K.I.G - Hitty, Creeper and Mr Bubbly
How's it going today Bubbly? Are things busy in the K.I.G camp?
Oh we're just doing a couple of things - little bits and bobs, you know.
Please enlighten us - what does K.I.G stand for?
K.I.G stands for 'kings in da ghetto' - it's a bit of a mad one, but it's just this thing where the two areas we're from have their differences, you know, but we looked past that and just did our thing.
How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn't heard your tunes before?
Craziness! That's our sound - craziness.
Right, so you're crazy. And what might inspire such madness?
Oh I don't know... everything! A bit of Michael Jackson, some 2PAC, rap, RnB - just all kinds of different music, you know. That's our influence.
Do you think there's anyone else doing what K.I.G does right now?
No man, we're totally original. There's no one out there like us!
So who could you take down in a rap battle?
We could take anyone. We've all got hot sixteenths.
Snoop Dogg?
Yeah we could take Snoop.
Dr. Dre?
Oh no man, you got me. No one could take Dre, he's just too good.
Tell us about the new single, Heads Shoulders Kneez N Toez
It's out on March 23, and it's a crazy song that was done just as a laugh really in like 15 or 20 minutes in a bedroom. I used to be a rave promoter and hold my own nights where I'd be shouting "heads, shoulders knees and toes" to the crowd - we made a funky song, my cousin Hitty makes beats and we just put it all together. It all came naturally really.
How do the crowds react when you play live?
Reactions so far have been crazy - I'm talking madness! Fifty girls lining up just for us to say "hi" to them, people trying to get on stage; you can have the angriest person down there and as soon as they hear "bubbly, bubbly" on the mic, their mood just changes!
So tell me, where have you found the craziest crowds?
Nottingham the other night, that was really crazy! The feeling around there was so mad, that the owner of a kebab shop after the show gave us free chicken and chips... madness. The reaction when we're on the stage is crazy, but it's always what happens afterwards that's the best - everyone shaking your hand and asking for your number, its bare craziness!
Is music something you always dreamed you would do?
Yeah man, music's always kind of been in my system, you know? Me and Hitty are cousins and in our family there's loads of music-related stuff. His little sister's granddad was one of the pioneers who brought carnival music into this country - from Trinidad. Music's just always been around us - I think we've covered everything in music. We can all DJ, all host, all MC, you know? K.I.G's been around a while - maybe about six or seven years.
Imagine for a second that K.I.G is an alcoholic cocktail - what's in the mix?
It's gotta be Disaronno, Malibu and Grenadian rum - that's all... straight.
And if K.I.G ruled the world, what would have to be changed?
Well first we'd get rid of racism. Then I guess poverty - we don't need none of that neither - equal opportunities throughout the whole world. I don't believe in one country having no money and other countries being rich and all that. Racism, poverty and inequality; the three things that are letting down this world.
Finally, are there 5 words that perfectly sum up K.I.G's philosophy?
Unique, crazy, versatile... erm... pioneers! Definitely pioneers! And... swagga splashin...
Swagg...erm, wait... what?
Swagga splashin! It's the way we look from head to toe; it's how we move - gotta have style... everyone knows that.
Heads Shoulders Kneez N Toes is released on March 23
Anthony Hill