rated) also I had an album drop with DnB boys D*Minds on the productions through the HENCH imprint for those who missed it under the alias THE FILTH!! That album is self titled. Forthcoming I have the Rammifications E.P on M.U.D with Demon landing in September. Track with Requake – Pessimism forthcoming on their EP on Subway. Just did a collaboration with Northern Lights for their Next EP release through True Tiger plus there’s tons of stuff on the hardrive and collaborations in the works. I’ve been dabbling with tempos like I said earlier so expect some 170 based bits soon as well. There’s a freebee soon coming through N Types Wheel & Deal Label with Surge on the production. Gonna be giving away a free accapella soon for producers to be able to use how they feel fit. Also I’m sure there will be some future HENCH releases landing plus live shows here and there. Just taking one thing at a time really.

Wow, plenty to look forward to then! If you could put on your dream party, where would it be, who would play, and would there be a theme?

I reckon a clash gig would be proper!!! How jungle did back in the day. Strictly all artists playing mind you, and only spinning their own material! Set up a big fuck off boxing ring and chuck in all the labels against each other playing off the one sound system! HENCH, Dub Police, Circus, Chestplate, MUD, BlackBox, Osirus, Tempa, Wheel & Deal, Deep Medi etc think that would be pretty kool plus at the same time would separate the men from the boys

The Filth – Don’t Look Down by The Filth UK

Who’s the most exciting DJ or producer in the world right now?

Lol, Fuck knows. I don’t get out enough to answer that one, that’s impossible to answer!

And finally, what can we expect from your set at Chew The Fat’s HENCH records takeover at Cable in September?

This has been a long time coming. All I’ve ever heard and got off people in clubs in London is “when are HENCH doing a night here” Finally its happening and I know from the jump this night is gonna be utter madness and a ram jam event!!! The line-up is ridiculous. I can’t wait to get stuck in!

Chew The Fat! & Dub All Or Nothing present The HENCH Takeover!

www.thefatclub.com / www.duballornothing.co.uk / www.dstyle.co.uk / www.cable-london.com