The British Invasion has served the entire world well. Think about it. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Pink Floyd, T-Rex, and even Boy George. There’s so much more where those came from. For example: hip-hop. Take a break from reading about those fashion bloggers often featured in your favorite magazines, listen to what music bloggers/journalists Joseph “JP” Patterson and Laura “Hyperfrank” Brosnan have to say, and let them lead you toward the rich seams of more eargmasic sounds.
I think it’s safe to assume that both of you guys love music. Care to give us the reasons why?
Hyper: I love the way music can cross boundaries of culture and language, allowing random people to interact with one another. It’s beautiful the way there’s so many different forms and varieties of it. One song can make you dance through the night, and then another can motivate you to fulfill your dreams. Music has helped me through difficult stages of my life when I was growing up. In a way, the position I’ve put myself in now allows me to help people in a place where I was and show them they have what it takes.
JP: I’ve always loved music from a very young age. My mother and sister were in the church choir–I’m a son of a preacher man, you see–and I always had a little voice as well, so I’ve always kinda had music in my life. Me and my sister would sneak cassette tapes into our rooms and quietly listen to the latest R&B tunes on the tape player–we had to sneak them in because our dad didn’t like us listening to ‘worldly’ music–and we’d harmonize and sing along to Ginuwine, Brandy, Mariah Carey, and R. Kelly tunes. When I moved from London to Wellingborough–which is just outside of London–I ended up making friends with some boys around the area who were MCs. I used to go and link up with them after school and they would MC to grime instrumentals for hours and hours–I hated it! Eventually, I started nodding my head to the beats and bars and, to cut a long story short, I now spend most of my days to promote the grime music scene. Mad, right?
So you guys are both big in the underground music scene and known for your work on MTV UK’s The Wrap-Up. What’s the story of how you got there?
Hyper: Myself and JP have known each other for over 6 years now, initially through our love of music–we would drive up and down the country with one of my other friends Diana. We work on our own projects and jobs but it’s great to come together and show our unique chemistry we have with one another. JP is the editor of The Wrap Up and I’ve been doing key big interviews for them for nearly 2 years now so an opportunity came up where we asked to host a show and we took it. Boom bam!
JP: I started out as a club night promoter. ChockABlock was the name of a club night that I started out in 2007, which focused solely on underground music: grime, dubstep and bassline. That same year, I put together a blog which was going to be a place where I just put up flyers and write reviews of events that I went to. In September 2007, SUPERSUPER Magazine asked me to write a three-page feature on the up North/Midlands bassline music scene and, because everyone loved what I did, they asked me to become a Contributing Music Editor, a title which I still hold today. From there, I started writing for other publications and have since worked with everyone from Mixmag and RWD to Billboard XXL. In January 2010, I was contacted by a lady called Arfa Butt on Facebook–who I didn’t know, but was someone who liked my work–and she worked for MTV. She said that they were looking for someone to look after MTV’s urban music website and put me in touch with the main bosses there and I’ve been Editor ever since! God works in mysterious ways.
What does it usually take for music to qualify as content for your blogs or on Wrap-Up?
Hyper: I’m a bit of a harsh critic, I know what I like and what I don’t, but at the same time I’m pretty open-minded to new angles and sounds. We’ve never been the types to be guided by YouTube views, fake hype or who your PR is; good music is good music. For my personal Hyperfrank blog, I prefer to stick to UK originated sounds or with a UK twist, like grime, dubstep, drum and bass, jungle and UK hiphop simply because I feel that we neglect to support growing talent and because it’s what really excites me about music as a whole.
JP: It has to be fresh, exciting and, most importantly, original! I’ve seen so many people trying to be like other artists over the years and it really gets me upset sometimes. Like, where has the originality gone? Everyone wants to be Jessie J and Tinie Tempah, but they can’t be cloned. I love when artists come with something really standout-ish.
Most memorable moments in your careers so far?
Hyper: It’s hard to put a finger on it but I’d say featuring on BBC 2’S No Hats No Trainers as the main Blogger/Journalist of the Underground scene. I think work-wise I’d say doing my first piece for fashion magazine i-D, which was on one of my favourite artists Dot Rotten, as an extra bonus I also featured in same issue. I love the fact I could take someone like Chronik, who’s a very hard core grime MC and do a 3-page piece on him for popular fashion magazine SUPERSUPER; it’s fabulous to see that rawness amongst trendy photos of models and edgy clothing. I was the first person to interview US rapper Kreayshawn in UK press, which was a nice little moment. There’s a lot of perks to this industry as well; myself and JP were flown to New York to report on trainer culture. I ended up interviewing some great US acts like Bun B and was just genuinely a great time. I think a lot of the most memorable moments for both us are when we’re out at a club or event, enjoying the music we love with all the friends and talent we’ve managed to help and grow with over the years.
JP: There have been so many great moments. I was on the front page of The Observer in 2008, which was crazy! It was a feature about if bloggers are being able to do just as good a job as newspaper critics, etc. I’ve been featured on Channel 4 with my SUPERSUPER Magazine crew. I’ve been interviewed many times for some great publications, just about me and the work that I do. I’ve also done some radio work as well. But the biggest highlight so far is becoming the first official UK columnist for GRAMMY.com. That’s a HUGE platform and for me to have a monthly column with them is just amazing. Again, I have Jesus to thank for that one!
Who are your current idols in the music scene?
Hyper: I’ve never really had any idols in general but I’d say there’s a lot of people who’s talent and work ethic that I respect. Someone like Jamal Edwards of SBTV and PR Rachel White, are two people I really admire.
JP: I don’t have any idols, but I respect a lot of people and their work ethic, such as Tim & Barry and, like Hyperfrank said, Jamal Edwards and Rachel White. There are a few other people, but these are the ones who come to mind straight away.
Five artists to watch?
Hyper:
Dot Rotten, Dream Mclean, Lady Leshurr, Etta Bond, Marger
JP: DVS: This UK rapper–who I like to call ‘uncle’ because he always inspires me–is very unique with his style and flow. His delivery is so laid-back and his wordplay is on next levels. I think he has what it takes to blow. With the right team behind him, he’ll go far.
Chasing Pluto: This duo from London are the future of pop music. Full stop!
Scrufizzer: This young grime MCs’ double-time flow has seen him being compared to the likes of Dizzee Rascal and Busta Rhymes, but I believe that he has what it takes to create his own unique lane, he’s doing very well so far.
Lioness: This female MC is sexy, stylish and can definitely give the boys a run for their money when it comes to going hard in the booth! Lioness’ latest mixtape, RoarNess, really proved to me that she is indeed one of the UK’s finest lyricists–sex aside.
Angel: I’ve only recently come across Angel. He’s an R&B singer from the UK whose style I’m really rating at the moment. He sings about things that you’d expect to hear a rapper talk about: the streets! He just proved to everyone that you don’t have to rap to rep.
I also totally agree with Hyperfrank’s list.
Ever consider making your own music?
Hyper: JP is a great singer–he’s just too shy at the moment to let anyone know about it. As for me, it’s actually hilarious! I’ve had a few labels interested in me getting into RAP! I apparently have “The Look!”—what ever that is. I’d prefer to leave that to the professionals.
JP: I have a voice, but I just don’t feel confident enough to put myself out there like that. A lot of signs keep on popping up in my way which keeps on telling me to go for it and use the talent that Jesus has blessed me with, but I’m truly scared [laugh]. I think I’ll stick to promoting other people for now, though, until I grow some balls and stop acting shy [laughs].
What would your lives be like without music?
Hyper: I think without music, I’d probably be traveling the world by now or living abroad. It’s one of the main things keeping me in England! I’d probably have done an Art degree and have a studio in Dalston, London.
JP: Depressing! I don’t know what I’d do without music. Music has picked me up from some so many dark times in my life, it’s actually unreal. Thank God for music, eh?
As music journalists, what event or artist would you most like to cover now?
Hyper: Artist-wise I would have loved to of interviewed Amy Winehouse. It breaks my heart that I never got to! I would love to see a massive grime concert, from all the up-and-coming talent to all the people that established themselves through the scene–that would be emotional to say the least!
JP: All of the people that I mentioned in my top five artists. I’m all about the UK. There are enough journalists covering American music, so they don’t need me. The UK underground music is where my heart is and it will stay there until the end of time.
A lot of people have opinions and strong passions for music, but only very few get to where you guys are. What does it take to make it in the scene like you guys have?
Hyper: I think enjoying and loving music is extremely important. There’ll be times when you’ll realize that the music industry is actually a really tough and mean business which can really rip apart your love of good music into a ‘is this marketable/sellable or not’ mentality, some get dragged in and some people like us just stick it out because it’s more than just a job, we’re apart of a massive movement.
JP: Passion and determination, that’s all you need. I’ve been told ‘no’ so many times, but you have to have a thick skin in this business or else you’ll end up killing yourself [laughs]. No, seriously!
You guys get a lot of the latest news and updates on the scene. Any predictions for the future, based on that?
Hyper: Etta Bond is a great singer—she just got signed to Labrinth’s sub label—Dot Rotten and Sibling, and these three are some of the most talented musicians I have ever come across. I think they’re all very hardworking people who have a real flare for music.
How do you suggest the layman can appreciate music more?
Hyper: Try to just ignore what you’re told is good and just delve right in and open your ears. There is so much beautiful talent out there so be open-minded.
If you two were to form a band or duo, what would you name it?
Hyper: Frankenstein or pied PYPER
JP: Probably just JP & Hyperfrank [laughs]. Or INSIDE! [laughs]
josephjppatterson.com, hyperfrank.blogspot.com
Photographed by Liam Ricketts
Introduction by Reena Mesias
Interview by Miguel Escobar
For the full story, grab a copy of STATUS February 2012 issue
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