Following in the footsteps of other underground funky house skankin’ hits, Tribal Magz is all set to make his mark with his debut singleTribal Man Skank. With the release date imminent, a cameo from Sway and comparisons to Soulja Boy, he explains to Reya El-Salahi why it’s time to get tribal…
Even though your debut single is due for release later this month, you’ve been in the music game for a while. Has the road been a long one?
[Laughs] Yeah long road! Five years ago I was beat-boxing in the playground with Tinchy Stryder and Gracious K; we all went to school together. I started out as a grime MC, doing pirate radio, but I decided to give it up and started playing professional football for Barnet. Then I got injured … and started gaining weight… and got bored… so did music again. At first it was grime and then I moved into electro and through that started building a name for myself.
The single’s called Tribal Man Skank. Where did the name come from?
It actually came from Ras Kwame! I sent him the track but forgot to put the name on it, so when he first played it on BBC 1Xtra he actually made the name up. I saw him at an event after and went over and introduced myself and thanked him for naming my track!
Did the huge underground success for acts like K.I.G Family with Head, Shoulders, Kneez & Toez and Gracious K with Migraine Skank, inspire you to write Tribal Man Skank?
My cousin, Gracious K sent me the Migraine Skank and when I saw how that blew up it just inspired me to do something similar.
Your raise to fame came off the back of YouTube with hundreds and thousands of views for the Tribal Man Skank video. How does it feel to do PAs and watch the crowd singing and dancing along to your song?
Ahh it’s mad! At the first few performances when everyone was singing and dancing along it was madness.
Tribal Man Skank has been doing the rounds in clubs and on radio for the past year, but you’re only just releasing it now. Why the wait?
That’s a bit controversial. I made the track around this time last year, when Migraine Skank was big, and it blew up in the clubs! I didn’t want to release something everyone had already heard. So I remade an electro version for the release.
We watched the video closely and realised that towards the end Sway makes a sneaky lil’ cameo. How did that come about?
Sway’s kinda like my mentor. We met at an event and he came up to me and said ‘you’re that YouTube guy’. We got talking and found out I’m from Ghana and he’s from Ghana and since then I’ve been like his little brother. He’s educating me about the industry.
A few years ago bassline was tipped to be the ‘next big thing’. That came and went, and now it’s funky house. By releasing your debut single in a scene that seems so short-lived do you think there’s longevity as a funky artist?
Not if our own DJs in the scene aren’t supporting the acts! You’ve got DJs who won’t even play funky. There needs to be more support for the funky scene.
You’ve been called the UK’s answer to Soulja Boy, how do you feel about that comparison?
Yeah that’s really flattering. I suppose I’m like the UK’s answer to Soulja Boy… but I’m better. We’re kinda like the same… but yeah I’m definitely better!
You initially came through as an MC in the grime scene. How does the funky scene differ?
I got into funky cos I used to dance a lot. It’s vibes. Everyone’s jolly. Everyone’s dancing. Everyone’s friends.
Right, imagine the scenario, the Strictly Come Dancing people decide to film a Strictly Come Skanking version, and call you to get involved. Who would be your skankin’ partner?
[Laughs] Wow! Hmm…. It would have to be Gracious K cos he’s a good skanker!
And what would be the specialist dance move that would see you crowned King of the Skank?
[No hesitation] Getting low!
So finally, what does 2010 hold for Tribal Magz?
Plenty more singles from my album and Feelin’ Funky out March.
Tribal Man Skank is out 25 January 2010
Tags: Interviews, Tribal Magz
![adiSlam Super Dunk OVER VAN!!! [VIDEO]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/super_dunk-140x130.jpg)
![Sway Ft. Lupe Fiasco - Still Speedin' RELOADED [VIDEO]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/sway_still_speedin-140x130.jpg)
Loading ...![Kcat - So Many (Remix) Ft Mz Bratt [AUDIO]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/kcat-140x130.jpg)
![Kano – Room Service: Make Me Proud [AUDIO]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/GirlsOverGunscoverF1-629x629-140x130.jpg)
![Chromeo - Night By Night (Skream Remix) [AUDIO]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Chromeo_New_New_640-140x130.jpg)
![Ellesse's The Marathon '84, reworked for 2011 [FASHION]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ellesseorange640-140x130.jpg)
![Jeremy Scott x Hunger TV x Swatch x Weird [FASHION]](http://www.rwdmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/jeremy_scott_swatch-140x130.jpg)
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
Yummy Reading…
I pleased by the story….
Great website…
[...]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[...]……
Blog types……
[...]well there are a lot of other blogs around who use these varieties of layouts[...]………
Recommeneded websites…
Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over…
Recent Blogroll Additions…
I saw this really good post today….
Wow!…
A very awesome post….
Pokrycia Dachowe…
… sometimes I can’t resist and link to ……
Perspex box…
[...]please take a look at the sites we adhere to, including this 1, because it represents our picks through the web[...]…
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Sony Minicam…
[...]below you?ll obtain the link to some web pages that we consider it is best to visit[...]…
Check this out…
Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors…
Wow!…
A very awesome post….
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
Wow!…
A very spectacular post….
Wow!…
A very awesome post….
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Okna…
… I couldn’t resist linking to that webpage ……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Great news…
Great news. Let’s share this together…
Check this out…
[...] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[...]……
Perfumes For Women…
[...]With the right skills you can be good at many more things and doing almost no mistakes..[...]…
Gems form the internet…
[...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
Check this out…
Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors…
Wow!…
A very awesome post….
Cool sites…
[...]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[...]……
Recent Blogroll Additions……
[...]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[...]……
asklover…
[...]Here is a superb Weblog You may Obtain Intriguing that we Encourage You[...]…
Check this out…
Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors…
Recommeneded websites…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]……
My opinion is ……
Only a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design and style ….
… [Trackback]…
[...] Read More: rwdmag.com/2010/01/tribal-magz-get-tribal [...]…
Recommeneded website…
below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit…
Superb website…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
Nice…
I appreciate for that news. Tkank you Author….
You should check this out…
[...] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well [...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Related……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
online watch movies…
Would you be excited about exchanging hyperlinks?…
Check this out…
Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors…