NiNE8

Name, where are you from?
Nige, Kentish Town London and Lava La Rue, Ladbroke Grove. From the NiNE8 Collective.

Describe your style in three words?
N: British, smart casual.
L: Y2k Cartoon Character.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
N: Biig Piig’s debut headline show as the energy and love shown to her, Mac and Nile made the whole of NiNE8 collective so happy.
L: Ahh I agree the vibe in the air of that show was insane, next to that seeing Oscar Jerome play the Brainstage at Brainchild Festival the day after NiNE8 played was a moment for me - he really embodied some Jimi Hendrix type rockstar vibes in that performance - I thought I was at Woodstock for a second.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
N: The Streets – because they captured an underground mood of British everyday life. Tenor Saw – truly the greatest and left us far too soon.
L: Erykah Badu - saw her headline Field Day last year and left so inspired. Also, just to have a little brag moment I’m gonna say Linton Kwesi Johnson - 'Forces of Victory' has been one of my most played vinyl's since I was 16. I felt so connected to him as a poet and a Jamaican British dub musician and always dreamed of meeting him, then this week found out I’m playing on the same line up as him for LOVE SUPREME festival! Ah!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
N: Soundsystem and Rude Boy Culture in London have been big influencers on my music and life education. I befriended and was taken under the wing of DBC founder Lepke and Gaz Mayall of Gaz’s Rock’n’Blues in Soho. I feel inspired by New York New Wave/Counterculturalism in the collective’s approach to creative collaboration and network.
L: Imma have to say the same here, our common influences is definitely where I connect with Nige most on - what Caribbean sound system culture brought to the U.K after the Windrush generation would go on the birth so many important moments in U.K subculture like so that Rave, Pirate Radio, DnB, Garage and eventually Grime MC style could exist after - all of these influences definitely thrive in my music.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
N: Dean Blunt as his ability to float through different styles and aliases, to remain quite aloof but very on the pulse of contemporary music is inspiring.
L: The whole of London Posse circa 1993. They were the first ever Hip Hop group to rap with London accents, They seem so jokes to chill with and such characters.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
N: I love MAP Studio Café as I recorded my first ever song in their studio, and love when the collective does a secret set there. It’s become a great intimate space that now and then put on the most talented artists from the underground London scene.
L: Corsica Studios was the first time I ever played to a crazy big moshpit, I’ve never been to a bad show there and it’s right in the heart of Elephant n Castle which bears so many cheeky teenage memories…for that reason I had to have my next Lava La Rue headline show there.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
N: Tariq Disu is an unbelievably talented diamond in the rough – his message and sound is so grounded and mature.
L: Bahamadia - I've said it time and time again - she’s one of the greatest rappers in history. PERIOD.

NiNE8 is a London based arts and music collective comprised of a range of young musicians, rappers, artists and other creative individuals. They use NiNE8 as a collaboration platform to create, perform and promote. Find out more at www.nine8collective.com. 

Listen to 'Stitches' the mixtape from NiNE8 founder, rapper and singer, Lava La Rue at lavalarue.lnk.to/Stitches.