Battle Axe to grind

>> Swollen Members MC Prevail on Dilated Peoples, style biting, and butting heads

by SCOTT C

Continuing their onslaught on the independent hip hop world after hitting Juno gold last year, Madchild and Prevail of Vancouver's Swollen Members pop the first few dates on tour for their latest LP Bad Dreams, with some shows in the East and sights on Montreal. These guys are known far and wide for numerous solid releases, and a record label (Battle Axe) that can not only stand up on the international hip hop circuit but represent some real Canadian hip hop shit properly. The Mirror spoke to Prevail over the phone during his stopover in Halifax.



Mirror: Do you guys basically set out to make darker stuff, or does it just work out that way?

Prevail: Ah, I don't think that's our intent when we approach a track, it's just that parts of your personality shine through when you do things like this, and we both have darker elements. We say things that people may be thinking from time to time. We make music that really reflects what we're about. It's not always dark all the time, 'cuz there's an aspect of light that comes through as well. We try to keep it balanced.

M: Not that I want to hear you on some happy shit or anything like that, but it's very rare that we hear the two of you on an "up" beat.

P: Like I said, we do a good job trying to balance it out, but the overall tone of Bad Dreams is darker, no doubt about it. But there are those moments, on "Ventilate," "Full Contact" and "Deep End," where it's kind of back and forth and a little lighter in the approach.

M: As far as what you listen to personally though, do you find that that reflects itself as well?

P: When we're recording, I don't listen to a lot of rap music because I just want to come fresh. I don't want to influence myself. I really try to get out what I've learned in those months we've been away from the studio. When we're on tour it's great. I've been listening to Dilated's new album, Bif Naked, Gob, a lot of classical, jazz, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Big Daddy Kane, Brand Nubian, Masta Ace, Casual.

M: What if you are feeling somebody just prior to going in the studio, do you find yourself emulating shit that you respect in other people?

P: I think I did that as a kid. I think you have to in hip hop. Everybody will tell you this. It's not a thing that you have to feel bad about, because everybody bites when they're starting out--

M: Sure.

P: If you're a graffiti writer, you're biting your lettering style off of somebody just to get an idea of how to proportion things. It's the same in every aspect of hip hop culture.

Dilation nation

M: Whose flow are you particularly fond of?

P: Whose flow? I love the way Aceyalone comes off all the time. I love the way Del comes off all the time. I like the way Dilated approach making music. A lot of the people we work with are people who I've respected for a long time, and I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with them.

M: You guys and Dilated seem to have more and more in common these days. I've heard you guys called the Canadian Dilated Peoples--

P: I never heard that before, but it's a compliment to think that people would put us on the same plateau as Dilated. I mean, they're good friends of ours and there's no doubt that what they've done for us has been amazing. Evidence has introduced us to a lot of great people that we consider family and friends now. The reason that we work with Dilated and Dilated works with us is because we are family. They're great people who've always looked out for us and vice versa. It's not an aspect of comparison, it's just likemindedness.

M: Do you have beef with Toronto?

P: No. That's a hilarious question, actually. Why would I have beef with Toronto?

M: I think it stems from the whole Juno shutout last year. Nobody in Toronto was expecting you guys to win.

P: I've had nothing but good experiences in Toronto, and every time we go back, I get a better sense of the vibe of the city and what it's all about. We've been able to build with a lot of people in a very positive way. As far as we're concerned--and I think a lot of people that are in the same circle of productive hip hop artists coming out of Canada feel the same--why butt heads when we can put our heads together and get the music out there?

With Bif Naked, Project Wyze and Moka Only at Club Soda on Saturday, Dec. 8, 9pm, $15