Hollywood, image: © Mike Miller

At first glance Mike Miller appears to fit the profile of what a slightly older poster-boy for Los Angeles should look like. Complete with a seasoned beard and a checkered shirt, the type made famous by the city’s native Latino’s. It is about midway through his fourth sentence that I assure myself that this middle-aged man has seen most of it, if not all. Name dropping hip-hop heavyweights such as Eazy-E, Tupac and Cypress Hill could not have been any easier as this filmmaker/photographer made it seem.

Cypress Hill, image: © Mike Miller

Tupac, image: © Mike Miller

Pamtera, image: © Mike Miller

His clientele list could well bring peace to the Middle East. After studying film at UCLA, Miller’s first gig was as assistant director on a Warner Brother film set. During a short-lived hiatus from film, Miller made a transition to photography, after which he went on to shoot album covers for hip-hop groups who sprung up from the inner city.

It’s only when you tight with the band, you start to click with them and you see them developing, then they always put you down (Miller)

It’s evident that Miller’s ability to rise up in the industry grew from his familiarities of the West Coast scene together with the subcultures it prided itself on. Behind him – in what seems to be Miller’s editing suite – sits two monitors along with a dozen of hard drives dedicated to commercials and short films. At that moment, Miller withdraws a black and white portrait of Jack Nicholson of which he thankfully reclines mentioning too much about, the mystery in which it now lingers in is appealing.

Jack Nicholson, image: © Mike Miller

© Mike Miller

© Mike Miller

‘I have a book I’m working on now, it’s about living in New York Miller,’ says Miller. Since this interview, the book – titled West Coast Hip Hop: A History In Pictures – was published (February, 2012) with an exhibition that followed in April.

It is on that notion whereby I label him as a truly gratifying artist considering that Miller’s bread and butter was the City of Angles. Miller is also currently working on full length feature film. I’m uncertain as to whether or not Mike Miller prefers to continue his work incognito or if he’s doubtfully still trying to catch a break. Because not being mainstream is mainstream right?

West Coast Hip Hop: A History In Pictures

Mike Miller archive

Badazz, image: Mike Miller

words: Kurt Mullins

source: juxtapoz.com, youtube.com, estavanoriol.com, michaelmillerphotography.com

images: © Mike Miller | michaelmillerphotography.com

An interview conducted a while back. Enjoy…

Sarah Claire: So Spoek, tell me a bit about yourself.

Spoek Mathambo: I’m an Ndebele prince, rapper, dancer, DJ, dreamer, illustrator and graphic artist. I live between Johannesburg and Malmö Sweden. I work as various art/music collectives… Namely: MSHINI WAM, SWEAT X, PLAYDOE and DJ as HIVIV. You can get my township-tech sothocore world bass mixes on the net. My favourite one is called ‘Devil House Mafias 2.’

What are you all about?

I am about absolutely nothing specific. More than being an identity based on content, I am interested in the world.

What inspires you?

Everything. The latest thing that has inspired me is Red, the homeless G-funk beat box and Gou Miyagi the Japanese skateboarder. I usually document everything that inspires me on my blog ZOMBO (http://2faced1.com/zombo). For a long time I made a specific point of making Africa my central inspiration…but I think I am trying to transcend petty nationalism and ‘isms.’

What’s the first album you ever bought?

The ‘Above The Rim’ original soundtrack featuring H-Town, Lady of Rage and Tupac.

Do you even bother buying albums?

Yes… It’s f%*king important to my life! I spent my entire teenage period developing my concept of ownership based on my records and CDs.

What’s your all-time favourite track?

Tough to say… changes ever day…today it’s Doneao – Be Mine.

Describe Sweat X in a sentence.

Markus and Spoek having fun.

What’s next… ?

More world tours, more boobs…onward and up.

Your partner-in-beats, Markus – what three things come to mind?

Literary genius, Musical genius, lying son of a bitch!

Favourite festival?

Valtifest in Amsterdam…Oslo live in Norway. Sibot and I played a great festival in Metz in France. Le Printemps de Bourges in France was great… It was amazing to watch The Brian Jonestown Massacre. They also had a huge SA contingent with BLK JKS, Gazelle, 340ml, Die Antwoord and PLAYDOE.

Is improvisation important to you?

A show with no improvisation is a schitt show for us. Routine is schitt.

Why do you dress so funny?

Your mother dresses funny.

What about bringing out a clothing label? What would you call it?

I am currently doing some collaboration designs with label called Doe out of Cape Town. I work on prints under the name Zombo and am working on some knitwear pieces at present.

If you could MC alongside someone – anyone – who would it be?

Iggy Pop, Sun Ra, Prince, Fela Kuti.

What’s the most insane thing you’ve ever done?

Eaten a box of cigarettes.

What’s next for Spoek?

“%^&%@$”And I will be breeding…little Spoeks.

So from myself and Spoek, “don’t be a f#*king dinosaur…use the Internet and talk to your counterparts all over the world.”

Check out the latest album review of Spoek Mathambo’s Mshini Wam in the latest issue of one small seed, issue 22 – the “Hi, my name is Joburg” edition – or right HERE on onesmallseed.com!