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Baker's Dozen

Fanatic Energy: Flowdan's Favourite Records
Ollie Zhang , August 3rd, 2016 06:34

Following the release of the grime MC's new album, Disaster Piece, he talks Mollie Zhang through 13 records, from N.W.A to Lexxus, stopping by Shy FX, DJ Krust and Vanilla Ice, that he blames for getting him into music

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N.W.A – 'Fuck Tha Police'
With this particular song, I think I found out that I was a fanatic for music that had an edge and music that had a message, which I didn't know at the time. I really did listen to this particular album [Straight Outta Compton] over and over again – I thought it was weird because I had never really heard anything like it. I actually borrowed the tape off a friend and didn't give it back, because it was just such an intense listen. It was from a world totally different to mine and I didn't really understand the messages, I just liked how it sounded. As I grew up, I began to catch on, and the messages resonated with me and my hometown just as much as their own, even though it was halfway across the world.

I know you're really attracted to the "rudeness" of music – was that a big part of the record for you?

Rudeness, yes – just straight attitude and being a rebel. But when I was nine years old or however old I was when I first heard the record, these things didn't stand out. I didn't know it was about attitude and being a rebel, I just thought, "Oh this sounds cool, this sounds young" or, "This sounds like what I would want to do."