Gain more insight into significant hip-hop figures by checking out their revealing answers to our questionnaire.
Record executive Red1 of Killawatt Records is a former key member of trailblazing Vancouver rap group Rascalz, who recorded the Canadian rap anthem for the ages, “Northern Touch,” and turned down their best rap recording Juno Award nomination in 1998 to protest the mistreatment of black music within the ceremony. And, he indisputably put B.C. rap on the map.
Red1 is one of many prominent Canadian hip-hop artists to be featured in the new documentary Hip Hop Eh, which is screening in Winnipeg on July 22 and Toronto on July 29.
What was the first hip-hop record you ever bought, and where’d you get it?
The first record I bought was Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince’s "Parents Just Don’t Understand" and a Roxanne Shanté record at some record store in Vancity.
Where did the name that you perform under come from exactly?
Well, whenever I used to smoke weed my eyes would turn blood red so they started calling me red eye. Then I changed it to 1, so it was Red1.
What was the last book you read and how was it?
The last book I read was Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, and it was a really good read about multinational companies and how they run governments around the world, how they affect the political process of countries to get what they want, and how, through loans from the International Monetary Fund, they get them into debt and then take over the natural resources of that country when they can’t repay the loans forced upon them.
Where is your favourite place to eat, and what are we having?
It would have to be, ahhh, I have to pass on this one. I can’t even do it. I love all kinda food too much. Just hold the pork please, and we good.
Which artist, living or dead, would you most like to collaborate with, and why?
Alive it would have to be Sade because I’m all about vibes, and she has the vibes. Dead, James Brown ’cuz he started this shit, man.
Photo credit: Chris Mckibbin Photography
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