Got a sweet little interview with none other than R.A.W. aka 6Blocc, someone who, if you are familiar with “bass music” in the US, requires no introduction. He has been well established in the scene since the early 90s with a background heavily invested in hip-hop and reggae, jungle, drum and bass, and garage music. With a firm grasp of arguably all the cardinal roots of the genre, in 2006 dubstep called out to him, and R.A.W. became 6Blocc. He’s getting ready to head off to the UK and EU for a tour and if you get the chance, you should definitely see him play. Most of his songs can straight flip a car over. Think I’m lying? Go see for yourself. If you missed it, I posted up his track “Jeep Music” last week. It’s a thummmper. But this time around, he sent along a special new track just for us to enjoy and I have been doing just that all day. The other I’ve included is just good fun.  What starts happening around 1:34 is pretty rough. Check out the interview and track after the jump and massive ups 6Blocc!

Hey man, what’s up?  Where are you writing to us from today?  Tell me about life out there and the music scene.

Well I just moved to San Diego and not much goes on here but that’s fine with me because since I’ve moved here all I do is work on music and promotions. I rep LA though and LA of course is still the most bangin’ place to spin. The people there go nutz for bass!

Have you ever gone snorkeling?

I’m planning on going snorkeling in June in Hawaii for the first time.

You have been in it for a while now, producing music for years.  How has your music and production style evolved over time, if at all?

You know I’ve always made music with this thought….’make what you would want to hear if you were dancing in the crowd’  or   ‘what would Snoop do?’ Better put…’be the change that you wish to see in the world’

Where within the whole realm of music do you define your roots?

My roots are a combination of Mantronix, Planet Patrol, Herbie Hancock and Santana.

What are your top five tracks to play out right now? Top five to just kick it to?

PARTY STARTERZ:

1. Ursula1000 – Ironman Remix

2. Next Episode (dubstep remix)

3. Stickbubbly & Hydee – Forgot About Dre

4. Bare – Kush Lovers

5. Dr Knobz – Purple Gangsta (DZ RMX)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON:

1. DJ MADD  – Tonight

2. DUTTY RANX -  Bombay Sapphire

3. VON D – Bon (Blasta Remix)

4. Numan – Secrets

5. Magenta & Titch-Submercible

When you are crafting a new song, do you have your interests in mind or do you try and get in the head of your typical listener?

Usually I’m already thinking of the style and bassline pattern before I sit down. I hate to waste time going thru presets and trying to figure it out on the spot. I try and plan it all out mentally before I sit down to work.

How has the American hip-hop scene blended with and influenced your style, if it has at all that is?

I like vocals over my beats and I think I get that from the years of playing clubs / parties. In LA people love to hear a vocal sample from ragga, hip hop or movies….shit I love it too!

What does 2010 hold for you in terms of releases, big shows, tours, etc?  You’re hopping over to Europe soon, yes?

Yeah! Each year I tour Europe and this year is the Ghetto Blaster Tour. Im touching down in Liverpool, London, Antwerp, Gent and Poland. The show in Liverpool is with Rebel MC which to me is a dream come true. I’ve always respected Rebel MC for his spirituality and logic. I remember seeing him perform a hip house track on American TV (I forget which show it was).

Forthcoming releases are:

Deformer – The Follower (6Blocc Remix) – Redrum Records Holland

I Dubs volume 4 (featuring Top Billin Remix) – 6Dub

Little Harry – Fear Nobody (6Blocc Remix) – Moonshine

Down Jones – Do It To It (6Blocc Remix) – Foul Play USA

6Blocc & Solo Banton – Babylon Coke Remix – Dub Bullet Digital

Do you have any collaborations coming up?

I started a track with Bare and Ive been working with Knorsq (SubFM / Bombadub).

Who do you see getting big or staying big in 2010?

Bare (he’s blowing up right now…look out for this monster muthafukka)

Right now, there’s a lot of hype and fluster around “genres” and how they seem to be disappearing as more and more talented artists are experimenting and borrowing from all over the domain of music.  Do you agree that classifying music in the way we have been doing is becoming obsolete?

Hellyea..I just finished two remixes for Chrissy Murderbot (he didnt ask for it..i just did it cuz I was diggin’ his tracks so much). The sound is rave-house-dubstep-cheese!! I luv it!

What is the best or most memorable system you have ever played out on?

It would have to be the Pure Filth Soundsystem…4 walls enclosing the crowd and giving them the full body massage!! I enjoyed some muscle vibrations myself.

Tell the readers a crazy story that happened during a set, or at a show you attended.

Back in 1992 I was doing a show with Dj Dan in SF and he gave me some LSD and my hands disappeared while I was dj’ing!!  I thought it was cool cuz I could still feel the vinyl but I couldn’t see my hands.

How bout a crazy story not related to music?

Going to Machu Picchu and realizing that I was above the clouds and the sky looked so surreal I cannot explain it in words. I spent NYE 2000 at a holy Killke walled city called Sacsayhuamán and I touched the stones that made up the wall which were so huge I knew that no technology we have now can lift these. Estimates for the weight of the largest limestone  block vary from 128 tonnes to almost 200 tonnes!!!! I believe that this site along with Egypt’s pyramids actually date backto a time we can not fathom. Pre-history.

Anything else for the Squeegie readers?

Read!! People dont read anymore and it is creating a misinformed society here in America. Read non-fiction / current event books. Your television spits out State Department bullsh*t and propaganda. Do not vote. It’s all a game that the rich are playing against you. The day we stop using currency is when you and ‘we’ will truely be free. Free from them and their system of manipulation. The system of living needs to switch to a localized system of living much like in Cuzco, Peru. Grow your own crops and learn to live with just the basic needs. Re-learning to live alongside nature is a priority. I know this will not happen but the people of the future will know that I spoke truth to a materialistic society that has put itself in jeopardy because of its selfish business habits and lifestyles.

Well there you have it!  Thanks man and big ups.

Direct Feed – Sally (6Blocc Remix)

6Blocc – Fuk Dat Squeegie first

posted » April 12th, 2010 by Ned
tagged » 6blocc