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By Jeevan Panesar
After bursting on to the UK scene with the singles ‘In England’ and ‘Go Go’, AC & Terra had already gained respect for their dark humour, brutal lyrics and attitude. So notable was their impact that impressive acclaim with the underground release of their mixtape ‘Human Trash’, was sure to follow.
With an incredible 8000 copies sold through pure hard graft, the terrors are set to take their success further with the same philosophy: do it yourself – all the input, from the PR to the production of the mixtape, has been without the helping hand of a record company piggybank.
The Situation caught up with AC amidst his busy schedule to talk about the pair’s hard work, solo projects and future plans, the media and the roguish attitude that has been instrumental in their music and success.
Hey AC, congratulations on the album ‘Human Trash’, 8,000 copies sold now independently. How you feeling?
Yeah, we just hit that target pretty much this week. It’s alright, but I want to sell more... like ten thousand at least, which we should do in the next couple of months or so, then I’ll be happy. And it’s just been me and Terra selling it on the street... in the shops we’ve only sold about five copies! You have to make your own buzz first though, then it’ll sell in the shops. And through these sales we’ve funded our video, ‘Human Trash’, which is on rotation on Channel U.
The album – what’s with the name ‘Human Trash’?
We were watching that film ‘Romper Stomper’ where Russell Crowe is a Nazi and he’s talking about all the immigrants saying they’re ‘human trash’ (laughs). So some ironic humour there. But we’ve both lived in areas where we’ve experienced some form of racism so we connected on that – I’m mixed race and Terra’s Dominican and Jamaican. So there’s a lot of stuff around that theme on the album – we’re not preaching – just talking about it in a funny way. Pretty much like the other things we talk about – girls, money, how men act – it’s all about experience and illustrating different mentalities we’ve come across.
You talk a lot about the establishment – where does that come from? What does it mean to you to have this anti-establishment attitude?
Well, I wouldn’t say I’m completely anti-establishment – Terra is. He’s the anarchist but I can’t speak for him. But I think that there is a problem. Britain is like a big playground and whichever group was there first rules. Because of these stereotypes that build up around ethnic groups, the newest group gets the police harassment or resentment. I mean, after the 7/7 bombings, I got stopped and searched in my car about 15 times in a month – you get annoyed after a while. All the stuff on the album concerning the police has really happened to us – we’re not on some gangstarism sh*t. I mean I know they’re doing their job but...
How would you describe your style? One thing that’s got me with the album is the skits where you both just start yelling and screaming...
(Laughs) That’s just the way we are all the time anyway. That’s just part of our personalities. A lot of people are like what the f*ck is all this?! But if they think we’re taking ourselves too seriously then they’re pretty stupid.
You got a favourite song on the mixtape?
I can’t answer that... it’s too hard!
Who would you say has influenced you with your music?
A lot of Drum & Bass producers, I would say - Shy FX, Twisted Individual, Goldie... I always liked Hip Hop stuff with Drum & Bass influence – I was never into Garage – it was too chessy for me. That’s why I like Grime.. it’s edgier and darker. Terra is more Hip Hop inclined with influnces from Mobb Deep and MOP. Big L has got the same kind of dark humour as us.
Selling your album independently, do you feel that getting the respect and recognition on the street before hitting the shops and going mainstream is the way to go then?
Definately... for us anyway. Because our music is kinda humorous in a dark way... certain people on the scene didn’t really understand it.. thought we were taking ourselves too seriously. But the people on the street they get it... they understand our humour. A lot of people in the media don’t really get it if it doesn’t conform to what they understand to be ‘urban music’ or ‘UK Hip Hop’. I know certain journalists don’t get us beacuse we did a track called ‘3310’, where we talked about all the mobile phone robberies that we’re happening at the time, and they thought we were encouraging and supporting it.
So what you up to at the moment then?
Next week we’re in Paris. We’re hooking up with these French Grime producers called Ego 6. I met them on the street when I was selling the CD and we did a couple of tracks with them, and they’ve been putting our music out in Paris. So we’re just going out to a rave there so that should be cool. Then I’m going to Norway, then we’re in High Wickham, then we’re in Leeds. So we’ve got a hectic week.
So are you familiar with the scene in Europe, do you know what to expect from the crowds?
No, this is going to be a totally new experience for us, so I’m looking forward to it.
You’ve been on the performance circuit in clubs for a while now. Is that where you feel most comfortable with your music?
Yeah man, definately. When I was doing Drum & Bass gigs, the crowd was always hype... not like these UK Hip Hop raves where people just stand around lookin screw faced (laughs). So I’m used to a lively crowd. We started in the smaller clubs and we’ve moved up... it’s slow progression but we’re getting there!
Good stuff. So you and Terra... how did you get together?
Well I used to be a Drum & Bass MC and I was doing that for at least a year before I started writing any lyrics. I was working in double glazing – selling double glazing – and I met Terra there. We just used to rap to each other in our breaks! So we decided to do something together. I knew a producer, so we went to his and started doing tunes together with Terra’s brother Genesis. But me and Terra are on the same wavelength, with our humour and that, so we started working with this other producer Eric Lowe and we put out ‘In England’. It sold pretty well and got some good reviews so we stared making our own beats, which eventually led to ‘Human Trash’. But we’ve been working hard though... doing different hustles to afford the studio time – promoting for clubs in the West End. We got the album done and just started selling it. We work well because we have the respect to work together but also the freedom to do our own thing.
Is there anyone you want to work with on future projects?
I think Durrty Goodz is heavy at the moment.
What’s more important to you – success or respect?
Success – respect will stem from our success. The music industry doesn’t matter to me anymore – it’s the kids on the street that matter to me – the teenagers who buy our album. That’s who our album is for... they get us and they’re not consumed with the bitterness of the music industry. The kids – its all for them.
Any plan for the future?
Yeah we’re working on solo projects – Terra’s working with his brother Genesis Elijah’s label Escape Route Music, and I’m working on my own mixtape that I might put out through them too. We’re also working on our next mixtape, which is called ‘Youthanasia’. Our seperate projects will lead to a broader fan base so it’ll all work out – it’s all good.
AC & Terra’s mixtape, ‘Human Trash’, is out now. Check out the duo on their MySpace page, www.myspace.com/acandterra.
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