Anti Pop Consortium

Posted on 4th Jul 09 by Liam Griffin | 1

Anti Pop Consortium are one of the few hip hop groups that manage to attract fans from almost every musical background. Mixing electronica with their poetic abstract lyrics Beans, High Priest and M Sayyid create songs which are challenging, thought provoking and often really weird. Not content with writing “Edward Burroughs in the Ghetto” style lyrics all members of the group produce the other worldly beats and pieces that make up an APC track.

When word got out in 2003 that the group had broken up the hip hop community let out a collective sigh. Here was one of the most engaging and progressive troupe giving up the ghost. Thankfully, they have recently reunited, at a time when intelligent hip hop is needed the most, with a new album Fluorescent Black.
Drop- d: Anti Pop Consortium have been working on separate projects for about 6 years. What happened to bring you back together?

Beans: In our separation, we still stayed and in touch and was aware of what the other was doing. It was through an ex-girlfriend who got us together for my birthday 2 years ago. We meet and decided it was time to work together again.
Priest : We were all in the headspace finally- it definitely took a bit of coaxing but I am glad we were able to make it happen.

We are not resting on our laurels and the romanticizing the past is corny

Drop-d:  How did it feel to be back in the studio after so many years?

Beans: It felt like no time had passed but it took sometime to start working and get used to working together again. This album is proof of that process
Priest: Yep felt same as it ever was.

Drop-d:  How would a typical ATP track develop? Do you jam in the studio?

Beans: Since we’re all producers, someone will produce the track and whoever lays vocals on the track first is the first MC heard on the track or arranged in an agreed upon order. We improvise and record jams at practice sessions some of the tracks on the next record were done in this fashion.
Priest: There is no set formula; as Beans said since we were all produce everybody brings something to the table- on the LP it was great to record in the same fashion we perform as a “band” with all the synths and effects at once.
Drop- d:  Have you been playing new material live?- How have audiences responded to your new material?

Beans: The new material has been received quite favourably and in the live shows, we only feature 2 of our old recordings so it’s going down with audiences quite well
Priest : We are not resting on our laurels and the romanticizing the past is corny – it’s critical to share our most recent developments – sometimes to a fault but we wouldn’t have it any other way

Drop- d: Have you noticed any changes in the landscape of hip hop since you were together last? If so, how do you react to these?

Beans: Much has changed and the influence that we inspired has saturated the landscape. No matter how many people think that have a grasp of electronic music in hip hop, they ain’t us and this album will prove it.
Priest: Ditto

Drop- d: How much room is there for improvisation on stage?

Beans: Improvisation is a huge factor in our live shows. We’ve come up with some things that we wish we had recorded HAHAHA!! It’s something we collectively enjoy performing and to me, becomes the highlight of the show.
Priest : We bring the studio to the stage- it’s the only way to keep it interesting for us as performers

Drop d:  You’ve recently signed to Big Dada, an imprint of Ninja Tune. Are there any other artists on Ninja Tune that you admire?

Beans: We like Roots Manuva!! We did a track with dude for our record

Life is the inspiration. Not in the slightest do we encounter a problem with expressing ourselves being creative. That’s why APC are here on earth

Drop- d: ATP is one of the few hip hop groups that are involved in both the lyrical composition and production. Do you think this is important? Are there any unusual instruments you’ve been using lately? Do you have any favourite pieces of hardware?

Beans: It’s very important because our sound is self-contained and the source of that material derives from us. I’m not going to list what we use because it doesn’t matter. You can’t do what we do so it’s irrelevant.
Priest: I could gone on for days, but it is a very interesting for hardware/software and the integration of the two- We have a lot of resources from modular synths to OSC controllers to millions of vst plugins and such- the lemur has been great for wilding out in LIVE 8 the ARP 2600 is definitely a fav as well.

Drop-d:  ATP are known for being involved in slam poetry and taking an experimental approach to writing lyrics- can you describe some for  the ideas that inspire you?

Beans: Life is the inspiration. Not in the slightest do we encounter a problem with expressing ourselves being creative. That’s why APC are here on earth. We’re all serious writers and pay close attention to the writing. Other people are doing what they do but we do us.
Priest: The slam poetry scene was open and equally influenced by hip hop- it provided a great atmosphere to grow.

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Tags: Anti Pop Consortium, Beans, High Priest, M Sayyid