warey wow..... first of all, thank a ton to Vithur for sharing this wonderful piece. We've no any way of listening to these rare stuffs. Thanks a lot..
And yeah, we do understand how difficult to get a chance with ARR as he is already having lot of things in pipeline. I like the part of Blaaze saying "...RAHMAN doesnt forget anything. He remembers every minute detail....". I too met our BOSS in Chicago O'Hare airport and I received him and I was with him for the whole day till he leaves Chicago. I too personally met his mother and I had been to his hotel room and provided food and was seeing him sleeping. I also did handshake with him... I wish and hope he remembers me toooo.... :) Cheers, Siraj On 2/1/08, Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Dear Rahmaniacs , > > The Great Rapper of India, Blazee became rapper since year 1991, and from > then onwards everything has been history. He started his interview by a Rap > on AAHA FM and on the Rahmania show itself. > > *1. How did you become a RAPPER ?* > > I grew up in Zambia, but was born in Chennai. For the past 25 years, we > have been in Zambia. As we play cricket for time pass here in India, we do > Rap there in Zambia as time pass. All my friends used to rap, and it became > a habit. Then slowly it became a career. Rap about everything and anything, > but at that age it was more of a negative rap. somebody will tell something > abt me, and I will start on somebody else and it will go on like this. Thats > how we cultivated the habit of expressing whatever we wanted to say. And > then when you start using your brains, you start writing sensible stuff. > > *2. what other serious issues have you done a Rap for ?* > > I started Rap for fun. But my first serious Rap was in 1991 in Zambia for > the Presidential elections. A new President was coming after a continuos > period of the old president being there for 27 years. So seeing the new > President, I wrote a little poerm, which my father saw and he brought his > office colleague, who played the guitar. he was an handicapped guy ( without > leg ) . he played the guitar , and I used to do the RAP. That was new at > that time, and it was shown in all TV channels at that time. Then I started > rapping for Lions CLub, part Rap and more yo yo yo.... That started to work > and then it would blend ino Pop Songs, Remix songs . After my film work > started with Mr. Rahman , that continued with songs with situations in the > movies, and now I am back on the circle of doing some serious songs on > Shankaracharya, religion, on the Gujarat Riots. Its a mixture of all that. I > used to keep myself updated with events through newspapers. > > 3. *Your childhood days in Zambia ?* > > We had a one community hall, and all Indians would meet there. Every > Diwali we used to celebrate, and for all functions we used to meet and > celebrate. A lot of Tamilians are there in Zambia, but my friends have been > Africans. I was into Break Dancing, Rapping, which the other Indian kids > were not into. But for me, it is something which I liked to do. I grew as a > ZAMBIAN. we go to the church, the Hindu temple. There its just that people. > But after coming back, I see in India, the first question they ask is " > Whether you are a South Indian ? North Indian ??". and then they become > friends, which anywhere in the world , I have not seen yet. You are alive, I > am alive. we both are struggling . Good. Lets work together and become big. > Its such a good style there in Zambia, and I also want my kids to grow up > there. The work is not that much. You are not carrying books all the time. > You learn, but with enjoyment. > > 4.* What lanuguage do you speak at home ?. Is it Tamil ?. How do you > manage ?* > > My parents used to talk to me in Tamil. But i used to reply in English. > The local language there was bemba. I can understand Tamil, as I have been > spoken to in Tamil. But when I speak I am very conscious. But obviously its > my mother tongue. > > Vanakkam ( Tamil ) - Munishani Mukhuwaye ( bemba language ) > for saying I am fine - you say Buino > > All African languages are musical. Now we have got an album coming up > called Zambasi Fung, coming out in two months. I have used a lot of > syllables which are African. > > *5. They say that in Africa, they sing so naturally, The choir people .. > Hows is it ?* > > Right from scholtime, the tehnology is not that advanced, and hence choir > is the biggest thing, and all school students are part of the choir. The > Choir just grows in you. They are so used to sining together. > > *6. African Drums are so famous. Did you also learn it ?* > > I didnt learn drums. But I can play it for fun. But the rhtyhm in Zambia > is like that. Even when they talk, they put their hands in the rhythm of > drums. Even while walking, there is an African walk. > > *7. The First Rap that You wrote ??* > > The first Rap was to the President , and the lyrics goes like this " We > wish you well. Short and Sweet; thats the way...........". It was in 1991 at > the age of 16 that it was written. I feel that Rap is my way of expresing > whatever I want to say. My father was a member in Lions Club. They had a > function for Diabetes. So for that function, I was asked to RAP. So, instead > of rapping for the party song, I said I will write something on Diabetes, > about how the problem is and how we can cure it. That was well received. At > the same time, there were South African riots which were happening, and we > wrote for that. It always works well, when we write a RAP on something that > affects us . Its real, and from the heart. So definirely, it finds its next > step, next step. > > *8. So, How did it affect you, when you were asked to write a RAP for a > situation ??* > > It depens on the audience, music and song. In Films , thats what happens. > Here is the situation, and you have to write it to suit that situation. So > you start to imagine. when Mr. Rahman called me for Rajni's MOTTA BOSS, I > hadnt seen the Motta Boss. But he had told me. So, I was imagining a lot.. > When I came to the studio, He showed me the visual, of the helicopter > arriving , and that inspired me to say something. So something brand new > came up on my mind, and he told me that " The Hero comes after rebirth. Its > like he has come back after death. So you have to write something to display > that vengeance, and the voice should also carry that forward". I wa shown > that and hence I got inspired. Otherwise, you have to hopefully understand > what the Directors explain to you. > > *9. The Motta Boss resembled you ( hahahaha ) ????* > > We saw it in Dallas, and you were sitting right next to me . and you were > yelling at me , when the scene came " BLAZEEEEEEEEE". Thats the best moment > of my life . All the singers were there , when we watched the movie. > Madhushree, Sayanora, Vijay jesudas, Tanvi > > *10. WHEN DID YOU MEET RAHMAN ?* > > I went off to the US. I did my Film Degree. I finished my B.A ( Cinema ) , > and learnt Direction, from 1997 to 1999. I am waiting a chance to become a > Director myself. I have asked all Directors a chance, but nobody wants to > give a Rapper a chance. Everybody tells me " You have the skills, YOu have > the talent ; YOu know what to do. But you are BLAZEE; RAPPER. How can you be > an Assistant to me ??''' . I tell them " Thats another part of Life. Right > now, this is what I want to do. ". But no one is listening to me. . So time > will tell. But God willing, it will be good. I want to direct a film, which > makes a difference. Something that needs something. It is entertainment . I > do not feel the purpose of spending so much to entertain, unless there is > some message in that. There should be some justification of what you are > doing. Otherwise you do it for yourself. Do not pull in so many people ,when > you do not have something to say. > > everything will happen when time comes. Everything happens as per GOD's > Wish and it will happen. > > I got a job in MTV after I finished that course. I was working as a > Producer based in Bombay for two years. I thought that all my study in the > Film Institute would be used in my work. Not really but. Because TV and Film > are completely different medium, and I realised that at that point of time. > whatever work you do in TV, it comes and goes off in a minute, whereas the > some hardwork that you do in a Film, its there. And the film will be there, > existing somewhere, and somebody would be seeing it, like an album. > > *RAHMAN'S PRAY FOR ME BROTHER WILL BE THERE FOR ANOTHER 200 YEARS TO COME. > * Somebody in Some place will have it. > > I had a brilliant time, but I realised that nothing was going fine in TV. > It all used to fade off, and not stay like Films. But end of the day, it > wasnt what I wanted to do. At that time, many Radio Channels started in > bombay. So. I thought that the coolest job would be to talk abt music, play > music , get paid and go home.. No stress. I jumped and joined a Radio > Station. but within 2 months, the Radio Station became 100 % Hindi. , from > English. At the same time, I got the final MAGICAL Call from Rahman Sir's > Office. > > But, when I came from the US in 2000, like everybody, I picked up the CD, > looked backside, saw Rahman's Panchathan Inn Address. So I put my CD, > cassette and a good sentimental letter and sent to him. One year passed and > there was no reply. No nothing. Where it is , nobody knew. The next year, I > met Louie Banks, and through him met Shivamani. And Shiva was jamming , and > I was rapping and that vibes was good that I found with him. So I was > telling Shivamani," One day, pls introduce me to Rahman. I want to meet him. > Because, he alone knows and understands what Rap is ?". shivamani introduced > me to Rahman, when Rahman came to Bombay. Shivamani called me at 2 AM in > Bombay saying " Blazee. Rahman is here. If you want to meet him, come > immediately to the studio". > > My wife didnt understand what was happening. Sudeenly a call came at 2 AM > , and he is going somewhere, and at that time, I was not doing any > recording. I was just working at that time. I told her " Rahman has come. > This is my only chance. So am leaving". so, I met Rahman, and the first > question that he asked me was " Can you RAP in tamil ?". Honestly I said " > No". I RAP in english, but I am a Tamilian but have never thought abt > rapping in Tamil. But I can try. One more Year went off. No Call. Nothing. > > So, expecting my time to come, I joined the Radio Station once again. At > the same time, my wife was working with SONY Music. So, at that time, Rahman > had come to Chennai for Bombay Dreams. So I told my wife . " when you meet > Rahman, just tell him that if he has the time, he should take the CD. > Otherwise No". My wife said " I cant say like that to Rahman". So I told her > ' Dont say anything then". Because I feared that another year will pass of > just like that. > > My wife mentioned " My husband, the RAPPER. But before she could continue, > RAHMAN himself said everything about me. RAHMAN doesnt forget anything. He > remembers every minute detail". So he said " Ask him to come now. This night > I want to do something ". At that time, Noel called me . I didnt believe the > phone calls. This was Tuesday, and at that time, I was working Live on Air > from Mondays to Fridays on Radio Station. So, I asked my boss at the Radio > Station. I have got a call, and this is my Dream Call. A.R.Rahman calling > and I have to go. He said " IMPOSSIBLE. You finish your shift on Friday and > go ". I said " It doesnt work like that. God gives you a calling and you > take it NOW:". That very same moment , I left the JOB. I quit right there. I > put in my papers. I said " From tomorrow, no DJ nothing. I am going. This is > my dream and I have got to go. I cant miss this ". They said to me " If you > leave now, you cannot come back". I said " NO PROBLEM". I walked out, got > onto a flight , came to CHENNAI > > That same night I met Rahman, and we were talking abt the Dating Song ( > BOYS ) . When we were discussing it, suddenly Rahman got a thought. It was > end of July and beginning of August, and Rahman told me " I am doing > something for Baba. Can you just hear it and write something on Baba ?". I > was wondering ' what Baba ?.Sai Baba ?". I was thinking it was too late for > all that. The film was going to get released. > > Then He told me Rajnikanth's BABA. He told me " Just write something and > give me". I wrote one heavy Gangstar RAP. Then Rahman made me understand > that no one can understand your style of RAPS here . They wont like it , or > they will just forward it. So, even a person going on an autorickshaw should > be able to get the feel out of the RAP. So, write a simple RAP. So, I wrote > the RAP like a nursery poem, where first you learn the poem, and then > gradually increase it to other lessons. So i started writing from the > Alphabets and hence came B to the A ; B to the A, and then came Dating Song, > and then the NEW Song ( NEW ) , and then came Sivaji Rap song > > After that, the following day, I was at Mumbai at 7 AM , with no sleep, no > job . everything is over. whether I will get a call from rahman or not was a > big question mark. Six days passed, and Rahman called me. He told me that > Rajnikanth came to the studio; he heard it and he Loves it . All the promos > and everything has been changed to put this into that film. So, I will call > you soon, and we will do the Dating song:". > > It was just a *MIRACLE, a BLESSING.* It could have gone eitherways. > > His request to listeners ( prospective singers ) : - "* Its not easy in > this field to get a chance with Rahman. Many people had given their CDs to > Rahman. You have to keep on purusing it and eventually it will come true ( > and this is definite ) ".* > > ( Part II will continue next Friday ) > > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE > > >
