 01/02/2006 PLACE OF BIRTH: West London Hospital, Hammersmith.
DATE OF BIRTH: 20th June 1982
PERSONAL MOTTO: “Love like you’ve never been hurt, Dance like nobody’s watching, Eat at Nandos”
STYLE OF MUSIC: Hip hop with no fronting
DESCRIBE YOURSELF: Really good at rapping, honest
Intelligent and extremely versatile, Example has worked with an array of artists and producers, honing his talent to pinpoint perfection. His vocals feature on the recent album by The Streets, having been roped in for his off key vocals as the other session singers were apparently too good and a grimier sound was required. Example, AKA Elliot Gleave, Fulham’s finest lyricist and multi-tasking IT boy teams up with long-term collaborator (and rogue double-agent) Rusher, reaches into his bag of music tricks and pulls out tasty hip hop gems just brimming for aural consumption.
What do you do to chill out after a hectic night performing?
If the fit birds have already gone home untouched (very rare) then we decide (my producer and I) to go home and smoke a fat one and watch 80s comedy films. ‘Coming To America’ is always a good choice although ‘Trading Places’ can’t be beaten for the scene when Dan Ackroyd eats a whole salmon he’s hidden under his santa outfit whilst he picks out bits of hair from his fake beard. And the ‘Three Amigos’ too.
What is your biggest achievement so far?
Finishing in the top 100 in the Reading Half Marathon, I was only beaten by professional Club Runners and Kenyans. Fact.
Who are your musical heroes?
The Kinks, Michael Jackson, Prince, Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – he got skills! And Rusher is well into Todd Edwards.
Tell us about your new projects...
We’ve just done an assignment on Tudor England, next term we’re doing the Egyptians. When we get a spare moment we’re putting out a mixtape with loadsa “cool” stuff on their catering for the “in” crowd. As I write this Rusher is working his socks off colouring-in the front cover. An album is about 70% there, we need some rich bastard to cough up some Johnny Cash and we can start putting up posters, printing t-shirts and the like.
What are your plans for the future?
Get married, have kids, win an Olympic gold medal, climb Everest, swim the English Channel - not necessarily in that order.
Are there any artists you would like to work with?
Kanye West, Sway, Plan B, Klashnekoff, DJ Premier, Basement Jaxx, Joss Stone (we wouldn’t get much work done) and Rolf Harris.
What is catching your ear at the moment?
Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Kick Push’ is a tayoon! And Plan B – he’s taking over this year. Look out for a band
called Thabani, they’re very special live performers.
You’re having a dinner party. Who would you invite and why?
For a fuckin’ good debate and a lot of laughter it’d be Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, Jeremy Clarkson, Stephen Fry and Nigella to do the cookin’ – oooh sexist remark, one female and she’s only there for the cooking.
What is your recipe for success?
Example, Rusher and a pinch of money.
What makes you happy?
Women with big eyes and sexy lips who have a “thing” for rappers. And BBQ Baby Back Ribs. Not at the same time.
What makes you angry?
Fuckheads who try using their Oyster cards but clearly they ain’t got no balance on there and they hold up the queue.
What was the last CD/record you bought?
I bought the new Public Enemy album, Blink 182’s greatest hits, Kano’s album, Franz Ferdinand, and Low Key’s new mixtape just before xmas all on the same day.
What is your favourite song?
‘It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World’ by James Brown
If not a DJ/producer/artist then what?
A film director or a Blue Peter presenter – I could spend my life bungee jumping, skiing, baking cakes and rinsin’ my fit female co-presenters.
NEW SINGLE ‘I DON’T WANT TO/LONELINESS COSTS’ OUT NOW ON 7INCH VINYL (ALL THE CHATS RECORDS), AVAILABLE THROUGH PURE GROOVE. VISIT / WWW.EXAMPLEONLINE.CO.UK/ FOR VIDEOS, GIG LISTS AND MORE. |
