Urban Vault Interviews - Cyrus Da Virus

Urban Vault caught up with UK emcee Cyrus Da Virus to ask him some questions about his music, Collaborations & inspirations...

As a self proclaimed rap artist CYRUS DA VIRUS has a career that began in the mid 90's and is still now going strong. Initially a battle emcee, CYRUS with his outstanding lyrical content and witty punch lines never ceases to amaze. During this time he has made a significant mark in the ever growing underground U.K Hip Hop scene and over the years his music has received global recognition, from both DJs and fans alike.

What is your name?
My name is Cyrus Da Virus.
How old are you?
32.
Where are you from?
I'm from south west London.
How long have you been making music?
I have been making music for around 17 years.
How many songs /albums have you released to date?
I have released 3 studio albums and 1 mix tape.
My 1st album " What do u know about CYRUS " was released in 1999.
My 2nd album "Eclipse" was released in 2005.
My 3rd album "29 yrs in the making" was released in 2009.
My current release "The spliff tapes" was released in November last year and is now available online as a Free download.
Can you tell us about your new song/album, the background and inspirations behind it?
I am currently in the process of recording my new album and i thought it would be a good idea to collaborate with another artist and work on a project that I could give away for free. This would not only be a good chance for me to add to my fan base but I could also create a global "buzz" until the album was ready. I then contacted Ichelmee, told him about my idea and asked if he wanted to be involved. After the 1st meeting we had agreed on a title and concept. "The spliff tapes".... more than your average mix tape. We took 12 of the most influential tracks we have ever herd, put them into a playlist and set it to repeat. Then we built up about 3-4 spliffs And began free-styleing until we had all the hooks. And then...... the more we smoked....the more we wrote. the ideas just kept coming.
Subject issues range from the current state of the music industry (made this way/ definition), the negativity projected by some onto others( people watching) Independently taking full control of your destiny, and really making things happen (clone yourself) and of course our love for weed ( I love her/ flying high) It took us less than a week and about half an oz of weed to write the whole mix tape. During the writing process the legendary London riots took place and we thought a song outlining the events Was essential.
How have you ended up in the music industry?
I started rapping at a very early age however I didn't really find myself until the mid nineties. I began performing at open mic sessions and emcee battles and things sort of took off from there
What do you think of the music industry in 2012?
Personally I think the music industry on a whole has declined. To me it seems as if the artists don't try hard enough anymore. Alot of them 4get about the music concentrating more on the car, the girl and or the chain. The commercial music we are now being spoon fed can connot compare to the hip hop of the 90's.
However this is now the era of the independent artist. And due to the digital revolution a record label deal is now not essential to distribute and release music. With sites like iTunes, Napster, twitter, Facebook and YouTube you can build a fan base, sell music and upload music videos to a global audience all from the comfort of your own home. This is a big + for all involved.
Who have you collaborated with so far in your Career?
Apart from Ichelmee I haven't really done any other collaborations, but watch this space. It's all about the collaborations this year.
Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
I'd like to collaborate with allot of artists. Skinny man, English frank, kingpin, fallacy, logic, Pdc and that's just a few
what was the first album u brought?
The 1st album I brought now let me think....... Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde by Pharcyde tracks like "running" and "drop" used to inspire me. The drop video was actually filmed backwards, another classic
Whats your favorite song at the moment?
Blue sky by common
If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album would you leave in your draw?
Muddy waters by Redman, Redman is one of my favourite rappers and this album is a classic. The tracks, the skits the album cover everything about it made me play it until the cd scratched. Redman is so rude, raw and lyrically diverse I could never sell that. I don't even have a cd player any more but I still got da album.
What do you think of TV music talent show competitions?
A lot of the tv talent program's to me seem like a big advertising campaign for up and comming commercial artists. After watching theese artists perform and develop over several weeks you get to know the name, see the face and hear the voice. And once the product is finished and ready to release its very easy to sell.
What do you do when your not making music?
When I'm not making music I'm taking care of the biz side of things. As an independent artist I do EVERYTHING myself. Artwork, promotion, websites, online networking with deejays,blogs, promoters and other artists. I have recently found a manager so this lightens the work load slightly but it's still an everyday thing. I also have a daughter and she takes up most if not all of my spare time.
Whats your favorite Fashion brand?
My favourite brand is and always has been Adidas. "My Ad..I...das" Real Hip Hop apparel.
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
Nah that's not 4 me.
How many pairs of trainers do you own?
I own about 20 pairs. I like Jordan's I have about 4 pairs and 5 pairs of adidas.
How many hats do you own?
I have a very big hat collection. About 30.
Whats your favorite takeaway?
A Chinese restaurant called mc china.
How many followers do you have on twitter?
About 900 I have only recently began to use my twitter account properly to promote my music and interact with fans and potential links.
In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault?
The Hot Homegrown Hip Hop Blog.
Thank you for your time and may u carry on making dope, fresh music....