Urban Vault caught up with London based emcee Phoenix da Icefire & producer Husky Brown to ask them some questions about their new album PANACEA, & more…

London’s rapper/producer duo Phoenix da Icefire and Husky Brown recently released their highly impressive new album ‘Panacea’. As a member of Triple Darkness, Phoenix has long been regarded by many both at home and overseas as one of the most gifted lyricists to emerge from the UK.

Husky’s productions are a rare and dynamic fusion of contemporary Hip Hop, electronica, dub, bass, R&B, and soul which provide the soundtrack for a narrative addressing many of today’s most pressing issues. Delivered with trademark dexterous rhymes and creative wordplay, Phoenix sets his existential sights on the environment, mental health, knife crime, racism, well being, relationships, and inner-city life.

Welcome to The Urban Vault UK Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown… Can you tell us first of all where you are both originally from and based now?

Husky Brown – Originally from the Midlands from Jamaican heritage and have been living in London now for about 6 years after spending some time in Manchester for a minute. London is my home now.

Phoenix – I was born in Mile End hospital, they say only those who are born within the range of the ringing bells in Bow are real cockneys lol, I then from the age of 13 spent all of my teens growing in Deptford, I’m in Woolwich now settling down.

How long have you been making music individually and as a partnership?

Husky Brown – Since way back in the late 80’s. Back then I was doing more electronic broken beats type of music.

Phoenix – I’ve been making music officially for 11 years and me and Husky have just done the one project that was a year ago and planning on something for the future.

Tell us a bit about your previous solo releases, whether albums or key singles, and when they dropped?

Phoenix – ‘Baptism Under Fire’ was the first project I dropped in 2009 scratched by Dj Roast, still to this day people say it’s one of my best pieces of all time, it’s the project that put me on the map. “The Quantum Leap” album which was released 2012 showed people that I’m on a different level to many of my peers in the scene, I managed to get the now disbanded Terrafirma crew all on one album as well as put Klashnekoff and Keith Murray on the same track, I know it shocked a lot of people. I think though my mixtape ‘Winged Scarab’ which featured the ‘Do my Ting’ single featuring Cormega as well as having a music video was key because people could see the collaboration was authentic and respected the fact I brought my A-game to that collab and represented the UK nicely.

Your new album ‘Panacea’ released on 5th May. Tell us a little bit about the background in how you came to work together, and the concepts and inspirations which drove the musical direction and subject matter?

Phoenix – I met Husky online after Curoc from the Son of Noise crew reposted my show with The Doppelgangers, I asked him to send me some beats and was blown away with what came back. The concept came from all of the shamanic healing work I have done on myself guided by shamans of the Ayahuasca plant medicine. I have also done vipassana which was a 10-day silent meditation course… I say that to say this, all of the healing work I have done has led me to create this album. The concept came from a vision and message that was shown to me that the world will be shaken up and lots of issues will arise. Those are mainly the subjects I speak on, but will end in love ‘Love for Free’. This album feels prophetic to me and was channeled through so it doesn’t surprise me how it fitted with what is happening today.

Are there any unusual or little known facts about the album you’d like to share?

Husky Brown – It depends on what level one’s personal positioning is in the universe and headspace. For example, in “Cosmic Soul” Phoenix talks about having encounters with Aliens. This doesn’t mean the pretense of green men with a goldfish bowl over there heads… another type of spirit. I’ll pass the microphone to my brother Phoenix to break the insight down…

Phoenix – I detailed my experience when I had a UFO come into my bedroom and take me away on a spaceship on a track called “Cosmic Soul”. I was just sitting in bed waiting for my queen to join me for bed when they came, it was an experience I think about all the time. The next thing was my experience with meeting God and our mother Goddess through taking 12 grams of psilocybin mushrooms. I also put that experience on the same track. I did this because I’m not the only one who has had both of these experiences and I wanted to encourage more people to feel brave and comfortable to talk about these things broadening the subject matter within the scene and across genres of music in general

When you look at the album as a body of work, which aspects would you say you’re most proud of?

Husky Brown – The music and the composition arrangements and production of my bohemian and authentic personality. You hear the signature of Husky Brown and for those who are new to my presence now know why people call me the Scratch Lee Perry of Hip Hop. We just shot our first video for the track ‘The Humans Are Coming’. This video is what Hip Hop is really about and it’s time for the world to wake up and take the culture seriously.

Phoenix – I’m proud of the whole thing, the track order, the artwork, the skits and subject matter and the beats I’m just happy with the entire project to be honest

Phoenix, you cover subject matter which you’re actually pro-actively involved in addressing with your Sovereign Comics organization. Tell us a little about the work you’ve done there

Well our company deals with tackling societal ills such as street violence, obesity and suicide to name a few. Me and my team work with young people also teaching them skills like how to create a graphic novel and how to change the narrative of their own story. We were actually 4 weeks into delivering our course before the lockdown, but we are still forging ahead working with government and the likes of Lord Simon Woolley and his team Operation Black Vote in order to help us address these issue on a national level.

How did you both first get involved in the music industry?

Husky Brown – I’m from a family tree of Jamaican sound systems and started playing reggae Hip Hop from the age of 14. I won West & North East DJ Battle at the age of 16. At the age of 20 I was head hunted with a deal from Sony to produce music for too many established artists to mention.

Phoenix – One of my play leaders named Jackie from my community centre which was called Deptford Arches at the time introduced me to her nephew named Dwayne Thompson and he took me under his wing like a little brother and he nurtured my talent and made me run the record label with him which was responsible for putting out Triple Darkness’ first album ‘Anathema’ in 2008 I believe.

From an independent artists’ perspective, what are your thoughts on the music industry more widely in 2020?

Husky Brown – I think commercial radio stations and platforms have watered down the truth to a generation who may not want to discover the root and the foundation of the culture and its rawness. The definition of Raw should not be a fear but embraced as not filtered. For your readers, see it as not swearing on a track but how you approach the music. Bringing one into your world is a discipline of great experience and true skill. Unfortunately, some lack this attribute which allowed the Industry to be infected with pollution for those commercial entertainers.

Phoenix – I think it has opened up a lot more giving artists more control and I feel it’s about to get better due to social media. I’m working with www.thefloor.com at the moment on a few big things regarding the empowerment of independent artists and creating platforms that allow them to promote further and monetize their potential.

What do you both have planned for the rest of 2020?

Husky Brown – We have the Panacea Launch party in August in London. I’m flying over to the US in October as my solo album will be out before the end of the year, and booked to DJ at a few events in Europe.

Phoenix – More promotional events such as the versuz clash I just did with Geebag online a couple days ago, my music video will be dropping this year for “The Humans are Coming” single which was shot by Global faction, UKHH and animation and CGI done by my company Sovereign Comics I’ll keep people posted. I got another album dropping this year too called “Cinematic” so it’s a busy one lol, I’m also going to be kicking off our online portal for Sovereign Comics worldwide so it’s all go go go…

What would you say are your key motivations and inspirations as you continue to make music?

Husky Brown – Ignorance is my inspiration! (laughs). But on a serious tone, Jamaican Dancehall music and reggae sound systems who allowed me to jump on and give me a chance back in the days. Thanks to people like DJ Semtex giving me the opportunity to be inside a major recording label’s office when I was learning my craft. And I can’t forget to mention the energy and vibration of GOD!.

Phoenix – To further express and shock my own self with how creative and free I can be, pushing the boundaries for people to see how far they themselves can go.

Who would either of you like to collaborate with in the future?

Husky Brown – To be honest, it all depends on if I feel the artist is the right connection for my production. I like abstract artists, someone such as Danny Brown, Tricky, Damon Albarn or M.I.A.

Phoenix – I would love to work with Nas, Cormega again, Jay Z, Lauren Hill, Sa Roc, Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Joey Badass, and Jill Scott just to name a few.

What’s your favourite track by another artist at the moment?

Husky – Chemo, Telemachus’ new album. Big shout to my brother Chemo who also did a remix for the single ‘Travelling Buddy’ which is taken from our ‘Panacea’ album.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?

Husky – Sleeping (laughs)

Phoenix – I’m writing a graphic novel at the moment, I like watching One Piece which is my favourite anime of all time and playing the Dragon ball Z fighter game…awesome lol.

Which do you prefer, Facebook or Twitter or Instagram, and why?

Husky Brown – I don’t get too caught up in the social media world as it’s important that I”m not distracted on either social platform. All do their part.

Phoenix – Instagram is better as I can post to all the rest of the socials from there and the platform looks more exciting.

Where can people get your new album ‘Panacea’ currently?

Husky Brown – iTunes, Tidal, Amazon, Spotify

Phoenix – Yeah, they can get our new album Panacea on all the digital platforms

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

Husky Brown – Urban Vault UK is a great source and contribution to the movement. You guys are spreading hip hop to the world and identifying the real. I see your vision as a source and channel to communicate and bring artists, music, and events to music enthusiasts as the first point of call.

Phoenix – Boundary pushing, consistency, and high quality

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

Husky – Thank you and a massive big shout to your team at Urban Vault UK for the love and support. PEACE!

Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown – Panacea via iTunes/Spotify

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