Payback tyme Records: Magazine articles

SWATROOT: Countdown to Hiroshima Published in Vibe City, July 1999

Them guys are the gods of this sh**. Hip-hop abbot, Solo Dee (p), Baron, Mode 9 and El Dee Xtra Large, constitute an assemblage of the most lethal emcees in English West Africa."-Freak

SWATROOT, the brain child of Solo Dee was known as AFTERMATH.The change of name from the later to the former had to happen because of a classic case of coincidence of nomenclature arising from Dr. Dre's adoption of the same name after his exit from Death Row Records.

Prior to this development however Solo Dee had formed an alliance known as AFTERMATH (Alliance for The Entrenchment of Rap Music, Art form, Techniques and Hip-Hop) that alliance is now SWATROOT (Sporadic Words And Tactics Rhyming On Our Terms). Worthy of note is the fact that the alliance has been around, waxing strong, long before the MCs who now swarm our radio waves cut their first rhyme tooth. Today SWATROOT boasts of some of the best MCs and producers in the land. People are therefore asking when the album gonna drop? Why is it taking so long? To find out what is deeply on SWATROOT, VC conducted a phone interview with the pointman to the team, Solo Dee, so ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, come "creep wit me" as I take you on a journey into the mind of a Black man".

Q: So Solo, what's up with SWATROOT? We heard some cuts on the radio. Any market releases? What is happening?

What we are basically doing right now is strictly promotional to do the groundwork and know where the outlets are most likely to be moreViable?

Well, the market is basically viable if you plan properly but we are looking at relevance of the market. We are also looking outside. Basically, our efforts are concentrated on countries outside Nigeria. We are doing this so that we can have a broad base, that is, to release simultaneously in Nigeria and other countries .We don't want to release elsewhere after the music might been played out in Nigeria. As such, we want to have a strong broad base before working on the release.

Q: So have you started getting feedback from airplay so far? And if you have, what has it been like? Where and where do you think it is seeming like a lot more relevant?

The promo that you guys heard on the radio was concentrated on just Lagos. It's the EP promotion we are working on. The EP of about five to six tracks will really be the test for its acceptability because when we finish pressing now, it's no t just going to Lagos it's going to Lagos Abuja Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Calabar, it's just going to be widespread. That's is what we can then use as a true test of it's marketability.

Q: Do you have a title for the EP?

Yeah! EP Release basically, but it could change. It could change before we take the final decision, I mean everyone has to continue but right, it's just a simple EP Release, SWATROOT, and unlike the current promo singles or albums you've heard in the market that are Hip-Hop oriented, this is one time you'll be hearing something in the market that is not just a commercial, let's -come-up-with-a-gimmick, let's-come-up-with-a-catchy-chorus-lines or some hook type thing. This is issue-oriented. This is real Hip-Hop, and real Hip-Hop requires real planning.

Q: I'll like to know the name of the girl you had on the Revolution chorus?

Her name is Joan Booting. She featured on another track that will be on the EP titled Definitely Serious.

Q: Where is she from?

She's from Plateau State. A Jos resident.

Q: Would you be featuring any extra SWATROOT hands on the EP? Would there be any guest cameos or is it a strictly SWATROOT thing besides the girl that is?

Yeah. Besides the girl, there might be another hook but after you won't find any other person featuring except the four horsemen.

Q: in one or two lines, why has the album been delayed? Why has it taken this length of time?

In two lines, I guess we're just putting in much work and trying to see that we bring out best.

Q: How do you guys feel about Hip-Hop, as in today, Nigeria, the year 2G, March?

Well it's encouraging. It's quite interesting. Music has generally moved from the era whereby you had record labels signing only big names. Now everyone is going into the studio, cutting his own product, putting it out and getting mad airplay. It's not like the situation where our ears were continually barraged with junk. Everyone is coming out with something innovative though for some you can call what they do, at best, interpolation. It's really interesting that people are beginning to realize that they could go out and do this thing themselves. We have a lot of good people out there doing what they want to do, not waiting for people to lay down the rues for them.

Q: What is it that you guys would like to change?

Well, you can hardly pin point a Nigerian that has really succeeded as per promotion and record sales. It seems they're continually being ripped off by record labels. Besides making sales, they should try and cut down piracy. They have to really clamp down on piracy. But then again, sales are really poor. I mean, these record labels sign you on and they all take your money.

Q: Okay you guy really into some serious real Hip-Hop sh** and you guys are like elder statesman in this hip-hop game, no doubt, but if some new jacks, some clique, you know, decide to battle, will SWATROOT honour an invitation to battle live on stage. And what are you guys doing to make people feel your music as in, not just listening to it on the radio, or just seeing videos but in your performance. It's a two-tier question. So would the SWATROOT honour an invitation to battle?

SWATROOT has the illest MCs when it comes to battle rhymes. I mean Baron does nothing but writes battle rhymes. Eldee is the illest freestyle MC you can find out there right now. Mode 9 you know lives on the battle so anyone who wants to do it live or on record, bring it on. Then on the show and live performance tip, we want to really have enough materials, real instrumentals and everything we can use. We want to be fully equipped for live performances not just get on stage and use somebody else's instrumental. We don't want to do anything in a hurry like rapping off the EP. We want to have an instrumental disc. And we look forward to the right audience too.

Q: One final word to the people out there who are listening to SWATROOT and trying to find out what it's all about?

Just keep supporting Hip-Hop and be rest assured that when its time to hear the best you'll always hear it from SWATROOT.