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By Lionel-Patrick Chimdubem

Adrian McFarlane, better known as Slim Dutty, is making big waves in the UK hip hop scene. He kicked down the door with his single ‘Blood Puddles’, breaking down stereotypes not only of violence and gun glorification, but also of the glamorisation of it within hip hop. Talking about his first solo effort, ‘Right Now’, he said, “It’s a way of introducing myself to the people and letting them know exactly where I’m at right now as a solo artist.” His seminal debut ‘The Story So Far’ is made up of snapshots of different scenes of life put on musical form. “‘Right Now’ was a slow, musical growth and I wanted to evolve on that with ‘The Story So Far’. I think I achieved this and lyrically it will reach to a diverse crowd.”

Getting his name from his physical build and the way he rhymes, Slim Dutty’s music has reached and touched many people. ‘Blood Puddles’ got heavy rotation on Channel U and received much love and respect from the likes of DJ Semtex, Dizzee Rascal and UK Culture Minister, Kim Howells. With such thought-provoking lyrics on tracks like ‘Blood Puddles’, does Slim feel he has a responsibility to British black youth? “I wasn’t try’na being positive! I was just doing something I thought London would relate to. It highlights badness in a different light and doesn’t glorify it. ‘Blood Puddles’ helped me to meet lots of people; it opened up a lot of doors. On September 12th, there was an Anti-Gun march from Kensal Green to Stonebridge. It’s good because kids aspire to what their elders do. I’ve been talking to the police about relaying knowledge back to the streets. People are scared of what they don’t know. I’m trying to educate the streets.”

However, ‘Blood Puddles’ didn’t receive love from everyone and it was removed from a lot of playlists because the track was considered too raw for national radio. Slim Dutty also received a lot of criticism from the press on his lyrics and rap style. “I don’t value these people’s opinion. My manager says my attitude is wrong and they can make or break you, but I think their opinions ain’t sh*t! I think most of these people that work for the press just said ‘Daddy, I need a job!’ and their fathers said ‘Ok, go into the promotional area!’ If you know music, you can feel potential. This is a passionate subject for me. The streets say their feeling me, so why am I not getting radio support? DJs play music for ‘big ups’, I know that from being a DJ, but I always wanted to take risks. Westwood (reluctantly) doesn’t support UK acts, but supports hip hop period. Funkmaster Flex is a real trendsetter. I feel society plays out certain stereotypes to certain people. I feel drugs have been placed here to kill ourselves.”

With a flood of UK hip hop and Garage acts at the moment, a lot of the messages from today’s hip hop artists are seen as diluted and deluded. Slim feels that what differs and sets him apart is the way he conveys his message. “With no disrespect, most of the other artists are fake. They’re just living up to what they feel is real, but not being real to themselves. The Garage is a lot more violent now, before it use to be more soulful. Not only vocally, but instrumentally violent, especially grime. I try to talk about life and different aspects of life. If you listen to a Slim Dutty record, there’s no way you can say you don’t understand what I’m try’na say, but music is a business and if you wanna be out there, you gotta sell weights or you’re gonna be dropped!” A lot of Slim Dutty’s lyrics helm from his upbringing in what’s known as the ‘murder capital of London’ - Harlesden. Slim still resides there and sees it as a driving force. “Harlesden is bad for crime, but it’s a cultural, enriched place to live. I’ve learned a lot growing up here and I need to represent where I’m from. I’m a product of my environment and of what I’ve seen.”

The UK music scene depends heavily on US hip hop for its credibility and with artists such as Jay-Z, OutKast and Kanye West blowing up the charts, is there really a place for UK hip hop? “We’re inspired by US hip hop, but we’re finding our own identity. I don’t feel the quality competes with the US, but that’s because they spend money and have engineers for the music category. The US have more producers that specify in that genre of music and the UK are not on that level, so quality lacks because of a stigma. People say ‘Why buy Slim Dutty, when you can buy 50 Cent?’”

Signed to Trinity Records, Slim Dutty thought it would be easier getting signed and coming from an independent label. “I learnt the game, the process, all about the music industry and work. With a major label I wouldn’t know all these things. An independent label lack finance, which is one half of the process, but I wouldn’t change it for a major label, knowing what I know now.” Originally part of the hip hop duo North West 10, Slim Dutty and his rap partner Carlos signed to Trinity Records in 2001, and had their very first single ‘Prestige’ released on promotion. It got played on various community radio stations, including Choice FM. Their next single, the underground hit titled ‘So Dam Tuff’, had the rap pair mapped out for seriously big things. “When I was originally signed, it was me and Carlos. Carlos was in connection with area robbery and done 18 months and went to jail. Trinity Records had faith in me, but I didn’t really share their view. Carlos would always come up with the concept and it was a difficult transition. I had serious writers’ block. It was hard, but Carlos is now a major captain of Dutty Fam.”

D.U.T.T.Y. stands for ‘Don’t Underestimate True Talented Youth’ and is Slim’s own production base. “North West London is overflowing with talent, producers and singers. There is no platform, no way of going through, so I wanted to get the crème de la crème and give them the platform to be heard. I want it to be family - that’s what’s gonna keep us tight!” Now with Trinity Records for three years, Dutty Fam was formed before Slim got his record deal. “I was a DJ. I wanted to get the best of the best together! Expand it to DJs - entertainment as a whole. We’re currently putting together mixtapes and there’s potential for solo LPs.”

Regardless of the criticism, Slim Dutty is set to rise. Nominated for three categories at this year’s Urban Music Awards this November 19th, will he have a speech ready? “No speech ready. I’m up against artists like Klashnekoff and Est’elle and I’m not really expecting to win, but it is good to be recognised. But I don’t do the music I do for award shows or expression. I love to do what I do and of course getting paid. All my life I’ve put my all into this because I believe in myself.”

Constantly seeking influence outside the music industry, through people like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, Slim Dutty and his music seem to step away from the mainstream, and although he still wants to achieve chart success, he also wants to open up doors for other artists. “There’s nuff talent and I want to be a platform, an instrument in a way people can model off me. It’s just about the music industry period. My dad was a musician and still makes music. He is a minister now and makes gospel music, so it’s only natural.”

Now that his music and lyrics are being recognised and acknowledged, what does Slim think of the music critics and the general press nowadays? “They need to do a lot more research! They need to learn about the music, culture and everything that surrounds it. They need to research and find out why, and then they’ll understand it’s a form of expression like blues, jazz and reggae. So who are they to say my form of expression is not appreciated? Pop music is manufactured and meant to be like that. It’s easy to criticise and say ‘it’s sh*t’, but what critics need to do is highlight what was sh*t and what can be improved. They need to see that we’re working on a budget, see the effort that was made. We’re not on that level…yet!”

‘The Story So Far’ is out on Trinity Records now.