MC Krafty - Exclusive Fantazia Interview 2006

Since joining Maximum Boost Records, Krafty has gone from strength to strength on the drum n bass & break beat music scenes. He signed under Maximum Boost in 1999 after being taken under the wing of Dj Swan-E and within 5 Months was performing at clubs up and down the country with the hope of being spotted, gaining a reputation as a crowd pleaser along the way.

In 2001 whilst performing in Bedford, he was asked to perform @ Club Dreamscape in Wisbech. He performed to standards and was signed as resident leading to perform for Dreamscape' main event @ the Sanctuary, Milton Keynes and Lakota, Bristol. From this followed residencies at events in his surrounding areas due to his status as a Dreamscape Mc.

Still not satisfied, Krafty still travelled with Swan-E up and down the country as well as
perusing a local fan base. Since Dreamscape, he has won the 3 counties Mc competition at Nexus, Bedford and the Mc Face-off @ Finbars, Dunstable. In 2004, Krafty joined the break beat collective 'Apply the Breaks' as promoter
and put on a string of successful events within his home town.

With this, Apply the Breaks are currently the UK's Fastest up and coming break beat group signing residency for Raindance within the first year of formation. Krafty's highlight came in July 2005 when he performed on the main stage along with names such as Sugarhill Gang, Killa kella and Dirty Sanchez at the NASS05 festival @ the Bath & West Showground in Somerset.

Krafty has always respected the fact that not everyone will like his style. He isn't anything like Eksman, Fearless or Skibadee but more of the GQ mixed with Dynamite Kind of Mc. He has performed at Raindance, Desire, Best of British, Dreamscape, Slammin' Vinyl & also Moondance and is still not satisfied.

What is your real name and where are you from?
Paul – North Middlesex

Where are you living now?
Milton Keynes

Who inspired you to be an MC?
GQ and Moose and funnily enough my uncle had a Fantazia Video which I stole and watched, that was when I first started to listen to rave music.

Why did you call yourself Krafty Mc?
Because through my teens i used to get away with murder by being a crafty little sod, then the name clicked the more I heard it, the more it grew. I tried it with the c but I think with a K works and looks better. The Mc comes after the name because its different to other Mcs who are Mc this or Mc that, I like to be unique.

How did you get into the scene? Where was your 1st gig?
The first ever Krafty gig was a youth club in Luton, but first major was Dreamscape. I got into it because I tried it out one day and was told because of my color I would never be an Mc. I love the music but I also had a point to prove.

How long have you been MCing now?
7 years

Ever want to get behind the decks? Can you mix?
I can sometimes but to be honest I think the mic is where I belong, I have watched DJ Marky play at homelands and I thought at the time I would love to entertain like he does but in all seriousness, no I cant dj to save my life.

What do you think are your best qualities as an MC?
My Crowd hyping more than anything and the way I listen for the mixes. I was pretty much taken in by Swan-E (Maximum Boost), and he told me the do’s and don’ts of the Mc like never mc over a vocal track or a mix because that’s when the DJ needs to listen. I'm a crowd pleaser really.

Do you write lyrics down? What are your fav lyrics?
Yes all my lyrics are written down, I sometimes break into a free style depending on the tune being played. I have just written a lyric which is about me getting revenge on a man by sleeping with his girlfriend and the outcome for him is tragic. it ends ‘it hurts from the energy combined with the rain because water and electricity – you see statistically – 46 percent of all cases they die instantly!’. I like to try and complex my lyrics into something that no one will have said or written before. I also have another one which explains my rise to where I am now, most of my lyrics have hidden meanings and generally reflect whatever has happened in my life at the time.

Who’s your fav Dj to MC to? And is there anyone you’d like to MC for?
I like Mcing for Swan-E and Motion (Maximum Ammo) only because I know their style. I would love to Mc for Randall.

What are your top 10 favourite tunes? And worst and why?
Ok the Favourites are (no special order!)
1 – Dj Zinc Vs Mobb Deep, Shook Ones – I like this because it combines my favourite hip hop tune with my favourite music
2 – Lemon D, ODB & Black Keith, Thirsty – Haunting tune
3 – Dj Motion, The Bells – it’s the first tune with my voice on!
4 – Dj Motion, Driftin’ Remix – Fantastic Metal Clang beats
5 – Seba & Paradox, Move On – Brings back some deep memories
6 – Teebee, Let Go – Duurty tune to Mc to!
7 – Gnarls Barkley, Crazy – I was telling people about this tune way before it was released
8 – Pendulum, Tarantula – Homelands 2005, enough said!
9 – Shy FX, Rah – Good Bouncy tune to let loose to
10 – Rennie Pilgrim – Don’t know the title but it’s a top tune

The Worst Are (do I have to do ten??)
1 – The crazy frog tune!
2 – The Barbie girl tune!

That’s about it really?!

Best event you played?
Was NASS05 (National Adventure Sports Show), the tent was packed with 5 maybe 6 thousand people, I cant even explain the atmosphere but I hated the fact I was only on for an hour it was that good, I was there for half hour after signing t-shirts, shaking hands, kissing girls! Still get goosebumps from thinking about it.

Funniest or most embarrassing thing that ever happened at an event?
I was in the Isle of Wight, 20 minutes into the set, I threw up! Enough said! The funniest had to be Watching someone fall off stage at Moondance, some random dancer trying to be cocky missed the stage whilst trying to spin round!

Favourite promoter?
Has to be Rich @ Raindance, I still have not been to a bad one!

What do you do when you’re not MCing?
Football, local Pub, Chilling watching films or round a mates or in the studio with Motion

What do you do to chill out away from the music?
Well I actually listen to more music! Lionel Richie, George Benson some good chill tunes with a nice cold beer!

Mad P or Robbie Dee?
Mad P

Describe yourself in 5 words?
Confident – Hard working – Energetic – Comical - Krafty


What have you been up to recently?
Currently in the studio with motion giving him some sound clips, im trying to promote myself a lot and also I have a US and Canada Tour in August so I’m preparing for that

Anything else you want to say? Any shouts?
Shout to Swan-E for all the help over the years, Motion – Big things coming your way, Big up to The Dope Ammo Boys, Defstar, Angepange and all the Colchester Crew, Disfunktion and all at Vision Artists, P-coleman – Thanks for keeping faith. Also a massive shout to the Vixens – Midlands based dance troop they are hot! Look out for those girls! Also thank you to bex and all at Fantazia, it is an honour having this interview. For the fans check out www.myspace.com/krafty1mc for events to catch me at and booking Info and I wanna give a big shouts to all the ravin’ Krew!

Interview conducted for Fantazia by Bex

FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT MARC @ VISION ARTISTS: +44 (0) 7915668582
OR CHECK OUT www.visionartists.co.uk