Q: Why the name Lo-Ki Family?  | | KMD, Lo-Ki Family |
Nesia :– Lo-Ki means keep things low profile. We like to keep our heads down and just concentrate on our music skills. KMD :- Lo–Ki have been going about 5 years. Before Lo-Ki Family we were called Lo-Ki Crew when there was just a few of us. As more people got involved we took away the word 'Crew' because there are too many negative images attached to it. Officially there’s about 16 members including: TG, KMD, Neshia, HM, M’s, Gizmo, X, Triksta, also up and coming young members (we call them the rugrats), Davey D, Acid, Whisper, Smash, Chronic, Lickle Mob, plus there’s the Lo-Ki Ladies. Q: Are you a Hip-Hop family?  | | Nesia, Lo-Ki Family |
HM:- No we’re a musical family. We’re not just about the Hip-Hop music. We do all kinds of music; Hip-Hop, Garage, Basement and R&B, what the industry would call urban music but we don't like to use that term. Q: Who are your musical influences? Nesia:- There’s too many to mention. In terms of conscious artist for me there’s Bob Marley, Sizzla, people like that. But right about now probably Ludicrous is representing and I'm feeling the new Snoop album too. I like people with style, attitude and are doing something a little bit different. TG:- That’s what were all about. Being different! Lo-Ki Family’s got a lot of different characters. So we do like a lot of the artists that are different like Outcast, Kelis, Neptunes. We love our producers too like Dr J, Timberland, Kayne West. There’s just too many inspirations. Q: Some people say that with Garage and Hip-Hop music comes trouble – it’s thug music! What would you say to those people?  | | HM, Lo-Ki family |
Lil Keshia:- It’s about the people that follow the music. Everyone’s trying to be the baddest crew. It’s just a bad coincidence that those types of people like that type of music. Nesia:- The media has also got a lot to do with it. Certain situations just get taken all out of proportion. I don’t think it’s as bad as people make out. Certain lyrics can sometimes be insightful towards violence but them artists are only talking about what they see and go through everyday. Kylie Minogue can do a song about sex which my be influencing young girls but no-one says anything about that!  | | TG, Lo-Ki Family |
TG:- A lot of people listen to Hip-Hop and Garage with no bad intentions and just enjoy it. But there are certain people that are out to spoil other people’s fun so it ends up worst for everyone. KMD:- It’s not just about the Hip-Hop music, there are bad people in every area. Look at football you’ve got the hooligans. So you can’t stop trouble happening it’s always gonna be there. I just think it’s because Hip-Hop is predominately black. Q: Hip – Hop and Garage music is really popular with young people, do you think the big Hip-Hop and Garage artists have a responsibility to be seen as good role models? KMD:- Yes I do. At the end of the day their in the business, they’re on a platform, they have a big following and a lot of people look up to them. But at the same time it depends on what image they're trying to portrait. Artists like 50 cent wants to be the gangster and he doesn’t care.  | | Nesia, Lo-Ki Family |
But if it was me now and I was a big artist with people looking up to me, I would try and push positive all the time. Young people need to know that a lot of these rap artists talk a load of fantasy. It's misleading them which is wrong. TG:- I think the parents have to take some responsibility too. If children are brought up right they would have other role models and other things to focus on rather than MTV Base. Back in my day I had homework to do, then I had to clean the house, then more homework and then I had to go my bed at 7pm while everyone else is still outside playing. KMD:- I don’t see 50 cent and say yeah I want to go and do that. Young people have to be a bit more conscious about what they’re following but again that’s down to their up bringing. Q: If you were to really make it, what part of the fame do you dream about?  | | HM and KMD |
HM:- Not having to work and my family being well looked after. For me it’s not all about the fame it’s just being able to live nice. TG:- I'd use my fame to flip the script and do other things, like Arnold Swaznegger who’s governor of Florida now. If I wanted to go into politics I think the fame would really help me. KMD:- I would try to use my fame to get things done. Instead of the yewts out there with nothing to do they could come to me. From when I now their focus I could make things happen, pull a few strings and get things done. If someone out there would do that for us we’d be very grateful for it. So if I get the opportunity I would definitely help out as much as I can. Q: KMD and TG you’ve got dreadlocks, is that a fashion statement or do you follow the Rastafarian way of life?  | | KMD and TG, Lo-Ki Family |
TG:- I’ve been a Rasta since I was born, my dad’s a Rasta, my mom’s as Rasta and so are my little brothers. That’s how we live! It’s not fashion, it’s for real… My dad’s a dub poet and that’s how I started rhyming, following in my father’s footsteps. KMD:- Myself and TG are cousins and I agree with everything he's just said. Rastafarian is our way of life. Q: You work in the community, tell us a bit about that? KMD:- We do music production and DJ workshops with local young people mainly in the holidays. We’ve worked with local community groups including Black Boys Can and Young Disciples. We enjoy doing it and the young people really benefit from it.  | | TG, Lo-Ki Family |
Nesia:- We also perform and get involved in charity events happening around the community. Q: What problems have you come across when trying to get your music out there? KMD:- Lack of funding resources. That’s what most local up and coming talent struggle with, the money side of things. Nesia:- There’s lack of people out there who offer free advice. We get a lot of interest from different record labels, promoters and funding groups but then they turn out to be all talk. Q: Why would you say Low-Family is different from the rest? KMD:- All our members have got their own unique character, everyone’s different and you can hear it through the music. With most other groups or crews everybody sounds the same and got the same style. We’re an all-star cast. Interview end Take a listen to a sample of Lo-Ki Family music productions using the links on the right hand side of the page and watch a short film they made for BBC Video Nation Birmingham>> | 
