Primitive opens the WarChest
Aussie Hip Hop artist Primitive has just released his new track ‘Slow’, which comes directly from the lyric beast’s new album WarChest. We caught up with Primitive to chat about the new music, what inspired his musical path and what fans can look forward to coming from the man with the bullet-fast rhymes.
For those who haven’t heard your music before, how do you describe your sound?
Thanks for having me on. I’d describe my sound as raw, authentic and honest. I find I’m able to share parts of myself vulnerably through lyrics.. in a way that’s genuine and real. Through vulnerability, I gain insight and introspection and express it through the mechanism of rhyme. It’s raw rap.
“The track is straight bars, with no hook. ”
You have just released your new track 'Slow' Tell us about your new song, what does it mean to you?
Slow is a deep cut off my latest album WarChest. It’s a love letter to hip-hop and being an indie artist.
One of my favourite lyrics from the track is “You can find me, playing at your local dive. Spitting vocal fire through the wires of the open mic”
The track is straight bars, with no hook. It was cool to write something that just focused on rhyming.
Who came up with the concept for the 'Slow' music video? Were there any memorable moments during the making of it?
I took inspiration from Johniepee and his lyric video for Stay. The music video for Slow is made by my good friend and dope rapper Bigredcap. He made it over one weekend and smashed it. I’m so happy with how it turned out. I felt Slow was buried in the album and wasn’t getting enough shine so I wanted to get a video made for it. It’s also my 1st lyric video ever.
'Slow' has been lifted from your latest album 'Warchest', what has been the feedback so far on the new body of work?
You know it’s funny, I actually haven’t heard a lot from a lot of people. Maybe that’s a good thing haha. I have received feedback from a small group of people, critics and friends and what I have heard though has been super positive. My good friend said recently it was a classic hip-hop album to him and he’s been listening on repeat. That’s high praise.
“I pushed myself to make more personal music, share new parts of myself, and sometimes those parts are ugly.”
Is 'Warchest' a continuation or an evolution of your debut LP 'Return To Emerald City'?
WarChest is an evolution. It’s an evolution of me as a person and an artist. WarChest is deeper to me than Emerald City. It’s heavy in some parts. Raw, aggressive, dark. For me it’s a level up, I pushed myself to make more personal music, share new parts of myself, and sometimes those parts are ugly.
Are there any tracks that standout or a particularly special to you?
F.P.C is a stand-out. It’s one of the tracks that goes off live as well. I wrote that track when I was going through an awful insurance claim for my ute. It was such a hard time, I didn’t handle it well at all… Got a great song out of it though.
Off the Record is another banger that people have been loving.
My personal favourite is Sushi though. The end track. There’s such a dichotomy between the 1st track of the album and the last. I love the concept of duality. But yeah, Sushi was so much fun to write and record. It’s such a light, fun song and it gives closure to the album.
“I hope it gives people hope that there is another way, there is help. ”
Your bio says your songs are written about your experiences with "pain, addiction and recovery", which of these do you find the most challenging to write about?
I spent most of my life in addiction to alcohol and drugs. I 1st got clean and sober when I was 16. I relapsed for 9 years and came back into recovery at 26. The pain of addiction and my ultimate journey back to sobriety has been so cathartic to write about.
It’s that duality again. Addiction and recovery. I had to go through the pain to get where I am now. My music is a reflection of that, and I hope it gives people hope that there is another way, there is help.
What was the first Hip Hop/Rap album you bought and how did it influence your direction in the genre?
1st album I bought was Nas's ‘It Was Written’. 2nd track The Message is still such a banger. His rhyme scheme at the beginning of the 2nd verse is so dope.
Nas is one of the great storytellers of hip-hop. I guess looking back now, Nas was my introduction to East Coast hip hop.
“Rah Records isn’t a stereotypical record label. It’s more like a grassroots collective of independent musicians. It’s fucking beautiful”
You've found yourself a home amongst the cohort at Rah Records, what does having a supportive artistic family around mean to you both personally and professionally?
Man it’s such a blessing. The crew at Rah is all love, support, and good vibes. We are always there for each other, always down to collab and create together and plug each others releases. It’s something super special and the culture is cultivated from the front by the owner and Godfather GhostAttack.
Rah Records isn’t a stereotypical record label. It’s more like a grassroots collective of independent musicians. It’s fucking beautiful.
Where was your first PRIMITIVE gig? Was it a success or flop?
The 1st time I ever held a mic and performed was at the end of an NJE show at the Agincourt Hotel on George St, Sydney.
I had 2 backing tracks I’d jacked off YouTube and I played the backings through my phone. In the 2nd track, the music just dropped out and the crowd was like “Ohhhhh”. The music came back on and I kept rhyming.
I looked at my phone after the tracks ended and I’d got a text that said: Hey, I hope you’re gig went well.
I hadn’t put the phone on flight mode.. Whoops! Makes a good story though.
That was 9 years ago.
Who do you credit as your musical influences?
Eminem is my number 1. The Slim Shady Lp was the 1st hip hop/rap I ever heard. Changed my life.
Vinnie Paz, Jedi Mind Tricks, Mos Def, Nas, Biggie Smalls, Common, Blackstar, Deca, Intuition, Black Thought, MF Doom.. The list goes on haha.
“I’d love to collab with my boy Deca.
I’ve recently discovered him and I play his albums on repeat while I work”
Who would be your ultimate Collab Partner and why?
I would love to collab with Eminem. Just because he is easily my biggest influence and it’d be a way to pay homage to him. That’s the ultimate but if that never happens, I’d love to collab with my boy Deca.
I’ve recently discovered him and I play his albums on repeat while I work. He is so dope. Rhyme schemes, lyrical content, he’s very unique and super technical.
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout-out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
I think the women behind the scenes deserve a shoutout, My wife Angel, who listens to me rant all the time about being an indie artist and trying to level up. Just her being there to listen to my same crap, means the world.
Special shoutout to Ghost’s wife Toni, who is Ghost’s rock.
Special shoutout to Pieta at Alchemy Clothing,
Big ups ladies.
Is there anything you would like to say to the PRIMITIVE fans out there?
1st and foremost, thank you so fucking much for all your support over the years. Thanks for copping the merch, listening to the music and coming to the shows.
This is the perfect opportunity to share with you that my next release will be a single called Weird Flex featuring the one and only A.F.R.O. Yes, that A.F.R.O.
Big love fam.
Follow Primitive :
Website https://primalproductions.com.au/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/officalprimitive/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9GOo2WICfSqdjLmxyR7hDw
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialprimitive_/
Bandcamp https://primitive8.bandcamp.com/
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@officialprimitive?lang=en
Interview by Michelle Symes
July 2024