A
s B-Fresh is about to release his new ple. So I asked my crew for some tips and they
mixtape, The Movement were lucky
enough to catch him and ask him some
very interesting questions about his upbringing
and life in music.
So B-Fresh would you mind telling our readers
a few things about yourself, maybe where you
were brought up?
Well, my names B-Fresh but my birth names
Alex. I am a grime MC brought up in many dif-
ferent areas in London, round the areas of
Brixton.
Where did the name B-Fresh come from?
On the streets I have a certain flow, so when
I’m battling its so fresh and simple but effec-
tive. So my crew came up with it ‘Being Fresh’,
so that’s why. Before that, I was just known as
Alex.
Wow, so you must have always been a great
MC then?
Not really, I mean I’ve worked hard
“I THOUGHT MY LIFE WOULD BE
to get skills but it’s never been easy. THAT WAY FOREVER, UNTIL I
PICKED UP A MIC...”
Being brought up in the roughest
part of London, there’s always some
problem that wrecks my chances of
getting out there.
What sort of problems did you have, if you
don’t mind me asking?
You will hear what happens on the streets
everyday in the news, and I had to be a part of
it. The area brought me up this way. I had to
get involved and a bad childhood turned me
the wrong way towards crime, drugs and you
surely know the rest. I never had a proper dad
as it was always me & my mum living together.
The odd bloke came home with my mum, but I
never liked them anyway. They didn’t care
much about me though, so I tried to stay out of
the house most of my childhood. So that’s why
I got in with the wrong crowd.
Sounds rough, but i am still wondering how
you got into rapping?
I was invited to watch a battle, and I knew the
music but I didn’t know what a battle was. So I
was watching and thinking, that doesn’t look
too hard. I mean thinking of words on the spot
and rhyming them together seems pretty sim-
know to never give up on your dream, that’s all
gave me some instrumentals to practise too,
and that’s when I had my first battle. That’s
how it all started.
Oh, so you battled, did you win a lot or just
suddenly improve?
Obviously I didn’t win them all because there
were people with more experience, but after a
while I thought I’d improved enough to start
making my own music instead of just free
styling it for money if you know what I mean.
Your career hit of from there then?
You could say so, after that I started making
my own songs for a few weeks. The stuff I was
doing was simple; I was just trying to create a
style. Then I was told to create my first mix
tape. I didn’t really know the business or how
to, say, distribute it but I ended up getting a
manager of my own. A few mates helped me
get him, but he listened to a few songs and
thought I would get far. So he got a few de-
signers to make me an album & C.D cover and
then I started creating my songs. He also hired
a DJ to mix my songs together with some
sound effects and ambience so they didn’t
sound so plain & simple. I ended up with about
12 songs that were chosen for my mix tape
and I feel my career started because of the
that particular C.D. Whilst we are doing this in-
terview, I just want to thank John my manager
for getting me this far. Cheers.
I don’t know who this John is but, thanks to
him you’ve become a big hit in Grime. How’s
that make you feel, that you are looked up to?
Well obviously it feels great to be an idol for
upcoming artists and teenagers on the streets.
Im glad I make a difference, as they turn their
life into music rather than a life of crime. In this
business, anyone can make it, and if you feel
you have something, just go for it. You might
be living a S*** life and have no hope until you
pick up the mic, and then you should realise
you’re here for a reason. From my experience I
the advice I can give.
That’s very motivating Alex, how many mix
tapes are you on know then?
Just releasing my third soon.
And are there any surprises in this mix tape,
featuring anyone in particular?
Ha-ha, you’re trying to get a preview I see.
Well I don’t want to give too much away, but
it’s mixed by a famous DJ from Radio 1, a few
songs are featured by a London legend and
yeah. That’s it, no more information for you.
You really are keeping it a secret then. I really
think our readers want to know though, how do
you do it?
What do you mean?
Well, rapping, how do you time it perfectly,
come up with all these lyrics and com-
pile them onto an instrumental?
I don’t know really, everyone usually
says you have to be good at English
and know many words but I was never
that good, just average. I rap about my
past experiences and then my views on the fu-
ture. It’s all from the heart really, and the lyrics
just flow if you know what to say. It’s hard to
explain how it’s done but it takes a lot of prac-
tise to think of the lyrics and rhyme and sync
them to the beat of the instrumental.
Well thank you Alex, but there’s a few more
questions if you don’t mind me asking?
Ye sure as long as you make them quick
please.
We were just wondering about your life know,
how has it changed since before music and to
know?
Well it’s great, I still am on the streets to hang
with my crew but apart from that my life has
changed completely. I have a new house; I
bought my mum a new place too. I live with my
girlfriend Emma in Central London near my
recording studio. I have a new car, and really
just a new life altogether. I’ve been given a
fresh new start in life, and I think I’ve changed
for the better.
Photograph By James Spratt