Maxim: You first came to light with the track 'Black Boys', a while back now, but that was basically a response to the negative stereotyping young communities were receiving in the media at the time. Do you feel like even though it was quite a clear message, a few people still missed the point? There was a lot of negative responses to the track...
Bashy: Yeah, I think for the most part it was positive though. It was just a small minority with the negativity. It's just sometimes a small minority can make quite a noise. I think it's good to come out with a song that defines you as an artist. It was the track that gave me more... I wouldn't say mainstream attention, more like awareness.
Maxim: On the subject of positive role models and influences, who were your biggest influences growing up and who are they now?
Bashy: My dad. He worked so hard, anything I needed or wanted he got for me. I didn't really go without, and for me, if you wanna be a role model, or a man for your family, it's up to you to protect them and provide for them. In terms of famous people, I have influences but that's different from my ideas of what makes a role model. I look closer to home for that.
Maxim: Top or most vital moment of your career thus far?
Bashy: Most vital moment of my career? I don't think it's come yet. I think everything I've been doing so far has been great. I'm always building towards something bigger, so there's not really one thing that I look at and think 'that's the moment', there's lots of times where I think 'ah yeah, it was good', but they're all part of a bigger puzzle. I'm always striving to do better. I've been working hard for a long time, and it's all been off our own backs as well because we're independent. I always think we can do more... a lot more.
Maxim: If you weren't already established or had as much exposure as you currently do, how do you think you'd go about doing it now?
Bashy: That's a tough one, I'd have to unthink the way I got here in the first place! I guess it would be fairly similar, there's always gonna be just as many people making music as there always was. A lot of people think that this is just an easy way to make some quick money but it's not like that. It's a long, hard slog. I think Mike Skinner said: 'It's a hard way to make an easy living' and when I heard that I just thought 'Yep!'. But when you do start to make things work for you, it can be very rewarding.
Maxim: Your views on the music industry as it is now, downloads vs CDs and the like, do you think it's effected upcoming artists and the way things are now?
Bashy: Yeah, but it's also helped. I tend to try to look at things in a positive light. You could look at it and think that the downloads are killing it, but that's how a lot of people are gonna hear your music, especially if you're independent. People can download your music, have a listen, and if they wanna support the movement they can buy your CD. I do that. I like the artwork, you can read the credits, the thank yous, shit like that.
Maxim: What's been your least favourite moment up until now?
Bashy: I've had some downs, haha! Probably just a general one, when things aren't going so well and you feel like the worlds crumbling down around you. Last time I felt like that was about three-and-a-half years ago. I put out a few mixtapes, very wet behind the ears, thinking 'Yep, it's gonna kick off' and then nothing. I got two jobs, a postman and a bus driver, did it for about three years. There's nothing wrong with those jobs, nothing at all, but when your heart lies somewhere else it's very hard to apply yourself to it.
Maxim: Winning the Urban Music Award for Most Inspirational Artist for 'Black Boys' must've made you feel like it pays to be positive. Any awards you'd like to win, or is it just a case of you're gonna keep going and whoever notices notices?
Bashy: For me, it's nice to win awards. It's good to win awards. I feel like, at the time, 'Black Boys' didn't get enough attention from the right people, governing bodies and all that, but the track is there for history to see. People can look back and see that it stood for a lot. But yeah, it's defintely good to win awards, it shows that people are acknowledging the hard work you've put in, but at the same time not winning one isn't gonna stop me from doing what I'm doing. I got a massive plan, I've got longevity. I'm gonna have a long career. I'm not just gonna wash away, I'm not here for 15 minutes of fame. As an artist, you wanna have a long career, you don't wanna be around for two years, then not be able to put anything out in a few years time because nobody is interested. I'd rather stay consistent for a long time.
Maxim: Has Grime grown? Or has it evolved into something else?
Bashy: It's evolved. I definitely think Grime is a good breeding ground for new talent, and a great way to develop your skills and build up a following, then take that following with you while you grow with it. It's not dead, but the sounds changed, the artists have changed, the music scene on the whole has changed. Everything's changed around it, it couldn't stay the same and still be alive. Grime has moved on, that's my personal opinion. You'll have the Grime purists who'll say otherwise, but to be honest half of the artists and MCs were there before it was even called Grime. That was just a name that was tagged to it.
Maxim: Have you heard the Diddy/Skepta remix of Hello Good Morning? What did you think?
Bashy: Yeah, Skepta did well on that. For me it's good. It's good that these things can happen, but it's gotta happen more. It can't just be a one-off. You can't just wanna do it because you've got a single out here, you've genuinely gotta want to work with the artist over here, and build a relationship and have some back and forth. What Skepta did is big. He got it done, some people are long, it could've just fallen through the cracks and not happened.
Maxim: Is there anyone you'd like to work with?
Bashy: Kanye West. I like Kanye, I like what he does, even when he's on a wild one. He's how I'd like to be, just say what you want. I'm not gonna yank someone offstage at the Brit Awards or anything though!
Maxim: Any beefs with anyone at the minute? We're aware there's been some in the past!!
Bashy: No, I'm so good. I'm in the best space I've ever been in right now. No lyrical beefs, no general beefs - just music, movies and focus. I don't need any beefs. I don't need that hanging over my head, the stress of it diverts your attention and I just don't need it. There are positive things happening now, I can't be bothered to waste time on someone else. Everyone can't like you, it's impossible.
Maxim: Back onto your acting then, tell us about Shank.
Bashy: Shank's the first feature film I've starred in, it's out on DVD now. It did really well for me, it did really well at the box office, and apparently it's doing really well on DVD, too. It was a good project to get involved in, I enjoyed it. There was a small budget, so for what it is it's done amazingly. I was acting before I did music, I went to the Brit school and studied acting and theatre [at this point, Bashy got distracted by the numerous sexy ladies walking past the window]. I don't see how you don't get hit by a taxi or something when you're walking round here. Anyway, I was in 4321 which was another film, and then I was in another film, and now I'm starring in this one. My acting career has officially started now, which is what I've always wanted. It's been built from the ground up, I don't come from a long line of actors or anything, it's just me.
Maxim: Do you have a preference yet between acting and music?
Bashy: I get asked this every interview! I like them both, I always give this diplomatic answer but it's the truth. I like them both for different reasons. The acting you get to play someone else, it's a different discipline, and a lot of it is left to the direct and editor to make sure it works. The music you get to be yourself and connect with people at shows, I get really touched by it. Acting's got more money though. It depends... if you're William Smith!
Maxim: Your Chupa Chups Mixtape... do you actually like Chupa Chups? How did you come up with the idea for that?
Bashy: I used to eat loads and loads of sweets. Sherbert, chocolate, lollipops, and the lollipops I just decided to roll with. The Chupa Chups mixtape came about because I was regularly seen with a Chupa Chups lolly, so I thought I'd make something called the Chupa Chups mixtape. Because I wanted to stand out from everyone else's mixtapes, I thought I'd stick a lolly to it as well, so people would wonder what it was and pick it up. They sold really well. It looked really good, the music inside was banging. It looked pretty and sweet, then when you listened to it, it was crazy. Sometimes I get crazy ideas to do some mad marketing. I'd love to get into marketing. I do market myself, but there are obvious limitations, financial ones mostly. If I had the cash, you'd see some mental videos. The best ideas are free though.
Maxim: You spend a fair amount of time, as we all do, on the internet. What are your top websites to go on?
Bashy: Best websites, hmmm. Worldstarhiphop.com, Youtube obviously... most of the time I just cruise around and see what I can see though. My website's good – Bashy.com!
Maxim: Best way for people to stay in the know on all things Bashy?
Bashy: Bashy.com. I'm on Twitter and there's a Facebook page as well, but everything goes through Bashy.com. I don't update my twitter that often, but I'm always busy. When I'm on a film set, I'm not allowed to tweet. Director would be looking at me saying "Now listen BASHY! There ain't no Bashy round here!".
Maxim: Back on the topic of acting then, who would you loved to have played and who would you love to play in the future?
Bashy: I would have loved to play Neo from The Matrix. SICK! In the future, if I could play anyone it would be Bob Marley.
Maxim: Do you have any phobias?
Bashy: Nah, I'm not scared of anything.
Maxim: What's your favourite item that you own?
Bashy: Probably my Macbook. That's really boring isn't it? I just love it. It's the best. There's something for everything on there, and you can just get it done. When I get the iPhone 4, it'll replace that... hanging out for the 2nd generation though, they need to sort out their problems.
Maxim: Best advice you've ever been given?
Bashy: "If you're gonna dream, it's your responsibility not to make it a nightmare." Natalie from Floetry told me that.
Maxim: Top movies?
Bashy: One of my top movies ever is Braveheart. Mel Gibson before the madness.
Maxim: Top album? Something to listen to on a lazy Sunday.
Bashy: Bob Marley's Greatest Hits – I listen to that all the time. Bob Marley to the end.
Maxim: What about your favourite clothing labels? You're rocking some pretty amazing trainers at the minute.
Bashy: I love adidas for trainers. Some of my friends argue with me and say Nike make the best, but I disagree. Only good trainers they make are Jordans. I like Alpha Industries jackets, I really like combat-style wear. I've seen some John Galliano boots that I thought were cool too. I'm not really into Louis Vitton, I wear it sometimes but some people would die for it. Oh, and Tom Ford Black Orchid is my favourite fragrance... ever. Any woman smells that and you will get a comment like "You smell so nice!". That's the advice I'm giving, if you want that response, Black Orchid.
Maxim: We'll take that on board!! Who is your favourite person that you've worked with so far?
Bashy: Damon Albarn. Just came off tour with The Gorillaz, Damon is musically somewhere else with what he's thinking. He is a real musician's musician. He's all about the music, don't talk to him about fame, talk to him about the music.
Maxim: Is there anyone that you're listening to that we should be?
Bashy: Louick Essien and Labrinth. Oh, and Katy B!
Maxim: Is there anything you'd like to add before we go our seperate ways?
Bashy: Look out for Bish Bash Bosh!
Oh we will. You can find out more about Bashy on his official website, on his twitter, or on his Facebook.
For more exclusive pics of Bashy click here.
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