If you haven't listened to this guy already then put on your headphones and prepare for an eargasm. Zepho presents Adam Tensta.
Here is an interview he had with HHNLive.
WARNING - You may not know the name Adam Tensta now but HHNLive says get prepared for the explosion. Adam is currently blowing up in Sweden with his genre mashing hit single "They Wanna Know". Check out the feature as HHNLive.com gets into the mind of Adam Tensta and shows you why Sweden is more than blondes, ice and IKEA.
HHNLive: Where did you grow up? And how did you get into Hip-Hop music originally?
Adam Tensta: I grew up in Tensta which is a burb to Stockholm. I first touched on Hip Hop at the age of 7 when I started break dancing. I never really got into Hip Hop music until I was about 15 or 16 though. I always had the music playing in the background through my bigger brother listening to all types of NYC rap, but it wasn't until I quit breaking that I got into writing myself.
HHNLive: Your new single "They Wanna Know" is incredible. Where did that mash up of Hip-Hop and Dance come from in your sound?
Download: They Wanna Know
AT: My right hand man Ears had the hook-up, these two house producers Addeboy Vs. Cliff, who produced They Wanna Know actually grew up with him. But as you can hear they are into a whole other type of sound when it comes to the beats, so we thought it would be dope to spit over something different. With the team behind me we pushed it hard enough to get our first hit single. It's now playing on 25 radio stations in Sweden, all major music channels show the video and my name pops up more often than ever in the daily newspapers. With RMH vol.5 the mixtape coming out this summer we'll have it all locked down. The mixtape will feature more than 10 new songs from me. Songs by my label mates Eboi and Hani and tracks from our Major Factors producers together with both US and Swedish artists. Make sure you check that out. It's gone be up on www.rmh-ent.com later this summer.
HHNLive: Being a European artist, do you feel fans in Europe view Hip-Hop differently than fans in North America? And if so, how?
AT: Yes, I think they view it differently simply because we got the whole spectrum over here. We listen to everything from American and French hip hop to the grime coming out of the UK. Cats in the US mostly listen to American hip hop, making the sound spectrum narrower. I think European listeners are more open minded to different branches of hip hop music.
HHNLive: You always hear talk about European fans respecting the 4 elements of Hip-Hop culture and keeping them alive. Why do you think fans in Europe have such an appreciation for the origins of the music where as in North America it seems like a large portion of people have forgotten where Hip-Hop came from?
AT: I don't think people in North America have forgotten where Hip Hop came from, I just believe that they are more business oriented. Since Hip Hop and rap music in particular became a commodity you can make millions of dollars and the three other elements became overshadowed so to speak. I think people in Europe are looking in the same direction, but we haven't really got to that level yet. The important thing to remember though is that the 4 elements won't die just because people are making money off rap music. Hip Hop will never die just evolve. Things can't stay the same forever. Europe for example got an amazing graffiti culture in many ways more evolved than the US scene.
HHNLive: Can you describe the Hip-Hop scene in Scandinavia for us?
AT: It's on the come up... people are hungry and it is getting more and more attention in media, that creates bigger opportunities for everyone. Hip hop is at an all time high and that's thanks to people with newfound knowledge of the game that be working hard. It's not just the music any more but the whole new attitude, many of the biggest artists are doing everything by themselves without the help of major labels. Everything from promotion to distribution. I'm proud of being a part of the whole European movement with producers recording with US artists, collabos Europe/US and the chance to do business overseas. Cross promotion has been one of our biggest priorities these last few years. Now we're in contact with more than 400 US artists on different levels. We've actually built something that's worth the time for a US artist to fuck with us. A lot of US artists come over here to do shows. We appreciate that and will be at your show if you ever come to Stockholm. Believe that. Devin The Dude was here a few months ago, that's the concert of the year so far.
Download: Dopeboy
HHNLive: Do you think there is a lack of originality in Hip-Hop right now? Or maybe music in general?
AT: No, creatively I think producers and artists are knocking out better material than ever, you just gotta know where to look. The market is kinda flooded.
HHNLive: Your sound is very unique. Who are some of your more current musical influences? And who were some of your original influences?
AT: I grew up listening to Bob Marley, other than that I listened to what my brother played in the stereo. That 94-95 NYC movement with Nas and Mobb Deep. Nowadays I listen to everything I come across, everything from Norah Jones to The Hives. Daft Punk is crazy!
HHNLive: How has the Internet helped your career? Has it been very beneficial for you?
AT: Internet has been the base of my growth, its been the main channel to get my music out mainly through myspace and mail blasts. That together with working hard on the road and in the studio has taken me and RMH ent to the level we at today. The Internet is the most important tool you can work with today, but all other segments must be worked on too. It seems like we've been able to keep that balance this last year. Doing both European tours and networking on the Internet with US artists. We're working hard right now on getting over seas to do some shows and there's a few cats we've bumped into while grinding online that might be interested. Holla at me if you're a promoter!
HHNLive: What are your views on file sharing?
AT: I believe that file sharing is the way of the future, the record companies only got themselves to blame for the current situation. The only thing they need to work on is a way to pay the artists their fee. Cause we all know that music won't die. It's all about who studies the game the most. The one that knows most will be ready to take over the next market, whatever it could be. Both ringtones and mp3s is a way to make a lot more money than you can do selling CD's. We're trying to figure out what the next step is. The situation in 07 with bad record sales creates better entrepreneurs. People need to be creative to get their dough and that shows.
HHNLive: What's your favorite Hip-Hop song of all-time?
AT: My favorite song.... damn that's a hard question. Right now I would have to say Talib Kweli & Dj Hi-Tek (Reflection Eternal) - The Blast, that shit is crazy crazy.
HHNLive: Do you care if you blow up in America? Or would you be satisfied being a successful European artist?
AT: Of course I care, I wanna reach out to as many people as possible, but it doesn't really matter right now if I blow up in the UK or Japan or the US. When I went on my European tour I visited 19 cities that I had never visited before. The feeling of getting the chance to see different places you've never seen just because of your music is incredible. I'm ready for the US, no doubt. I wanna go to Houston, NYC, ATL all over the place. We've got a lot of good connects in Alabama at the moment, but yeah get me over there ASAP.
HHNLive: One of the things that struck me about your video for "They Wanna Know" was how well it was done. Does your government offer grants/loans for musicians? Is there a lot of financial support for indie artists where you're from?
AT: Financial grants are mainly focused on other music genres than Hip Hop. Over here it's more accepted to do rock and pop music. We're actually starting a hip hop business school this fall. We will be putting together 6 groups that focus on different parts of the game. It will be everything from production and writing lyrics to promotion and management. Hip hop is still young over here and until now most people only been interested in being a rapper or a DJ or producer. More and more people show interest in the other essential parts of the game to be able to invade airwaves, TV and media. We've studied the game long enough now to be able to teach the younger talents how to not only be an artist, but also to actually handle their own career. We've put together a studio, 178 square meters, 7 rooms, kitchen, bedroom, 2 bathrooms etc - This will make it possible for us to take that next step and get even more organized. It's the first time I'll have my own studio and not record in my closet.
HHNLive: Where can people check you out online?
AT: Check me out at www.myspace.com/adamtensta or at www.rmh-ent.com
HHNLive: Why should people check out Adam Tensta?
AT: People need to check me out because I'm something new. I ain't afraid to break into new sounds and blend hip hop with other genres of music and still spill my soul on these beats. It might sound cliché, but it's true I'm real. My reality is just based on a whole nother part of the world than you're used to over in the US.
HHNLive: Do you have any final message for the HHNLive.com readers?
AT: You need to check out the new RMH mixtape Vol.5. It's going to be out for free downloads on
www.rmh-ent.com My album "It's A Tensta Thing" will drop Sept. Make sure you stay in touch with me if you're feeling my sound. www.myspace.com/AdamTensta - Business inquires: BuccSthlm@Gmail.com
Download: My Cool
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