After hearing his heavy debut mixtape ‘Learn From My Mixtape’ we got hold of this North London Grime rapper to chat about his background, what he’s done so far and what the future holds.

First up, who are ya?

I’m Wretch 32, from North London.

How did you come up with the name and what other ones have you used?

I had no other names before but Wretch just suits my image and personality, but it’s hard to define exactly what a wretch is. That’s why I like it.

What’s your local scene saying?

Yeah, the North London scene’s doing well. It’s got Cell 22, Chain Gang, Boy Better Know, so we’re prospering right now.

Which other people are you enjoying and wanna work with some day?

Nathan, Blemish, Young Pro, Keisha White, J2K, Temp Man, Swiss, Baby Blue.

How long you been rapping and who are your biggest influences?

Properly, for about a year and a half. My influences are Kano, Mike GLC, Swiss, Ghetto and Sway, but Jay-Z’s ‘Fade To Black’ DVD did inspire to keep going.

How’d you describe the music you do?

Reflective of surroundings and entertaining.

What releases have you put out so far?

‘Learn From Mixtape’ and my EP consisting of ‘Wretch Yeah’, plus the instrumental and two bonus songs.

Can you tell us about some of the projects you have lined up?

I’m on three compilation mixtapes. ‘The Movement’ mixtape out July/August. The Streets official ‘Pranging Out’ remix video as well as top secret collaborations with different music genres, but look out for the next solo mixtape and ‘Chain Gangs Breakin’ The Chain’.

Which producers are you using the beats of?

Magic Fingers, Merlin, Chunky Bizzle, True Tiger, Xtrepli, Scorcher, Issue & L Enjoy Life, Left D. I go for quality rather than a quantity of names.

What’s the best and worst aspects of the grime scene, and what mc’s should we check?

Best, it’s originality and worst is it’s name and lack of events. MC’s you need to check out are Y. Wizz and Caps (youngers), The Movement and Boy Better Know. Producers you need to check out are Magic Fingers, Merlin, Chunky Bizzle, True Tiger and Xtrepli, not forgetting Scorcher.

How do grime scene heads feel about the more traditional UK hiphop scene?

I don’t think they understand it to well if you’re talking about Rodney P and Skinnyman, but at the end of the day the only difference between the two genres is the tempo.

To an outsider, grime can seem a bit too unstructured to get to grips with. How could this be improved?

‘Learn From My Mixtape’!

It seems pretty aggressive and fierce at times. How has becoming a Father affected your outlook?

I’ve never personally affiliated myself with any single genre of music. If you listen to my mixtape you’ll hear how the tempos vary, so becoming a Father hasn’t changed nothing of my outlook because I’m always trying to set a precedent and stretch myself.

How often are you out performing live?

Presently not as often as I would like to but usually you can see me at 333s, Cargo and Market Place, as well as Stratford Circus on occasions.

Where’d you like to see yourself as an artist, three years from now. Are you chasing a deal?

In three years as a MOBO winner. I’m undecided about a deal but if a label situation came along similar to Kano’s (679) situation I would seriously consider it as they appear that they know how to handle artists and understand them.

Where can heads keep up to date with your tracks?

Myspace.com/Wretchclart

Any shout out’s or plugs you’d like to make?

Big up The M.O.V.E.M.E.N.T, Chain Gang, Boy Better Know, TMT and Combination Camp. If you’re a DJ make sure you cop my EP ‘Learn From My Mixtape’ out in all good record stores now.

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