Fadah Jassem caught up with Genesis Elijah, an underground UK hip-hop connoisseur, and found out about his new hip hop throwbacks album with Krate Crusaders and his views on the relationship between music, activism and global poverty...

Ok Genesis, so what's been new with you then?

Ahhh nothing much man, just put an album out, been pushing that. People been hearing it and getting a good response back. The album's called ‘Before I Was Famous’ and it’s with the production team called the ‘Krate Cursaders’. Yeah, the video's out now as well it’s been getting a good review, good response so far too.

Did you have a theme for this album?

The album was kinda a throwback album. The way the sound used to be ain't what the sound is now, so I just took it back to the sound then - about 10 years back when I first started rapping. So the lyrics are even about me talking about back then, it’s like the journey up until this point. And that’s why the albums called ‘Before I Was Famous’, it’s a bit ironic but it was about before who I am right now. It kinda shows you where we go from, where we move from and where we been. 

"Music is like the news; it highlights problems but it doesn't solve them. The music is just the soundtrack to the revolution, the music is not the revolution"

So where are you now then, in your opinion?

In my opinion right now I’m at the industry door. I found the place, got through the driveway,and I’ve knocked on the door and their just deciding whether or not they’ll let me in. If feels like they might let me in, not sure yet. Either way I’m getting in.

Whats your view on global poverty?

I think it's a manufactured situation and something that doesn't need to happen. It's like Gandhi said: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.”

It's a sad state of affairs and I think one day they'll look back at this time in history and look at us as barbaric.

How can music help make a difference to young people tackling social issues?

Music is like the news; it highlights problems but it doesn't solve them. The music is just the soundtrack to the revolution, the music is not the revolution. I think as long as people remember to act on what they have heard and learnt then we'll see progression. There are a lot of young activists across the country right now but there can always be more.

Do you think there needs to be more artists speaking up on injustice?

If that's what they feel they need to do. I don't think an artist should be penalised for using their art to express what they feel they want to express. As long as artists who have it in their heart to speak up do then that's all we need. The message of justice and liberty is so strong that it will never be drowned out.

If you could run the world for one day whats the one thing you'd change and why?

Hahaha! Well, if it was just for a day I'd make all the people living in poverty swap with the super rich. It would suck to go back to being poor but I'm sure the rich would be a lot more giving after.

Genesis Elijah and Krate Krusaders make an eminent collaboration on this album, and Elijah seems set for breaking through the door yet! Look out for more videos to drop from the album in 2011. If you haven’t already, peep the newest video ‘Doing My Damn Thing’ from the album.

Words: Fadah Jassem

Photo, www.genesiselijah.com