NASTY CREW

N.A.S.T.Y. Crew
London, UK
N.A.S.T.Y. Crew have had a recent string of massive choons in the London Grime scene: "Run 4 Cover", "NASTY Gang Banger", and the latest "N.A.S.T.Y." on Ms. Dynamite's long awaited and finally released "A Little Darker" mixtape CD to name a few. Always bringing new influences and seemingly new members, N.A.S.T.Y. Crew has become a fixture in the Grime landscape.

SoulChampion’s G Notorious caught up with the crew to get the dirt on who they are, where they're from, and what to expect from them in the near future...

For those who don't know, N.A.S.T.Y is an acronym, what does it stand for?
NATURAL ARTISTIC SOUNDS TOUCHING YOU

Who are all of your members, where are they all from and what does each of them do for the crew?
Marcus Nasty is the founding member, he is also a DJ for the crew. DJ MAK 10 is a DJ for the crew, Black Jack is a producer, the Hitman Hypa, Sharky Major, Stormin, Armour Lightning, Nasty Jack, Griminal, Fazey 45, Lil Nasty, Kasimo, and Younga are the crew's MCs

We all come from east London except a few of us that come from west and south London.

What styles of music were you all into or involved in before and/or as well as Grime?
We are all into music full stop whether its rock, hip hop, new and old school all styles of music play a big part in the sound which N.A.S.T.Y. Crew bring to the table.

What new material and/or projects can we expect to see/hear from you in the future?
We are getting ready 2 shoot our next video as we talk, its called "N.A.S.T.Y. Gang Banga" aka "Girls Luv Nasty". The song has sold out on test press already and is ready 4 a larger scale release. It is on rotation on radio 1 xtra and DJs like Cameo, Logan Sama and Masterstepz are supporting it.

How do you see the recent major label interest in Grime effecting the scene? Do you see it as a positive or negative influence or both? Do you think the majors are ready to take Grime to the next level or are they just in it for the quick money before they move onto the "next big thing"?
We think it is a good thing for some people that the major labels want 2 signed grime acts it shows that we are marketable and our music is moving 4wrd. In all forms of music u will get positive and negative influences we are all human so we all have good and bad things happening in our lives. It just depends on what we feel like on the day when we are writing the lyrics. The labels are there 2 make money and what ever is selling is what they need 4 there business 2 make money but as the music gets more popular I see it becoming a music of longevity.

Along the same lines, what about the artists who come up through the scene but then release albums that are really more Hip-Hop than Grime? Do you think that's hurting the future of Grime itself or is it just as well that they grab success when they can?
I think that artists who come through the scene then make Hip-Hop music are entitled to make what ever music they feel they want 2 make. I will also say when there album flops it is because they 4 get why people like them in the first place.

Who outside of yourselves do you rate right now and who are your all time favorite artists?
In our scene I rate a lot of artists like Dizzy Rascal. He is doing big thingz. Nolay from Unorthadox, Ghetto, Roadside G.S., Scorcher, Bashy, Leathal is doin his thing, Dirty Goods, Kano, JME & Skepta, and a few others are doin big thingz 4 the scene DJs, like our own Mak 10, DJ Cameo, DJ Logan, Spiro, Ritchie Vibe Vee, DJ Q, Ace and Invisible, Dj Vectra are doin bigg thingz at the mo.
Black Jack, Davinche, Jiggalo, Terra Danja, Wiley, Footsie, Wafer, Low Deep, Dexplicit, Swiftee, Virgo, J Sweet, and Rossi B and Luca are making some big beats at the moment

You've recently recorded a tune with Ms. Dynamite for her forthcoming "A Little Darker" mixtape, how did that come about and what was it like working with Ms. Dynamite?
We got the link through a guy caled Jamie he's kina the link between the under ground and the mainstream. Work'n with ms Dynamite was not like work at all. Everything just clicked she is a nice person and a hard worka, so we had fun and by the time we turned round the song was done.

Are there other artists that you guys would like to work with in the future?
I dont really know, we would not mind doing a track with the Gorrilaz, Or Fundemental 03 they are hard workerz.

So keep your ear to the ground. Sounds like N.A.S.T.Y. Crew have their sight's set high... N.A.S.T.Y & Gorillaz collab? Sounds good to us!