Publication date: 12 June 2005
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2005 IS THE YEAR OF ZION NOIZ...
DJ Secret Weapon >
< Judah Racham
< Judah Racham
Fresh from the successful launch of what is
arguably the year's strongest Hip-hop album
so far come two of the collective's members,
JUDAH (right) and DJ SECRET WEAPON,
who go by the altogether very intriguing name:
arguably the year's strongest Hip-hop album
so far come two of the collective's members,
JUDAH (right) and DJ SECRET WEAPON,
who go by the altogether very intriguing name:
A UK Gospel.com Report
It seems like 2005 is really the year that UK gospel street music begins its emergence from the underground, shedding its mantle as a vibrant 'hidden' movement and aiming itself squarely at the wider mainstream by way of the Christian market. Hip-hop has undoubtedly always been the most potent and creative of the Black Christian music sub-culture, and ZION NOIZ has been the archetypal model.
And ZI - as they call themselves - comprise a group of creatives encompassing everything from visual arts to the business aspects of music. DJ/producer/musician DJ SECRET WEAPON, and GREENJADE member JUDAH RACHAM typify the looseness and creative freedom ZI promote by preparing their own project, alongside the business of being part of the NOIZ, in their role as '2 MEN FROM TIBET'...
And ZI - as they call themselves - comprise a group of creatives encompassing everything from visual arts to the business aspects of music. DJ/producer/musician DJ SECRET WEAPON, and GREENJADE member JUDAH RACHAM typify the looseness and creative freedom ZI promote by preparing their own project, alongside the business of being part of the NOIZ, in their role as '2 MEN FROM TIBET'...
And while the ZIONNOIZ debut album MANY SOUNDZ, ONE NOIZ (get it if you haven't, it's in UKG Shop) covers a whole gamut of Hip-hop influenced, diverse musical expressions, 2 MEN FROM TIBET extend the same musical intention, producing a fresh, intelligent and accessible debut set. Indeed, in JUDAH's words: "although the heart of our project is in our faith, it has been done with a heart for all to access in terms of its expressions and style..."
YINKA AWOJOBI put on the heavy fur coat and asked the questions...
YINKA AWOJOBI put on the heavy fur coat and asked the questions...
And so, what can we expect?
What's the music like...?
What's the music like...?
OK: let's take this right back to the beginning:
we're gonna assume that no one knows your
history. Gimme the background:
WHO'S JUDAH...?
Who's SECRET WEAPON:
And how did you two hook up, then?
we're gonna assume that no one knows your
history. Gimme the background:
WHO'S JUDAH...?
Who's SECRET WEAPON:
And how did you two hook up, then?
SECRET: Real Hip-Hop, real
music. This album has true
expressions both lyrically and
musically!
SECRET: It's all part of the
movement. Whenever each of us
brings out an individual project it's
helping the whole clique move
forward as well.
music. This album has true
expressions both lyrically and
musically!
SECRET: It's all part of the
movement. Whenever each of us
brings out an individual project it's
helping the whole clique move
forward as well.
Judah is the leader of the
group called GreenJade, a member of ZION
NOIZ and MC that's been doing his thing for
over 10 years...
SECRET is a DJ/
Producer who also DJs for GREENJADE and
is part of ZIONNOIZ and has been doing his
thing for many years too.
Well, we met one time at this event called
CYPHER that's held in Birmingham, I
stepped up to do my thing in a freestyle and
SECRET was on the decks and dropped
some heavy beat for me to flow on. It
was immediately evident that the kid had
group called GreenJade, a member of ZION
NOIZ and MC that's been doing his thing for
over 10 years...
SECRET is a DJ/
Producer who also DJs for GREENJADE and
is part of ZIONNOIZ and has been doing his
thing for many years too.
Well, we met one time at this event called
CYPHER that's held in Birmingham, I
stepped up to do my thing in a freestyle and
SECRET was on the decks and dropped
some heavy beat for me to flow on. It
was immediately evident that the kid had
And how does all this fit in with
the ZION NOIZ and GREEN
JADE side of things? You both
belong to both groups...?
the ZION NOIZ and GREEN
JADE side of things? You both
belong to both groups...?
The Zi album is named MANY SOUNDZ, ONE NOIZ
not just because of what's on the album but it also
represents us as individuals within the group. We are
all under the same banner and promoting the same
message but in different flavours...
not just because of what's on the album but it also
represents us as individuals within the group. We are
all under the same banner and promoting the same
message but in different flavours...
a knowledge of hip-hop and a true talent.
We all got talking to him at that event and
from there he hooked up with us first with
JADE and then with the whole ZIONNOIZ
movement too.
Yeah, no doubt. I grew up listening to
classic hip-hop artists; the ones who
helped build the game like ERIC B &
RAKIM, KOOL G RAP, BIG DADDY
KANE, KRS ONE, etc... I used to spend
loads of time just trying to write rhymes
and flow like those guys, I even used to
be part of a hip-hop dance troop back
when I started.
We all got talking to him at that event and
from there he hooked up with us first with
JADE and then with the whole ZIONNOIZ
movement too.
Yeah, no doubt. I grew up listening to
classic hip-hop artists; the ones who
helped build the game like ERIC B &
RAKIM, KOOL G RAP, BIG DADDY
KANE, KRS ONE, etc... I used to spend
loads of time just trying to write rhymes
and flow like those guys, I even used to
be part of a hip-hop dance troop back
when I started.
And how exactly do you intend to project the gospel
via this project? As you know, not everyone buys into
this Hip-hop gospel thing...
via this project? As you know, not everyone buys into
this Hip-hop gospel thing...
SECRET: At the end of the
day, we are who we are. My
vibe is no message is a good
one if it is not relevant to the
people you are trying to
reach.
So our thing is that we make
banging music with our
message being a 'kingdom
principle' minded message,
relevant to the culture of
people we are speaking to...
day, we are who we are. My
vibe is no message is a good
one if it is not relevant to the
people you are trying to
reach.
So our thing is that we make
banging music with our
message being a 'kingdom
principle' minded message,
relevant to the culture of
people we are speaking to...
And JUDAH: you've been a Hip-hop head
from back in the day...
from back in the day...
OK, final questions: what can we expect from the 2
MEN FROM TIBET in 2005? Tell me about the project.
What's on it in terms of style...?
MEN FROM TIBET in 2005? Tell me about the project.
What's on it in terms of style...?
SECRET: you've done production from
way back when as well
JUDAH: This isn't the first time you've
done the collaboration thing outside of
the JADE. There was also the guest
spot on JAHAZIEL's debut EP, BLOW
THE TRUMPET. What is it about
collaborations that attracts you...?
way back when as well
JUDAH: This isn't the first time you've
done the collaboration thing outside of
the JADE. There was also the guest
spot on JAHAZIEL's debut EP, BLOW
THE TRUMPET. What is it about
collaborations that attracts you...?
Yeah, most definitely, I've always been
inspired by the East Coast Hip-Hop sound
and producers such as DJ PREMIER,
HI-TEK, PETE ROCK, ALCHEMIST, RZA,
NO I.D etc. Even the beginning of Hip-
Hop/Soul with MARY J... I love heavy
beats with melodies.
I think whenever I'm able to collaborate
with others it stretches me to come out
of my usual zone of writing for the JADE,
inspired by the East Coast Hip-Hop sound
and producers such as DJ PREMIER,
HI-TEK, PETE ROCK, ALCHEMIST, RZA,
NO I.D etc. Even the beginning of Hip-
Hop/Soul with MARY J... I love heavy
beats with melodies.
I think whenever I'm able to collaborate
with others it stretches me to come out
of my usual zone of writing for the JADE,
SECRET: If you love music you'll enjoy this album a lot.
SECRET: Hopefully it can bring a sense of freshness
and a universal sound.
My favorite track is QUEEN FOR LIFE.
It changes every week...
August/September
SECRET: Hopefully it can bring a sense of freshness
and a universal sound.
My favorite track is QUEEN FOR LIFE.
It changes every week...
August/September
What does it bring to UK Hip-hop that makes it
different...?
JUDAH: what's your favorite track off the album...?
SECRET?:
And finally: when is it out?
different...?
JUDAH: what's your favorite track off the album...?
SECRET?:
And finally: when is it out?
I find that I will come out with a very
different side of myself whenever this
happens...
Some joints from the ZIONNOIZ camp of
course, such as ROCK LIKE THIS, LET
IT OUT, cuts for GREENJADE, the rest
of the individuals from Zi and yes, our
own 2 MEN FROM TIBET tracks such
as D'YOU GET IT, and DO WHAT YOU
DO. But there are also other young
talents that I am producing and
developing to better themselves as
artists, so watch out for them....
different side of myself whenever this
happens...
Some joints from the ZIONNOIZ camp of
course, such as ROCK LIKE THIS, LET
IT OUT, cuts for GREENJADE, the rest
of the individuals from Zi and yes, our
own 2 MEN FROM TIBET tracks such
as D'YOU GET IT, and DO WHAT YOU
DO. But there are also other young
talents that I am producing and
developing to better themselves as
artists, so watch out for them....
A few things go without saying, but I'll say them
anyway:
To hear tracks off this project, check out
UKG Spin!, UK Gospel.com's online radio station...
To purchase the CD, check out UKG Shop...
And in case you're wondering: yes, the tracks
we've heard so far are very, very, very good..
anyway:
To hear tracks off this project, check out
UKG Spin!, UK Gospel.com's online radio station...
To purchase the CD, check out UKG Shop...
And in case you're wondering: yes, the tracks
we've heard so far are very, very, very good..
SECRET: You've also done a lot of
production work all around the place.
What are we likely to have heard..?
And what's your background? How did
you get into production....?
production work all around the place.
What are we likely to have heard..?
And what's your background? How did
you get into production....?
LINKS
I have been a lover of Hip-hop since I first
stepped into secondary school, but I
realised the backbone of the culture was
the DJ and the music, which lead me
into DJing myself, which then helped me
understand how a Hip-hop record was put
together. That then got me hungry to
start making beats and experiment with
production.
SECRET: Well the beauty about this
project is we didn't try and force anything
to happen. I was doing a lot of work with
stepped into secondary school, but I
realised the backbone of the culture was
the DJ and the music, which lead me
into DJing myself, which then helped me
understand how a Hip-hop record was put
together. That then got me hungry to
start making beats and experiment with
production.
SECRET: Well the beauty about this
project is we didn't try and force anything
to happen. I was doing a lot of work with
HOME
And having done all of the things you've
done separately, why did you two feel
there was a need to join forces and do
stuff together...?
done separately, why did you two feel
there was a need to join forces and do
stuff together...?
JUDAH on the Zi stuff, JADE stuff and
also starting on his own solo album (don't
worry you haven't missed it, it's not out
yet) and I started thinking that JUDAH's
style of rapping really sits naturally with
my style of production.
I then was thinking about starting my own
solo production album (which again is not
out yet), and as I made a couple of tracks
I thought that JUDAH suits well on all
these tracks. So I called J and said 'Watt
up, let's do this' and J was like: 'No doubt'
so we did, and within 3-4 months the
'TRUTH SYRUM' album was completed.
As well as that we both have a love for
also starting on his own solo album (don't
worry you haven't missed it, it's not out
yet) and I started thinking that JUDAH's
style of rapping really sits naturally with
my style of production.
I then was thinking about starting my own
solo production album (which again is not
out yet), and as I made a couple of tracks
I thought that JUDAH suits well on all
these tracks. So I called J and said 'Watt
up, let's do this' and J was like: 'No doubt'
so we did, and within 3-4 months the
'TRUTH SYRUM' album was completed.
As well as that we both have a love for
the culture of Hip-Hop which has made
it so easy to truly express what we think
and feel through this album.
JUDAH: Well, TWO MEN from TIBET
was not a deliberate thing. We were coming
back from a show one time with JADE and
when we came off the plane SECRET and
me were both wrapped up in our blankets.
One of the other guys took a picture of us
like this in the airport and when we saw it
we had a good laugh at it and I made a
joke about how we looked like 2 men who
it so easy to truly express what we think
and feel through this album.
JUDAH: Well, TWO MEN from TIBET
was not a deliberate thing. We were coming
back from a show one time with JADE and
when we came off the plane SECRET and
me were both wrapped up in our blankets.
One of the other guys took a picture of us
like this in the airport and when we saw it
we had a good laugh at it and I made a
joke about how we looked like 2 men who
Let's talk about your love for something else
as well; the rather exotic name for example.
You're TWO MEN FROM TIBET... Why?
as well; the rather exotic name for example.
You're TWO MEN FROM TIBET... Why?
came from Tibet and robbed some
American tourists on the way!
The name just stuck with us after that
and became a little running joke...
However being the type of person I am, I
decided to look up the word 'Tibet', and
its meaning is actually 'A western
storehouse of blessing', so God must've
been involved in the joke I think...
American tourists on the way!
The name just stuck with us after that
and became a little running joke...
However being the type of person I am, I
decided to look up the word 'Tibet', and
its meaning is actually 'A western
storehouse of blessing', so God must've
been involved in the joke I think...
IT ALL STARTED FROM THIS PICTURE....
And then there's the album title: TRUTH
SYRUM. Intriguing...
SYRUM. Intriguing...
Yeah, the TRUTH SYRUM was one of the first
tracks I wrote when me and SECRET started
making these tracks together.
The idea behind it was that the music we make
is like giving people a serum which both
contains the truth of who me and SECRET are
as Hip-hoppers, musicians and believers.
Also it aims to encourage people to roll with
truth and speak truth.
SECRET: Well the beauty about this
project is we didnt try and force anything
to happen. I was doing a lot of work with
tracks I wrote when me and SECRET started
making these tracks together.
The idea behind it was that the music we make
is like giving people a serum which both
contains the truth of who me and SECRET are
as Hip-hoppers, musicians and believers.
Also it aims to encourage people to roll with
truth and speak truth.
SECRET: Well the beauty about this
project is we didnt try and force anything
to happen. I was doing a lot of work with
