Interview with Ty

Ty is one of the most innovative and unique MCs in Hip Hop, consistently taking the music to new levels. In the following interview he fills us in on how he does it, gives us some hints on what he’s working on now, and tells us how he really feels about mixtapes.

When I think about Ty, one of the first things I think is ‘innovative,’ and another is ‘musical.’ I mean you make very musical Hip Hop with a lot of depth. What’s your songwriting process like?

My song writing process is very organic; anything can trigger it off. I’m not one of those making beats everyday or got beats for sale types. We all make beats - myself, Drew and Leroy Brown, and what I tend to do is become the conductor. If I think a vibe’s going somewhere I’m very good at vocalising the journey toward completion between us.

Case in point - “Aim For Your Goals” was a tune that Eska and Leroy cooked up. Upon hearing it I went into overdrive on it and just co-directed into the hands of myself and Drew, with all parties trusting one another. I originally wanted Youngblood Brass Band on it. They did the horn line, but we didn’t think it made a significant difference to the tune so we left it out….

And you do your own arranging and production. What’s the process like when you’re producing music?

The process can come overnight or take a year. Some tunes we do instantly; some tunes might take a year to get right. I make music at home! Tap out beats .. play some notes .. chop chop chop .. then I bring it to the fam and see what they think of it. And vice versa. The important thing about my process is generally everything starts with me … whether I make it, or when I jump in on it then its on.

Write lyrics to fit the beat, not the other way around. I like the music to draw out the essence of what needs to be said. It’s easy to make a beat around a vocal, but it’s much more interesting to create the music, and watch the vibes and concepts pour out of people when they hear the music.

Yes the process is pretty much try not to copy. I tend to turn into a hermit when making an album cos I don’t want the newest beat influencing what I’m trying to do next (some would say that’s not good… I agree!). But I am so far into a directon of music and what I wanna sample and how I want it to sound that I don’t need to hear what the latest 9th Wonder creation is. Sometimes you need a clear head. Cos I’m an MC and a beat maker. Those two are hard to occupy at the same time.

Drew is very important when we collaborate. He’s like an advanced sensei on an MPC and programming. But cos we both have different styles of beats and playing we bounce off each other. Same as Leeroy Brown. We all different. So it’s the funniest thing when we have that wooo moment cos we all know we do things different and would have never done it like the other.

Closer has a strong Broken Beat feel to it, but I understand you weren’t really trying to make a Broken Beat record at the time. Did the sound just come about organically?

The Closer album to me isn’t a Broken Beat feel. I love Broken Beat, but it’s a lot more complex than what I’m doing on Closer. I would say the Upwards album had more of a leaning towards Broken Beat with “Groovement” and “Wait a Minute.” But on Closer the thing that strikes a Broken chord is definitely “What You Want” and maybe “This Here Music.”

I was going for a different feel from Upwards. I would never try to replicate what we did with Upwards because what we did with Upwards is take risks and showcased an attention to music that had been missing in UK Hip Hop music.

I always take risks. My whole style of being, my persona, is based upon being myself, and I don’t conform to Hip Hop stereotypes in any way, shape or form! Because Hip Hop taught me to think for myself. So I do. And my crew try to do that in all our outputs.

That’s why I don’t do mixtapes. As far as releases I ain’t gonna rap over someone else’s music for an entire album. For me, that’s lazy when I could make the same beats myself. When I could try and make something innovative, why settle for boring, repetitive formats that are spoiling music as we speak? I’m putting it out there - mixtapes are spoiling the relationships between the MCs/producers and the audience. Because the artists are becoming lazy.

If somebody told you you’re ahead of your time (yes, a reference to “Mind Made Up”), how would you respond?

I’m ahead of my time in regards to… I look at the environment that I’m in differently from most MCs. I made a point of going to rock shows in Europe. I made a point of collaborating with people from different countries because I looked at Hip Hop as an international phenomena, not a local or American one.

I buy breaks, chop drums, twiddle keyboards, harass engineers, watch videos on how to do things with equipment. In short, I’m a Hip Hop nerd who is still interested in Hip Hop. Hip Hop to me is about a culture of interest. It’s no longer about whether you can breakdance or can write graffiti. But it’s now about whether you know what equipment certain producers use, whether you are bothered about what version sample was used to do what, who played drums on a track, who scratched on the record… how did they do that album cover… who was J Dilla! To me, these types of questions may make you a nerd but you are interested in the culture.

I ask that because when I listen to a Ty record I think, years from now I’m still going to be listening to this. The lyricism is so genuine and the music is so deep. How hard is it to make Hip Hop that’s going to last?

Making Hip Hop that’s gonna last depends upon the individual. If you came by this music quickly and don’t study it you can’t be relevant for too long. I make songs and tracks! When I make a song it has meaning. When I make a track it kinda feels good! Songs last forever… tracks fade! I let the music come from a place inside so that when I put it together it either makes me shiver with acceptance or it feels good! No matter what music I make it only makes sense when I play it in front of people loud or when people have it to themselves and come to a show and wild out. That’s when I know it’s time to turn the MPC off on that one!

Kind of a random question, but something I’m curious about… Your family is originally from Nigeria. Have you spent much time there? How has it had an influence on you and your music?

Was in Nigeria two years ago. I plan to spend more time there but musically I don’t see much space for what I’m doing.. they’re into the bling!

What’s coming up for Ty? What can we look forward to?

What’s coming up for me.. I’m working on new collections of songs, doing some internet collabos most notably with Daru. And I’m living my life. Working on building a youth centre in Gambia, but that’s another story!

Thanks to Ty for the interview! Make sure to subscribe so you can get updated on the latest features and interviews from Leisure Lab. Learn more about Ty here.