Sound Check spoke with the originator of Hip Hop culture in Malta Claude Pace more known as Cold ICE.
Sound Check: You're considered the introducer of Hip Hop in Malta back in the late 80s. You saw Maltese Hip Hop evolve both as a lifestyle and as an art form. What changed?
Cold ICE: What changed? More awareness thanks to the invention of the internet, chats, Youtube. Back n da day we could only rely on cassettes, and even there, before MTV there wasn't that much of a selection.
Sound Check: Hip Hop is no longer an American thing. It's a global lifestyle and influential subculture. However, still, each country has its uniqueness. What's Malta's uniqueness when it comes to Hip Hop
Cold ICE: We have adopted our own style, as we have rappers who actually rap in Maltese, we are not unique, we just have a different style.
Sound Check: Maltese Hip Hop artists are managing to break even internationally – Bboys competed at high levels, graffiti artists invited internationally and rappers collaborated with international producers. Is it time to look at Hip Hop, in Malta as a movement?
Cold ICE: Yes, why not? Hence why I created this group on Facebook to gather all Hip hop lovers, Maltese and international.
Sound Check: You've been involved throughout the years and recently you created Malta Hip Hop Community page on FB. What are the aims of MHHC and what would you like to achieve?
Cold ICE: Same as above, so those who are in any way involved in Hip Hop can discuss and converse, being those who love to listen to Hip hop, graffiti artists, rappers, writers, musicians. Moreover, so all Hip Hop lovers will learn about rap history, especially how it all started locally, and we can converse and talk about upcoming events and those passed...
Thank you Cold ICE for keeping it real.