MC Booth: Rapaport

Daytime name: Joel Rapaport

From: Sydney

What residencies do you have/crews do you belong to/acts to you play in/with? Record label – Big Village; Bands – Hip hop trio Loose Change; Live art-Rap gameshow Sketch The Rhyme; and live bands The Phonies and Svelt.

How did you get your MC name? Used to call myself J-Rap, and Blaze from Next Level Records told me that was a crap name, I explained my surname, he said just call yourself that, and I thought, actually that ain't a bad idea.

What you rhyme to... Laid back – boom bap made by Loose Change producer extraordinaire P.Major. On a solo tip, more UK grime and minimal Bass sounds.

Ya style? “Jew Boy Swag”.

Career highlight/s: Big Village – Big Things Tour as tour manager of 18 rappers and producers in mostly in one bus. Performing Sketch The Rhyme in Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 with a full Scottish crew I'd only met days before. Doing the midnight set New Year's Eve at Peats Ridge festival with my band The Phonies in only speedos and a flap-hat.

All time fave rhyme on a produced track? Too hard, a few that come to mind: “I like 'em black, brown Puerto Rican and Asian” – Phife; “I ain't a rapper I'm a psychic link to a parallel world” – Roots Manuva.

Fave MCs and why? Atmosphere – feels like he is speaking direct to YOU, poetic lyricism and deft flow. Roots Manuva – bad man rhythms of roots reggae with rude sensibility and a sophisticated swagger. Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) – that thing where he goes up in pitch at the start of each line, and supreme musicality as an MC. Phife – simple, well-crafted rhymes with so much funk.

Fave producers and why? Dilla (of course) – redefined the sound of hip hop. DJ Premier – true hip hop simplicity and soul.

Best MCing performance by an Australian you've ever seen? Mantra, one man show, no DJ, sitting on a stool at the loft, 2010. All class – his skill is unequalled in this country in my opinion.

Funniest thing you've when up on stage? Had a thong (footwear) thrown at me by audience member who thought my lyrics were sexist.

If you've been in MC battling comps, most memorable experiences? Losing Australian Scribble Jam 2006 in final round. Missed out on free trip to Ohio to compete in Scribble Jam USA, instead received a pair of Reeboks.

I dance like a… toddler at BBoy battle.

Production releases: Patterns Mixtape – free download, grime/electronica beats.

More info? www.rapaport.com.au ; www.bigvillagerecords.com.au.

Rapaport will be playing the following dates:

Friday 14 December - Hussle Hussle, Mojos, Perth WA