Urban Vault Caught up with Bristol, UK-based emcee The Inglorious Poet to ask him some questions about his new album FINE ART [THE AMERICAN PROJECT] & more…

The Inglorious Poet is a mostly conscious emcee, who’s known best for his clever lyricism over classic boom-bap instrumentals. He’s fairly new to the scene but has already worked with Underground heavyweights and also featured alongside Snowgoons on their Youtube channel. He has released a couple of EPs to date where’s he’s given the listeners a slight insight into his early life, his drive, and also his thoughts on this world at large. Now The Inglorious Poet is ready to share this UK/U.S. collaborative album ‘Fine Art [The American Project]‘ featuring some of the finest Underground Hip Hop legends and soulful vocalists from the USA.

What is your name?

The Inglorious Poet

Where are you from?

Bristol, UK.

Tell us about the Hip Hop scene in Bristol?

So the scene here is pretty strong, but I don’t feel the artists here get enough credit for the art we create as a city. We have a host of clever lyricists and real ones that’s really about Hip Hop and the culture. Relly, Komposa, Jinxsta, Goose, Wish, Res One to name a few. We also got some dope producers from the city in my guy B-Lash and also DJ Rogue who also produces them dope cuts for a lot of different artists.

You recently released your new album Fine Art [The American Project], tell us about the concept?

Well, the concept is one that just seemed to come together organically over time, opposed to it being a planned album. Due to growing up on American Hip Hop, I had collaborated with more than a few U.S. underground artists such as RJ Payne, Reef The Lost Cauze, and Guilty Simpson. I then actually won an instrumental from an Instagram competition from @VintageGotDaHeat, which also included a Hook from Nathaniel Star. I wrote to the instrumental, spat my verse, and called it ‘Fine Art’. This was based on one of my bars mentioning the most expensive painting ever sold, ‘Salvator Mundi’. Nathaniel Star then blessed the hook and I thought it would be good to bunch together all of these
collaborations and release them as a project. Then back in September 2019, I travelled to America to film videos with the classy New Jersey videographer Tony Tlapanco to accompany this project. I visited New Jersey to link the upcoming K-Prez for ‘BELIEVE’ for some stadium vibes in Asbury Park. I then traveled to Philly to capture some Rocky-inspired visuals with Reef for ‘SIT THE FU*K DOWN’. Lastly, I went on the DMV line to film some Pulp Fiction vibes with Nathaniel Star on ‘BEE COOL’. The latter is to be released on the 22nd of April, so keep an eye out for that.

Besides traditional Boom Bap your sound is heavily influenced by soul music?

Yea I would say that I’m heavily influenced by both Soul and Motown music. My Mother used to be constantly playing classics from Aretha Franklin & Curtis Mayfield etc. as we were getting ready for school growing up. I remember that like it was yesterday and it was definitely instrumental in my love for Hip Hop music.

Who produced the album and who are the features?

So the album has a few different producers, my good friend B-Lash also from Bristol usually produces all my beats. He produced ‘SELLOUT’ which features underground legend, the Detroit-based Guilty Simpson. Also ‘MAN ON FIRE’, which features the well-known Ruste Juxx, the classy Allison Balanc, and of course my guy Lou Slugga who I’ve connected with for quite some time. Lastly from B-Lash the incredibly heavy beat for ‘SIT THE F*CK DOWN’ which features Philadelphia OG Reef The Lost Cauze. The other main producer on this project is VintageGotDaHeat who produced the title track ‘FINE ART’, which features Nathaniel Star, Nathaniel also features on the track ‘BE COOL’ which is also produced by Vintage. Also the opening track ‘BELIEVE’ featuring the emerging Hip Hop star from New Jersey K-Prez and the soulful Queen Chezale. Lastly, guy P’s Musicbox (Boomclick Crew) produced ‘CRZY’ and we’ve got a few more in the locker coming 2022.

That’s quite a lot of U.S. Underground emcees, any UK artists involved, too?

No this is completely a project of me collaborating with several underground American artists. I grew up listening to Tupac, G-Unit, The Game, Common, Immortal Technique & Talib Kweli. So it’s the U.S. sound I’m more drawn to as opposed to the UK sound even though I’m English. But I do have a lot of content on the way featuring people from my City and a few tracks featuring other artists from around the UK.

How did you connect with Reef The Lost Cauze, Guilty Simpson, Recognize Ali, etc, over the internet or in person?

I reached out over Instagram to all of the names mentioned. I remember I was listening to Reef’s ‘Sound Of Philadelphia’ on repeat and just thinking to myself that I got to do a hype song with this guy, that grimy and gritty make you get pumped up for the gym kinda anthem. I always want to make the music that I would want to listen to, hence reaching out to these guys mentioned. So yeah I just reached out over Instagram and all the 3 mentioned were feeling the art and were happy to collaborate. It’s an honor to share these pieces of art with talented and well-respected dudes within this art and we’ve made something that will last forever. Reef also hooked me up with the well-known underground Hip Hop outfit Snowgoons, which I’m forever grateful for. I’m looking to work with them all again soon and making some more noise.

You started rapping at the age of 15 but took a backseat from it to concentrate on boxing. Tell us about your fighting career?

I’ve been in love with Boxing ever since I watched Rocky and all the sequels. I was a strong and game lad, but I also had a kind of insecurity from being bullied slightly when I was younger. But also growing up with a heavy-handed Step Dad who was pretty intimidating, I had the urge to want to be able to protect myself properly. When I first entered the gym at 16, I seemed to be a natural, winning my first five Amateur fights by KO (4 in the 1st Round). After this I didn’t couldn’t seem to get a bout, I had A LOT of people drop out either a day before or on the night. Then I started to lose interest, training constantly and dieting to make weight only to be let down. This was the start of my ‘on and off’ relationship with the sport. But aged 25 I signed a Professional contract and looked to get going, but came unstuck when a couple of shows that I was penciled in to appear and got cancelled. Then by the Summer, I was booked to go to Las Vegas, Ibiza, and Glastonbury, so that year seemed to be wasted. The next year I signed with a different Coach and Manger, but my Coach, unfortunately, got Cancer and that year fell by the wayside again. I gave it another go the next year with another gym and a well-renowned Coach and we were flying, everything seemed to finally start falling into place. But we had a bust-up in the gym and I then hung up the gloves and turned my attention to music. I promised myself that no matter what I would pursue the path until the very end and have never looked back. I did eventually return to the ring in 2019 after a seven-year hiatus from competitive boxing when I entered an eight-man tournament. I knocked my first opponent out cold in the 2nd round in the first fight but lost a points decision in the Semi-Finals. I have still toyed with the idea of a return, but the pandemic has chucked a spanner in the works. What will be, will be and I’ll see what the future holds on the Boxing front. But for now, it’s just straight music every day, the wave is coming.

What inspires you when you make your music?

When making music, I’m inspired by the beat or instrumental that I’ve been given because that can really set the tone for the track. I don’t think producers get enough credit if I’m honest, because it’s the beat that kinda dictates what direction the song goes. Also over the years, I’ve had a lot of life experiences, good and bad. Just life I guess and through music I get a chance to release some of the ups and downs, it’s free therapy. Although I’m still yet to let the people hear my deepest and darkest content, soon come though!

What do you do when your not making music?

When I’m not making music, I’m either Hiking up mountains, Boxing, researching, watching films, or catching up with friends. But generally, I’m thinking and writing new content and polishing up old unreleased rhymes.

Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter?

On Instagram my tag is @ingloriouspoet , Facebook it’s ‘The Inglorious Poet’ & my Twitter is @inglorious_poet although I’m not mad keen and active on Twitter. Way too many people just arguing with one another, ain’t really my thing. But I’m an artist and I need to promote my art.

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

It’s amazing what you’re doing for upcoming talent within music and giving us a platform to connect with the fans and share stories regarding our art.

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

The Inglorious Poet – FINE ART [The American Project] via iTunes/Spotify

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