Interview w/ Edd Bundy

So, i have been sitting on this interview for quite some time due to my hiatus from Facebook, and not keeping up with people to be able to finish the interview but i am very glad that now it is complete and finally, fully put together. So no more waiting, here it is....
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MYSTI: To whom may or may not know the person who this interview is with, Edd Bundy is a Hip Hop Producer/Emcee from London, England who is a member of Dead Rabbits, Ill Of Writes & Region Of Kings. So, i guess my first question is, how did you become associated with these groups?   BUNDY: Where to start? haha. Ok, well once upon a time i was working in a 'crew' called Ill Upon Arrival (shout out to everyone involved there) and this was back in the Myspace glory days, i personally got talking to TMB and we spoke about doing a Region Of Kings / Ill Upon Arrival collab which happened shortly after. Then after some time, for what ever reasons IUAR kind of dispanded, everybody had other goals and lives to resume, i said this to TMB who i was cool with by then and he said i would be welcome into ROK anytime i wanted. So there... i was in ROK.
Ill Of Writes originally was the "supergroup" so to speak of Me (from Region Of Kings) and Samuel Tafari, formerly Supreme The Truth (from The Brotherhood), and put the two names together to come up with Hood Kings, ive spoken about how me and Samuel came to talk and work together so really the watered down version is, Myspace, then a forum i used to run, now, were super fresh, done. DEAD RABBITS however, i think was down to TMB, Grim and a few others who decided to vouch for me to be in DR, then i got a message from Grim the same night i was hooking up with TMB. Enroute to his studio i got the message asking if i would be down with DR, obviously i said yes, the rest is history. So peace to everyone who wanted to work with me in all of these endeavors.
MYSTI: You mention you met a few people on Myspace, how do you think things have evolved, or not, from those days?
BUNDY: Myspace was glorious, it was basically Facebook & Soundcloud rolled into one. Really it helped a lot of dudes get where they are now, but things evolve, things change, for the better or for the worse these things just happen. The death of Myspace wasnt so much as a bad thing for artists, instead it gave them a platform to go and prove themselves elsewhere. Musically though i feel everyone i knew those days have evolved and elevated to a whole other level, easily.
MYSTI: Ok, so as a whole, what do you make on the state of Underground Hip Hop right now?
BUNDY: We live in a particular age and culture that anyone with a computer (or even a phone right now) can illegally download some form of production software, or they can pick up a Microphone for next to nothing that usually comes with recording software that makes "being a rapper" or a "producer" the easiest thing in there world. On top of that, you put into the mix someone new to Hip Hop can message whoever they want, buy a verse or a beat from really really well known artists and instantly be catapulted into the scene like "yo did you see who that new cats working with?". Yeah most of the time you know this person has bought his way into the scene, but if you follow the circle, next up another new guy sees this guy is working with all of these dudes he then thinks "if I buy this dudes beats, I can then have that level he's at".   Which to me is a shame, because myself and a good 90% of artists I know struggled their way to where they are, doing shows, trying to compete with the more household names and actually getting props from their verses or beats and getting to work with their favourite artists in turn out of love and not money. I know times have changed, I cant hate on change, it is what it is, but you put most of these so called up and coming rappers buying verses and beats to get shine up against the vets of the years past and its a complete miss match, young bols wouldn't get the time of day. So if I had to say my opinion on the state of underground Hip Hop now, ill say it wasn't what it once was BUT at least you got a section of true people trying to do it the right way and we got a few key players trying to change the game for the better once again.  

    MYSTI: Who are those "key players" and section of people helping to change it?   BUNDY: 30 and Over League are doing good shit to help Hip Hop, they're part of a bigger circle of things that really helps the scene go back to what it once was. In essence they are a bunch of emcee's/producers/family members/friends/associates that have come together with the idea that no matter if your younger days are behind you, you can still make an impact, to me thats a dope thing, i guess im just waiting for a 29 and Under league haha.
Steve Sxaks & the Cypher Circuit + Marsten House, thats having a BIG impact right now, a lot of good things coming out of that venture and shout out to Steve who is the most down to earth dude i have ever spoken to, its of no surprise to me that he is making all of this work. Obviously Dead Rabbits are doing good things and reaching out to new people, all my diabolical people. Basically anybody who is more about the scene than about themselves are putting out a good example.   MYSTI: Also, i'm 30 and Over now *cough cough*.
Right, here's something for you to answer truthfully, how did you end up being an emcee AND a producer? and do you think it hinders you or it helps?   BUNDY: I think i started out more seriously as an Emcee. Truthfully i see myself as an Emcee who produces on the side, thats my real passion, although i know other people see it the other way round. It doesnt really HINDER anything, but at the same time it doesnt help that people know me for my beats and those same people dont really know or pay attention to the fact that i rap, i guess it comes with the territory.   MYSTI: People see you more as a producer then? Does that mean more people want to buy your beats than your verses?   BUNDY: Realistically, im so diabolical that nobody wants to buy anything from me regardless of what it is. Hahaha, for real though people are more likely to buy a beat than a verse, i guess because im more well known as a producer. I still stand my ground that some producers aren't given as much shine though because people want to buy that Premo beat or the best for their price range, regardless of how good the beat is, for them its all about the name. If you have a Premo beat people are more likely to check the track, even if Premo made the best with his balls and some string, you are more likely to buy that than someone at the low end of the scale with some of the best beats youve ever heard, but nobody is likely to check the track because that dude hasnt got a name in the game. Its bullshit really.

MYSTI: How has it affected you?   BUNDY: You mean the whole artists not giving lesser producers money? It hasnt affected me at all, luckily for me i worked for Rolex for 4 years and now i have shares in the company, on top of that i invented cotton candy, and the Nerf gun so im pretty set for life.  

    MYSTI: We have heard a few Edd Bundy albums and ep's over the years, what has been your favourite?

BUNDY: For me, my favourite project to date was Ill Of Writes - Blue Van Music, it was recorded in one day, Jake One makes insane beats, and the cuts from TMB on that project were insane, but it was probably the most slept on project that ive ever done, which surprised me a lot. Second favourite is DIRT MERCHANTS which is due to be released in August, that was a lot of fun to make in my opinion, and everyone involved are cool as fuck.  

MYSTI: What is "Dirt Merchants"?

BUNDY: I think you mean "Who are Dirt Merchants?" haha, all good. Basically Dirt Merchants are the collective genius of Words, I.N.F, Rated R and Edd Bundy. We discussed doing an album, we then actually did the album, and now we are releasing the album, digitally & physically, sometime in August. So definitely watch for that.  

    MYSTI: Personally my favourite records of yours were the Collectors Edition series, will we get a Collectors Edition 3.   BUNDY: I'm hoping so, TMB has a folder of lost vocal tracks, so im hoping he can put something together for them, plus a bunch of music i put out as singles in past years that never got a real release could be put on there, lets just wait and see.

MYSTI: What other music from you is in the works?

BUNDY: So, so much. Ill Of Writes we've got FMA3 coming out asap, and i have recorded 2 ep's worth of material just waiting for Samuel and TMB to stop being diabolical and finish some of them up. Dirt Merchants as i said is coming out in August. I'm producing an EP for Words called Sticks & Stones. I have a producer project finished waiting on mixes, and theres a lot of material i still have to record for various things. I think once ive recorded everything im taking some time out of music.

MYSTI: Do you have any favourite emcees/producers right now? If so who are they?

BUNDY: Look, i dont even listen to much music, honestly. I only really listen to a small section of people, i don't really know how i rap or produce because i know so little about music these days.
In all seriousness though, as much as i fuck around and say this dudes a diabolical bastard one of my favourite emcees is Samuel Tafari, and thats not me being biased due to us being Ill Of Writes, sometimes this guy will say the realest shit on the mic and it will get overlooked by so many people, dude amazes me with his rhymes sometimes. All of my DR brothers and Dirt Merchants, I.N.F is a beast of a rapper, honorable mentions go to Kue The Vandal who's just raw, Godilla, Eff Yoo, Capo, Glomgold, Sosa, Tha Soloist, Lateb, Slant, a whole load of dudes i enjoy listening to indeed.
Producers... gotta by MoTioN, this dude CAN make some of the best shit you will ever hear without a doubt, only when he wants to though, you can't push this dude for shit haha.
Dope Antelope, just ill, erm.. Grim Reaperz, Luka, Trilian, Demon, the list is endless, so many producers can pull that shit out the bag.



MYSTI: If you could do an album with a producer or an emcee who would it be?

BUNDY: I've worked with most of the people ive wanted to work with, fortunately, those who i would want to do an actual project with though, Dope Antelope for sure. Nico The Beast i reckon that could work, on my beats. Eff Yoo, Godilla, these guys i got the time of day for.
Tha Soloist & MoTioN............................................ hmm. You know what i could sit here all day debating this shit, but really if someone wants to build they know where i am, im down to work haha.
MYSTI: Whats the most difficult thing about being a producer?

BUNDY: Being this good, is a burden.

Hahaha, fuck, i don't know, sometimes samples can be a bitch, sometimes i want to play my own shit, then i do, and that pisses me off. Us producers are very temperamental.
Really though, to me the hardest thing about being a producer is the need to be a perfectionist and scrapping so many beats because i don't think they sound crisp enough and i can't do shit to make it sound how i want it to, its frustrating.
 

 
MYSTI: Who are your hero's?
BUNDY: Musically? Tay Zonday, obviously. Non musically? Paul Gascoigne, without a doubt.

MYSTI: If you had to give advice to anyone based on being a producer or an emcee what would you say?

BUNDY: 1. Don't do it, pick a different career, don't be a diabolical bastard. 2. If you didn't listen to 1, and you're adamant about being a rapper, at least don't be a dick and have an ego before you deserve it. 3. BUY A FUCKING BEAT FROM ME!  

MYSTI: LOL, well thanks for that insight Bundy, it has been a pleasure to see your answers to these questions, finally, if you have any links you want to share here put them up.

BUNDY: Aye, it was fun, we're definitely have to do this again.
Links though: "BUY A BUNDY BEAT" page - https://soundcloud.com/eddbundybeats https://soundcloud.com/edd-bundy https://www.youtube.com/user/EddBundyROK https://www.facebook.com/eddbundy https://www.audiomack.com/artist/edd-bundy http://www.cyphercircuit.com/profile/edd-bundy/ https://instagram.com/eddbundyhk/
      Tune in next time for another dope interview, Mysti.