So far you are not well known here in Czech Republic, so can you start with introducing yourself?
My name is Hydro, I am a rap musician and director of my own record label Underdogg Entertainment.
Tell us something about your beginnings. What made you actually start rapping? Do you remember the first time you wrote a song?
I loved Rap music since I was a kid. I related to the lyrics talking about single parent broken homes, racism and poverty. Thats the reason I started rapping. The first song I wrote was with my brother and best friend, we were just kids and recorded it using headphones and a cd player.
Who were your role models when you started out?
Tupac Shakur.
How did you get the nickname Hydro?
It was a street name given to me on the block in the Bronx. And I just ran with it
Youve lived in New York and Glasgow. Which of these places is closer to your heart? Do you feel like you are representing US in Glasgow?
Both places are special to me, however Glasgow is closer because I was born here and my family are from here too. I have a lot of love for New York, because it was where I learned to be a man, I feel like I am representing my life experience in both New York and Glasgow.
What differences do you see between music scenes in the States and in the Britain?
The states has established a multi billion dollar business model out of Hip Hop, Britain is just starting out. The UK has a lot of catching up to do, thats because Hip hop lifestyle has been around for decades in the USA.
As someone who lived in both of these countries, can you relate more to Nas music, or to The Streets?
Nas music. I never have lived in England, therefore I dont relate to the streets music.
If I am correct, you moved to New York as a teenager for better opportunities in your rap career. Did you already believe that you could make it big?
I always believed I could do anything, my mother instilled that in me. I moved to New York because there was no outlet or scene in Europe. So I just went straight to the birth place of Hip Hop.
You have many interesting guests on the album like Busta, N.O.R.E., Memphis Bleek or Nas DJ L.E.S.. How did you manage to get all of them on the album? Was it because you know them personally, or did you contact them without knowing them?
I know them personally and some even reached out to me. I worked with many major labels including Def Jam in New York. Not as an artist, but as an intern, learning the business. I met N.O.R.E and Bleek way back and also toured the world with Nas & Dj L.E.S. and through them I met Busta.
With such big guests on the album, do you consider yourself an underground artist?
Yeah, in the way that I am just as hungry today if not hungrier, as I was when I first started. People view me as a mainstream artist moving units round the world, I am cool with that, but there is so much still to achieve.
UK hip-hop is currently influenced with UK Garage and bassline. Have you ever considered doing an uptempo track in this style?
I love good music. I am feeling a lot of the UK music. Id liked to do some garage, bassline, rock, etc. If its hot, I am on it.
Whats next for you?
My album "Crucial" is out now on global release. I am starting my world tour for the album early 2009 so I hope to perform in the Czech republic. I would like to experience the countries culture and Hip Hop scene.
