Men of the Sea ( Fabri Fibra + Side ) > Abstract compositions

By Claudio “Sid” Brignole

AL 39 September 1999

We are surrounded by howling sirens, those of ambulances and police

that smash your eardrums with their shrill sound and those of those who want to be snake charmers and try to seduce you with a few words put in bulk over a beat that vaguely goes on four quarters.

In both cases the feeling is one of irritation even if an ambulance siren can save a life while the usual piece can make you want to take it away. It is a good thing that every now and then there is something that breaks this mechanism and certain conventions of ‘I am better than you’ as ends in themselves, the exceptions are few and few are the mc's ready to overcome certain commonplaces and seemingly insurmountable fences. We are talking about a group, but not the usual group, Uomini Di Mare belong to themselves, Fabbri Fibra and Lato do not resemble anyone, Italian or American. They have originality in their DNA, a surprising maturity for their little experience, and a strong awareness of their role (a rarity). Here I am not trying to overestimate or push the ‘men’ more (it is up to you to make up your own mind about them) but just to issue a warning: from now on the starting point for the next level has moved at least a few steps.

-What happened between your first announcement of the album release and today? It's been a bundle of months.

Fabbri Fibra: “The front page ad we did to block out the storm of people wondering if the Uomini Di Mare would do anything, but do the Uomini Di Mare do anything?”

Side: “Mah, I know they've done some featuring around, all self-produced records, but they're in the studio a lot and you only hear them on a few mixtapes. ”Fabbri Fibra: “I, and I'm speaking as an outsider, of the Uomini Di Mare, I've only heard three demos that are spun by the grace of God...Side: “One better than the other!”

Fabbri Fibra: “Yes, they did ‘these three demos in succession, but without the organization behind it, however lately Uomini Di Mare have been doing ‘knock’ productions, that is, very fast. ”Side: “However more than anything else Uomini Di Mare have been doing demotapes, they are always spun on tapes that you can listen to in the car, there are people who come to hear them with their voices like inside a cave because of how many times they have duplicated their tape. Eventually if it works that way, they thought it would work on CDs too, gosh they even did an advertising page nine months ago: ‘coming soon...’”

-But what did the Sea Men do these nine months, did they really go to the sea?

Fabbri Fibra: “No, basically at the time of the publicity page, the final pieces were ten to which the pieces with the features had to be added, and when you do them, you have to do them well, otherwise if they're strained, they'll all be spotted, even your parents.”

Side: “So you have to make contacts with the people you do the features with, see if they are good people, and if you understand that they are on your journey, then they go into your record.”

Fabbri Fibra: “We finished “Sindrome Di Fine Millennio” three months after the publicity page, and from there on we found a first agreement, which we did not finalize, however, since the expectations were not what we had, on both sides, both ours and the label's side that thought we were willing to emerge as the ‘Italian Hip Hop group.’”

-Now do you feel ready to emerge?

Side: “Yes, the record should be released these days and it will be distributed by Good Stuff, also the graphics will be completely new.”

-What is your philosophy of life?

Fabbri Fibra: “The situation is set up like this: I feel positioned a little bit strangely. I didn't get into Hip Hop because I wanted to express my anger through rap, I write because I like it and then I put myself in parallel with rap because the way of expressing ideas and all the feelings you have to give are there and that's my playground. As for comparing with others on the way of writing or producing bases, for us it never existed, but not by choice...’

Side: “Yes, it's really a logistical and geographical situation. We stay in the Riviera and basically stay very much at each other's homes. There are only a few of us and a feeling has developed between us and we're pretty much set in our ways now.”

Fabbri Fibra: “If you go out there, you only find ‘unzettoni’ from 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning, a continuous afterhour. And it's also full of people who say there's no shit to do, but everywhere there's no shit to do, there's something in Bologna, in Milan and something in the south, but in Ancona... There's no one to stand next to.”

-Looking at it in hindsight, do you think it was good that you were born totally alone? Fabbri Fibra: “Yes, also because I can't imagine myself any other way, maybe if I had studied in Milan and started writing there, I would have never wondered what it would be like in a city where I am totally shunned by others. And then originality is in your head.”

Lato: “Yes, you can do in any city, as long as you stay firm to the ideas you have and what you want to express. ”Fabbri Fibra: “You have to give feelings, not because the rhyme sounds good then you rock, the feeling also has to come from what you say, so also for the basics.”

Side: “There is also to say that in order to test ourselves, we had thought that the CD should be made like this, for us, and it was a growth in which we reached a good feeling, even though we came in nice and tired.”

-Many bands make the record because they want to, even if they have nothing to say. What is it that moves you instead?

Side: “I like the way they think, both Fabbri and Nesly Rice. I've done bases for other people, but how they squeeze the two of them... The talk is that they are proactive and the things they write are good. I get along great with them and they basically have exclusive rights to my bases. You know the way one expresses oneself, in my opinion, should be a little bit ’family-oriented,‘ because they live what I live and vice versa, and that's why we are together. For me 1+1 is 2 and it's not music. We've been working together for eight years.’

Fabbri Fibra: “He used to work in a local radio station and we used to skate, because of that he left radio and the first self-productions were born. Theoretically there you get closer, but instead we are moving away because we stay too much at home or in the studio.”

-Are you happy to ‘move away’ or does it worry you?

Fabbri Fibra: “This question was asked by the first person who wanted us to sign the contract and asked us what we would expect. I don't know, and here we go back to the question of expectations and I try to make myself as little of them as possible, but the evolution is daily and I understand day by day in what terms I can approach the phenomenon and in what terms I can expose it to outsiders.”

Side: “And how to profit from it both personally and economically, which unfortunately is still a utopia. Not tying yourself to anyone is crucial, though.”

Fabbri Fibra: “Now it looks like you can make money from it, but the whole thing will explode in 2 or 3 years. Now I see it as holding on. You know before you get accepted, and not only by b-boys, it takes because the more you go on the more people listen and chew on it, so if you listen to Italian products that are born with a certain criteria, you recognize it. In my opinion, everyone should go their own way and come up with their own stuff when it's time, without blowing it first or coming too late, you have to have a goal.”

-Don't you happen to let others hear your stuff, maybe outside the Hip Hop scene? To know how people perceive your pieces.

Fabbri Fibra: “You know people usually get a little weirded out because they don't understand how I tie the words together. In my opinion now there are a lot of kids at home who are studying and what's there now is nothing compared to what will come out in the future. ’Side: ”There are people who are at home deserving and meditating. We've been at home a lot, and now here we are with a CD ... who wants us to play around... “Fabbri Fibra: ”Beloved or lamed!“

-Fabbri, you have a particular way of constructing lyrics, you don't follow a logical path but play with images and the feelings they evoke.

Fabbri Fibra: “My mother writes for herself, so some inheritance there must be. It's the same thing with writing, you start from a letter and you evolve it until you make it unrecognizable. Same thing with rhyme, you start and you don't know when you get there, you notice it though, even if you don't stop. It's always a continuous metamorphosis and you don't stop.’

-How do you match this stylistic research with content?

Fabbri Fibra: “You try to live, although by saying that I don't mean travel the world and then come home and write. You get your three or four paranoid thoughts, then some positive ones, then you think about your crew and that's life. The bad in the world, the good in the family, you cross them and you get the moral of the day. You always have something to say, if you don't, you can't write. I do well writing on the bases that Lato gives me, there should be more mc who write real lyrics on bases that are produced on purpose. And then fundamental are the images, I have to see what you say.”

Side: “Yes, the producer-cartoon cutting and sewing. In my opinion, however, you have to be friends first of all. Our formula anyway is based on images and that's the main thing. If you make a picture, a drawing that has different facets, you can interpret it in various ways.”

-Yours is definitely a record that you discover different with each listen.

Side: “Our stuff is judged to be pretty airtight.”

-I wanted to comment with you on some sentences....

Fabbri Fibra: “No, wait, I'll tell you what. You know when you talk about the Italian scene? The Italian scene is an archive, like all other scenes, and you have to be placed in a folder that along with the others is put in an orderly way. If at some point someone comes along and messes things up, then it becomes difficult to understand who was coming before and who was coming after, however, everything is filed, listened to, analyzed, taken apart and criticized. Everything. If you are an orderly person, rest assured that no one will take anything away from you.”

Side: “And that's both speaking negatively and positively, because if people talk about it even badly, it means that they have transposed, because something that doesn't deserve passes unnoticed. ”Fabbri Fibra: “In my opinion, you know when a phenomenon will be short-lived or not, and you don't have to worry about criticism... It's welcome.”

-What is behind the choice of the title “End of the Millennium Syndrome?”

Fabbri Fibra: “It's three months until the end of the millennium and the “End of the Millennium Syndrome” is preparing your mind set for the new century, preparing yourself first of all for the rush. The days now are 7 or 8 hours, not 24 anymore, and there's so much fear that with the new millennium new stuff will be born, that everyone will recycle, so it's all cover and stracover. It's a fake millennium, now I'm not going to explain the story... Anyway, that's what the album is about.’

Side: “Of classic there is nothing. A lot of people listen to the records I listen to, though; I try to propose them in another way. ”Fabbri Fibra: “My hurry is held back by others telling me to be calm. I really have the end-of-the-millennium syndrome and time is running out.”

-Stretches for what?

Fabbri Fibra: “The time is there, and you arrange it however you want. I'm facing the exit of adolescence right at the end of the millennium, and I'm not going to tell you about all the people who tell me I'm wasting my time with music... Even the movies you see are hectic, even AL Magazine is now monthly, whereas before it was bimonthly. It's just that you're in a hurry!”

-How do you think we can get out of this situation?

Fabbri Fibra: “In my opinion you don't get out.”

Side: “No, it's a mechanism now. Look at any documentary about developing countries, nobody runs, however, everybody laughs why? Because it's a different mechanism. We are stressed, imbibed.”

Fabbri Fibra: “It's a matter of storing input and the more you have the more you get caught up, it's a matter of adjustment.’

-But it seems to me that so far you have had a fairly ‘slow’ conception of things. Now aren't you afraid that you will be spoiled in the trance you are accustomed to?

Fabbri Fibra: “The previous demo was titled “Qustodi Del Tempo” and said we were super-quiet and had all the time we wanted, now it's eight months later and Qustodi Ragio is in France, Chime is in Bangkok taking pictures under the Buddhas. So to me the rush came. Then you see that there are bands making publicity pages, rotating videos, mixtapes, cassette demos, CDs, they make vinyls, etc., and maybe we thought it was us in Senigallia who didn't have the contacts, but no it's just that people now go fast.”

-Do you like the idea of being here doing the interview for AL Magazine, or would you rather be under some Buddhas as well?

Fabbri Fibra: “Look, with the money we spent to make the CD, we could have stayed in Holland to the bitter end. But I like to finish, concretize and finish the things I start, so when you have things set up, you have a hard time leaving, however, everything has a time and I think this is our time. It's all discovery for us, how the dates will be set up, how to deal with people... I'm looking forward to having people in front of us to let them hear what we've done and what faces we have, but most of all to let them hear that we have some to say.’

-Do you think it will be difficult to relate and deal with other realities that perhaps might pass negativity on to you?

Fabbri Fibra: ‘The risk of course is there, whenever you step out of your world, however we try to do everything in small steps. I'm curious how people will take us, maybe they will see us as the experimental group, or as the badass group. Boh! I can't tell you what Hip Hop is.”

-I believe this is the right attitude.

Fabbri Fibra: “It's like in France... Now there is market there, but only now. Two years ago, Alliance Ethnik had come out with the classic disco single. Imagine us in how long before we come out.”

-In Italy there is a different social situation than in other European countries, so in my opinion such a strong thing will not be created here for many more years. What do you guys think about it?

Side: “In my opinion, the problem is also at the level of labels and record companies that don't put the right assumptions on you. The day there is an Italian band that can be produced by an American label, then things will change. Now in Italy there are a lot of groups that feel like fish out of water, because the big labels don't give means and promotion to small groups, but only to songwriters, or to those ‘safe’ groups. ”Fabbri Fibra: “For me it's normal. If it exploded and Italy recognized Hip Hop culture there would be an explosion of people coming out to be ‘Mr. Know It All.’ In my opinion it's space you have to take for yourself. ”Side: “And it's also a matter of years. In the 1970s, in the United States, people were dancing funky. In Italy there are people who struggle to get those original records and it's just starting culture, which we didn't. ’Fabbri Fibra: ”However, I don't see in Italy the elements capable of supporting Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop exists here, but there is the climate of tension and there are the scazzi.“

-We need to have the patience and ability to wait.

Side: “Nowadays anyone can make a CD.”

Fabbri Fibra: “In my opinion, one should not think about money, but just make music.”

-In Italy everyone thinks they are alone, they don't do group work....

Fabbri Fibra: “For me it would take a lot more jams, because there you see what the real thing is. You can make articles about a particular group and people get an idea, then you have to see what they will do at the jam. For me, right after the release, the feedback should be instant, otherwise people create false myths, models that are based on mystery, whereas the feedback must be instant. It's just that the jams are always far away -- no way, you always have to catch the train! Because Hip Hop is train money, it's money to the State Railways.”

Side: “There should be another discipline, obliterate--as the fifth element of Hip Hop.”

-Aside from rap, what are you up to in your everyday life?

Fabbri Fibra: “I studied graphic design, but in the end even in the classroom I was just making covers for our work. I don't really understand what my clothes are. I finished school, I could do something as a graphic designer, but I want to write rhymes. I even worked in a restaurant to bring out ‘this CD ... however, I am a rapper!”

Side: “I work in the restoration field, I'm inside churches and I'm more or less a surveyor. I do 45,000 kilometers a year. My job is driving the car, catching people and doing frills and counterfronts basically.”

Fabbri Fibra: “We are ready to quit what we are doing, we are really ready, however we don't want to turn with Hip Hop just because we don't like what we are doing.”

Side: “In any case, work on an artistic level wears you down and castrates you. I started working to raise the money to make in the garage of my house the studio. ”Fabbri Fibra: “As Inoki says: ‘get a job/because it's serious/earn your pay/even if it's a pittance. You have to do it. Logically if you work there is no break between when you work and when you then make music... That is, the hungry period you do and you suffer when you have to.’

-Tell me about the features.

Side: “On the record we have Nesly Rice, Word, Rudy B who scratches on two tracks, Shezan who is the Ragio of Garden's Habits, who is massive, and they weaned us. ”Fabbri Fibra: “Then we have three DJs really different from each other: on “Il Domani È Oggi” it's Locca, in the intro and on “Teste Mobili” it's Inesha, and on “Benvenuti Nel Violento” and “Uno Su Dieci” it's Rudy.”

-How did the collaboration with Word come about?

Fabbri Fibra: “Well, with the others we got along very well and fit in well, with Word it's a Rimini-Senigallia union. There is Inoki in massive portion. I feel the studio! Then there is El Presidente who does the opening for us and Nesly who wanders, because he is the fixed featuring.”

-You have taken care of all aspects of the record, haven't you?

Fabbri Fibra: “Yes. Tip: don't entrust your image to people who know nothing about you! Don't make an effort to take pissed off pictures in the subway if you live on the Riviera and have five sisters.”

-Lato, with you I would like to talk about the productions that contain a lot of played instruments and samples.

Side: “Yes, I took the samples, then worked with a 4-track multi-track and mastered it. There was a bass player, Luca Cannarella, who collaborated with me and we got along well. Then we played on “I Wish” a piece with the piano, we redid the bass line, which in several pieces I played. The drums are all played. The samples are as original as possible.”

-I understand that the equipment you used was quite modest....

Side: “I got the Akai 950 and came up with my own recipes, spicing them up with what I had of my own. Just think, the first cassette of the first demo was all ceramic. On the CD there's multitrack, we worked a lot in the studio, then we recompressed everything, went to a studio where there was a 36-channel desk from Mitsubishi, and the automation was assembled by Alessandro Castriota himself-a great person!”

-This is proof that you don't need millions in planting to get things done.

Side: “I'm self-taught, and when you learn on your own you put aside preconceptions about music a little bit.’

-Fabbri, you talk about women a lot in the record, I understand they are your cross and delight.

Fabbri Fibra: “I now have to think about nailing some pussy because I haven't hit the nail in 4 months. Write this down. Future plans: nailing some pussy. I can't get into a relationship with a person, but not because of me, just because of the music. I can't do it, maybe because I don't meet girls who are predisposed to the fact that maybe someday, I'm not saying you'll be able to live with it, however, much of the mind is thrown there and so you don't find the support. Then there are certain times when I want to be with a great whore-I want the closed houses for example! That's a big issue though, women. But can you hear me talking about some pussy?”

-Yes, and then in some things I agree with you.

Fabbri Fibra: “But do you accuse her of things about chicks right away? Because my fear is that before you talk about a girl, you have to have gotten to know her well, otherwise you feel that maybe you were a little paranoid.’

-Are you not concerned that there are few girls in Hip Hop? Years ago we were 99% men now things have improved a little bit but we are still at Bulgarian percentages.

Fabbri Fibra: “I have to say it. Girls you are few and above all you are not dirty. Be more so! However the moment you enter the crews you feel like a particular person and that can hurt and to us girls don't come close. Boh. Just don't form Britney Spears clones. Don't propose these things to us!”

-But do you think many mc's are pissed off because they don't have the chick on the side?

Side: “Yes, that's it. Why are ‘these stories born? Because you don't get laid. ”Fabbri Fibra: “I think the Sea Men are the crew with the least women. I can see that. But then there are very few girls in Hip Hop in Italy, you see some going around maybe, but there are few. When I met Silviettina who is infatuated with Hip Hop I thought she was the only serious girl in it... ”Side: “And then there is a young lady who dresses in latex... ”Fabbri Fibra: “Bella Dafne on all the trains in Italy! Anyway, the speech about being yourself is fundamental!”Side: “I would never want a girl to share these things with me, because then you recoil.”

-I feel it is time to conclude, otherwise we will exhaust our poor readers....

Fabbri Fibra: “To finish let's close with what Jo used to say and that is, ‘I want you in fotta regaz, I want you in fotta regaz, gran fotta, where I come from and where I go, I want you in fotta regaz.’ This she used to repeat to us all the time.”