Spinning Something Different, Just Like KFC In '93

"To just keep doing what I'm doing," expresses Ben Townsend aka Ivan Ooze after his support for Wu-Tang Clan at Brisbane's Riverstage had the Clan telling the Melbourne-based MC to stick to his guns, fuck the hate. "Don't let anyone's opinions fuck with your head. Stay on your own track because you never know, like, I never expected something like that to happen after the Wu-Tang set because I've been on other tour supports and that stuff never really happens.

"I remember when I was rapping I looked to my left and saw them all watching and that freaked me out. I was like, 'Holy shit, I've never seen other artists watching me,' and when I went back after the set they said that was dope and they liked what I was doing," recalls Townsend. "They respected what I was doing because it was different and said to keep continuing that."

"In 1993, KFC were the first to serve rotisserie chicken and have it advertised on TV and it was known for being packed with heaps of flavour..."

In March, Townsend dropped his latest mixtape '93 KFC Rotisserie GOLD, a volatile tracklisting of finger-lickin', fast-paced raps over a selection of trap-style beat-downs that ends brilliantly on the Willy Wonka's Pure Imagination sample. Much like Townsend's approach to his hip hop, you can either take it or leave it, a sentiment that's all in the name, he explains.

"In 1993, KFC were the first to serve rotisserie chicken and have it advertised on TV and it was known for being packed with heaps of flavour, it was new and people would grow to love it. People who hadn't tried it before went and tried it and they really liked it. I named my mixtape that because I wanted to be be like, 'Ooh, you haven't tried this shit yet,' and if you don't like it, pffft, but if you do like it then it's sort of like a whole new and different style of rap that you've never heard in Australia before."

While on the Wu tour, aside from taking Ghostface Killah Ugg boot shopping, and co-recording a track Bills with the legendary rapper, Townsend observed the command RZA had on stage, leading the Wu-Tang experience with complete control.

"When I was watching how RZA commands most of their shows, the way he talks and interacts with the crowd and when you do that that's what draws in their attention. So, when you talk to [the audience] you have to be confident and know what you're saying and doing and they are going to respect you for it. So it sort of makes you the leader in what the fuck's happening," Townsend reckons. "So I've made that into my stage show now and working in what aspects we are going to involve in the set and making them as solid as you can. Pretty much everyone in my show has an input into what goes down. Plus, I have written out a game plan and practised how we go about shit and it's looking pretty good. And I think that's why the [Groovin The Moo] set was so good."