INTERVIEW WITH JOSH IDEHEN FROM BENIN CITY
Ahead of their Cheltenham Underground show at The Frog and Fiddle, Cheltenham on Friday 13 April, John Madden caught up with Josh Idehen, frontman of hip-hop/spoken word act Benin City.
You’ve been an influential figure in the spoken word scene in London for a number of years, both as a performer and as founder of PiP (A Poem Between People) and host and co-founder of spoken word and music night Poejazzi. Can you tell us a little bit about them both and why you set them up?
PiP was started much like any other collective; like-minded young folk (fairly young folk some of us) getting together to create art and support each other. It seemed like a natural thing to do at the time – writing poetry with friends whose work you openly admire and secretly want to steal- what could go wrong? A lot, a lot went wrong, and awesomely at the same time!
Poejazzi: I went to too many terrible poetry nights in a week, and I knew a lot of great poets. Fix.
Poejazzi has featured spoken word acts such as Scroobius Pip, Polar Bear and Kate Tempest and musicians like Ed Sheeran and Beardyman in the past all of whom have gone on to great commercial acclaim. Would you say this is an indication that the spoken word scene in the UK is a healthier one than it was a few years ago or have popular tastes just caught up with what you’ve always been doing?
Perhaps a bit of both. While I won’t say popular tastes have caught on just yet, or that I even want that to happen, more than a few spoken word events are regularly packing out and are getting due props from the prints for doing so. Nights like ‘Bang Said The Gun’ got poets doing some of their finest material on Channel 4. A new generation of artists are making their way through the scene and what not. No big explosion, just a cluster of exciting bangs.
How did Benin City come about?
We’d just recorded the PiP EP (titled Very Little Fish) and in discussions on how to present it live, we felt DJ/MC set up would be a waste of a good opportunity. At the time, Shabaka Hutchings was a member of PiP so getting sax involved felt like a no brainer. Somewhere in the initial discussion and meeting up with potential band mates we decided this was to be a new enterprise. A few names were thrown in. My hometown stuck. Plus, I’m a big John Barry/Brass Band fan.
Were there things you felt you could achieve as part of a band that you couldn’t as a solo spoken word artist?
It’s really hard to make drum, bass and horn sounds all by yourself and talk verse and expect people to take you seriously. Also, I love music. Different audiences/settings require different approaches. I was being as versatile and adventurous as I can. Also, I love music. Working with music seemed a no brainer.
You list Outkast, The Roots and Gnarls Barkley amongst your musical influences. These are all acts who’ve typically eschewed the ‘guns, bitches and bling’ attitude shown by some members of the US hip-hop and rap scene. As a lyricist and performer, how do you feel about those undoubtedly talented artists who’ve tended towards misogyny, homophobia and violence in their lyrics?
Let them do them, really. It’s art, it’s expression, it has a right as any to exist. In a world of Michael Bay and the oxymoron that is Christian Rock we cannot begrudge rap any of its less desirables. It’s become less and less my thing as I get older but if it brings a little bit of joy to someone’s else life who am I to talk?
In your song ‘Work’ you detail your rejection of the normal, monotonous 9-5 work ethic while trying to succeed as a writer. How do you deal with the lure of a regular pay cheque always in the background when you’re choosing to make your living from your art?
Same way as every other freelancer: Prayers, luck, tears, invoices, cash in hand. And tears.
You last played a Cheltenham Underground show back in March 2010. What’s been happening in the Benin City camp since then?
A lot: Only two people who originally played that night are still in the band. We’re practically a whole new band now, with a 100% brand new set. Well, new to you anyway; I’m sick of the songs already. HOPE YOU LIKE THEM THOUGH!
What’s planned for 2012?
A lot: new material will be coming soon, stuff you prolly didn’t expect if you’ve seen us before.
For anyone who hasn’t seen you live yet, how would you sell yourselves to them in 10 words?
A journey into verse via brass, bass, keys and horns.
Benin City will be appearing at The Frog and Fiddle, Cheltenham on Friday 13 April with Zen Elephant, George Montague and Simplistic Scientists. Doors are at 7.30pm and entry is £5 or £3 with an NUS card.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/thecheltenhamunderground
