Urban Vault Interviews - John hectic

Urban Vault caught up with UK emcee John Hectic to ask him some questions about his music, inspirations & the industry...

Formally one half of London hip hop duo Double H (Hard Hitters), John Hectic has spent a majority of 2011 locked away in the studio, with two brand new solo projects lined up for digital release in 2012. Hectic is also busy running his own t-shirt line - '9JABOI Clothing' - and is currently the main face of AYO Clothing's 9JA Fitted Hats, an entrepreneurial streak which has since seamlessly transcended into his musical endeavours. Renowned for his witty, thought provoking wordplay and hard hitting production, this Cuban born, London raised, Nigerian artist / businessman is certainly a force to be reckoned with in 2012.

What is your name?
John Hectic.
How old are you?
26.
Where are you from?
South east london.
How long have you been making music?
I've been making music for about 8 years, and i've been rapping for about 10 years or more.
How many songs / albums have you released to date?
As part of double h we put out 2 singles in 2008: "double h party" and "get money". As a solo artist i've put it out one single so far which is "got me singing". That's taken from my first solo mixtape call "dealwivit" which should be out later this year.
Can you tell us about your new single project, 'got me singing', the background and inspirations behind it?
'Got me singing' is based around a certain type of female and the feeling a man gets when he thinks he's found that one, so to speak. The loving he's getting is so good it's got him singing. I just wanted to capture that feel good vibe. The chorus started off as joke in the studio, i already had the beat done and we were just vibing with it, messing about with the melody, then we added the words to it and it turned into a concept.
How have you ended up in the music industry?
I would say my love for the music and wanting to do something positive and creative with my life are two major reasons i've ended up here. I started rapping when i was in secondary school - my cousin was a sound engineer she used to sneak me in the studio when no one was around to record my raps and eventually my passion for it grew.
What do you think of the music industry in 2012?
I think it has changed slightly, as technology has evolved. That evolution has made things easier and more accessible for both the artist and the consumer. Which in some ways is maybe the reason it feels alot more saturated and crowded, but it's still the same old cut throat business.
Who inspires you when you make your music?
A lot of people inspire me musically so its hard to narrow it down to just one.
Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?
So far i've collaborated with fellow up and comers like lil london (l.s.g), sus of backyard bully, rozar the great from detroit, c john star to name a few.
Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Any one who's talented or that i look up to.
What was the first album you brought?
The first album i bought was 2pac's "2pacalypse now"
Whats your favorite song at the moment?
Rick ross "rich forever"
If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album would you leave in your draw?
Nas - stillmatic
What do you think of tv music talent show competitions?
I don't really watch them, but to me there's a lot of gimmicks involved. Not to totally condemn it because there's a lot of talented people that have seeped through that medium, but it's just not my cup of tea.
What do you do when your not making music?
When i'm not making music i'm most likely listening to it, tryna handle the business side of things (promotion etc), being a dad and spending time with my people.
Whats your favourite fashion brand?
Don't really have a favourite, i rock whatever i think looks fly, maybe for accessories like hats i'd say 9jafitted.com. Their snapbacks are serious.
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
No tattoos yet, definitely no piercings.
How many pairs of trainers do you own?
About 14.
How many hats do you own?
9
Whats your favorite takeaway?
It changes from time to time, but for now chinese.
How many followers do you have on twitter?
Last time i checked 180, not that many yet unfortunately!
In a few words sum up your thoughts about urban vault?
One of the hottest uk music blog sites.
Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music....