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Interview: Rukas
Fubar's Blog Archive Interview
Rukas
Scotland-born, London-based emcee Rukas discusses the life experiences behind his writing, the artists who shaped him, his highly technical approach to rhyme construction, collaborations, his relentless writing habits, and his perspective on the UK hip-hop scene at the time of this interview.
Artist responses have been preserved as originally provided.
01
For readers discovering you for the first time, tell us about yourself and the life experiences that eventually led you to writing and hip-hop.
Rukas
Born in Scotland. Oldest of seven. Sadly Drugs and alcohol prominent most of my life, since I was 12. Started listening to Hip hop when Westwood was on Capital Radio. Long time ago. Started writing at about 13 or so. But stopped for the 7 years I was homeless. Only the last few years (7) I’ve been clean. Still like a whiskey, or a Stella, though not so much as my livers a little knackered. Left home at 15. Moved in with Dad (Alcoholic, but I loved him R.I.P. dad) Slept rough on the streets of London for 7 years, and got to know it intimately. Ran round with very dangerous people. Seen friends die with “Needles in their arms whilst listening to the Beatles in a trance” Been to prison (for Drugs) didn’t like it so much so, never went back heh. Spent years going thru the Hostel system till I was eventually given my current flat (Brixton, London) where I got clean. Trained up to become a support worker, helping homeless people. Met the love of my Life Cristina (Galician Actress, and film maker) over 4 years ago. Lost our baby son who was born sleeping over a year ago. Left my job to look after my fiancée Cristina after this loss. Depression and I are close now. But I write. I write…and it helps. Without the missus I’d be a shell.
02
Which artists and genres influenced you growing up, and what continues to influence you as a writer?
Rukas
Beatles, Eagles, Eric Clapton, Iron Maiden, Nas, 2Pac, Eminem. Big Daddy Kane, Big Pun, Big L, Blacksheep, Wu, Kurupt (From Dog Pound) Doctor Dre, Bob Marley, Alanis Morissette …The List Is Impossibly Long. I Like All Sorts Of Music, from a varied selection of genres.
03
What do you believe separates your writing and approach from other artists?
Rukas
My bedroom walls? No sorry lol, okay. This is a hard question, yet easy. Listen to my songs; listen to the way I write my bars. The one thing I hate is when I hear people say “yeah I’m different” yeah sure mate…no you’re not. But I AM! So fuck you, jog on son, heh heh.
04
How would you describe your writing style, particularly the techniques you consider most distinctive to your work?
Rukas
I will list only 2… #1: “MIRROR WRITING” is the ultimate expression of my art, and the pinnacle of what I can achieve with the English language. Entire paragraph rhyming… #2: “MULTI RHYME SCHEME JUGGLING” Secret. Look, I sent my first draft of this to Fubar, with a long detailed description of these 2 styles, all was good. But a week previous I have pasted that particular info on Facebook, as a titbit for promo. Well, after that I noticed some people were starting to… well, bite my style. I don’t wanna come off all high and mighty like “who the fuck does he think he is? lol but it took me 20 years to get to the skill level I’m at, and the 2 styles above were my hard sought prize, something I accomplished. 20 YEARS! WRITING! That’s no joke, so I take offense if someone comes along and can’t be bothered to develop their own uniqueness, their own style, nah; these people are biting my style. They ain't doing it RIGHT… but they ARE trying. Heh here, for a laugh, here is me having a rant on facebook about it.
Rukas — Facebook Rant
“I DON'T USUALLY RANT, BUT FUCK YEAH I WILL TODAY DAMN IT...EVERYWHERE I LOOK, I HEAR FUCKERS BITING MY FUCKING FLOW!!! THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE...THE SAME PEOPLE I BEEN FUCKING WITH, ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE THAT I SPOKE OR WORKED WITH BEFORE....NOT ONE OF THEM IS A STRANGER COINCIDENCE MY SPOTTY ARSE. I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THEY WERE CURIOUS, AND AT HOME WANTED TO SEE IF THEY COULD DO IT, THAT'D BE FINE, BUT SUDDENLY ALL YA SONGS YA FLOW SWITCHED UP OUT OF THE BLUE? C'MON....IF YA READ THIS, AND FEEL DEFENSIVE....THEN YOU PROLLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE I'M TALKING ABOUT. I KNOW THIS COZ A YEAR AGO NOT ONE OF THESE PEOPLE WERE DOING THIS TYPE FLOW. YEAH I’M TALKING ABOUT MY MIRROR WRITING AS YOU WELL KNOW. I SPENT YEARS TRYNA FIND A UNIQUE FLOW, IT WAS HARD MAN, AND I HAD SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE WAS DOING (WELL, NOT PROPERLY ANYWAY) NOW I HEAR IT ALL OVER THE FUCKIN PLACE....YEAH I'M PISSED OFF...WOULDN’T' YOU BE? GET.YOUR.OWN.FUCKING.STYLE. THAT'S IT NUFF SAID....FUCKSAKE.... …And NO...pointless naming and shaming....so don't be asking for names people, not getting involved in teenage online fucking beef...I just want people to know that I am aware of what they're doing, and don't they have any integrity? I COULD NEVER, bite someone’s flow, coz deep down inside myself, I would know that I was copying someone else. AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS THIS WAY?“
05
What keeps you making music and writing at such a high volume?
Rukas
Because someone has to… make actual "music" that is. Nah seriously? I’m not gonna spout all that shit about how it's my passion and shit, but I would say that I have no choice, I can’t stop even if I tried, I write 3 songs per week, have 196 recorded songs, and more than 45 waiting to be recorded, I will never record all my songs, too many concepts and bars in my head. I write more than I can afford to record….so in a bit of a pickle, unless I stop writing for a couple years….yeah exactly…not gonna happen.
06
Who are some of the artists and producers you've worked with, and who would you like to continue collaborating with?
Rukas
Dekay, Matt Catlow, Midi Intellect, Reno, Pro P, Chogaia, Phoenix, Tony Green, (Producers, Anno Domini Stable, Adamack and other Shadowville Producers) To be honest, this list would be too long, I have too many features and people I have worked with. Who would I like to work with in future? I dunno, whoever can write epic bars, and obviously my friends I would like to keep working with. Including my fiancé, Chogaia who has recorded her first rap verse recently, tutored by yours truly. Heh heh have to plug the missus here, or I won’t get my dinner - CHOGAIA - A talented actress (has been in tv shows in her homeland Spain), a film-maker, writer and my muse heh heh. She has done a few videos for Dekay. Here are a couple:
Original embedded videos and inactive external links from this archived interview have been removed.
07
How would you describe the UK hip-hop scene at the time of this interview?
Rukas
Boring. Sorry, but to be honest, not that impressed with any rappers really these days. No one is breaking boundaries, doing new things…and they’re all chatting the same old shit. Rappers are lazy. Shit, sorry to blow my own trumpet, but I put more effort into 1 song that most of these cats put in an album. There are exceptions to the rule, but I aint gonna list them, Well, my mates Dekay and Midi intellect are exceptions to the rule, others too, but afraid of offending people if I miss them out, I mention D and Midi as they are personal friends….in real life…not facebook life heh heh. Check all the features on my songs; THOSE are the rappers I rate. Fubar? Him? Uhm…yeah, yeah he’s on the list heh heh. Collabs already recorded, 2 upcoming son, and another coming later in the year on a cover album produced by Matt Catlow.
08
Final impossible choice: you're stranded on an island with only one album — Justin Bieber's Believe or Riff Raff's Icon. Which one are you taking, and why?
Rukas
…I HAVE to answer this? Shit…okay…erm…well I would dramatically find the highest building and jump off it theatrically yelling “HAH! This’ll teach you world”! before listening to that Justin prick, so I’ll go for the freaky looking specimen Riff, plus at least I might be able to rap over his shit to drown out his wack lyrics, as he has more hip hopish beats than Justin…I think. PS fubar you have a sick imagination asking this question, very…very…twisted. I shall not forget this, you have made a most heinous and stubborn enemy this day, LET THE TRUMPETS RING!
…Now where’s that wench of mine with my dinner? OUCH!!! Sorry babes….sob…
…Now where’s that wench of mine with my dinner? OUCH!!! Sorry babes….sob…
Rukas Music
Explore Rukas' available releases and music directly through his Bandcamp catalog.
Visit Rukas on Bandcamp →
Interview conducted by Fubar
Rukas — 19th October 2014
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10/06/2014
Underground HH (Hip Hop Blog)
Website Spotlight
UndergroundHH
Built by the scene, for the scene.
About UndergroundHH
UndergroundHH.com was created to document and support UK hip-hop, with an emphasis on the underground and independent artists, producers and labels keeping the culture moving outside of the mainstream.
The site grew into a deep archive of UK hip-hop history, covering artists, producers, albums, lyrics, news, videos, reviews, interviews, rap battles and independent labels.
More than simply a news site, UndergroundHH has become a place to discover artists, dig through discographies and revisit music and stories that might otherwise disappear as the internet continues to change.
Then & Now
From the Original Fubar's Blog Spotlight
When this spotlight was originally published, UndergroundHH was still in the early stages of its growth. The site had already surpassed 100,000 page views through the work of a small team and support from artists and record labels throughout the UK.
The current UndergroundHH identifies the archive as established in 2011. After years of preserving UK hip-hop material, the site was rebuilt and relaunched in 2026 with the goal of carrying that history forward while rebuilding the type of independent online community that existed before social media became the center of music discovery.
Est. 2011
UK Hip-Hop Archive
Community-Run
Relaunched 2026
Inside the Archive
Rappers & Producers
Artist and producer profiles with discographies, aliases, collectives and interconnected credits.
Albums
A growing archive of UK hip-hop releases spanning different eras, artists and independent labels.
Lyrics
Thousands of archived tracks and lyrics, with the community helping fill in missing material.
Rap Battles
Archived battles, leagues and community voting covering an important part of UK hip-hop culture.
News & Videos
Years of underground releases, videos, reviews, announcements and scene coverage preserved in one place.
Community
Member accounts, ratings, voting and a forum designed to bring discussion back to an independent hip-hop site.
The Archive in Numbers
Archive totals displayed by UndergroundHH at the time of this Fubar's Blog update.
425
Rappers
109
Producers
1,252
Albums
15,335
Tracks
869
News Articles
34
Independent Labels
Why It Matters
Keeping Independent Hip-Hop History Online
Before social media became the default home for music communities, independent sites, blogs and forums were where listeners discovered artists, debated albums, traded recommendations and built relationships around the music.
UndergroundHH's rebuild brings that philosophy back while preserving material collected across more than a decade of UK hip-hop history. Instead of allowing old artist pages, lyrics, reviews and releases to disappear into dead links and abandoned platforms, the archive gives that material a permanent home while continuing to document what is happening now.
Visit UndergroundHH
This Fubar's Blog spotlight has been updated to reflect UndergroundHH's current archive and 2026 relaunch while retaining historical context from the original post.
Samuel Tafari & Seiza - Code of Silence (COMING SOON)
Street Shit (Pt. I) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Keep It Movin' [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Concrete Jungle (ft. DJ TMB) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Mumma I'm Sorry [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Code of Silence (Put In Work) (ft. DJ TMB) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
Razors Army (ft. 17z & Edd Bundy) [Beat by Edd Bundy]
9/19/2014
9/11/2014
9/02/2014
8/26/2014
8/22/2014
Ill of Writes - Blue Van Music (COMING SOON) (2014)
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Release Date: 9-1-2014
Ill of Writes.. formerly known as Hood Kings (Edd Bundy & Samuel Tafari). In the constant search for originality, the decision to change the name has been made.
The album "Blue Van Music" features production from Jake One and cuts from DJ TMB. The 1st single titled "Money" has been released in promotion for the new album.
Ill of Writes.. back in rare form immediately after the release of "Full Metal Alchamists 2" released recently under the moniker of "Hood Kings" which is available for FREE DOWNLOAD.
8/15/2014
Interview: Jus Ra
Fubar's Blog Archive Interview
Jus Ra
Flint, Michigan emcee Jus Ra discusses the artists who shaped his approach to hip-hop, what separates his style, his work with The Fraternity, his goals as an artist, past and future collaborations, and the projects he was preparing at the time of this interview.
Artist responses have been preserved as originally provided.
01
For readers discovering you for the first time, introduce yourself. Where are you from, and are you affiliated with any crews or groups?
Jus Ra
My name Is Jus Ra I’m a emcee out of Flint Michigan, I’ve been grinding on my city’s music scene for about 8 years now I’ve done it all from sit with major labels such as Aftermath and Universal to open shows for established platinum selling artist like Chamillionaire, Young Buck and Freeway. Along with being a Solo Artist I’m a part of an online supergroup The Fraternity and I’ve been working with that circle of artists for about a year.
02
Which artists influenced you when you first started making music, and who inspires you now?
Jus Ra
When I first started to record my main influences were Canibus, Redman, Eminem and Big Pun because in the beginning all I wanted was to be “Lyrical” but as I got more experienced I started to pay attention to techniques that Jay Z used in song writing and Incorporated that heavily regarding things like content and balance. Nowadays I’d say my biggest Influences are Lupe Fiasco and Pharoah Monch they are two of the creative artist out right now and I really do strive to be creative in everything I do as far as my sound.
03
What do you think separates your sound and style from other artists?
Jus Ra
My voice! It’s what sets me apart from the guy rapping next to me, it makes people pay attention, I guess they don’t expect me to have such a high pitch lol, besides the voice it’s the flow I think, I’ve taken little things from my personal list of great and incorporated them into my style just with my twist added to it.
04
What drives you to make music, and what is the ultimate goal you hope to reach with it?
Jus Ra
In the beginning I think I just wanted to be in that “who’s the nicest” conversation but now I do it as a means to speak out on certain things be it from a place of social awareness or just pure entertainment. My ultimate goal is just to contribute a widely recognized and acclaimed to Hip Hop culture, I just need the one please and thank you.
05
Who are some of the artists and producers you've worked with, and who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Jus Ra
In the past I’ve got work in with a lot of the local talent in my city namely artist like the songstress Shava Jay, production genius A.P and Battle Rap’s newest Star Anubis; I’ve also put in a lot of work with the Fraternity over the last year. Future artists I’d like to work with are Exile, Slaughterhouse and Lupe Fiasco to name a few.
06
What projects have you released so far, and what were you working on at the time of this interview?
Jus Ra
I recently just put out my album called Blood Sacrifice it’s on sale on my bandcamp page along with a few free album I’ve released in the last 2 years so right now there are 4 albums on there overall I’m on my 8th joint in like 4 years I’m working out here lol.
In terms of right now I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a Ep I got coming out with a producer that goes by The Gonz he’s also in Fraternity and the Ep is going to be called Unclassified, beside the new music I got coming later this year I’m also going to be putting out videos for Blood Sacrifice the first visual piece is almost wrapped it’s going to be a song off the album called Dead God produced by another Fraternity member named Dope Antelope so y’all be on the lookout for that.
In terms of right now I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a Ep I got coming out with a producer that goes by The Gonz he’s also in Fraternity and the Ep is going to be called Unclassified, beside the new music I got coming later this year I’m also going to be putting out videos for Blood Sacrifice the first visual piece is almost wrapped it’s going to be a song off the album called Dead God produced by another Fraternity member named Dope Antelope so y’all be on the lookout for that.
Interview conducted by Fubar
Jus Ra Links
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