DJ Rubbish Interview - November 2005 Heavy Discipline

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HEAVY DISCIPLINE

DJ Rubbish Interview -
November 2005

Heavy Discipline caught up with him before his Peace Not War benefit at Goldsmiths Student Union. The show itself was pathetic. The empty floor just screamed “hell no we won’t show” when all the kids had to do was turn up and give their support for a worthy cause and a free gig. Not a reflection on Rubbish, who freestyled continually for a good 20 mins on subjects including getting stoned before fine art lectures, the Top Cat clips the VJ cast behind him, and the virtues of living in Peckham. Anyway, when a great bloke’s doing things for the right reasons, one empty dancefloor ain’t gonna start nor stop a war, is it?

DJ Rubbish- who, what and why?

DJ Rubbish is a vehicle for political, social, and cultural commentary. Why? It stared purely out of frustration; it was like shouting into a void. Things have changed since then, but I started with ‘Armageddon Session Vol 1’ in November 2001, and it’s gone on since then, but I had the idea and the concept for ages.

Who are your heroes, musically and politically?

It depends what you call political. When I was younger I admired Malcom X as a kinda revolutionary hard nut. I like hard nuts. When I grew up I was into political hip-hop. But I tend not to listen to music at home. A mate of mine, Damien Singleton makes beautiful music, simple music. Given a choice I like silence. Music is distraction; I like to keep my mind ticking.

If DJ Rubbish had 30 seconds live on national TV what would you say to the nation?

I’d say “WERE FUCKED”. Just stop pretending we’re not fucked. On channel four the other day they were talking about the energy crisis and nuclear power blah blah, but no one actually says we’re fucked. I’d like John Snow to start the news one evening with “Today we finally admit we’re all fucked” and that’s a good thing because at least that would make us sort out things for ourselves a bit better and finally become accountable for actions, coz we’re fooling ourselves at the moment.

So could your tunes change anything? Or just our perceptions?

I think ultimately I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying these tunes are gonna change anything. But conscious music creates a climate in that people younger listening can grow up into knowing that their thoughts and feelings have a place, they exist and are credible. Growing up Chuck D and KRS One had that sense with me, so I didn’t feel completely isolated. It inhabits that middle ground where it might change things, but it’s intangible. It’s just a matter of doing things that are worthwhile. I feel very lucky doing things that are worthwhile and having the opportunity to stand up and say what I think and what I feel whilst other people just seem to hold it up inside themselves.

What advice would you give to all those pissed off teenagers with nothing to believe in and nothing better to do?

Stay pissed off. But be aware of what you’re pissed off about. We live in a very weird time where people aren’t living very naturally and where people’s lives don’t mean anything in any real sense. Being pissed off because you scuffed your brand new trainers isn’t necessarily worthwhile, but being pissed off that the police have new powers and are shooting people in Stockwell tube station is worthwhile. Channel your energy. Stay pissed off, but not with each other, with the people who are making your life shit.

I’m forever fascinated with cultural and social movements. The 1960s with Dylan and the Stones, 1977 with punk, 1988 with Public Enemy and conscious hip-hop. Could this underground scene come overground, start to kick its weight and make a difference in the real world?

Yeah. It’s about energy and how to express it in music. It’s a new sound but has a lotta stuff in common with punk and it’s a working class medium for expression, just chucking a basic track together, and what’s important is the energy and questions that are put into it. It’s difficult to say what actually changes things, but there’s a definitely been a shift from the corporate, over produced gloss of US influenced hip-hop to our own urban music. Compare Craig David from the start of ‘urban’ music to Dizzee Rascal and it shows how much of a transition we’re undergoing.

I’m a Luton lad originally, but which team should I adopt in London? I’m a bit wary of our local team; I don’t really wanna be classed as a Millwall fan!

I used to support Tottenham, but I can’t be bothered anymore. I suppose Arsenals a good bet, but it’s too expensive now. Just say a Luton fan.

Chips or cream buns?

Cream buns with chips on em. I had a mushy pea fritter recently, that probably tops both of that coz it was totally new to me. E-Sheens the place to go for mushy pea fritters if you ever want em.

Listen to DJ Rubbish here, and wonder why no braindead students care.