Q&A:Plan B, London rapper turned soulman
On your first album you were a foul-mouthed rapper with an acoustic guitar. You’ve returned as a smooth soul singer. What happened?
Well, I’ve always been a soul singer. I’ve always been a lot of things. I’ve sung RB. I’ve done folk songs. I even do jungle music. When I started rapping people took notice, so I ran with that for a while. The last album did its job, in that it reached the kids in the street. That’s who I wrote it for. But they don’t buy music, do they? They downloaded it for free.
You haven’t just changed the music. It’s the whole package
When I’m trying to sell an album, it would confuse people if I presented myself as I actually am – which is a multifaceted personality. So when I was promoting a rap album, my clothes had to represent that. This record has a classic Motown sound, so I’m wearing the old-style suits, the tie pin, the little handkerchief in my pocket. I mean, I’d look pretty stupid playing it in jeans.
Is it that calculated?
No. There’s no swearing in soul music, it doesn’t sound right. So not swearing means my song gets played more on the radio. But my music comes from the heart. If I was in the studio trying to figure out how to get my songs on the radio, people would see through that in a second. It’s like having a baby. Only after the baby is born, do you know whether it has blue or green eyes.
The video for your new single, ‘She Said’, is proving hugely popular on YouTube. It has a 1960s Cockney gangster feel, but also a quirky sense of humour
The album is about a character called Strickland Banks who works his way to the top, lets it all go to his head, becomes a womaniser and a nasty man, and eventually gets torn down. So that video is the courtroom scene. Parts of it are real and parts of it are fantasy. Strickland in the dock – that’s for real. But when the jury start moving in time to the music, that’s in his head. Someone told me it reminded them of a Dennis Potter film, although I must admit I’ve not seen any of his work.
You recently starred as a young hooligan in the film ‘Harry Brown’, alongside Michael Caine. Any idea why they offered you that part?
Well, its because I can do it, can’t I? When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time on the street and that’s how you survive. If there’s a problem, it’s that I play it too well. That was the second role like that I’ve played and if I do another I’m afraid I’ll get typecast. But I’ve grown up a lot. I’ve worked quite hard at becoming a more peaceful person. A gentleman.
What do your old mates think of the suits?
They love it, mate. They love it. They’re still wearing their crusty trainers and hoodies – I look a thousand times better now. Like a gangster.
Finally, what about the next album? Have you scratched your soul itch now?
Yeah, any more soul songs I write are going out as B-sides. I’m not doing another album of it. There are so many things I want to explore. I love punk. I love dubstep. My next album is going to be a reggae album, so I’ll have a shaved head, eight-hole Doc Martins and tie-dyed jeans. Whatever. For me, I see no difference between film and music. I’m a storyteller. That’s what I’m going to represent, that’s what I’m going to sell.
The Defamation of Strickland Banks is released on Monday
