MC Booth: SkankMC

Daytime name: Hugh Winterflood 

From: Alice Springs, NT

What residencies do you have / crews do you belong to / acts to you play in/with? I used to play in a rap/reggae band, called Dr. Strangeways but I'm a solo artist now, I play with my homie DJ Flim Flam who is also a drummer in a heavy metal band from Alice, called Miazma. I started rapping in my early teens with my mates and we called ourselves Audio Grill. So I gotta pay respect to those mob too.  

How did you get your MC name? My mate gave me the name Skank a long time before I started MCing, but it stuck pretty well and the MC was just added on. Even my mum calls me Skank. It can get pretty embarassing   for some people when I'm walking down the street and someone yells 'Skank!' and all the girls turn around haha.

What's your style? NT HIP HOP.

What makes your MCing unique/different or ahead of the rest? I'm from Alice Springs, N.T. In the middle of the country. We're a melting pot of people from all sides of the map. We're isolated, but were also the place  which is the closest to EVERY beach in Australia haha. I've been here all my life and it has carved my style. I'm like a fuckin hip hop Slim Dusty. Shout outs to Slim Dusty.

First time MCing out, and what was most memorable for you? One of my favourite memories of hip hop is just driving out bush with my brus Sully, smoking a few billies and just freestyling for hours and laughing our heads off. When you're freeing with your mates you can say anything you want, no shame.    

All time fave rhyme on a produced track? I reckon one of the best verses on a track is Nicki Minaj when she shreds Kanye and Jay-Z on 'Monster.' It's not my favourite verse of all time, but she goes hard as and reminds me of some good times.   

Fave MCs and why? Hardest question ever, as if you gave me one night to do this brus haha. I'll break it down to nationality I reckon. Fav Aus: Prime, Solo, The Tongue and Vents. Fav US: Eminem, R.A The Rugged Man, Charlie 2na and Yelawolf. Fav UK: Dizzee Rascal, Devlin.

Fave producers and why? Dude called Vampts in Adelaide. Dope beats, cheap as. And I gotta give a special mention to my mates Dan The Underdog and Cool Poindexter who both feature on my EP.   Best MCing performance by an Australian you've ever seen (who, where, what at and why)? Joelistics at the Wide Open space festival, in Alice Springs. Wide Open Space is a festival in the middle of the desert, I've played the past 3 years. Joelistics album 'The Voyager' is one of my fave Aus releases ever. and, acid.    

If you've been in MC battling comps, Most memorable experiences? I flew to ADL at the start of 2012 and had a rap battle in the Got Beef? Battle league. I think everyone was expecting some bogan from the bush but I came out swinging with some hard as bars and the fella I was battling choked. I took the win easily, and since been asked back to battle but I'd rather focus on writing music then just raps about some dude I don't even know haha.  

Your club/dance scene needs more or less of? Haha, I'm from Alice Springs. There isn't really a club/dance scene. More of a live music scene, which has exploded recently. Mostly heavy metal. djent dent djent. It needs more venues and support from the Government but.  

Weirdest thing you've seen in a nightclub? I once pissed on my friends hand as he was taking a shit?

How much is freestyled, how much is memorised? I'd say about 70/30, obviously when you're free styling you're gonna cover new and untouched topics, but everyone has their crutch.   Worst MC performance you've ever seen? Saw a white dude do a cover of a Tupac track once, was pretty cringe worthy. He dropped the N bomb.

Spend more on music than you earn? Paid $500 for public liability insurance for BDO, and that's how much were getting paid. you tell me brus! hahaha. I don't see the spending as spending though, its all an investment. I've just released my EP independently, paid it all myself. I've started selling CDs, I know its gonna take a long time to earn it back and make some profit, but I don't really mind. It's all business but, in the end I reckon I'll get back what I've put in. And/or claim it back on tax nah haha. 

In real life you: I work as a youth carer, I drive a Land Rover Defender, have a sexy ass wife and a dingo called Lil - G. I'm Only Hugh, Man..

Your own Production releases : My debut EP has been released independently, it is called I'm Only Hugh, Man...

What does MCing mean to you? My mothers initials are MC. MC is tattooed over my heart. Sometimes I think about what i'd be doing if I didn't rap. Cant really picture it but ay.   

What makes hip hop such an important element of music and culture to you? Hip hop is the perfect medium to express ideas, I've no musical talent at all. I can't play instruments, or sing in key. but I can still tell my story. It's for everyone.

Where can people get more info? You can hear some of my tracks at www.triplejunearthed.com/skankmc  and you can check us on Facebook.com/booblife - EPs are available directly through me for physical, and digitally on iTunes and Bandcamp.

SkankMC will be playing the following dates:

Monday 28 January - Big Day Out, Claremont WA
Thursday 31 January - Rocket Room, Northbridge WA