Give us a brief introduction of Stone Circle and the contribution/expertise of each member?

Stone Circle is an alliance of four individuals with a love for the art of hip-hop. True say 'Hip-hop' encompasses many branches of a tree. Our branch is emceeing… Our gift to articulate and convey thoughts is one we have been practising for years. Stone Circle as a group have been together for near a year, but do not be fooled. Before the emergence was solemnised each individual had various years of rhyming experience and work with other artists. 

Myself (Manifest) and my partner (9Lives) are the longest serving [Stone Circle] practitioners having both been part of various groups (Actually just ONE group that took on many forms!). A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and in this group we finally can mutually agree we have found a permanent state. The weaker links have been disengaged from the whole running's so what remains is only the hottest shit.

Let it be known we roll with PQ, we have done from day and he would probably be part of the group, but he is truly a free spirit. We got love for him to death and he is to be regarded as one with SC.

All of us have been on stage and performed together. We have all recorded songs in studio… Some of us solo material as well as a group or collaborating with other Social Misfit members. We also active produce much of our own material.

How long have you guys been together and how did you come about?

All mans in the group went to SFX (Sir Francis Xaviour High) and it was at this academic institute we were able to exhibit and create, but it took another period of time before we made a unanimous decision to seal the alliance under one official group. It didn't seem to happen on one set day from my memory it was just a kind of natural process.

It started of us 2… (9Lives and Manifest), then expanded to three (Concise AKA Influence) then became four (Braynz), with Pique always congruent.

Give us a low-down on the meaning behind the group name?

To tell the truth PQ suggested it a while back. Like a year later we were unanimous on the people in the group and a rough idea of the direction of the group. We floated some ideas and BOOM! It [Stone Circle] came to us… Or rather it came back to us!

The name sounds real powerful, strong you know… Solid. Well those are some words conjured up when I think of that name. The circle is US! … Four people grouped round a centre of interest… Our common ground being music. A circle is unbreakable… It's infinite in the sense there is no beginning or end. A circle is complete and perfect. Also represents a cycle. The cycle is life; the cycle is hip-hop… Forever perpetual you know. Forever changing in some way(s) yet the basics will always remain the same, get me. 

Stone is symbolic of the solidity. Stone does not disintegrate easy you know! It's like when you mark something in stone it's permanent! I'm sure your familiar with the saying. It's the solidity and long-lasting attributes we adopt from the literal meaning to our group name. It's also worth noting that a stone is part of a rock seen. In other words we as Emcees are part of a bigger scheme of things. This bigger scheme of things is HIP-HOP…The art and the culture. Hip-hop is the rock; we are just one stone… Some guys are just pebbles! I'm playing!

How did you link up with the Social Misfits and what were you doing before this?

Well all Stone Circle members went to SFX College in Clapham. That was the same school that two members of Da Essence (Juicy and Roach) also attended. Well, we were aware of Da Essence and how they were doing their thing, heard a few tapes and so on.

We had on a number of occasions talked to Da-Essence about collaborating on a song. Their producer, Sir Prestige, requested to hear our demo and when he did he invited us to feature on a Social Misfits project. Our first contribution was on a track called 'Rebels Without Applause', then we returned to record another tune 'Make the best of’ and not too long later we linked up to record 'Hip-hop Construction'. It was by this time we as a group were really gluing in terms of solidifying our identity, crystallising as it were. During these later recording sessions Prestige expressed his interest in having us aboard his growing enterprise on a full-time basis as opposed to the part-time and kind of 'feature' work we were doing for him.  

Though reluctant at first we democratically agreed it would be a good move for the group. This also coincided with PQ's arrival from the States and we all decided to move together.

Before becoming part of the Social Misfits movement we were doing our thing as under the name 'Irrational'. We were quite constant, but relatively low-key. That is to say we were more sharpening skills and learning to work together rather than seeking exposure. Having said that we performed at some venues like South Thames College (Our man PQ was there too!) and Uxbridge (Brunel University). We were making music (Beats) at 9 Lives' drum on the Atari… Went on disk took it to a studio in Clapham and recorded our stuff there at a reasonable price. We also rolled with or at least had associates we were down with i.e. Steel Horses, 10Faces and so on. We also met Jeremiah at College and he makes phat beats… A producer to watch out for.

What would you say differentiates you from the rest of the offerings available in the hip-hop arena.

Differentiate? Interesting! Well first and foremost as a collective we are just trying to be ourselves and represent who we are as people. Express our thoughts and feelings and ideas through music. We do not intentionally try to differentiate or sound like any other artists or groups out there. I would say however the group comprises of 4 distinctly different personas. Influence is the most conscious, Braynz is “Mr Clevercloggs!” … Well he better be with that name! Damien's probably the most soulful guy and I would say I'm kinda borderline everything… I dunno when it  comes to me your better off asking someone else.

I believe our strength is in diversity of subject matter and we plan to exhibit this nature of diversity in our upcoming album. I think we’re no different in the sense the real artists do it from the heart and for the love above all else. We want to make you bounce, feel soulful, laugh, cry and evoke all them kinds of emotions cause the are all aspects of an individual.

Maybe what really differentiates us is the virtue of diversity in material on top of our distinct characters. We promise to bring strong attributes to the table and nothing less. BEHOLD!!!

Stone Circle contribute one of the hottest joints on the Social Misfits album , ‘Emcees Couldn’t See Us’, break the track down for us

"Emcees Couldn't See us" is just a little representing tune. The concept being… as if you couldn't figure!… MCS can't see us!… It's a little spontaneous exhibition of skill and play with the concept. The whole song was created at the studio an hour or so before recording and developed from the first line in my first verse… "Emcees couldn't see me with 20-20 vision!" From there me (Manifest) and Braynz came up with the hook. The chorus just sums up the theme. I had a little basic idea for the outro and somewhere down the line Influence AKA Concise got carried away as you hear at the end of the song! He's a funny guy! We didn't even have a beat in mind at the time… Prestige flicked through some vacant instrumentals and one of them just seemed to be the one. Simple as that really. I think my partners expressed some sentiments that represent the group in that song… "The type to rap to the rhythm and beat of applause, Live and direct rhyming in sweat, Putting life in the deck…" That’s was some lines by Influence, then from Braynz you have.. "An odd collection of artists who promise shocking attributes".

Throughout your recordings you profess with many aspects of emceeing but if you were to define hip-hop music what would you comment and what are your thoughts on its current state?

Hip-hop music pinpoints one aspect of a diverse and continually expanding culture. If we are to expatiate about the music in most basic terms it's a hot beat and equally hot lyrical content. It makes you feel good, bounce or get real emotional. See that's the tool… And a powerful one at that. Its all artistic expression that triggers numerous responses from the listener. It's rhythmic and articulated poetry… Pure and from the heart, not commercialised or washed down… That Raw essence is HIP HOP music.

It is always and should always be diverse. We need Common and Black Thought and Nas to speak the soul shit We need Ras-kass and Chino XL, Canibus etc to get ill on the mic. We need Eminem to bring controversy and ultimately more listeners! We even need Puff Daddy to reach the less 'deep' listeners to reach a wider audience! We need M O P and DMX to make you thug out and jump up and down like a lunatic! We need Busta spitting them flows to make you BOUNCE and scream like a maniac and curse for no reason! You just feel real good! Real energetic! We need Cypress Hill to represent for the Latinos and them heads there. We need Redman and Methodman to give us joke and show the 'Weed smoking' aspect of the culture! We need Grave-diggas to show the positive and negative of life and educate listeners. We need Sunz of man to show the fucked up state of the world and re-enforce their message with religious conviction. We need DJ Premier to make us go wild with every beat he makes! We need Mobb Deep to tell us the deal on the streets! I can go on for ever, by now you get what I'm saying right?!

Most artists remember the first time they ever hear themselves on radio. You recently heard yourselves on national radio (BBC Radio One Rap Show - Tim Westwood) for the first time ever, how was the experience? 

For me… Flabbergasted is the word that comes to mind! Just the shock factor cos' I wasn't expecting it! It was kind of weird hearing my own voice… Damn, seems like I'll never get FULLY used to it! I was however bobbing my head to my other people's verses though!

It's progress to me and my people and testament of our endeavours crystallising into something tangible that heads can hear and FEEL, seen. Tell U the truth I should have been ecstatic! Maybe I really am too humble for my own good! Or maybe I will switch up when I hear regular air-play?

I understand Stone Circle are currently putting finishing touches on a project, appropriately called “The Foundation”, what more can you tell us more about this?

Diversity in themes, hot lyrics, nice beats. Like Westwood would say…'You need this in your life!'

Finally, if you were to address the nation with a speech about Stone Circle, what would be your key-notes?

“LISTEN to us!” Nah, on the real. I can not speak for all the heads in the group, but on my wavelength I'm a real humble type. So I would just be like… “If you appreciate good music and quality lyricism… Then support some homebred talent.”

Wait… You saying the WHOLE NATION though?! … That's pressure!!! How about something like 

“…Well all we do is do what we do… To the best of OUR ability. Music is not like maths… Ain't no right or wrong… So what you feel is 'good' music is up to you. Listen to some our stuff – preferably more than one song, and tell us what you think”

Thanks.