Brad Strut (Melbs)

March 17th, 2009 | By YouDee

BNEsFinest got the chance to throw some questions at the main man himself, Brad Strut. Got some insight on the album, what’s happening and how his wordly travels are going. Def a good read.

How did you get in to rhyming and when did you start?

I found hip hop at an early age round the ‘breakdance’ era, busted windmills, grew a bit older, got involved in the graff scene, picked up on the music a bit more, met Dj Frenzie and started rhyming….all by the age of 15 yrs old.

Must be a relief to have the album out, what does this album mean to you?

The new album means alot to get released. It took around 3 years from go to woah and is certainly a relief to have aired. It’s a bit trippin though, listening to some of the shit i was going through whilst recording it…

You’re in the UK while your album just dropped in Australia. What is the reasoning for this and is it interfering with album promo?

Yes and no as far as interfering. Ideally I would be home right now promoting and doing shows etc etc, but I got a good team behind me taking care of the business, I been doing all the usual media commitments and related promo stuff and I will be back in OZ touring the album in Sep/Oct. So it’s like yes and no. The reason I’m here is to see more of the world, experience different cultures, gather new inspirations and get out of the bubble.

On ‘Monopoly’ you refer to rap heading in a negative direction, explain this a bit for us.

I just break down the fact that hip hop in Australia is becoming increasingly monopolised and how it aint a good thing for the culture overall.

You’ve done a few international collabs. Is there anyone you’re wanting to work with or looking forward to working with again?

I got some stuff in the works…Maybe a lil Foreign Beggars collab, a project I got penned with UK producer Beat Butcha and a few other odds and ends… A collab with a Slovakian/Swiss duo too.

How did the Celph Titled collab happen? Are you guys still in contact?

DJ Sheep hooked up the business side of things and we all made it work. I drop Celph a holla here and there, all is well.

What happened with J-Red? Is he still your DJ?

Good question, best q I had in a while…..
J-Red is a big I dunno, aint been in touch with the man for long time??
I think it’d be fair to say he aint dj’ing for me no more.

What do you think of the Brisbane Hip-Hop scene? Have you had the chance to see much locally?

I love Brisbane!! The scene that I’ve had the chance to witness whilst there seems healthy indeed. I had some great times making music there, had some good friends from there once upon a time too…
Killers are LG, 750’s, The Optimen, Verb Ill and L-flows and a few more I’m strugglin to remember.

Trem produced a large portion of the album but Balans was nowhere to be found. What’s happening with Bob?

Bob rocked ‘Bounty Hunterz’!!
As far as what’s happening with him….Atm I don’t know cos I’m on the other side of the world. I heard he may be bout to rock Daddy status and he holding down a solid job so, yeah??

What do you think of the Aussie hip-hop scene at the moment? Where do you see it going in the future?

Atm it’s doing it’s thing, as for the future…..I haven’t got a crystal ball and my nickname aint Nostradamus

Do you think there’s a saturation of wack emcees at the moment or are you happy with the level of the new wave of rappers?

There’s good and there’s terrible. Happy?? I dunno, don’t really give a fuck…Just concentrate on what me and my people are doing really…Aint concerned with wackness.

How does the Australian movement compare to overseas in your experience?

Hip Hop wise it’s been dope going OS. I played Kemp in Czech, have played in Austria, bout to rock Scotland, Street Connection in Beroun was cool too… Also had the chance to witness some of my all time faves live like AG ,Pharoahe Monch, JMT, Non Phix and a bunch of others.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Buy the album….

Brad Strut - Legend:Official (OUT NOW)

Brad Strut “Legend: Official” is out now and available Australia-wide. International orders can be taken through www.checkoutwax.com

Be sure to cop this one.