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The Fifth Element (Funky DL)

By Tamara @ DaScribe.

The Saturday I meet Funky DL, he is sick with the flu. Not that the flu will stop one of the hardest working men in the UK music industry from doing an interview to promote his new album,' Blackcurrant Jazz. As he sniffles and sneezes his way through the interview I conclude that rappers of a lesser mental would surely have cancelled, but then Funky DL isn't your ordinary rapper. Though he has been criticised for sounding too American (though as he eloquently states, no-one bats an eyelid when Glamma Kid, a British-born Nigerian chats in Patois); too simplistic and idealistic, and also criticised for turning his back on the UK, DL brushes off criticism like fluff.

I mean let's check the stats. What other UK hip hop artist do you know who has released five, quality albums? None? Ok, lets just try five albums? Still none? Exactly. And not only is he a gifted producer as anyone who has heard his signature melodic, feel-good jazzy sound will testify, he is also a formidable emcee. DL also runs his own label, Washington Classics; has won a Mobo award, and is one of the few British artists to be mentioned in American music magazines Vibe and XXL. All of this before his twenty fifth birthday. If he was an American artist he would be internationally appraised for his genius, a millionaire plus enough ice to freeze a elephant. Unfortunately for DL he was born in the UK which means he has to settle for a council flat in Stratford, nuff industry politics and a weekly lottery ticket as his major hope of striking it rich.

Blackcurrant Jazz, which is released on Washington Classics on 18th March, has already shifted an impressive 4,500 copies in Japan, a country where DL has followed artists such as Elish La'Verne and Maxi Priest to the get the respect and success that sadly eludes them in their own country.
So how is it that the Japanese, quite rightly, crave DL's sound like his name was Sake but in the UK he is as popular as a warm pint of beer? Funky DL comes up with his theory.

How did you become so successful overseas?
"I couldn't really tell you, man. I figure it's because I have been very consistent with releases. In Japan, they don't really know what I'm talking about but my music is very melodic, very jazzy, so they feel the sound."

Do you still feel a part of the UK hip hop scene?
"I am a part of the UK scene but I don't really feel I am accepted. When I first came out I was embraced by a lot of people, but as time went on I found people would kinda take a funny stance towards me, mainly because I have been so consistent in releases. I've done five albums, but even at the stage that I had done three albums I thought this would be an opportunity for people in the industry to take note of where rap is going in this country. But I just get ignored. What will it take for someone like me to be on the cover of HHC or Blues and Soul? I used to feel like, 'well, if my own people won't embrace me but I can go abroad and these people can accept me for who I am and what I do, then to hell with them.' But the industry is biased and that's the way it goes."

"There is not really a great deal out here happening for me. I won't ever turn my back on the U completely and say I'll never put a record out here again. But I'm twenty-four, and I need to make some serious money. I need to get up out the council flat, buy my own drum because another seven years could slip by and I'll still be banging on this door. So I have made the decision to be an international artists and go places where people appreciate me, work with people who value what I do and make some money."

"I watch people like So Solid and although I am not a fan of their music, I hear people slate them but regardless of what they're talking about, all they are trying to do is better their lives. Why shouldn't they have an opportunity to do that? People say they talk and act bad, and chat about certain things on road, but they're no worse than Mobb Deep. If you don't like their music that's fine, but you can't criticise one set of people for saying something and big up the next lot."

If Funky DL, as Naphta Newman, had been working as hard as he has for the last seven years in say, retail or any other industry apart from music, he would be blinging by now. Funky DL, however, is barely inging. Do you ever feel like quitting and getting a 'real job'?
"I feel like that from time to time but I've been lucky. I've never had to get a 'job' since I left school, but I went through some hard times. Some days I wake and I think 'what's the point'? What is happening with hip hop in this country? If it wasn't for my success overseas, I probably wouldn't be doing this right now. Cos being in the UK can be frustrating. I'm not really frustrated about my career. But it bothers me that Def Jam UK have not signed a single rap act and that Def Jam Japan is run buy a Japanese woman but over here we have an American kid. Tens of thousands of English kids have gone out there and taken their last money to buy a Def Jam release and these labels make millions of dollars from us over the years, but they won't recognise what were trying to achieve."

What do you think about the Letter to Tony Blair campaign to get 40% ratio of UK artists on the radio?
"I think they should go for it but I don't think it will happen. I'm not trying to sound pessimistic but it goes deep, real deep England has always been in America's backpocket, so if this law suddenly comes in saying they're going to restrict American music, there will be a decline in sales and as an response to that the government will make less money in import taxes. Now the government is creaming off the tax they get as a result of us watching MTV Base and buying American clothes, CDs and whatnot. So why would they give these UK acts a chance? There is also a language issue. Hip hop in Canada and the UK have always fallen to the wayside because America is such a formidable market. But for the French and the Japanese, no other territory can compete with them because no other country produces music in that language on such a scale. So I don't think its gonna happen and I think its sad that we have to be forced into that.

What else is preventing Hip Hop in this country from flourishing?
"You can't apply the American formula to this country because for one the ratio of black people in the States is a lot more, so if we're waiting for huge record sales like out there, we're gonna be waiting for a long time. We have to find our own formula. And I don't mean musically, I'm talking about marketing and promotion. There is such a big difference. I mean songs like Mr Blobby and Bob the Builder would never get to number one in America. The music industry here lacks substance. I heard George Kay play a Puff Daddy song the other day and he said 'I don't really like that song.' So why did you play it? I understand you have a playlist, but isn't your station called Choice? For every crap American song you play isn't there a UK record that you thought was wicked?

What does the 'DL' stand for?
"Def Lyrics. It's a real old school name. Westwood actually named me that because before he started calling me DL, I was known as Funky Def L. Then one day he shouted me out on the radio as Funky DL and it just stuck from then.
A lot of people have a problem with Westwood, but with Tim, he's just like any other man who does things his way. People think he should do more for UK Rap and in my opinion that may be so, but you should never let your career lie in anyone's hands like that. As much as we are in close contact, if he doesn't play me my music he doesn't play it, if he does, he does. It's very important not to mix friendship and business. People ask me if I'm down with Westwood or DJ 279, but why should I have to choose? When Busta Rhymes comes over he does both shows because he wants to promote his album or single, so why can't we?

So are you doing any PA's here?
"No, not in the UK. Garage has changed everything because a lot of clubs don't hire rap acts anymore now that garage has taken over.

Do you think there is a perception that because you are spending a lot of time in Japan, the States and Europe that you are neglecting your British fans?
"I hope not because I've had so many releases compared to most rap artists out here. I've done an album every year since 1997, except in 2000."

What's your favourite song on the album?
"& Ask for DL is one of my favourites. I got into some drama with someone, or should I say, they wanted to put me in some drama and that last verse was my response to that. Lyrically, it would have to be Wonderful, cos on that tune I really made an effort with my flow. A lot of people see me as a producer who likes to rap on his own music, but I don't see myself like that because I was rhyming before I was making beats."

Would you say that you rhyming skills are on par with your production skills?
"That's a difficult question. In all honesty, no. But that is because I spend a lot more time focusing on production. If someone else was to produce my whole album, I would be better. I'm not saying I am the greatest lyricist in the world, but I will say I don't get enough credit.

What's the meaning of the title, Blackcurrant Jazz?
"The reason this album is called Blackcurrant Jazz is because I wanted to make a statement about who and where I am at this point in time. I'm black and current, simple.

Where do you think you'll be in five years time?
"I'd like to do some more RnB stuff, but I would like to concentrate more on my career in Europe. If I could emulate my career in Japan in a couple of countries in Europe I'd be laughing. That's why I don't get upset about my situation here because God never just put England or London in front of me, he put the whole world.
I'd also like to get into script-writing and doing sound tracks. I'm actually writing a film right now. But I'm taking it slowly.

What's it going to be about?
"It's about six people who have to be found by a detective because they have something that detective needs to break a computer code. It's going take a minute to get it up and running but I'm gonna treat this like how I've worked my rap career.

You say you're working on you're sixth album…
"Yeah, and I'm real excited. Real excited. There are some magical moments on this album and I feel for the first time in my career that I could release it in the States and actually contend with a lot of the big fish out there. This album sounds so good to me.

Will there be any collaboration on this album?
"I never say never but I look to see if something's missing that another artist can add rather than have a collaboration for the sake of it. But people don't really approach me. Like I have all the love and respect in the world for TY, but I don't think he wanted to affiliate with me after we did Worldwide. I think it looked to him like I was putting him on when he had been around for longer than me. I suggested to TY that we do something again but he said no, I think for that reason. But I'd love to work with him again.

You come across as quite a spiritual person. Do you follow any particular faith?
"I would say I am a spiritual person and I definitely believe in God. He plays a big, big part in my life, but I wouldn't say I was Christian. I mean if you had told me when I was young that I would do half the things I have done, I wouldn't have believed you. But I have been truly blessed. Y'know, going out to Japan and the States, and having people like DJ Spinna and Sadat X telling me they like my music. Even supporting acts like Eminem and Destiny's Child, winning a Mobo in 98, and making a career out of something I love doing. I think I've done all right.

FUNKY DL : THE NEW ALBUM - 'BLACKCURRENT JAZZ' IN STORES 18 MARCH 2002