A2

A2 has always operated on the fringes of London’s rap world. Signed to Disturbing London A2’s erratic, esoteric releases and general unkowable air have made him a cult favourite. Having already collaborated with the likes of 6lack, last month he dropped his new EP Purple, another slice of murky, mysterious British rap that includes ‘Flair’ a track which features three of the UK’s most exciting new MCs, Octavian, Suspect and Yxng Bane, on one track. We managed to track A2 down for this week’s Internet Crush.

Do you remember your dreams? Tell us about a recent dream you’ve had…
Imma be real, you’ll be mad disappointed – I actually don’t dream. I can’t remember the last time I woke up and remembered my dream. I’m really missing out!

Have you ever committed a crime (or done something illegal)? If so what did you do and were there consequences?
I try to stay away from crimes. When I was younger, at school … there used to be those finger skateboards. Me and my cousin pulled up to Tesco, took some toys, made an escape route. I was mad young, probably like 10.

What is the closest you’ve ever come to death?
The closest I’ve come to death… I don’t actually know. Some guy knocked me off a bike when I was younger. I blacked out for like 30 seconds. I don’t know if that’s near death, but that’s the nearest experience I’ve had to danger.

Describe your sound in three words…
Unique. Fresh. Vibrant.

What’s your star sign? (and are you a typical *whatever your sign is*?)
I’m an Aries. I feel like I am (a typical Aries). Stubborn, hot-headed. They say positives too, but I feel like the positives are usually the same when it comes to all star signs. The negatives are kind of more specific.

When was the first time you had your heart broken?
Damn, man. Probably in primary school, or something. To be real, probably as a teenager. I probably liked someone a lot and they probably didn’t like me, so that must have hurt me a lot back then. Outside of that, growing up, I think it’s general heartbreak, relationships ending and stuff. But back then everything was like an emotional-teenager-end-of-the-world-thing. As I got older, I became more rational.

Who was your first celebrity crush?
I feel like it was Cameron Diaz. I watched The Mask when I was younger. I think it was the first celebrity when I was like “oh wow”. Yeah, Cameron Diaz. Where is she now? She was cute.

What was the first song you ever wrote?
I wish I remembered the name, but I used to write crazy lyrics when I was like 11. I’ve probably done some grime stuff. But outside of that, I remember I had a song called ‘Spanish Town’ when I was 15. That was the first one people started talking about, the first one I actually counted.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Get your business straight. No curves, no bends. That’s the best advice anyone ever told me.

How was high school?
It was good; it was fun. It was educational; I learnt a lot. I wish I learnt more, as in… I feel like there’s a way it could set you up socially for the world, but I don’t think it entirely gives you that structure. But yeah, school is school. I miss it now. When you leave it, you miss it, but at the time I wanted to get out. Especially when I got to years 10 and 11, I was like… yo, this needs to end, let’s go college, enjoy life.

Is sex important to you? (why?)
Yeah man. It’s important to everyone. It’s like another energy release that needs to be in your life. As much as possible.

What’s the biggest problem facing humans as a species?
Conflict of humans. I hate conflict. Everything else about humans is amazing. Conflict is one of the worst things when dealing with humans, I find.

Describe your own personal idea of hell…
I don’t know if hell is real, as people make it out to be. I feel like you will get some pain and anguish maybe, for the things you’ve done on Earth. But I don’t know if it’s like eternal burning, as they say. Devil walking around with a pitchfork and stuff. I don’t know if it’s like that, but it can’t be anything good. I don’t think it’s fire and demons. It might not be real.

What’s a lie you’ve told and what was the fallout?
I tell lies about releases all the time, but it’s not intentional. I’m just impulsive sometimes. I might be like “yo, tomorrow I might drop this…”, but then I think about it, and I’m like “Nah…” Mad people get at me online and think I’m trolling when I say serious stuff.

Which talent would you most like to have? (and why)
I wish I could paint. I find painting really dope, especially if you can do it realistically. I would be one of those people that just listens to music and paints all the time.

What’s one thing we can all do to contribute to equality?
Be nice and kind. Once you do those things, everyone’s equal. There are no bad vibes.

What would the title of your biography be?
Read All About It.

When was the last time you cried and why?
I probably cried at football when I was younger or something. I can’t remember the last time but I probably got mad frustrated, lost at football and shed some tears. But in general life I tend to keep tears away.

Where/What will you be doing at the end of the world?
Since there was the last question… I’ll be floating up to heaven. That shit sounds crazy. I want to be like… what do they call it? That show where people start floating up, whatever that shit is. That needs to be me.