This week we feature Durban emcee, Ewok, who is South Africa’s Battle MC Champion. In this interview we discuss the African Hip Hop Indaba battle, the Durban hip hop scene plus lot’s more. Read on to find out more…

How did you get involved with hip hop?

At a point in my life when I was developing my own musical tastes.  Hip Hop seemed to be everywhere I listened.  I was at a boarding school so my influences were a dorm full of radios and it seemed mostly to be the black dudes into their Hip Hop radio stations and the white dudes into punk and some metal.  All my early influences come through from that point.  I started 
skating, started graff writing, hanging out with older dudes with more established tastes.  Hip Hop sounds good to a lightie. Bad ass, attitude, cool, doesn’t really give a fuck sound y’know?  Like punk.

What was it that inspired you to start writing?

I always loved my language studies. English was always my best subject. I love reading so writing is how I got that fix. I’m a sucker for good lyrics, lyrics that make you laugh or just think. Cheezy country lyrics, musicals, hippie revolutionary stuff, any well thought out communicated lyrics. In terms of rhyming I didn’t really connect with it until I heard Zack from Rage Against The Machine and I was like hey, yo this dudes rapping to metal?  Whats up with that? Oh rapping can happen without rap music? Oh okay.  It was poetry too.

Where does the name Creamy Ewok come from?

I was hella fat in Std 6 with this really curly thick hair. I had a slight accent from living with an American father and spending my pre-school years there (in the States) so they all called me American Cream Puff. A teacher actually said when I was fucking around in class that I was acting and looking like an Ewok (from Return of the Jedi?).  So that was the new name, Creamy Ewok. I fucking hated it but two years later when I started graff writing and I needed a handle I was like well, that’s my other name really, Creamy Ewok, Ewok so why try giving myself one if I’ve already been given one.

How old are you?

23

What is the Durban scene like?

Same as most I guess, there’s up-market, there’s ghetto, there’s bling, there’s Bling Free.  Durban has no real media presence in terms of Hip Hop so almost everything you see or hear is going to be live generally. Fuck-all industry this side. There are some sick new parties happening now though by the same crew of heads that has always maintained the Bling Free attitude. There’s a new era emerging here. The ground works are complete so the first story is being constructed. Big tings a gwan!

Which artists in Durban do you consider pioneers and which do you consider the next big thing?

MC Bullet, Black Fist of Garvey, Ghetto Prophecy Movement, WhatKind? Crew, OneTwo crew, DJ Cause, MG Fresh, Cheap Lazy Maggots and of course ILLUMINATING SHADOWS…let it be known…these are the forefathers…

What about the history of hip hop in Durban. Is there a story about that?

Every scene has a story…ours will be written…(probably not by one of us)…

I’ve heard some really good stuff coming out of DBN. Are there any official releases in the pipeline? Will we get an Ewok album soon?

yes…pleased to say my crew Illuminating Shadows just got a deal with a local label called UJU Records so looks like early next year if we get our acts into gear an album will appear…in terms of solo stuff, I’m always working on this or that but I’m going to try and focus on the crew activity first…in terms of other artists, I have no dates but I know who is working on what…watch out for Raheem…seriously…there’s also some DJ album movement, some amazing production minds putting there shit together…its all sounding fresh as fuck at the moment so everybody is getting excited…

What other elements do you practice?

Graffiti Art and although I’m out of practice at the moment I play Capoeira and fuck with some breakdance but never battle serious…just like the exercise…mainly graffiti.

What do you write about?

Flow of consciousness…verses come out just floating from idea to idea…when I get a specific topic or a specific beat then I try to establish some connection between the thought and the idea/beat…I really feel that I’m still learning about how to control my content and still keep it fairly free…

How did you feel about winning at the battle this year?

It was something that I really wanted to happen. I heard about it like three years ago and I was like man I want that title…I’m most happy with all the love I’ve received on return from family and friends…its a good feeling with people having pride in you or making you feel proud…

What were the lines that you spat that killed it for the crowd?

My politics is city style, yours is suburban/the first thing I do is move the mountain to Durban…that’s the only one I can remember…

Which emcees impressed you?

Marco Polo. His disqualification was BULLSHIT!  How the fuck is the host going to stand there and act like its the fucking Olympics! Now he’s qualified for the semis and he has to fucking wait till next year? Who are they trying to impress with their hardcore organizer act?  Also that cat Pychosis, he had some crazy energy.

Was this the first time you went to the Indaba?

Yeah, also the first weekend I ever used MONTANA spray paint! Biggup TOE PLAY and NOKS! you the kiff okes…

Winning this emcee battle, what do you think this will lead to?

A year of getting ready for the next one…

Is media in Durban supporting hip hop?

About as much as the US supports the 3rd world…we have many glorified journalists who haven’t yet grasped the importance of there positions and end up doing more damage in ignorance then good…

What about radio in DBN?

Durban Youth Radio tries but it seems to be flopping…otherwise the same cheeeeeeeese and winey…Metro plays some nice shit, local vocals and all that…the real hip hop is on the live stages and city walls if its anywhere…

In your opinion what is the main obstacle for hip hop in this country?

lack of education…the main obstacle for everything, poverty to pop music…

Not that we care, but have you experienced people having an issue regarding your skin color? Is this still an issue, in your opinion?

Yeah, my first battles always had some race shit but lets be honest is that going to end any time soon?  People take the easiest ways to look like they can come through witty and intelligent…they just forget that as a white emcee I’ve heard it all! I could diss myself better then most of those played out race jokes and rhymes!  Its almost a relief to get nailed for that shit, my mind doesn’t have to work as fast to match my opponents creativity coz with those issues there isn’t any creativity…

Which emcees today (local and global) do you consider master wordsmiths?

Waddy, Tumi, Raheem, Q (from The Nomadz here in Durban)…Immortal Technique (shot Neil), Mr Lif, Black Thought…so many come to mind…so many killer lines and verses out there…most definitely Sage Francis…

Who does the production for your tracks?

Illuminating Shadows is the whole click on production, my stuff is either me (not beat making or engineering but writing and structuring) or The Physiologists…most of the sickest stuff at the moment is coming from those cats…

What is it about the Indaba that you consider it’s strongest point?

The break dancing and community work ethic.

Did you take the train?  I mean, why not just hop on Kulula?

Nah, train didn’t pan out…the original idea was a crew down by train for a day and a half checking out the coast, rolling in along the trackside graff spotting, battling, leaving but shit all fell apart so it retuned into 26 hours on a bus, three emcees and a photographer…sick trip though, beautiful, dozing, listening y’know.  Seats were about as comfortable as sitting on a pineapple but we didn’t really notice…Kalula maybe next time…kinda defeats the purpose of a journey though…

What do you fear?

Too much to mention…

If all the emcees in this country had to stand in one stadium, what would make you different from all of them? What makes you unique?

I would be the most relaxed I think…I get off on tension and anxiety and egos…that shit makes me laugh…

Anybody you wanna collaborate with?

Hell Yes! but I’ll wait until it happens…those things need to happen spontaneously for them to work…in terms of dreaming about working with someone…definitely Dr Dre…just to meet the man…

That’s it for now, but we’ll definitely wanna talk again, give us your last words and shoutouts.

DURBAN – Illuminating Shadows, The Occulists, The Nomadz, Ghetto Prophecy Movement, Bullet, WhatKindCrew, OneTwoCrew, PLAY, NOKS, TOE, Mr Min in Jozi, S’Fear and Monks at Bring The Noise also Jozi, all my family and friends, all my enemies too and if thats you then SUCK A HUUUUUUGE DICK! 
I will continue to remain unfuckwitable…

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