In a generation where a very few emcees know how to match youthful energy with elderly experience, Phoenix Da Icefire, who is still in his early twenties, goes against the grain and is a perfect example of the adage "an old soul in a young man's body". His penchant for weaving, knowledge and intelligence into a confident and calculated stream of consciousness demonstrates an understanding light years beyond his government age. Fresh off releasing his latest mix tape, "Baptism Under Fire", we had a chat with the South London spit slinger about the tape, his crew and calling out coconuts.
You have a very unique stage name and it suggests that some thought went into it. Please explain the meaning behind it and why you chose it.
The "Phoenix" to me symbolises something rising from the depths of something horrific and being triumphant. I have gone through a lot things which could have turned me the wrong way such as watching my father pass away and being under whiteness protection at a young age; many people didn't expect me to succeed in anything or even be alive. The "Icefire" pays respect to my duality as I feel I am both positive and negative to the both of their extremes. I felt it was a name that best suited the character I wanted to put forth.
Your mix tape is named "Baptism Under Fire". Baptism means "new life" or "rebirth". Please explain how the title reflects your music or even your personal life.
The story of the Phoenix is that it was born from the fire that should have, in normal circumstances destroyed it. The title "Baptism Under Fire" is me as an artist being born again as a new person not by water but the fires of this world. I've picked out key title tracks of the CD to represent the mix tape for instance "Hells Fire Capital". This track in illustration is actually the front cover of the tape and "3rd Degree" was the scars of the fire in this world that burnt me, so in this track I was very raw and explicit with the way I wrote and rhymed on the track.
You're very closely affiliated with M9, Cyrus Malachi and the Triple Darkness crew. What have you learnt from each of them?
I analysed everyone in the game and paid close attention to the ones closest to me. With M9, he is very technical and its almost like mathematics the way he constructs his words. With Cyrus Malachi & Nasheron, they are like two sides of the same coin they are very artistic & abstract with the way they use their words and they tend to coin their own phrases which makes them unique in terms of the slang they use. I guess the most important thing I learnt from them is not to sleep around these brothers because getting on a track with them and not coming correct can end your career.
One of my favourite cuts from the mix tape is "Coconut". I thought it was serious but also very hilarious. What do people like Colin Powell have to do to denounce their coconut status?
The thing that inspired me to write this track is when I saw a documentary of a little girl at the age of four saying that she hated being black. In the "Outro", before we got into the booth someone mentioned her and I wanted them to elaborate so I asked the question! In my eyes anyone can be a coconut, whether you're black, white or purple mist! If what is inside isn't a true reflection to what is outside then you are a coconut. If you don't love yourself, how can you know what it is to give to anyone else and if you don't know where your coming from you don't know where you're going.
The album will be called "The Quantum Leap" produced entirely by Chemo. Can you give us any insight into what we can expect? Subjects, guest artists etc?
I met up with Chemo through Triple Darkness. I heard Chemo's sound and thought it would be an honour to work with him. I've been working on this album for three years now. For three years I've been going to record with him and asked him if he had any new beats and when I looked back round he had produced my whole album! The album displays my versatility to the highest of my artistic degree, it has a wide range of different emotions, sounds and character. It has a battle track on there, a track with 9 planets which is the second track we have done with everyone on it, a track called "Karma Sutra" which has a reggae vibe to it featuring Jah Miracle and Lion Heart as well as El Crisis and Yasine. It has a few political tracks on it such"Politricks" which is to date the best song I have written; it has a deep, dark Hip Hop feel to it. I also have a track called "Therapy" featuring Kyza Smirnoff that is going to be my single. I've even written a poem on there and to be honest you won't know what to expect... that's not even the half of it.
Why did you select Chemo to produce the entire album? What is it about his production that makes him the right person to work with?
For me, he is one of the greatest of all time. I heard his work and thought his style would compliment my sound perfectly. Initially, I didn't set out to have him produce the whole album but as years went by he became the heart of the project. He's also a reliant engineer so he is very in tune with sound and that's the most important for me. I don't have to tell him when something is wrong as most of the time, he will pull me up about it.
What is the status with Midas Touch? Is there an album planned for the future?
We are all solo artists to start with but when we did a track together years back we decided we worked very well together, both Aks & J Da Exodus are two of the most talented artists I have heard from the U.K. in general. We are working on an album called "Three Kings" at the moment but we're still fine tuning the unique sound that is Midas Touch as we want it to be perfect so we aren't rushing it... we should have something out for 2010 most def!
Any final words?
To my fellow artists in the U.K., its time to stand up and show the world what we are capable of. We've been slept on for too long and there is a great deal of talent out here which I feel doesn't get pushed to the forefront. Its more than just having the skills as you must also get a business hat on too... be in it for the long run and not the short term income because a legend isn't dubbed that overnight; it takes years of craft and dedication to the fans time and time again. Black Sheep have also been the best review I have ever got from any magazine. I salute you. Anything, you got going on I'm there, you guys are really cool.
