The Tongue is no stranger to the Australian battle scene, paving his way as a fierce battle MC with numerous titles under his belt from around the country. With his signing to Elefant Traks along with a variety of mixtapes, hit singles and a sophomore album dropping this year; he proves his skills both in the mic booth and in the ring. We take a minute with The Tongue between studio sessions and photo shoots to find out cures for hangovers and whats in stock for 2010.

Q: Best battle experience so far?
A: Representing Australia in the Battle 4 Supremacy back in 2005. It feels great to compete for you country….even if it is in something as silly as an MC battle.

Q:Funniest thing you have seen in a battle?
A: The year I won the Revolver MC Battle in Melbourne there was a guy competing who called himself The Fat C**T From Frankston…and he really was fat and he wore a business suit on stage. The next year he competed again and had lost 30kg….that year he entered as just The C**T From Frankston.

Q: Most memorable thing that’s happened at one of your shows?
A: The Elefant Traks 10th Anniversary show at the Forum was just plain crazy. 1000 people going apeshit for an entire set…not an experience that is easily forgotten. Also getting to open for Public Enemy and then watch them do a 3 hour show from the side was stage was pretty surreal.

Q: Worst thing you’ve talked your way out of or best thing you’ve talked your way into ?
A: The best thing I ever talked my way into….getting signed to Elefant Traks.

Q: Worst thing you’ve woken up to after a big night out?
A: Myself.

Q: Best way to beat a hangover ?
A: Water, fruit, sex, blunts.

Q: Will we be seeing a return of the blind man?
A: No. But you will be seeing and hearing my second album when it drops this September. Its executive produced by El Gusto (Hermitude) and slams like LaBron James. In other words…I think your gonna like it.

M-Phazes is a name you should have heard by now, especially since the release of his hugely successful debut album
‘Good Gracious’ in February this year. Having produced for the likes of Pharoe Monch, Royce Da 5’9″, CL Smooth, M.O.P, Sean P, Amerie and Supastition to name a few, we thought it was necessary to take five with the man and shoot some important questions his way.

Have you been partying hard since the launch of Good Gracious?
Yeah for me, I have. We hit the Illy tour straight after my launch so that’s been the main contributor to the partying, seeing the country and meeting fans has been awesome. I don’t party as hard as Illy though, he is the boss of “taking it there”

On a good night out what kind of antics would you be getting up to?
Usually lots of shots, I’m not too rowdy, I don’t trash hotel rooms or anything like that. I do talk a bit of shit, just lots of drinking and feeling extremely sorry for myself the next day.

What can’t you play a gig without?
My laptop, and a beer, I need a beer on stage, no matter what, its like a comfort thing!

Most audacious thing you’ve seen at a gig?
We saw two guys battling in the car park before we went on stage at one show, and mid rhyme, one of the battlers threw up everywhere, wiped his mouth and kept on rapping, was pretty intense. Needless to say he won the battle.

What was the last thing you’ve absolutely destroyed?
My digital camera, I didn’t have a case and i just threw it in my backpack on tour, its fucked and I had to buy a new one, I have a nice case for it now though.

If you could produce anything for anyone what would it be and whom would it be for?
I would love to produce a whole album with Lauryn Hill, she is incredible!

Best thing you’ve found in your pocket the morning after?
A deck of playing cards with naked girls on them, don’t know where the fuck I got them from!

On that note, let the midnight madness begin.

http://mphazes.com/

Midnight Madness Remix from Monstar Productions LLC on Vimeo.

If your down in Melbourne on Saturday the 1st of May be sure to check out the infamous Phiber’s solo show at Hogan gallery in Collingwood. After a sneak peek at some of the pieces this is definitely a show worth making space on your wall for.

Prolific Sydney based artist Phibs has been painting graffiti for well over a decade. He is well known for his incredibly detailed aerosol cut-back techniques and bold, decorative line work. His unique and instantly recognisable tribal influenced style and characters are prominent on the streets all over Australia. Phibs is also a member of the highly regarded Everfresh Studios in Melbourne and continues to push himself by bringing his style to new areas of design, working not just on walls, but also on canvas, wood, skateboards and clothing. He has exhibited his work extensively around Australia as well as New Zealand and Germany, and was recently been commissioned to paint a large scale mural in Mumbai, India for Techfest. Phibs has also created artwork for Absolute Vodka, Rip Curl and Scribe.

The show will be held at Hogan Gallery 310 smith st Collingwood VIC 3066 Ph-03 94196126
From 1st of may (opening night) till the 16th.

To check out more of his work visit

http://www.phibs.com/blog/