DJ Miss C Brown Previews Infrastructure to Industry [Interview]

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Introduce yourself to the music crown readers

Hey music crown, I’m Miss C Brown – I’m mainly a DJ, been doing it for a number of years now – Hip Hop is the main focus.  I’m a turntablist; love my technics! I’m also a VJ (something that’s quite new to me actually) so I get the visuals going in my sets also.  Somehow, accidentally, I stumbled into promoting! I think I must have tripped and fell into it – It wasn’t something I had thought about doing, but I wanted to put on the kind of nights I wanted to go to and hear the music I wanted to play.  It was easier for me to do that than try and beg people for a slot at gigs.  I’m creative by nature so that really comes across in my mixes – I put a lot of work and thought into my mixes – it’s a creative process that I go through. I love it though, keeps me on track.

Your hosting an event this Saturday “ infrastructure to Industry” can you tell us what to expect?

Infrastructure to Industry is an event that looks at the Hip Hop industry (or lack of it) in the UK.  Its important that we are able to create and control our own industry, as at the moment it is not being controlled by us – its being dictated to us and we need to fix that.  It’s a discussion based event that looks at the issues within the Hip Hop scene in the UK – then looks at ways we can move forward.  How can we work together to build the industry? What can we do as individuals? There’s so many of us doing Hip Hop out here, why are we not connecting more? Why are we not reaping the rewards? So we need to look at the problems and find solutions to fix them.  It’s an ongoing process that won’t be fixed in one event, but it is a start – and if we identify ways we can work together for the greater good, and actually do it – we are on our way.

How did you get into hip hop?

I got into hip hop from an early age – one of my first records was Doug E Fresh The Show.  I memorized it from start to finish – I was mesmerized by it.  Ever since then it has been game on! I never dropped in and out of Hip Hop like it was a fashion, its something that has stayed with me over the years, and will be with me for many years more! For every mood – there’s a Hip Hop song. I have a bank of memories stored in Hip Hop!

What is the current Birmingham hip hop scene like?

The Birmingham scene for Hip Hop is lacking a few things.  We need to support events more, promoters need to work together more, I think artists and dj’s need to connect more too.  That would help the scene to grow and prosper.  There are a few good regular events but we require more than that if we are going to flourish.  I believe in numbers – the more of us there are the stronger we become. Collective action is the way forward!

Who has been your biggest influence as a DJ?

Biggest influence as a DJ! Wow that’s a hard one… first off let me shout out Psykhomantus because it was him that got me into the artform of DJ-ing – I picked up a lot from observing and working with him.  I’ve always loved Primo, I love his production, style, presence, work ethic – everything. He’s a very creative guy  and I admire that.  He’s done a lot for Hip Hop over the years and he keeps his underground NY boom bap sound going and I love that.  He doesn’t bend to trends; he just does him.  I respect that a lot.

You have put on many nights in Birmingham, can you tell us about your favourite gig? Who was performing?

Yep I’ve put on loads of nights in Birmingham! I think my favourite night was Ones & Twos featuring Klashnekoff, Malik MD7, Sykes & Tusche Da Costa.  Klash hadn’t been to Birmingham in about 8 years or something – and the venue was rammed.  I think they were a little scared! It was a really good night and people came up to me and thanked me afterwards.  Even people who had snuck in without paying, gave me the entry fee after! That was my favorite show… The promoting game ain’t easy and is often thankless – people don’t appreciate what promoters have to go through to put on a good night.  It’s both stressful and rewarding.

Finally, what are your thoughts on the UK hip hop scene progressing in the future?

The UK Hip Hop scene can progress – if we make it happen. If we do nothing, it will stay the same.  The key is working together, we have to be able to do that, we have to find a way to build and control our industry.  The scene is too fragmented, there is no infrastructure, its very cliquey (which is a good thing but we need to know how to work that to our advantage) it’s broke – who pumps money into UK hip hop? We have the foundations of something brilliant, we have to nurture it and care for it to make it grow.  I know many people who have lost hope in it altogether.  Hip Hop has been here for decades – we should be a lot further than where we are at now.

Infastructure To Industry-12

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