Egyptian Lover: electro warrior

Lembro-me muito bem do que senti quando, atrás do balcão da histórica Godzilla, Mark, o dono da loja, me deixou ser o primeiro a ver uma pilha enorme de maxis (e alguns LP's) históricos de hip hop. Devia correr o ano de 2000 e aquelas rodelas de vinil pareciam-me artefactos de uma época perdida, preciosos exemplares dos passos formativos de uma cultura que, à época, atravessava igualmente uma fase interesante por cá. O meu orçamento permitiu-me adquirir uns 20 ou 25 discos desse lote que ainda hoje permanecem na minha colecção, mas houve um sobretudo que comprei nesse dia que ainda hoje considero como uma das minhas pérolas: Egypt, Egypt, maxi de 1984 lançado na Egyptian Empire Records pelo então misterioso Egyptian Lover.
O fascínio pelo Egipto era algo que já tinha identificado na música negra - de Sun Ra a Afrika Bambaataa, passando pelos Earth Wind & Fire e pelo artwork das etiquetas da Strata East, muitas eram as referências a uma nobre civilização africana em vários quandrantes da música negra. Mas The Egyptian Lover era algo diferente: já há anos que lia referências ao seu electro visionário, mas por alguma razão nunca tinha percebeido que o famoso «what is a dj if he can't scratch» que passava a vida a ouvir em mixtapes e samplado por inúmeros djs (o final dos anos 90 foi a época do Return of The DJ da Bomb Hip Hop e da imposição definitiva do turntablism) estava no lado B deste maxi.



Recentemente, a música de Egyptian Lover voltou a ganhar relevância: aproximou-se da Stones Throw que editou coisas do veterano Arabian Prince ou de Dam Funk e os seus clássicos voltaram a ser procurados. Como se percebe pelo link incluído atrás, Egyptian Lover continua activo e até assinou uma remistura para mais um lançamento de James Pants. Agora, o blog da marca Civil Clothing publicou uma interessante entrevista que reproduzo abaixo. Leitura divertida para o fim de semana que se aproxima. Larguem um bocadinho o jogo dos Space Invaders e investiguem a música de The Egyptian Lover.

Egyptian Lover: A trip into the mind of a True West Coast Electro Pioneer.

From his legendary run with Uncle Jamm’s Army in the 80s performing to touring with today’s young talent such as MIA, Stones Throw, no one can deny the influence Egyptian Lover has had on hip hop, electro and music today. His funky innovative sound with the use of the 808 keyboard, has had an impact on many artists from Dre’s use to create West Coast Gangsta rap and modern synthetics with artists such as Kanye West. “Egypt,Egypt” will forever be embedded on the soundtrack of hip hop’s everlasting history as well as being used as an anthem for bboys, poppers, lockers from yesteryear until today.

CIVIL: Yoo, whats up Egypt! For the younger cats in the game, can you tell us how you got started with music and Djing?

Egyptian Lover: I got started riding a bus to school everyday with others talking about how good they can make a tape. So I went home and made a pause button tape that blew everyone away. I started selling them and putting Raps that I made on them. This was back when “Rapper’s Delight” first came out so Rap was new to us and I had to let everyone know I could do it to! So every month I would do a new Rap Mix Tape and sell them at my School. James Monroe High in the San Fernando Valley. Snake Puppy from L.A. Dream Team and I used to rap together on the Bus and on some Mix Tapes. It was all about the Fun back then. I became so popular as a D.J. and Mixer that I joined Uncle Jam’s Army. I still remember the day Snake told Rodger from Uncle Jam’s Army that I was the best D.J. ever and he needed me to be a part of Uncle Jam’s Army. That is when everyone got a chance to see my Turntable Talent. I was then forced to make a record because of the popular demand. I played my 808 Drum Machine at the Dances and people would loose their minds.

CIVIL: So who were the crazy individuals that inspired you back then to come out with your incredibly unique sound?

Egyptian Lover: I was inspired by Kraftwerk and Prince.With Prince, I always liked his music and style back in the days. My heavy breathing in my music and the lyrics bout women is based on his music. Also my outfit back then, for example the Sailor Cappy I wear in the “Breakin and Entering” movie were leaned on Prince. Later I had the luck to meet Prince and he told me that he truly likes my music – I was surprised and honored.

CIVIL:A lot of artists today get a lot of hype with their recorded material, but when they perform live something is lacking. I notice your live show is sick and goes all out with a dance routine with the music, and incorporates bboys and poppers. How did you come up with this set?

Egypt: It’s what we did back in the day. I used to have a Live Band and go all out like Prince did back in the 80’s, Now I D.J. to show off my mixing skills, Dance to show of my Moves, and play my 808 to show off my Producing side. I try to let everyone know “That I can do it all Baby just like that”.

Let’s play a game, I say a word and answer with a single word what comes to mind:

808 - BASS
Bambataa - Planet Rock
Hip Hop - Don’t Stop
West Coast Style - Egyptian Lover Style
Obama - Leader
Stones Throw - Team
Kool Herc - Legend
Ferrari - Fast
Jerry Curl - Sexy

CIVIL:Are there any new projects you are working on today?

Egypt: Many new projects. I am putting out many new 12″ singles this year to celebrate Egyptian Empire records 25th Anniversary. Many songs on iTunes, a New Album, many collabs and many Videos.

CIVIL:You helped pioneer the west coast 808 sound, and I noticed a lot of producers today are influenced by this. What are you using today to make music?

Egypt:I still use my 808 and I will always use it. It has a sound that will never die.

CIVIL: I noticed you have a picture of yourself in an all Adidas track suit posing by a Ferrari, with the sickest hair. Tell me about those days

Egypt:It was much fun. Money, Cars and Women. Enough said!

CIVIL: How many babes did you get with that Ferrari?

Egyptian Lover: Too Many to count.

CIVIL:What exactly did you mean by “Freaky Kinky Nation”?

Egypt: A Nation of Kinky Freaks. All women as Horny as they can be. I can handle that. And I did not care what people said about it.

CIVIL: How do you want to be remembered as an artist?

Egypt:I want to be remembered as an Artist that did it all from A to Z. I wrote the songs, programmed the Beat, Made the track, laid the vocals, put it out on my label and sold it through my distribution company and performed the songs on stage. Just as my song says:

“What is a D.J. if he can’t Scratch?”
“What is a M.C. if he can;’t Rap”
“What is a Beat without a Live Clap?”
“Well I can do it all Baby Just like That”

Egyptian Lover from gregthedude on Vimeo.