I was good, and even though they already had a DJ I just felt that they needed me. Around that time I sent in this mix tape to a radio show. I was always listening to the Mike Allen hip hop show (London's first rap radio show on Capital back in the mid '80s), every weekend. He used to have a mix competition. Basically I entered one mix and thought yeah it's good, and about a week later I thought I can do better so I entered something else under a different name. I came first and third!
"I suppose I've been down with the whole breaking scene since then. That's why we decided to use
breakdancers on tour with us last year. Not because we wanted to seem old skool, because I think
that would be wrong, but as a mark of respect to these crews who are happening around the country.
Those people we used were my mates: Evo, Tuff Tim and their friends. I reckon they're the best
breakers in the country.
"It really annoys me all of this return to the old skool thing; people don't understand that just because you use a break or stick some breaking in the video doesn't make you old skool. Being a b-boy is an attitude, it's a way of life. I always laugh at these girls in their old skool trainers and fat laces that they've copied from fashion mags - they look pathetic. The thing is you've got to earn your fat laces and buckle belts. The mainstream don't understand that being a b-boy means knowing all about your roots, or you simply don't get the respect. And putting a crap house beat to an old skool track doesn't make you old skool, just stupid.
It just annoys me when people use breaking in their videos for extra cred. We thought about using them for the 'Smack My Bitch Up' video, but didn't in the end because we didn't want to disrespect the real underground scene. "In 1998 I reckon there's only one group left who are truly old skool and that's the Beastie Boys. To me they supply the world with dopeness, simple as that. And while they're around you don't need no revival, you've got the real thing."