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 Plan B is, as they say, no ordinary MC. He's as likely to be playing indie venue or folk clubs as he is hip hop jams or raves or R&B gigs. He can spit rhymes and hold his own against any MC or rapper, but can then suddenly switch into a delicate, sweet while soul croon that would shame any boy band member. He accompanies himself on an acoustic guitar; playing in a curiously folksy, finger picking style. Ben Drew got his first guitar when he was 14. He ditched the soul ballads and moved into a more experimental narrative territory working with characters like a novelist. His controversial single “Mama” is currently being shown on music channels – it’s now time 4 Plan B.
What have you been up to lately?
Just been signing copies of the new album at the label - 2 boxes of them. I did Jools Holland last night which was cool. You sit there at like 12 and wait til 9 at night; I had to go on at half time of the football so I was like bastards! It’s gonna be shown this Friday (23rd June).
What is the concept behind the Mama video?
It’s basically about the song which is about my mum who was in a relationship with a crack addict. There are a few things I don’t talk about in the song such as the fact that the guy used to take my mum’s car for days on end which she needed to support her family and all that. The video starts with me having a go at him saying, “where the f**k you been you’ve taken her car for all that time and turn up in your boxers like nothing’s happened.”
Do you always write about personal experiences?
Nah I don’t, sometimes its fictional or other people’s stories that I might have read in the paper or they’ve told me. Some friends have told me things that I’ve put into a song. I write about things that have affected me after I’ve seen or read and make me think, things that emotionally affect me.
What do you want the public’s reaction to you to be like?
What I want it to be and is gonna be are two very different things. I want them to understand what I’m doing and get the respect that I deserve for what I’m doing, but what we want we don’t always get. A lot of people take my songs literally so criticise me, I’m not naïve, I know that’s gonna happen so I’m ready for it.
What do you think the UK hip hop scene is missing?
Progression. UK hip hop is trying to sound like early '90s rap from New York. It doesn’t sound like West Coast or Crunk, early 90’s is what represented the real s**t for us so we try and copy it. There are only a few people I can see who have stamped their identity on their music in the hip hop scene. I think the Grime guys know they are onto something because it’s an original sound, but they are lacking content in their lyrics which the hip hop heads have but they lack style. It’s all gonna get better man, we got some good artists coming out.
What are your favourite tracks on the album and why?
Kidz is the first hip hop song that I ever wrote and completed from start to finish, Can’t Get Along which is about my friend who died and I really like No Good because I was different on that song and wasn’t too serious with it, it musically sounds different to anything else so is one of my favourites.
Is there anyone you would really like to collaborate with in the future?
Klashnekoff, Skinnyman, the lead singer from Rage Against The Machine. There are also some stranger collaborations that I’d like to do such as a collaboration with Charlotte Church. Don’t get it twisted though, none of that R&B s**t it’s gotta be that omen s**t with like cellos and violins, dark and classical break, with her doing some opera on it. People would probably think I’ve sold out when they see the names together but when they hear the tune they would like it. Also, Tony Christie. It’s all about people’s perceptions, you could have Robbie Williams on a track and it could still sound good.
What don’t you like about the music industry?
Signed to a major there can be too many people putting in their two cents which can f**k up your vision but that’s just the way it goes. People think when you sign life will be easy and you’ve made it but you haven’t really made it until you go platinum and going platinum is hard work. There are a lot of politics between the labels, it’s all about choosing the right promotional work to do, and it’s all very hard and tedious. When I do interviews I don’t want to talk about bullshit that has nothing to do with my music. It does get on your nerves a bit!
Do you get recognised when you’re walking down the street?
Yeah, it happened when I was with my girlfriend the other day, she noticed but I didn’t, I’m always in my own little world. We were walking through Primrose Hill and she noticed a group of guys who called out to me. It’s only happened a couple of times so far.
What would you really like to achieve this year?Sell as many records as I can and I want my performances on stage to be the best they can be, I don’t want people to say, “good album, s**t performer.” I want people to come out of my gigs and feel like they have got their money’s worth. I have the tour coming up in July which will be something to watch out for.
More info: www.time4planb.co.uk / www.myspace.com/time4planb
Words By: Rashmi Shastri
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