When it comes to political consciousness within drum’n'bass, there is no other group that has made more of an impact with their message of equality and tolerance than Asian Dub Foundation. Now, after having spent years as the front-man for the seminal and oft acclaimed group, MC Spex is now branching out from his long time association with the band, and entering new territory as a solo artist. In the past few months there has been some speculation as to why Spex left ADF, and the truth is, as always, much more realistic and down to earth than the rumours.
“I’m no longer the lead MC for ADF,” Spex says. “It was a mutual decision to leave. My last gig was in August 2007 at a Spanish festival alongside Razorlight and Iggy Pop. I felt I had done my part on the ADF locomotive and wanted to really express myself fully on my own solo project. We, my wife and I, recently had a baby boy so I wanted to be home too.”
During his time with ADF, Spex was surrounded by an active style of music that not many drum’n'bass artists are exposed to, it being primarily an instrumental genre into which such things don’t always easily translate. “ADF taught me a lot of things in the last nine years. I support the whole anti-racist, anti war movements and whilst producing my own studio album and street mix d’n’b cds I will support the message where possible,” he replies. “My main lyrical approach for my solo stuff will be a bit more me though,” he clarifies. “Meaning more party, jump up conscious ragga which a lot more people can relate to and what I think.”
No stranger to a bit of controversy, Spex may seem to want to distance himself from some of the media furore that has previously surrounded ADF, or, he may just be wanting to ease things back a little from such serious business. “The media haven’t got a clue. The journalists all live in this bubble where they think the grass is green and the water is always clean,” he waxes with vehemence. “It’s just not so. ADF talked about what’s goin on in their lives as a British born Asian living in the UK. The daily occurances in our lives. Day to day institutional racism, discrimination, segregation and similar injustices around the world. When we wrote this down and put it into our music the journalists couldn’t believe what we saying and believed most of it to be a fabrication.
“I didn’t really care much for what the British press had to say,” he remarks, and then, thoughtfully, adds. “The press tended to be fairer elsewhere.”
Beyond the politics, the press and the hard work that he put in with ADF over the years, it is full steam ahead for Spex as his solo endeavours begin to take over. “I’m working with the infamous Rock i.D. ADF’s drummer who joined when I did 9 years ago – he left about 4 years later and started his own band,” he explains. “I’ve already done a great rock rap titled ‘bust your head on the album ‘Motorscream’. I’m also gonna collaborate on his new album.”
“My main project though consists of the Invasian Krew Killah an important part of it which is Vader Dj, my friend and a DJ that is able to spin the music I need to let my flow explode. We’re currently recording our first album which has two parts. The first is a straight d n b mix cd with me freestyling and the second is our first album with original material. I’m already working with a killer Italian producer who goes by the name of Leg-no.”
“I’m looking to mix it up with as many producers as possible” Spex finalises enthusiastically, with the telling excitement of someone who may not see a holiday or as much “home” time as he thinks.
“A lot of them, after hearing my departure from ADF, are hittin me up, wanting to collaborate – so it’s all good for now.”
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