Nyambz and Sceptre speak to us in this interview. You can also download a beat in mp3 format made by Nyambz.

DOWNLOAD NYAMBZ BEAT “DOUBLE TROUBLE” IN MP3 FORMAT [987KB]

RIGHT CLICK AND CHOOSE “SAVE AS” TO SAVE.

Can you introduce yourselves to the South African hip-hop community? Who are you, where you from and where you at?

Nyambz:
I’m a producer from Zambia but I’ve been in South Africa since 1989, I live in Pretoria now!!
Sceptre:
Yeah I’m the Sceptre, emcee from Lesotho, I live in Berea, Jhb, Me and Nyambz hooked up late 2000 and formed “Haunted Fort”.

How long have you all been involved with hip-hop?

Sceptre:
We’ve been involved with hip-hop for a long time but me and Nyambz been together since late 2000.

What tracks have you released thus far?

Nyambz:
Personally I’ve never released a “Nyambz” track but I’ve produced a couple tracks for a couple international cats that’ve released independently.

Sceptre:
We’ve never conventionally released tracks (as in stores) but we’ve pushed stuff in our respective cities.

Nyambz:
“Trunk of the car” type releases.

What got you involved with hip-hop, what were your influences?

Nyambz: 
Acts like, Gangstarr, Common, The Roots etc

Sceptre: 
Gza, Masta Killa etc

Do you think South Africa is going through a hip-hop explosion and if so what would you attribute that to?

Nyambz:
Not really, its just that cats who were brought up with hip-hop have got to that age, where they can do their thing.

What South African emcees are you feeling right now and why?

Nyambz: 
Tumi, Snazz, X-amount, Draztik. You can here the maturity and creativity in their music.

Sceptre: 
X-amount, he’s just on his own level.

In terms of production what producers are you feeling (international and local) and why?

Sceptre: 
Nyambz!!!

Nyambz: 
I’m feeling Draztik, Iko, Spacevein, Melanin, Gemini, Snazz, X-amount, of course their a lot of local producers I haven’t heard yet so this list still going to grow!! Internationally I’m feeling Primo, Mighty Mi, Hi-Tek, Alchemist, Shawn J period, No Id, Jay Dee (Slum V), Dj Lord Ron, Babu, Rjd2, El-p, Beatminerz etc.

Do you guys ever battle, if so what have been your most memorable and worst?

Sceptre:
Rarely right now my focus is on my writing skills.

Where does the name “Haunted fort” come from?

Sceptre: 
Early 2001 me and Nyambz just finished recording my first album “Incarnation” and we didn’t have a name that represented us as a collective outfit, so we just picked the name “haunted fort” from titles on the back of one of Nyambz old books. 

What is the intention of “Haunted fort”, what is the purpose of this group existing?

Sceptre:
we’re original were not trying to be like anyone else!!! We bring what the industries missing.

Nyambz: 
Yeah we bring a fresh sound to hip-hop!!!

Where would you like to see yourselves in 2 years time?

Sceptre: 
Still building a name for ourselves, were not in a rush, we’ll be here for a minute!!

Nyambz:
Learning to play a few more musical instruments.

Are you guys open to collaborate with other emcees/producers?

Nyambz:
For sure, we’re both down for collabo’s, Sceptre doesn’t mind if I work with other emcees and I don’t mind if he works with other producers.

Which artists would you really like to collaborate with?

Nyambz:
locally I would love to work with Tumi!!! Internationally I would love to work with J-Live And Defari.

Sceptre:
Gza, Common and Black thought, Locally Dilema, Man-d-la & Watershed

Tell us about the track “The Style”

Nyambz:
“The Style” is one of two tracks I produced for Lotchiano and Fate (www.lootchiano.com) its gonna be released on their album “Free To Be Me”. It was an honor for me to work with them because Lootchiano has worked with Producers like hi-tek and artists like Mainflow. Basically the track is an attack on industry and commercial hip-hop.

What do you think South Africa needs for hip-hop to grow even more?

Nyambz:
An outlet for the music, plus more media recognition ’cause we got a whole lot of talented acts making tracks daily but radio and TV make international hip-hop their priority!!!

Sceptre:
for sure, we need more focus on our own; it’s the only way we can start selling records competitively with other music genres. 

What would you say is the main obstacle right now for your group?

Sceptre: 
Me and Nyambz live in different cities so it’s hard for us to find time in our schedules to get together and make tracks.

Nyambz: 
Plus Lack of funds. WE ACCEPT DONATIONS!!!!!

What do you guys rhyme about?

Sceptre: 
Anything and everything!!!

In terms of production, what equipment/software are you using and how do you approach producing a track?

Nyambz: 
Hardware: Keyboard, Software: Acid pro: Modplug tracker, Taureg phrase sampler and Gold wave. And to answer you second question, yeah I sample, sometimes an artist will approach you with a particular concept he wants for a track and then I’d go through a couple old vinyl’s and cd’s trying to find the right sound. Sampling is an art form and shouldn’t be confused with biting!!!

Are you guys signed or are you releasing your stuff independently?

Sceptre:

Independent

If you could choose to tour, would you do it nationally or internationally? What would give you more satisfaction?

Sceptre: 
I love doing shows nationally, its home for us but we would love to share our music with an international audience!! Of course if we only got to do shows here, it would be fine with us.

If people had to meet you for the first time what would their impression be of you?

Sceptre:
are these guys hip-hop artists???

Nyambz:
yeah we don’t look like those acts you see on TV!! 

Sceptre:
Yeah that TV image is foreign to us. 

What does the “Haunted fort” guys do for a living, do you guy’s study/work?

Nyambz:
I’m at Pretoria University.

Sceptre:
I’m at Wits.

If people want to get in touch with you guys, for collaboration, or to check out some of your music, how would you like them to get in contact with you?

Nyambz: 
www.mp3.com/nyambz (older beats), www.soundclick.com/nyambz (newer beats), or e-mail me at ins@webmail.co.za or tell: 27 83 245 1999

Sceptre:
27 82 581 9976

What are your views on the South African hip hop scene?

Nyambz: 
It’s growing, only problem is they’re to many cats who’ve bought into that “TV” image which isn’t helping us create our own identity as African artists. 

Your top five albums of all time?

Sceptre:
Grave Diggaz – forgot the album title
Ghostface-“Ironman”.
The roots-” illadelph half life”/Wu-tang “forever”.
Common -“like water for chocolate”.
Gza-” beneath the surface”.

Nyambz:
OC-“Jewelz”.
The Roots-“Illadelph half life”.
Soundbombing 2
Common-“Resurrection”/”Like water for chocolate”.
Gangstarr-“Moment of truth”/ Digable planets-“cool like that”.. 

When can we expect an album and what can you tell us about it?

Sceptre: 
Yeah right now everyone’s releasing albums/compilations etc, so now’s not the right time for us, as soon as it’s the times for us to drop we will.

Nyambz:
yeah for now were going to just do feature tracks,/tracks for compilations, you know, just creating awareness for our music 

Do you guys perform live?

Sceptre: 
For sure.

Thanks for talking to us, do you have any last words or shout outs?

Sceptre & Nyambz: 
we’d like to thank africasgateway 4 its contribution to the local hip-hop scene,Huge shout out to Melanin, Shock, Black Sub, Man-d-la and the rest of Fro Pick, Selfs-sufficients, Metro (Penny & Zak, thanks 4 having us on the show), Dj Lord Ron, Lootchiano, my man Dj illete, 8bzag, James Kerr, Draztik and Cashless, Loose Cannon and Law of Persons. PTA HIPHOP 4 LIFE.

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