QUICKFIRE Q's WITH RAPPER TOMMY ILL
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Tommy Ill is one rapper to tune in to, he has an interest in alligators and pompoms and his latest album is New Hat and a Haircut.
‘New Hat and a Haircut’... what’s the new album all about?
It's about lots of things; I wouldn't say there is one central theme to the album. It's kind of weird. I talk about zombies, Richard Branson, alcohol, The Beatles, Blake Lively, smelly feet, cigarettes, girls and heaps of other things. The usual sort of stuff.
Describe your new hat...
I have quite a few new hats actually and I haven't been wearing any of them because it's been too windy in Wellington lately. If we are talking about metaphorical hats, then my new hat is the colour of the night sky. It has an ominous red glow and is made of real bits of panther. And it would have a pompom.
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How do you define rap music?
I guess any music that has someone rapping on it? I don't really know. I think it's more up to the person making it and how they got to that point, whether they think it's rap music or not. I don't think it matters too much. Rap is pretty diverse now days, it's cool. People are doing all sorts of interesting things. I think trying too hard to define things can sometimes be counter-productive.
Where did you get inspiration for your lyrics?
Usually someone will make a beat - Buck Beauchamp, Kelvin Neal and I take turns making the beats. If it has a certain vibe to it I'll try to build off that and what the music is reminding me of, or making me feel. This usually starts with me mumbling over a beat for half an hour. The words themselves usually come from things that have really happened, to an extent. Or weird in-jokes. Or just something I thought would be funny to say. Alcohol helps. If I've had a few drinks whilst writing I'm a little less dismissive of my own work. I think. Haha.
Do you have an obsession with alligators? And if so, where did this all begin?
It started with the David Letterman interview. I'm really not sure where that came from. I just really wanted to only talk about alligators. I felt like it was an important topic that wasn't brought up enough on The Late Show.
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Do you enjoy punching fish? Or would have preferred to punch the lamb?
I don't think I could bring myself to punch a lamb. Punching the fish was actually pretty fun. We had to shoot that bit about 5 times though, and by the end of it my hand was bleeding from the scales. Also there were bits of fish and bacon all over the floor in Brian's lounge. I kinda hope PETA get upset about it - that would be good publicity.
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What are your plans for 2012?
We're going to play lots of shows and probably get over to Australia later in the year. Hopefully the album does well and we get to do some festivals - that would be cool. Apart from music, I am planning on visiting a zoo and also eating an orange. .
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Lastly, if you were Captain Planet... give me one line of rap from him.
By your powers combined I'm Captain Planet / paper bag your sandwich - you should never plastic wrap it / don't litter chippy packets, grab the trash and make it vanish / I've had it with this planet here take it you can have it..
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