Rhymefest Responds To S.A.S. Comments

Chicago rapper Rhymefest has addressed comments he made on a mixtape and in a recent issue of U.K. Hip-Hop magazine Hip-Hop Connection, regarding the U.K. based group, S.A.S. Rhymefest allegedly made comments about the group on a mixtape circulating and in the Dec. issue of Hip-Hop Connection. The magazine published comments Rhymefest made about the […]

Chicago rapper Rhymefest

has addressed comments he made on a mixtape and in a recent issue of U.K. Hip-Hop

magazine Hip-Hop Connection, regarding the U.K. based group, S.A.S.

Rhymefest allegedly made

comments about the group on a mixtape circulating and in the Dec. issue of Hip-Hop

Connection.

The magazine published comments

Rhymefest made about the group stating “those UK rappers who signed with

Damon Dash…they aint even f**king representing the UK!"

“The

mixtape aint dissin nobody,” Rhymefest told AllHipHop.com of the former

allegations. “The Mixtape is giving props and credit to the UK artists

that I appreciate. I had a choice between whether or not to sign with Kanye

West or to sign with Mark Ronson. I signed with a guy who’s from Britain,

Allido Records [Ronson’s label]. One thing that Mark did for me, instead

of giving me like a spinning chain, he took me on a tour around the world.”

Rhymefest explained that

he visited a number or European countries, learning the various Hip-Hop scenes.

He said the road helped

him develop an appreciation and understanding of Hip-Hop music and culture outside

of the United States.

He said that he had a fondness

for UK Hip-Hop in particular, having entered into several battles in the country

and noted various collaborations with UK hip-hop artists.

Of the latter comments published

in Hip-Hop Connection, Rhymefest said he offered his opinion on the UK Hip-Hop

scene in general and that the magazine published his comments about S.A.S. out

of context.

“When

this magazine called Hip-Hop Connection interviewed me, they asked me who do

I like and I started naming artists,” Rhymefest told AllHipHop.com “Then

they asked me what I thought about the group S.A.S. I was like you know they

alright but to me it wasn’t like UK hip-hop. I gave my opinion and by

the time it was published in the magazine it was exaggerated. Like I said something

about S.A.S., but that was not the case. I just gave my opinion.”

Hip-Hop Connection, which

has been published since 1988, denied printing the rapper’s comments out

of context.

“Rhymefest unilaterally

raised the topic of S.A.S. in the interview,” HHC’s Deputy Editor

Phillip Mlynar told AllHipHop.com. “His words were published per verbatim

and in a box-out to the main article – HHC added no editorializing to his words

whatsoever. Since then S.A.S. has been offered their chance to respond to Rhymefest’s

words in the first issue of Hip-Hop Connection in 2006 and the title continues

to support both Rhymefest and S.A.S."

The North London rappers

spoke with AllHipHop.com days after the comments ran in Hip-Hop Connection and

claimed Rhymefest dissed them on a previous mix tape making the rounds.

"Rhymefest has been

told to say what he said because of marketing,” group member Mayhem told

AllHipHop.com. “He doesn’t realize what he says will get him f**ked up

in the UK. This is not a game. When I see him next time, I’m gonna f**k him

up!”

Rhymefest reiterated that

he was giving his overall opinion on various artists in the UK and that he wasn’t

interested in a physical altercation with the group.

“I aint interested

in fighting nobody in the club, I aint interested in going back in forth on

mixtapes,” Rhymefest said. “If you listen to my music, I don’t

make music based on beef. I have nothing but love and respect for the UK Hip-Hop

scene and the states could learn a lot from the brothers over there. They still

breakdancing, they still battle and they are still about having the art of trying

to have substantive lyrics. I appreciate that.”

Rhymefest, who

snagged a Grammy for co-writing “Jesus Walks” with Kanye West, is

preparing to release his debut album Blue Collar.

The album features guest

appearances by Mario, Twista, Common, Q-Tip, the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard

and others, with production handled by DJ Mark Ronson, NO ID, Cool & Dre,

Just Blaze and Kanye West handle production duties on the album, which hits

stores Jan. 24, 2006.

“I don’t think

I can get a foothold in the UK based on beef,” Rhymefest stated. “I

plan to continue using my passport and if somebody approaches me I have to handle

myself appropriately, but I’m not interested in causing any harm to another

black man.”