PREMIERE: Hatter x Vitamin G - Leanin’ (Official Video) + 10 Questions
Leanin’ is a high energy collab between Hatter and Vitamin G (Vitz) blending Baile Funk, Grime and Drill with a classic Hip Hop sample (produced by Hatter).
With an infectious hook and breakneck paced bars, you won’t sit down when you hear this one. The lads (both arsenal fans) also pay homage to the Arsenal team throughout the song.
‘We had fun with this one. This started off as a joke in the studio after watching the football, but when we threw up a clip and our socials went crazy, we had to finish it. We wanted to pay homage to the grime we grew up listening to while blending in some current sounds.’
Hatter - A trailblazer in the Brighton scene, forever testing the limits to what he can create within the rap domain - Hatter is an undeniable lyricist and experimental producer who's charismatic energy and charm light up when taking to the stage. London born, Brighton based, and ready to take over - the Hatzeen's play on words, wicked hooks and widely influenced production style makes for an artist paving his own lane.
Vitz - Vitamin G, AKA K£L SH£LLINGTON will head top spectators with lyricism in the form of machine gun multi syllabics. The London born, bridge city raised, Brighton resident has been making wavey movements throughout the scene with CMPND. He is highly skilled enough to hold it down on his own with his versatile ability and high energy performances.
Hatter & Vitamin G sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
Hatter: Growing up music was always getting played all day long. Dub, Hip Hop, Punk, Jungle, Soul, Jazz literally everything so that definitely influenced me from a young age, I was always into music. My dad was a music photographer and as a young, young kid I remember meeting DJs, MCs and people passing through our place in South London. Thinking about it now music was always kinda close by in some way.
Later on when I moved to Brighton my neighbour’s Dad was an African musician and I’d go to knock for my mate and hear different music or get roped into helping carrying some drums and my mate played piano and was into Hip Hop, when you’re young you just soak all them things up without realising. I tried to learn Guitar for a bit, but once Channel U era Grime and 00s US/UK Hip Hop found me that was it, then I went youth centre and Audio Active had a studio and that was that. It was on from there. Obviously it was a long process to becoming an actual artist/producer but that’s where it started.
Vitz: I’ve always loved music from an early age. When I couldn’t sleep as a baby my stepdad used to drive me around and play jungle ( big soft spot for drum and bass used go raving a lot in my teens and early 20s) garage and old school hip hop from Tupac to naughty by nature to Cypress Hill. When I was more conscious of what was actually going on my biological Dad showed me Brand Nubian. One of my uncles then showed me Nas and wu tang which lead to Redman and Big L, Pun and Fat Joe through to Bone thugs and harmony’s d three six mafia I guess the osmosis of all of that increased my love for music, mainly all types of rap as a whole.
Growing up I’ve always enjoyed writing and the way words can be used to express yourself and be played with and manipulated in an entertaining way which ultimately heals. I watched a lot of music channels which lead me to 50 and guys like Jadakiss, DMX and Ruff Ryders etc. Played a lot of Def Jam on PlayStation and of course watched channel U almost daily which sparked my love for grime and UK music and artists such as Ghetts, Kano, Flirta D, Giggs, Crazy Titch, Wiley, Dizzee Rascal and BBK, the Movement (F**k Radio and Nasty Crew sets) shout out Limewire every time.
I actually started doing it properly when I was sent for over a stupid secondary school altercation which resulted in me penning a diss track about everyone involved - bodying them and it being sent round almost every school in Cambridge where I grew up. This for me was the beginning of taking it more seriously.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
Hatter: Majority of the people in my life are involved in music in some way, so other than the GOATs/most iconic artists - I’d say its the people around me that inspire me. Making music with people you know personally is always the best vibe and there’s a sly bit of competition there as well, which is how this tune came about really. Me and Vitz had been in the pub watching football and just rolled studio.
Tigger Da Author is a sick artist, to get him on a feature would be cold.
Vitz: A lot of the artists I mentioned in the first question to be honest! I think a tune with me and Redman would bang, working with Alchemist on production would be crazy too I think I speak for most people who rap on that one. Freddie Gibbs is one of the coldest out at the moment in my opinion especially at a live show I saw him in 2019 and he killed it differently. Joey bada$$ too, he was a big influence growing up as he kind of brought the ‘boombap’ sound back to light in his own way, and what he’s doing now acting alongside dropping bangers is inspirational to me as that’s something i’de like to do and have started to do along side music.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
Hatter: So I’ve got a project coming with producer Saffa Ghorishi called Beggars In The Palace, the first single and video from that are dropping next month. As well as a being a musical project, it’s also a visual project and it’s 100 my best work yet.
Vitz: I’ve got a couple of projects on the go; solo and collaborative. Lots of unreleased music I won’t mention too much about yet but just keep eyes and ears peeled. Not a lot of people know I actually make beats myself and I’ve told myself I’ll release some of my self produced joints this year… or at least when I think they are ready and feels right in my soul. Me and Mr Slipz have an album that will drop on high focus- it’s looking like next year but you’ll know when you know. Can’t forget CMPND either, the new album is in the works we’re still sitting on bangers from way back. We might even bless you with some teasers this year….
4. How would you describe your sound?
Hatter: I think my music is a combination of all my influences so I jump between sub-genres a lot. All UK ‘urban’ music mixed up with some 90s influence. Different music for different occasions, I’m not on making the same song over and over again.
Vitz: Inferno scenes in the form of shelly flows and icey punchlines, I like to experiment in styles and tempos but above all… I just keep it Steezy.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Hatter: I try not to focus on individual achievements too much but anytime I execute my vision properly I’m proud, so it’s probably wrapping up this project recently… Anytime I’ve played abroad has been a moment.
Vitz: I’ve had quite a few proud moments. Sharing the stage with close friends I’ve built with is a proud achievement in itself. Playing festivals like Outlook in Croatia and in the UK this year just gone supporting Ghetts, playing Fabric and Jazz Cafe. Supporting GZA, performing in Madrid and Budapest with Verbz and Mr Slipz shout out to them. Handing Bas from Pete and Bas the mic after he frog splash/belly flopped the stage from the VIP booth and got up completely un phased is a bit of an unforgettable highlight in my life let alone career. Being on High focus is cool as I never thought i’de have the opportunity to be involved on a big platform like it is as a younger running around boombap festival watching people i now know on a personal level play! Also just having my own physical copies of bodies of work like Vinyls, CDs and cassettes /merch from something I have created with people I hold In high regard is a nice thing to have.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Hatter: Enjoy it and take it seriously from early and focus, people always told me I was talented but my life distracted me. I would of rather been doing a madness than put the hours in, but in certain situations it’s difficult to focus on music. It’s all about priorities and sacrifice really, just took me a while to clock.
Vitz: Learn the craft, always practice the craft when you can, be unapologetically yourself, enjoy the process. Don’t get too frustrated with things you can’t control and harness the things you can and channel them into something productive/positive to you or at least try to. Work with people you actually like and have mutual respect for, don’t force it.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Hatter: Sylvia Mwenze, Saffa Ghorishi, Mrisi, Ceezlin, Pavv, PVC and my boy Bigzy is about to start dropping music he’s mad talented.
Vitz: Go check out the homies Tszusan and Shoguns forthcoming project when it drops its flames! My boys Samuel and Harvs Le Toad have something heaty in the works, Sams brother ( not gonna mention his name now ) one of my day ones and the first person in Cambridge I clocked was about this Rap life and taking it to levels properly, is going to make waves trust me. Gi3mo and Bigzy aka Large Gary and Cold Kevin just dropped ‘maze’ go run that up. Don’t sleep on my guys from up north SK!NT and the slum government lot and 1Jack, Selrok and Sangria Kong too. My brothers Kemastry and Wundrop are always silently cooking so never sleep on the eagles.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
Hatter: Larry June x The Alchemist and I been on a mad Wu Tang thing recently since I watched the series. OB4C and Supreme Clientele been getting a lot of play. Brent Faiyaz, Ojerime, DC, Knucks and Potter Payper albums got a lot go play too.
Vitz: That Larry June and Alchemist project great escape is cool Been listening to Fly Anakin and Pink Siifu album ‘Fly Siifu’ and his album Frank also Meyhem Lauren and DJ Muggs ‘champagne for breakfast’ is hard. P money is consistently dropping bangers too so he’s been in rotation recently.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Hatter: I’m bang into football, proper Gooner. I probably spend a bit too much time watching games to be honest lool, this season I’m even watching Serie A. I get up to the Emirates when I can (on the hunt for a season ticket) and I play every week as well. I work for Audio Active helping younger’s to make music and it’s good to be involved in my community. Other than that it’s all about Travelling, Food, Dogs and enjoying life with my people. I love garms as well.
Vitz: I’m mainly chilling, but when I turn the Xbox off I Gotta stay active and look after myself, I used to play football and still love it so i watch that a lot and play whenever my legs allow me to.
Working for audio active too which is music based but it’s also doing my bit to help young people who need it and build a better community we’re living in.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
Hatter: For me it's about vibes and vibes only. If the vibes there we can record a demo using a computer mic, I don’t care. I just don’t like anything that feels forced.
Vitz: Other than the bait ones like mic, computer interface etc. I hate to say it but my phone as I write a lot on my notes, but using pen and paper brings a different feel to the approach at times so i’d say that equipment. If I’m in the lab with other rappers the element of friendly competition helps bring the best out of everyone too and getting gassed and inspired of each other’s ideas and bouncing off them.
I’m gonna realistically need a beverage of some sort to combat my dry mouth and help the skippy flows to be pronounced clearly. Some decent munch comes in handy to to keep the energy up.