Having had successful careers both solo and within their respective crews, California based MC Defari (of Likwit Crew fame) and DJ Babu (of Dilated People and Beat Junkie fame) have teamed up this year to bring us the Likwit Junkies, a tasty combination which has already proved its worth in past collaborations, most notably on the remix single of Defari’s ‘Behold my Life’. Whilst some people team up when their careers are dipping in order to grab some more limelight before the dark end of the road, Defari and Babu are still very much at the top of their game, and this new collaboration only serves to showcase their respective skills and talent even more. Having dropped their first self-titled LP earlier this year on the excellent ABB label we thought it was high time we caught up with the duo to find out exactly why the LJs exist, how the LP came together and what the future holds. With Babu on tour we’ll be bringing you the interview in two parts, mixtape style with the first side hosted by Defari.

Well actually I wanted to start with a question about your origins. You started out as a DJ in the early 80s before becoming an MC. Why the change?

Defari: It was just natural really; it's how it happened. I was DJing and then I started writing rhymes and before I knew it I had a career rhyming! So I focused on the rhyming more and more. I just lived hip hop really and so it came about normally that I moved from the decks to the mic. But I can still cut it up though! I've got turntables here at home and I get down every once in a while.

What have you been up to since finishing the LP a few months back?

D: Just working it really man. Doing in-stores, setting up a tour for the US and Canada, as well as Europe, Asia and Australia, so pretty much a worldwide thing, which is a lot of work and organisation. We just want to get ourselves on the road and do what we do best, rock some crowds.

So it's pretty hectic then?

D: Yeah, especially because Babu is halfway through finishing the 4th Dilated LP which means he's locked in the studio for that, as well as touring with Rakaa at the moment. I've also got my third solo LP, for which I've just released a new single. I'd like to get that out by late summer. But the thing is I really want the LJs to be something good and strong so I'm happy to put that project on the backburner for a bit while we lock this tour and push the new album.

How did you and Babu hook up for this project originally? You've worked together before, going back a few years, haven't you?

D: We've known each other for a while. The first time we worked together was on my 'Focused Daily' LP, where Babu did the cuts on 'These Dreams'. Then we did 'Joyride', and after that 'Behold my Life' and so by that point I thought we were really overdue to sit down and work on something together properly. Not just collaborations for each other's stuff. I took the idea to Babu about 10 months ago and he liked it, and Beni B (head of ABB records) also loved it, so we set it down and went to work. To be entirely honest I was really the catalyst for this, I made it happen and I'm thankful they both believed in the idea as much as I did.

Was there anything else that made you want to work together on an album, seeing as you each have quite fruitful solo careers?

D: Just the fact that we'd made so many songs together before, and I really thought that Babu's production was underrated, especially the stuff he'd done for Dilated and other underground MCs. I thought it needed to be heard fully for what it is and that if we worked on an album together we could put a spotlight on both his production skills and my writing. It's just a beautiful thing really, it's been very organic from the start between us and I think that shows in the final product. We work well together, we're cohesive, we would just go in the studio and bang out 2, 3 songs a day, which is really good. We were just on a roll and it's been great so far.

It looks like Babu did all the production on the album, but did you have any input on the production aspect at all? Seeing as how you said the work was quite organic, I assume you were both bouncing ideas off each other?

D: Well I co-produced 2 songs on there actually. A lot of the times I'd bring scratches to the studio and Babs would make them come alive. That's the DJ in me, like we were saying it never goes away. I'd imagine and hear scratches in my head and then Babu would make them reality, with his own twist to it. Most of the time though he'd let me hear the productions and I'd give him my opinion on how to make it better or change it, and vice versa with my lyrics and the writing. I wrote all the singing on the LP as well, and the arrangements, everything. We're like a super duo! And because of that all the guests on the LP felt relaxed and could be themselves when they came through the studio to do their bit. For example on 'Dark Ends' I'd already written two verses for it and laid them down so when Rakaa came to lay his rhymes he could see where I was going with it and get the knack of what he had to do. It was the same for Phil Da Agony. By the time we decided to get him on the track I'd already written 3 verses and so again he could see where I was going and just slip into his flow and drop his verse. This way all the featurings are also really organic, they don't feel forced or anything you know? It was all done so they could fit in easily, instead of having people on the album for the sake of it and it ending up sounding shit.

And how did you write for this album then? Did you do much of it on the spot or did you have stuff pre-written, subjects you knew you wanted to cover?

D: I wrote to every beat, literally. I had a couple of verses already but most of the time I'd write on the spot and he would produce and make the track on the spot as well, just vibing off each other. And I think that energy shows on the record. Also doing it on an independent label I think made a big difference, because we had the ability to do what we wanted regardless. They just told us to go in the studio and do what we want and they'd put the result out, and that's a big factor I think in how it all came out. If we had signed to a major it would have been very different I think. When we had finished it, I sat down and listened to it and I was like a fan already! It just all came about perfectly for me.
We had like 30 songs or something and we just kept recording non stop. We didn't once think 'ok we've got enough now, let's sit down and finish this off', we just kept on going. And personally I think that's something people today need to do more often, just don't stop working, don't stop recording. I think a lot of new MCs and producers don't realise how important it is to constantly be on it. The more songs you have, the more songs you rhyme over, the more songs you write for, and the better you'll end up. For me personally, that's how I look at it. I didn't have a very good 2004 in my personal life, but I didn't stop, I recorded something like 60, 70 songs in one year, full or featuring. And when I featured I was dropping way more then 16 bars. I always worked; I was on some monster rap machine shit! I'm comfortable in my own space now, after years of working at it. I'm happy being the instrument for the Likwit Junkies. There's a big difference between my solo output and the LJ stuff. LJs are on some soulful shit, the most important thing for us was to do our own thing, to be unique and bring our own style, and I think it shows in the end.

Yeah definitely. It sounds singular and catches your ear. As you said you had a good, organic relationship in the studio, why would you say that was?

D: I think primarily because we're from the same background. We've both got a huge love for Djing, for soul music and we just hit it off. We've got the same record collection as well so it was a no brainer... well Babu has some more though!

So is the LJs project a one off or will we be seeing more of you two in the future?

D: No it's not a one-off, definitely. We'll do several LPs, we're both dedicated to this project. It's more then just a one off album. As time permits, we'll be getting the next LP ready and it won't be 4-5 years between each either, like the Defari stuff. LJs won't be bouncing around labels like Defari did, no bullshit deals like I copped. People can look forward to more music, this is just the beginning.

Seeing as how you mentioned the problems you've had in the past with labels, would you say that having the LJs on ABB has been a factor in you turning out such a strong album? Did the fact that the label was fully backing you make a difference to you?

D: To tell the truth, Imma be dope wherever! As Defari I've had 2 albums out and each time the machine behind the album didn't know how to work the music to get the best out of it. I was with Tommy Boy and I got fucked. But I don't let it affect me. I've been in a funk and now I'm at a level lyrically where I think I'm one of the best in the world. And I get fans and people coming up to me saying those things, which increases my confidence, but I still work at it, I try not to take it for granted too much. I feel comfortable spitting over any type of beat, and I've got nothing holding me back.

And which track is your favourite on the album then?

D: I think it would have to be 'Ghetto'. It's just something about it that gets me everytime. But then I have a different favourite every week. 'The Good Green' I think is one of the best smoker’s song ever! It's approached from a new angle and I think we've needed a new take on that subject for a while.

It's true that it's nice to see a smoker’s song again, because it's been a long time since someone did a good one. There was a whole bunch of quality ones in the early 90s, and then not much after that. Or at least not really anybody bringing a new angle.

D: Yeah and with 'The Good Green' I think we managed to do something clever and unique, and I'm glad we did it. It's a fun song. I also like 'Strength in Numbers', 'One Time', 'LJ Anthem' and 'HOP', which is always really well received when we do it live.

And if you could go back and change or redo a song, which would it be?

D: I'm happy with all them. Honestly. I'm on to the next one now, once the album is out there I don't want to look back. I did it for the public, for you guys and if you like it, then it's all good! And if not then I'll go back and try harder for next time.
Thing is I really love every track on everything I've ever done! All the featurings, all the singles, all the albums, I love it all... I'm just a huge fan of myself. (laughs)

So what's next for the LJs? You mentioned the tour earlier on, anything else?

D: The tour is the main thing for sure. We want to give the entire world a chance to hear our sound. Anybody who hasn't heard the LP can check my site and hear extracts of every track.
Personally I think there's been a void in terms of soul in hip hop... It's the vertebrae of rap, from James Brown to now. It's interesting because I think that cats like Kanye West have helped bring back some of the funk and soul of mid 90s hip hop back to the game and with us we're trying to bring some soul back into the game as well. We're not just a new duo, we're a duo of established artists and I think we've succeeded in doing what we wanted.

Any last words?

D: I just wanna thank everybody in the UK who've supported us so far, who've supported Defari, the Likwit Crew, Dilated, Beat Junkies, everything we've done. I wanna let them know the LP is out there and if you don't have it, then slap yourself and go get it now! Check the site for music and videos and catch us when we're over.

Many thanks to Lucy at Elemental consulting for the hook up and Defari for his time. Stay tuned for side B, with the original turntablist Babu stepping up. You can check Defari’s site for audio from the new album. Also check ABB Records and Beat Junkies sites for more on Babu and ABB releases. Lastly you can also check a review of the album here.