We catch up with Fluent Form fresh off the back of his Word Merchant LP drop to talk about all things regarding the album. Crate Cartel member and emcee heavyweight Fluent Form has not only been busy acting on the small screen he has also been making some great hip hop. Check out what he has to say regarding his recent Word Merchant release below.
aahh: Your LP release titled ‘Word Merchant’ dropped a few months ago. It’s had some time now to soak amongst the heads, what kind of reaction and feedback have you had for the album this time around?
Fluent Form: Yeah, the feedback so far has been incredible. I’ve been getting some really touching personal messages from a few fans out there that have really connected with some of the more conceptual tracks. I’ve had a lot of great feedback from the album which is always nice. Keeps the fire burning that’s for sure and it’s greatly appreciated.
aahh: Last time we caught up with you was for your 2009 release The Furnace. This is what you had to say back than about releasing any follow up album: “….always want to out do my previous efforts. You gotta keep it moving and show growth in your work. I don’t wanna make another furnace album, I wanna knock it out the water and keep people hungry for my music”. Do you think you’ve achieved that with the Word Merchant?
Fluent Form: Yeah I think I did achieve that in the sense of crafting more complete songs. I had a lot of stuff to get off my chest while I was writing this album and I think it shows in the intensity of the release. I think it was a step up as an album. Came out a lot more confronting. It’s darker than the Furnace, but it was good to get it all out of my system and I think the listener can really hear my aggressive emotion in a lot of the project. It’s good to get it out, so I can move on.
aahh: The whole album has been produced by your fellow Crate Cartellian Geko. Did this give you a little more control and creative freedom compared to your last release where you choose to work with several producers?
Fluent Form: Geko and I spent a lot of hours on this project and having him handle the production, did give us both the luxury of swinging ideas back and forth for every track, going over each song and adding ideas together as a team effort. I think the cohesiveness of the album is one of its strong points also and it was a good experience doing the one producer, one emcee project. Was also nice to have all your beats in the one place, ready to be laced when ready.
aahh: Jezebel’s Conquests is a great track where you declare that your feet are firmly planted on the ground, and that you won’t be tempted into getting dragged into all that fake phoney shit that can come with the commercial side of the industry. Would that be a correct depiction of the track, tell us your thoughts?
Fluent Form: Pretty accurate depiction. But I’m not just addressing the commercial aspect of the industry. Each artist has a right to choose and do what they feel represents them the most accurately in their music, that said though, the track is more about an artist purposefully changing their direction and sound for the one goal of getting their 15 minutes of fame. Willing to sacrifice their creative control for a bunch of label bosses who couldn’t give a shit about their music as an art-form. I’m addressing those quick to say goodbye to their integrity. Emceeing is a privilege, not a right and many forget that.
aahh: Coup De Grace feat. Lazy Grey is the perfect title for this track, for those who don’t know explain the term Coup De Grace and how it ties in with this killer track?
Fluent Form: A Coup De Grace is the final death shot. Like a bullet to the head of a wounded creature, or a soldier etc. I mentioned that term in my verse and having Lazy Grey on the track, I thought that title suited the song perfectly. Wack emcees getting the Coup De Grace so to speak.
aahh: One of our favourite tracks from the album is the track Riot, with its crazy beat that had us all stomping around the aahh headquarters like mad men every time it came on. Would this be one of the reasons why you picked this track as the lead single?
Fluent Form: Well I picked it cause it’s a fun, tongue in cheek kinda joint. The last couple tracks I did videos for were on the pretty serious side, so I thought I’d have a bit of fun with this one and knew it would make for a great clip.
aahh: As you just mentioned we saw a great clip released for Riot, it looks like you guys had a lot of fun making the video with the Full Clip lads, who are obviously close friends of yours, we even saw Bias B had a nice little cameo?
Fluent Form: Haha yeah, had a great time shooting that clip. I felt very honoured and blessed to have so many of my good friends come though and deliver some great performances, especially Bias who looks pretty convincing in his role haha. Yeah, I’m real good friends with the Full Clip lads, not to mention Discourse is part of Crate Cartel.
aahh: The track Gravity ends with a pretty memorable line that “death is certain but life is not”. Explain that concept a little further for us if you can?
Fluent Form: Well, to put it simply, the one thing in life we all know 100% for certain is that death awaits us all. No matter what. A pessimistic outlook no doubt, but it suits that track. Gravity is one of those tracks you write when you’re really going through some trials and tribulations. In life, you never know what’s going to happen, it could end at anytime. But death, you know that’s coming for certain.
aahh: Judas Iscariot is a bit of a cautionary tale, for those who may not know the story of Judas Iscariot, tell us your views and what warning people should heed from this story?
Fluent Form: There’s a been a lot of songs written over the years about betrayal and betrayal done by those closest to you. I came up with the idea to reference Judas Iscariot who if you’re unaware, is the man who betrayed Jesus and had him set up to be crucified. When you’re betrayed by people close to you, it cuts deep and I thought I’d switch it up a bit by using that story and incorporating it into a more modern setting.
aahh: Are you at all religious?
Fluent Form: Nah, not religious in the conventional sense. I’ve got mad respect for people and their beliefs whether you be Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. I like to read a lot of books and I find some scripture really interesting and work real well when referenced in songs etc. I’m a firm believer of the spirit and the soul though, no doubt.
aahh: Handshakes is a track that really highlights your intricate story telling ability, it’s a skill to behold. How do you set yourself up for approaching a track like this? Does it take you long?
Fluent Form: So far the story tracks I have written have all been based on true events of people I know. Sadly, most of them have revolved around drugs etc. Many years ago when I was young and stupid, I witnessed and saw a lot of stories unfold due to drugs etc and so I thought I’d put them down on paper.
aahh: The track Main Event features US MC Jise One, and another beast on the mic Dialectrix. Was Jise One someone you’ve wanted to do a track with or was it something else that you thought he’d bring to the album?
Fluent Form: I’m a massive fan of The Arsonists, especially their first album ‘As The World Burns’. I always loved Jise’s unique style and voice. So I had been planning on working with him for a while and he was down from the start when I hit him up about it. Played him a few beats, he chose one and hit me with a dope verse. As for Dialectrix, he’s one of my favourite lyricists and a good friend, so I invited him to spit heat on the track.
aahh: Cloud Of Dust is another track we just have to ask you about. Did Geko originally bring you this sample or was it an idea you originally had and made him find something suitable?
Fluent Form: I wanted to do a track about Cocaine haha. I was messing with that shit a bit too much and wanted to write about it. On first listen, it kinda sounds like I’m glorifying it’s usage, but really I give the pros and cons for me personally. Anyway, I told Geko about the song and boom in a couple of days he had that cloud of dust sample looped and chopped up and I was like, yep, this will work perfectly.
aahh: It wouldn’t be a true Fluent Form album without the classic posse track and this time around you’ve got two massive joints one with the CC crew and another with the 750 Rebels/Hired Goons massive. In you opinion what ingredients make the perfect posse track, it seems you’ve been fairly successful with yours?
Fluent Form: Variety basically. If you’ve got a group of dope, diverse, varied emcees ready to drop hot 16′s on a dope beat, you’ll get a killer posse cut.
aahh: Not only have you released your album The Word Merchant LP this year but you’ve also featured on a number of fellow emcees albums of late. What have been some of your most memorable tracks you’ve worked on of recent?
Fluent Form: I enjoyed doing some stuff for Dialectrix , Bigfoot, Bias B etc. And of course I love getting on my fellow Cartel tracks etc. I like working with many artists of many tastes and styles. Got some exciting features coming in the near future.
aahh: Final Comments?
Fluent Form: Just like to thank everyone who have continued to support my music, the love is greatly appreciated. I’m already straight into my next project which I’m really looking forward to crafting over the next year etc. Going to be switching it up again to keep it fresh and keep them guessing. Props to allaussiehiphop.com for the interview! Peace
Twitter || Crate Cartel Records || Facebook || Purchase
