Interview with Jah Fish

13 June 2006 No Comment

If you frequent the AG boards you might have come across the name Jah Fish. Some of you might have met the man already as he is currently in South Africa. He is a deejay and a dope designer and has done work for some well established artists around the globe. Miss Controversy wanted to find out more about the man himself and also about his perceptions of the African hip hop scene. He talked a bit about his roots, touched on Hip Hop in Europe and also his close encounters with Prophets of the City. What follows is an unedited transcript from a chat on Messenger. Read on to check it out.

controversy says:
wazup fish?
berlinCT says:
wassup south africa?
controversy says:
dope althought I’m sitting in UK cold as hell…
controversy says:
not that Berlin is any warmer
berlinCT says:
haha
berlinCT says:
thought the interview had started
controversy says:
it has
controversy says:
I interview artist in a relaxed setting
controversy says:
so fish?
berlinCT says:
joanne?
controversy says:
break down the name and the massive discovery that led you to hiphop
berlinCT says:
it was around 1984 when I was 13 … there was a late night movie I was lucky to catch … Wildstylez was the name!
controversy says:
now we talkin…
berlinCT says:
I immediately wanted to breakdance and we put out cardboard of the floor in our basement
berlinCT says:
me and a few friends tried
berlinCT says:
but that wasn’t my “element” …. I’ve tried graffiti later on, having the berlin wall around me with lots of room for training …
berlinCT says:
I discovered my element “Djing” a few years later then….
controversy says:
So u had the privilege of graffing on the Berlin Wall…
controversy says:
That’s rebellious history right there/
berlinCT says:
Yes. Although I think it sounds more special from outside!
berlinCT says:
That was actually the time my friends and me were marching on the roads in demonstrations to protest against the apartheid system
berlinCT says:
And about shell’s (and others) exploitation in Africa …
controversy says:
I’m really trying to visualize hip hop in Germany…
berlinCT says:
I guess that was my first link to Africa…
controversy says:
hip hop in the eighties in Germany
berlinCT says:
hip hop’s first wave came with break dancing …. There was even a TV show where u could learn breaking
controversy says:
With all going on at the time…
controversy says:
Politically I mean
controversy says:
Really?
controversy says:
What was it called…the show/
berlinCT says:
I just remember the guys name…. Eisi Gulp
berlinCT says:
Horrible dude…
berlinCT says:
A gym trainer
berlinCT says:
Definitely no break-dancer

controversy says:
That’s mad funny…
berlinCT says:
It was a shame for those who were really into it, but then again it opened up doors…
controversy says:
Were the kids in Germany hungry for this new discovery called hip hop?
berlinCT says:
Lets say it was noticed
berlinCT says:
It wasn’t until the Beastie Boys and Run DMC that hip hop became real big ….
controversy says:
And with Adidas being a German brand and DMC rocking the gear there was a link yeah?
berlinCT says:
Most kids here in the eighties used to listen to skate punk & alternative stuff…. so the Beasties made a perfect transition…
berlinCT says:
yeah …
berlinCT says:
It was easy and cheap to get those old sweaters and jackets
berlinCT says:
And a lot of us had those at school already…
controversy says:
wow
berlinCT says:
Before they came out with that
controversy says:
You still did not answer how the name Jahfish came about?
berlinCT says:
I used to deejay in a place called Fishlabor…. that was my first official job on the decks and I didn’t have a deejay name yet, something I had just discussed a few minutes ago with some other friends around
berlinCT says:
Then a friend of mine came in after being one year in Jamaica…. I was spinning a reggae tune so he turned in my direction, raised his arms and said “jah fish” … this is when all my friends turned around, pointed their fingers on me and repeated “jah fish”
berlinCT says:
Never got rid of it again
controversy says:
hahaha
controversy says:
like the Godfather
berlinCT says:
I was forced into the back office later that night by the owner and ended making a flyer for “radio mars at fishlabor feat. jah fish”
controversy says:
I kinda guessed the Jah in the name was spiritually blessed for you
berlinCT says:
I wanted to be somehow related to the silver surfer… But then fish can surf too
controversy says:
okay!
controversy says:
You mentioned earlier about the protest in Germany that linked you to Africa, how did that come about?
berlinCT says:
Well I just found out pretty early about South Africa and its conditions, how people live there ….
berlinCT says:
I don’t know it was meant to be a link…. SA is just always reappearing in my life from time to time….
controversy says:
needless to say!
controversy says:
What was yo first taste of South African hip hop?
berlinCT says:
In the early nineties I met a guy who played me a tape with a few tracks from POC and Devious…
berlinCT says:
Then in ninety-six I was on stage with Prophets Of the City in Berlin
controversy says:
wow!
berlinCT says:
I think it was the 26th of June
berlinCT says:
yeah
controversy says:
What were your thoughts on The Prophets?
berlinCT says:
It was impressive to see a crew that is really representing all hip hop elements …. Breakin, Djing and live music, rappin, and even graphin shirts in between…
berlinCT says:
I remember that they graphed me a shirt too ….
controversy says:
You still have it?
berlinCT says:
Unfortunately not …
controversy says:
awwwwww man
berlinCT says:
I’ve collected too much shirts over the years…. working for a booking agency and touring made me collect too much … I lost some on the road
controversy says:
oh well!
berlinCT says:
It wasn’t that hot…. Just quickly made with a marker…. but I really appreciated the whole thing in itself
controversy says:
So you had a good taste of the pioneers in South Africa from the get go?
berlinCT says:
yeah ….
berlinCT says:
but I only rediscovered SA hip hop last year ….
controversy says:
So what have you encountered when you were in Cape Town again?
berlinCT says:
It was Rushay from PE that I found on myspace.com …
controversy says:
Africasgateway peeps always got it locked…
controversy says:
So heard J-bux?
berlinCT says:
I tried to pioneer when I was in Cape Town in 97 …. but only found one record store …. I guess it was still a bit early to expect too much…. and I was there with my then two year old daughter … so I didn’t have much time
controversy says:
Which record store did u discover?
berlinCT says:
Then came the idea that my girlfriend could finish her studies down there, Rushay sent me to AG, and I started hookin up with some people there …
controversy says:
The Lovely Asa
berlinCT says:
As far as I know it was the only store in town back then who was exclusively hiphop/deejay store…
controversy says:
gotta double check on that one for you…
berlinCT says:
would be nice
berlinCT says:
I think I wont remember the name …
controversy says:
so which Artists in South Africa you feelin?
berlinCT says:
oh there various artists I like …
controversy says:
like…
berlinCT says:
the brand new Landmynz compilation is dope
controversy says:
for sure…
berlinCT says:
Landmynz, Han Dolo, Konfab
controversy says:
Konfab is mad dope
berlinCT says:
that Landmynz and Dungeon Shack track is a burner
berlinCT says:
I like Cashless Society …. their Taxi Wars video is dope!
controversy says:
so true
controversy says:
what you see is what you get on that vid.
berlinCT says:
rip Devious … his flows have mad energy
controversy says:
gone but not forgotten
berlinCT says:
and I really like how Prokid is swapping languages without swapping the flow …
controversy says:
What about Proverb though?
berlinCT says:
I like the variety in Jbux’ music…. that track with Robbie Jansen is mad dope!
berlinCT says:
I met Jbux in CT a couple of times …
berlinCT says:
we plan a workshop in PE in a few months …
controversy says:
Bux is eclectic that’s why he dope.
berlinCT says:
and he’s a really nice down to earth guy …
controversy says:
thats helps in this ego laced culture
berlinCT says:
also gotta give props for Nyambz for his absolutely exquisite productions!
berlinCT says:
really really tight soulfull music!
controversy says:
any other producers you linked witth who’s music you feelin?
berlinCT says:
I like D Planets sirens … haha

controversy says:
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
berlinCT says:
Dj Hamma played me a few dope beats he did … that Frank Sinatra sample is still in my ears!
controversy says:
So we got mad representation?
controversy says:
Who’s rockin Berlin right now?
controversy says:
or Germany as a whole
berlinCT says:
I must admit that I’m not really into German hiphop. Being French I have always looked over the border to find a hip hop scene I could way more relate too … watch the film “la haine” (hatred) to see what’s hip hop-life like in European cities/suburbs … the biggest ghetto is in your mind … and French hiphop has that little portion of arrogance and hate that (I think) u need to express the problems around us
berlinCT says:
Subliminally saying that I never saw hip hop as pure entertainment)
controversy says:
I feel that
berlinCT says:
that’s why I couldn’t relate to German hiphop over the years, as most artists would be on some funny clown tip, always trying to be real funny … but I hardly could ever take a German rapper serious
controversy says:
hiphop is life
controversy says:
I’ve heard some German emcees
controversy says:
they always talking about the ghetto
berlinCT says:
things have surely changed, but so has the media …. so now its super aggressive guys ruling in the charts … supercliché gangstas
berlinCT says:
bitches in the videos and all that ….
controversy says:
I’m trying to visualize their version of the ghetto
berlinCT says:
you can do that on aggroberlin.de
controversy says:
anything like our hoods in Cape Town?
berlinCT says:
that is the main label at the moment …. Sido and Harris are the two big cats in German hiphop at the moment ….
controversy says:
yeah?
berlinCT says:
no nuttin at all …. u have wellfare and all that here …. 90% of the people can just go see a doc when they have something serious
controversy says:
I kinda thought so!
controversy says:
I’m sitting in the uk at the moment full of frustrations
controversy says:
Most of these cats I’ve encountered are like divas
berlinCT says:
I think that is a general trend in Europe
controversy says:
u know in Cape Town we can hook up an interview with cats pronto
controversy says:
thats hiphop style
berlinCT says:
Individualism in time where marketing tells you to be all the same
controversy says:
freestyle
controversy says:
sad reality
controversy says:
I know in NYC I’ll get much better co-operation
controversy says:
if you ask me cats are not as hungry as they pretend to be.
berlinCT says:
as soon as they have something to stick to they get too comfortable instead of trying to go further
controversy says:
comfort zones
controversy says:
yet everybody wants be a star.
controversy says:
let me just rap this up and ask you one last thing
berlinCT says:
yeah, why not just be a good artist?
controversy says:
Where do you see South African hiphop in 5 years time not to mention yourself?
berlinCT says:
it will probably go the same way as everywhere …. versace and gucci on one side … real music and persistent artists on the other side … lots of shady stuff in between ….
berlinCT says:
but there a few things I noticed that are different
controversy says:
and yourself lord please don’t go the versace way
controversy says:
lol
berlinCT says:
there is more energy behind it in SA
controversy says:
no let me rectify that for you
controversy says:
its called FIRE
berlinCT says:
and the rappers care more about what they say …
berlinCT says:
Poets reappear in that context ….
berlinCT says:
that’s a nice thing to see ….
controversy says:
guess we don’t know how fortunate we are truly
berlinCT says:
cause its usually the slower deeper shit that opens up your mind and has more room to tell a story …
berlinCT says:
well, I think the SA hiphop scene is going along a path where it will always be misinterpreted (like everywhere) by the media …. but it has more energy to fight back!
controversy says:
you mean fire to fight back
berlinCT says:
while the media tried to sell us kwaito as the legitimate follower of hiphop its now known as mediocre house music mixture … now the new releases must be promoted and spread throughout the world …
berlinCT says:
I think this year can be a HIPHOP year for SA…. and the next years to come will also be good…
controversy says:
Wow
controversy says:
well said
controversy says:
nothing more to top that
berlinCT says:
I heard of so many people recording at the moment
berlinCT says:
but there is one thing
controversy says:
yeah?
berlinCT says:
I think SA hiphop need to integrate more their own sound … lots of things sound very 90ies hip hop ….
berlinCT says:
listening to k’naan (from Somalia) made me realise that SA hiphop has a very very small african sounding vibe …
berlinCT says:
its very Brooklyn!
controversy says:
that’s because some artists, including myself are still in love with the raw, simple breakthrough sounds the late eighties and early 90’s brought us
berlinCT says:
I am too
controversy says:
though we move forward with times
berlinCT says:
but I think it’s the next challenge for SA hiphop …. to find their own sound ….
berlinCT says:
maybe the grime thing in the UK could take a part in that ….
controversy says:
South Africa is a big pot with a brew that has influences from all over
berlinCT says:
fast African percussion with the fed up bass sounds …. That could be an interesting mixture…
controversy says:
Discover yet we also need to be true to ourselves
berlinCT says:
Yes, but I have the feeling none of them is in the music
controversy says:
we African but all of us didn’t exactly grow up playing the digeree doo
berlinCT says:
that is not what I’m expecting ….
controversy says:
thats a big misinterpretation
berlinCT says:
African language sometimes sound beautiful …
controversy says:
no doubt
controversy says:
I agree
berlinCT says:
I’m talking about the sound of various languages … some of them are like music already to me
berlinCT says:
and I am missing them
controversy says:
so true
berlinCT says:
the (ghetto) streets don’t all talk English in SA, do they?
berlinCT says:
so who’s clearly understanding the “message to the streets” when a rapper tells his story in Brooklyn slang?
controversy says:
In essence individual artists should experiment but not go completely off a tangent and be immersed in “fashion”
controversy says:
you cannot put every artist in that category though
controversy says:
remember
berlinCT says:
just thoughts that go though my mind when I’m thinking of SA….
controversy says:
this is a culture not just music
berlinCT says:
yeah, culture!
controversy says:
so there’ll be so much to learn and to embrace
controversy says:
LEARN
controversy says:
EXPERIMENT
berlinCT says:
that’s why its important to incorporate your own elements
berlinCT says:
K’naan is doin it in a great way….
controversy says:
I agree but stay in parameters
controversy says:
in other words
controversy says:
still be you
berlinCT says:
definitely!
controversy says:
so agreed
berlinCT says:
that’s what I’m sayin too ….
controversy says:
so in closing
controversy says:
We at AfricasGateway would like to thank you for your time and the definitely interesting conversation
berlinCT says:
In closing I’d like to mention that in those digital times MP3s are passed on and u don’t know more than the title! Information about the artist gets lost … no more artwork, no more lyrics…. this is why I like those mix tapes I discovered on African sites, filled with skits telling more details about the artist and their surroundings…. this is a good way to take your culture a bit further and explain some links … nowadays too much people bump their head but don’t listen to the lyrics, and even I am one of them sometimes…
berlinCT says:
so I’d love to see more of that!
controversy says:
well I’m sure they will
controversy says:
after reading this
controversy says:
Fish it been good
berlinCT says:
but i’d like to do a little ag meeting/summit … so that people can hang out a bit and get to know each other personally … and talk about some more upgrades for AG
berlinCT says:
would be good to be able to sell music over the site …
berlinCT says:
I’ll try to help with my graphic skills and my contacts wherever I can …
controversy says:
Its in the pipeline
controversy says:
that’s what I’m talking about
controversy says:
lets build
berlinCT says:
peace