Skwatta Kamp sold 25 000 units (yes over the counter baby) of their album Mkhukhu Funkshen. This year sees the release of Boss’s “The Champ” (Mar/Apr), Flabba (Jul), Infa and Relo towards the end of the year.  Check the interview we did with them recently.

How you guys doing?

Well we are cool just working on some new material plus we’ve just finished recording Boss’ solo which is due out in March/April 2004.Either than that everything is everything.

How is the album doing? You told me that you sold 25 000 copies. Is that shipped or actual sales to the consumer?

That’s certified over the counter baba, people in general are feeling Mkhukhu Funkshen so all that is sold.

Looking back would you say it was worth signing to Gallo?

I think the signing has done or is doing what we want it to do to get to our our own objectives so we could say it’s worth it.

How is the group holding together?

The groups’ bond is stronger, we’ve accepted each other as brothers and realise the importance of sticking together, or at least supporting each other through everything.

Are you happy with the outcome of your new album? Some say it wasn’t as hard as Khut en Joyn and some were scratching their heads for the metal/rock song you did.

To be honest we don’t think the album sounds like any other album in the local market so we believe that we are innovating and elevating the standard no matter how anybody sees it and that should be a good thing with music. The more we think of what’s being said around us the more we limit our creativity and we want to be free from that cause we want to express ourselves in anyway we want and try run away from formulas and that keeps us in touch with what we really want to say after all that’s hip hop. Expression music.

Explain to us what it means to Skwatta to be signed to Gallo.

Skwatta was the group being signed but hip hop was the art being expanded to an industry that neglected the artform so we think actually we know a lot more hip hop artists are being considered to be signed on the strength of our work, take note I said our work cause this deal is not only about Gallo.

Any plans to go touring overseas?

Yeah we planning to go to East Africa and Europe later this year.

How much do you charge for a performance here in South Africa?

(laughing) You know that a question for my management jo. On the real call S’bu he’ll fill you in!

Is it safe to assume that each member are now making a comfortable living off your music?

Not really comfortable but surviving, we’ve only been in the mainstream industry for a year so we not doing too bad.

So what else are Skwatta working on that we should be aware of?

The new Skwatta Kamp album is already being recorded which is scheduled for the end of the year. Boss’ album The Champ will be out in March/April, Flabba should be out in July and Infa and Relo should also be around the end of the year.

Will you be working with Gallo for your next album?

Yeah the next album is coming out on Gallo.

How is Gallo treating Skwatta as a group?

I guess they give us a lot of attention cause we don’t allow them to ignore us we always in their faces handling our business professionally. Buttabing Entertainment our management got our back so you know not a whole lot can go wrong.

Did you at any time experience tension between yourselves and the label?

It’s a relationship there will always be differences like any other but they make us feel at home so its not so bad for now. I think a record company doesn’t look at your genre their concern is are you selling or not and we doing just that.

Is Buttabing gonna bring out any new artists?

Yeah all the solo artists mentioned above are going to be released by Buttabing and also another group called Cho. They about to shit up.

Which songs off the new album were you really happy with?

The whole album was planned a certain way so the every song was executed the way we wanted it to sound.

Since you have access to a more wider audience do you get noticed in public more often than not and if so what were some of the strange encounters you experienced?

Yeah its crazy attention. The strangest thing is how people behave the whole disbelief that its “Skwatta” the stampede for autographs its all a blessing though but sometime people don’t consider you and start mishandling you and that’s when you know you got to get away.

Do you foresee the album going platinum or are you planning that for the next album?

It would be good if it went platinum but the cards are more on the next album.

How often do Skwatta record material?

Every Tuesday and Thursday you can find us in the Shack doing some new shit or rehearsing for a show.

I hear that there will be a vinyl release – tell us about that.

Can only answer that once the record company gets back to us.

Out of all the local hip hop releases this year how would you rank your album?

The album is in its own league it doesn’t offer what you expecting to hear its just Skwatta doing what they do,so it’s a bit hard comparing it too any other album cause we all different and have our own approaches to this hip hop as artists. Its actually very difficult to rate your own stuff but you get a certain feeling though when its finished and its either good or bad.

Lyrically what would be the difference between this album and the previous one?

The previous one is not as conceptual and broad as this one. The lyrics on the previous one were dope showcased us as individuals more than anything on this one we sharing and everybody writes together and everything is inspired by the mood if we all in.

How long is the promotion period for this new album?

It doesn’t stop really because we not promoting an album only it’s a whole artform so if people still are ignorant to thus hip hop movement we’ll be there to bring light with our music ofcourse so that means it don’t stop.

A lot of people don’t realise but this music business is very stressful – but rewarding too. What advice would you give to the hundreds/thousands of local artists/groups who also have dreams of releasing album

Nobody will respect you or your art until you learn to love and respect your work. Stay open to change around to stay on your toes and no matter how many times they tell you can’t don’t lose faith, we were made from it.

Tell us something about Skwatta Kmp that nobody knows about?

We really love what we do and we really are close like brothers.

Tell us something that you think is important for us to include in this interview.

People should know we just a little inch of salt in this hiphop game, its not always about us, but all of us. Nothing is for free you pay in dues be ready to make the sacrifices if you going to make it.

Thank you for talking to us. We wish everything of the best for you and hope to see you in Cape Town soon. Your last words?

Thank you guys for your time till the next time. You can visit us on www.skwattakamp.co.za.

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