Front Page
US Interviews
Special Features
Nightclubs
Events + Concerts
Album Reviews
Games
Music Videos
Chat Room

Interview Archive

By Samantha Watson

"I love rapping, I love being a rapper; I love putting words together, and I love going in the studio, smoking a spliff, rapping over a beat. I don't really like the industry that much, I'm not really an industry dude; you don't see me tryin' to be up in everybody's business. I'm not in all that, I done that years ago. So now I just wanna do what I'm doing and work with the right people."

These are the words from an artist devoted to his music. At just 25, Mike GLC is taking hip hop that one step further as an independent artist.

Whilst waiting for Mike GLC at the Dark & Cold store in Soho, the opportunity came about to listen and watch his latest album/DVD package called 'A Long Good Friday'. The set contains footage from his videos like 'Letter to My Girlfriend', and also includes an album hosted by DJ Uneek. I was also treated by Mike's great lyrical ability as he freestyled throughout the DVD.

Mike entered the store, laid back and dressed in subtle blue, but very upbeat about the interview itself, his charisma increasing with more intrigue. I settled down in the store with Mike, discussing his new album, his upbringing and forthcoming projects.

Mike has a varied background; being brought up in two places was very influential in his decision to become a rapper, as he pointed out: "I'm from North London originally, but it's a funny story ’cos I spent a lot of time in the country in Leicester when I was a youth... When I was rapping, not a lot of people was rapping, it weren't really a big thing in London back then, but where I spent time in the country it was."

At a time when other genres of music were emerging in the UK, Mike was sticking to his true art, as he revealed: “In the British rap scene most of the rappers are from the country, but there's a reason for that because in London, people weren't really into rap, they were into Drum and Bass and Garage. Where I was in the country, I stayed rapping.”

Mike began rapping at only seven years old, and it is his early acknowledgement of Hip Hop in general that gives further reason to why he started rapping in the first place. "I can remember NWA's first single, I can remember Dr Dre's first single, I can remember some of the British pioneers like High Jack, London Posse, I can remember all these people’s first songs." He further added by referring to Goldie as one of the people he has the utmost respect for: "I can only ever say one name, Goldie, because he is the only one who still got money. So if you put the two things together, good music and that kinda persona, that kinda business mind, which Goldie has, you can do what you want. He knows how to talk to people, he knows how to deal with people, he's a smart bruva."

For a lot of emcees, their artist name reveals a great deal about their persona and identity, as Mike explained the meaning behind GLC: "George Lyrical Coons. The name is important to me, it's actually George Linton Coons. I got the ‘George’ after my uncle got married, so I got his name as a middle name; I’m the only one who has his name. Only me, my uncle and my mum are named Coons, it's like I'm the last bearing name."

The deaths of his mother and uncle had a traumatic effect on his life, which he laid out on the memorable track 'My Life' from the ‘Mike GLC EP'. Another change that unsettled his life was his time spent in prison, for just over a year, caused by his ex-girlfriend. He explained how some of his associates are said to be wanted people, clarifying how his ex-girlfriend had an influence in his arrest. "We'd get into an argument, it kicks off, she goes to the police and tells them ‘I think they're wanted for a murder’, or armed offences, just the whole works anyway to f**k me up."

Just before his imprisonment, he established links with East London label 'Eastside Records'. Through them he released the 'Mike GLC EP’ in 2002: “Eastside came to me, wanting to sign me but I wouldn't sign. I've been in this business a long time, there's no point signing to a record label when I'm seeing other artists signed there are in worse situations than me.” Even though he is not signed to any label, he has made arrangements with both Eastside Records and Street Dreams. “I'm not actually signed to them as a record label, I’m signed to them as a management company.”

Mike described the release of his first EP as a ‘mini bio’ or as such, an introduction to him entering into the Hip Hop arena. "You need to get yourself across first, you need to let people know where you're coming from before you can step into any arena. It's like, you have to get this point across or you are just another asshole."

One of his most insightful tracks is 'My Life', having received rave reviews in places such as UK Hip Hop online. 'My Life' was one of the highlights of his EP, he pointed out: "The funny thing is, 'My Life' is one of those songs that won't go away." Referring to his music, he also added that when he wants opinions, there are only three people in his life he will ask: "Ya, people will tell you you're hot but they don't turn around and tell you everything is hot."

While discussing his latest album he explained how DJ Uneek joined him on the project: "That's down to the big boys at 'Dark and Cold', see what Mike (manager of the Dark and Cold clothes store) doesn't understand is that I know he has a secret plan, it's like the start of the ladder or so to speak. I know 'Dark and Cold' have got the level they want to put this thing out together so they've been getting the likes of DJ Uneek. This is the standard level we are trying to set.”

Being a rapper is just one of his many gifts; he has established himself as director to the agency, CMT Models. "I stumbled into the modelling business by accident. I was going out with a girl that was a model. I was already in the business; I had connections and put it together. By the time I went to jail, when it came to the ethnic side of things, I was supplying more girls than anybody.”

Since his release from prison, the agency has expanded and is continuing to grow. “I have merged with CMT Media, an internet company. We have an online portfolio service and then there is the agency part where we sign girls solely on contract. We're developing; photo shoots, all the rest of it. We have male, female, black, Caucasian, Asian; we deal with dance, theatre, extras and more."

Throughout the interview, Mike demonstrates the different qualities he has, highlighting some of his performances, and his interest on the issue of gun violence. "I did a DMX show not too long ago and I was supposed to do the Nas show. We did 'Stop The Violence' at Trafalgar Square, which was with the mothers who lost their children. What I wanna do soon is actually release a tune that is on the DVD called 'This is for the Yout Dem'. When we do that we're giving 50% of sales to a charity, ’cos it needs to be addressed."

Mike has a lot of projects coming up, including working with Lemar and Kele Le Roc. "I got an album coming out with Unknown, Pied Piper. We got the Untap/Industry Lock Down coming up, the album. What I want to do now is get some songs made. Really start to open it up, tunes like 'My Life', 'Letter to My Girlfriend', they're like samples of saying we can up the level, we can actually make things that mean something, that can chart without compromise, so that's the aim, that's the level."

Mike GLC will change the shape of Hip Hop in the UK; the way it is distributed, the way it is produced, control over his own material and identity, taking the music industry into his own hands. As Mike GLC declared, "I've pushed hip hop music for the last 5 years the way I want to do it and it’s working."

'A Long Good Friday' is out now!