Snap Judgment: Plug Awards 2008

El-P

Dizzee Rascal is here tonight and you’re about to put his record out on your label, Definitive Jux. How did that come about?
My partner became friends with his manager and they were fans of my label, so it just kind of gelled. Americans have a hard time getting Dizzee.

Are you at all worried about that?
He’s only had limited exposure out here so far. I think it’s an uphill battle to a degree when you’re trying to bring something over here that hasn’t happened yet. Americans are a little bit arrogant. We just assume that we make the music and you listen to it, no matter where you are and what language you speak. It’s this sad, weird, limited perspective.

Think we’re ready to expand?
Yeah, maybe. Some other artists have come out over here since Dizzee first dropped, like M.I.A, Lady Sovereign and the Streets, so maybe Dizzee is the right guy at the right time. I’ve gone to Europe and seen people who have no fucking clue about my music and that is actually pretty sweet.