Zulu King Dj Big W is one of the first and one of the most active members of the European hip hop culture. He was a pioneer of Polish hip hop. He always seek knowledge about the roots of this culture. It's help him create the Polish branch of Universal Zulu Nation. Zulu King Dj Big W helped a lot of people around the world come to hip hop culture!
001
We know that chapters of the Universal Zulu Nation are in Poland, the Netherlands and Germany. Tell us, what countries in Europe still have Chapters of the UZN? As it comes to Europe – there are official chapters in Poland, Germany, United Kingdom, Holland, France, Sweden, Italy and Belgium. Who was the first official representative of Zulu Nation in Europe, and when did it happen? Is it true that the Polish chapter is the oldest in Europe? How many people are in it now? What European Chapter is the biggest one, how many people are there? It's hard to say who was the first one. Such a things are always arguable and difficult to discuss. Nobody has ever documented this fact, but what is sure – UZN is in Europe from the beginning of 90s. Polish chapter as the official one is not the oldest, but probably I am one of the oldest UZN member in Europe. Right now – we have 20 active, official members, but there are also many people, who support us. It is not about the number it's more about quality. As I know from my experience – often when there were organizations/initiatives gathering many people - they were not functioning. People were not willing to take actions. I think that my brothers from Holland are right now the biggest chapter in Europe. There is a serious crisis in German and Italian UZN. You can notice there a need for change and serious actions. Tell us about the development of the Universal Zulu Nation in Poland and in the whole of Europe. From the moment you became part of the Zulu Nation, what important events happened in the European Community Universal Zulu Nation? How does it spread to Europe? I have been representing hip hop culture since 1988/89 and Zulu Nation since 1996/97. I was only one person in UZN in Poland for many years. When communism collapsed – people just started to get to know the world. Some of them tried to "do hip hop" in Poland, but not so many people knew the roots, Zulu Nation. As far as I remember – I have been always fascinated with "digging in the roots", history. Being part of hip hop culture – it was my dream. Not just to be a random guy. You should know the roots for better understanding of the culture. I consider last 5,6 years as a great time for the Zulu Nation in Poland. For Zulu Nation and the real hip hop culture. More and more people are trying to reach the roots and it makes me happy. I don't like comparing past with the present actions. What was, already happened and it is important to look ahead. Right now – each and every event is extremely important to me. It doesn't matter if I am speaking with KRS One, Afrika Bambaataa, Mobb Deep or children at school, kindergarten – we talk about hip hop culture. There are many events that popularize hip hop culture and many that don't do that. E.g. when you speak with your 5
friends at home about hip hop culture – it is also important, because each one of you is constantly living this subject and you keep on popularizing it. There are many events going on right now, we are still active, because that is what membership in Zulu Nation should be. What are the requirements currently imposed for the creation and registration chapter? In various regions the requirements are different or they are the same for all? As it comes to official UZN chapter – it is really long road. But it is the same for everyone. You must have at least 20 active members of UZN, who are active for at least 6 years. Then – you can talk about possibilities of creating the chapter. Through many years of UZN of Poland – there had been many people in the organization. But – as it happens in life – there are black sheeps, that needs to be separated. I had to already remove 8 inactive members. Tell us about the events in the life of the Polish branch of Zulu Nation? What lectures, seminars, festivals you organized? What plan? It is another questions that I might answer for a long hours and you will get many pages of stories. To be honest – because of the enormous numbers of events – I can't remember many of them. What can I say – is that we had been organizing and still organizing many lectures in schools, culture centers, penitentiaries, approved schools, universities and many other places. Among the events, organized by us – you can find small one and big one – e.g. b-boys battles, graffiti jams, meetings and so on. Constant cooperation with other chapters is also really important. We invite them to us, we are guest at their events. Many events involved cooperation – e.g. events with Afrika Bambaataa, Mobb Deep, Krs-One, Edo G, Grand Wizard Theodore, Mr. Freeze, Mr. Wiggles, Masta Ace and others. We have plans – with our friends from Big Idea – to organize concert of Nas and some other events. Life changes every day, so each plan can be changed. Please tell us whether «Center for Hip Hop Culture» is in Poland? The state assists in the development of hiphop in your country? Hip hop culture centre in my city Szczecinek. I know is several same place in Poland, but I open first 9 years ago and city and sometimes state or politics help for us with events etc in my city very much help. How to change hip hop in Poland under the influence of Universal Zulu Nation? I think that hip hop in Poland – just as around the world – is changing in positive way thanks to the UZN. Zulu Nation is the roots, roots are spade work, knowledge and education. If someone loves hip hop culture and wants to popularize it properly – it should be done according to the rules of UZN. These rules are nothing but positive message, unity, respect, no race segregation etc.
002
The hip hop in Eastern Europe has undergone several changes. For example, there was a trend in rap, popular with football fans, and very distant itself from the ideas and aesthetics of hip hop culture in its classical sense. How, in your opinion, is related to the size and activity of representatives of the Zulu Nation in eastern Europe with the number and activity of the total mass of people who are simply interested in rap music, break dancing and graffiti as the art forms? When you about rap, which is popular among football fans – it does not have much in common with the hip hop culture. Rap is the part of hip hop culture, but it is also perceived as the music genre. Not every rapper (right now – most of them) – don't represent the hip hop culture. They don't have a clue about it. They are just talking some bullshit to the microphone and people, not using brain – believe in their banal message. And that's how it goes. For me – it doesn't exist. I am 40 years old right now and I have seen and heard a lot. People who want to reach the true facts – they will reach them. It is not about showing something at all costs. You have to do your thing, and there must be a will from the person. There is a saying: "Zulu is for everyone, but everyone is not for Zulu". If some is interested in any hip hop elements as an art form, not the culture as a whole, but wants to do it properly – with 100% of engagement – he should know the roots. We are the roots. And there you have a vicious circle. What are the specific difficulties in the development of Zulu Nation in Eastern Europe? Is there problem with the stereotypical perception of the organization as
"African-American" and not related to local cultures? There are no stereotypes about the Zulu Nation in this context. UZN has its roots in Black Panter movement, but it has never been only for the Afro-Americans. Bambaattaa had a vision, which is stated in the name of our organization – UNIVERSAL Zulu Nation, organization for everyone, who loves hip hop culture and wants to change negative to positive. Difficulties in Eastern Europe are just the same as in other parts of the world. It is always about open mind. Hip hop culture is more like mental state – not just clothes, music etc. I have seen many people, who came and swore "I'd give my life for hip hop" and then they disappeared. People like me are always with the culture. When looking at own experience – there is no such a thing as problems with spreading hip hop depending on the place of living. I have contact even with people from Nepal, Iran and other parts of the world, who are willing to join the UZN. I am Zulu King, so my obligation is to help these people. Which directions in the dissemination of knowledge about hip hop and the Zulu Nation in our region do you consider most important? Right now – I can't see better and faster way for spreading and searching for the "hip hop message" as through the Internet, Social Media: Facebook, Instagram and other interesting tools. You know – for the smart people Internet is valuable source of information and contact with the world. Stupid people will always use this powerful tool in bad ways. What can I say is – Internet gives possibilities, but you have to think and know what you are doing.
003
What about translations of books about hip hop, and in particular of articles and books about the Zulu Nation in Polish and other languages of the countries of Eastern Europe? I think that most translations are valuable source of information. Not everyone knows English. Perhaps – your mom will be willing to read something about the hip hop and doesn't know English language. Through the translations – she may know better what you are actually doing. It is important to show what hip hop is to people not associated with the culture. They may show better understanding of our actions. Every initiative is good, as long as it provides smart education and real knowledge. Do young people need these translations or the majority is well aware of the English language to read in the original? Of course – translations are needed. Not only for the older ones, but also for the younger ones. E.g. – there are 35% people in your country, who know English – they can read about the hip hop from the English materials. But what about other 65%? Translations give opportunities to reach them. Tell us about the specific in doing of the Zulu Nation in different countries of Eastern Europe? It's not about perceiving Zulu Nation in different way, because UZN is only one, just as the hip hop culture. Of course – UZN and hip hop culture are differently represented in many countries. It is more about culture differences. You can also look at this as the opportunity for spreading hip hop message in different ways. How did you come to the Universal Zulu Nation? You became the Zulu King in 2014. How you have achieved this status and what responsibilities laid upon you with him? As I mentioned before – I became member of UZN in 1996. I have been working hard since that day. Working hard for the UZN and popularizing its ideas. Next step was to set up official UZN chapter in Poland. Along with this moment came the title of Zulu Minister. It motivated me strongly for more actions – as a member of UZN, DJ and hip hop culture activist. These actions are taken with the people from the different parts of the world. Finally – Zulu Staff from New York – at the UZN anniversary celebration – gave me the title of Zulu King. I also received award for popularizing hip hop culture in the world. Zulu Nation is the official, legal organization. We have own lawyers, logos and names are restricted. As
you noticed – there are certain status in the organization. Personally – I am at the highest level in the organization, which is the prove of my hard work. It is the prove that path that I took to follow – from the street thug life to hip hop culture and UZN – was the right one. What do you do besides work in the Universal Zulu Nation? Or is your main job, which you earn a living? UZN is not considered as work for anyone. We don't earn on Zulu Nation, we build UZN. It should be done from the heart, not for the money. Personally – I am a DJ, actually living in Germany, where I have a regular job. I don't know what about others, but for me Zulu Nation is something more than just an organization, it is a real family. Many beautiful moments happened in this family. Do you consider hip hop and Zulu Nation as a whole, or for you, still there is a difference in these terms? When you say hip hop – you also say Zulu Nation. When you say Zulu Nation – you also say hip hop. There is no other way. If someone says differently – he really needs more knowledge. You spoke several times with KRS-One. Tell us how you feel about his philosophy of hip hop and the organization of Temple of Hip Hop. Each pioneer has own vision and describe it in own words. KRS one spoke on numerous of lectures, wrote numerous songs etc. KRS speaks how he feels and sees things – just like each one of us. Sometimes people interpreted his words too literally. When you read e.g. his book – you have to think about his words and interpret them – according to own thinking. When I say: "Sky is hip hop" – some people won't understand this. But for me – hip hop is everywhere and when I look at the sky I feel great love for the hip hop culture. I am 24 hours a day with it. It is always about interpretation. KRS one has been in the hip hop since the beginning. Through many years – he expressed himself through numerous of words and sentences. Even he – when looking from the perspective at some of them – may slightly laught at them. Why? Because at each stage of our life we may notice some other things, our way of looking at the world is different. Words that we say today, may not represent us e.g. 5 years later.
004
People are lazy nowadays and want to have already prepared answers – just like it is written. They don't want to add own thinking to this. It is always great to listen to KRS one or other pioneer, but remember that they are people with own words, sentences, metaphors etc., which should be interpreted by each person individually. Look at the big picture, context of their speaches/songs, not always for the specific word/sentences. Just to add – KRS one is really positive and really involved in hip hop culture. He really knows what it is, just to mentioned he had a chance to watch Afrika Bambaataa building unity on the streets – just at the beginning of UZN and hip hop. How do you see the relationship Universal Zulu Nation and Temple of Hip Hop? It doesn't matter if it's Temple of Hip Hop or other organization. Each cooperation is good, when positive effects for the hip hop culture development come with it. You don't have to be in any organization to represent the hip hop culture. These are our personal choices, we decide where we belong. At the end – when there is involvement – then everything is ok.
You ever been in Belarus? Do you have any relatives or friends there? Maybe you have had joint projects with people from Belarus? I have never been to Belarus and don't have relatives there, but I know Belarus, just like about other countries, who are somehow historically connected with Poland. It doesn't matter to me the country of origin. For me – one and only discriminant is how people popularize hip hop culture. Then I see – if there are my brothers, sisters or not. Wish and hope that UZN will develop in Belarus. I know what changes in people lives it might bring. In terms of changes I mean strength, love that connect people. I am always open and – if there is a chance to cooperate within the project from Belarus – you can count on me – on 100%. What would you like to add on my own at last? I would like to thank you for this interview, your time and your popularization of hip hop culture. Hope that it will develope in your country and people – just like in Poland and other countries – will seek for knowledge and the roots. Remember – at the end only the real ones stays. Greeting to all the brothers and sisters from Belarus – peace, love, unity and having fun!
https://www.facebook.com/ZuluDj.BiGW http://realhiphopculture.com 005