Getting Down with Blitz
By Rachna Kapur
January 17, 2011
Blitz broke into the Urban Desi scene in 2002 after being discovered by world famous producer Punjabi MC. Since then Blitz has come a long way in his journey as a rapper with a recently released album “Get Blitz” that include some incredible collaboration with Bally Sagoo and various artists.
Blitz’s album “Get Blitz” features tracks that range in genres from Bhangra to Qawwali. He has teamed up with some of the most notable artists in the industry for this album, including the presence of Tigerstyle, Roach Killer, Bally Sagoo, and Mentor Beats. Two of his hottest collaborations were for “Chumma “with RDB and “Take a Picture” with Juggy D.
Urban Milan had an exclusive interview with Blitz and learned a little about the man behind the lyrics:
Blitz’s album “Get Blitz” features tracks that range in genres from Bhangra to Qawwali. He has teamed up with some of the most notable artists in the industry for this album, including the presence of Tigerstyle, Roach Killer, Bally Sagoo, and Mentor Beats. Two of his hottest collaborations were for “Chumma “with RDB and “Take a Picture” with Juggy D.
Urban Milan had an exclusive interview with Blitz and learned a little about the man behind the lyrics:
UM: Where were you raised and how did you get involved with music?
B: I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. The way I got involved in music was just living in Toronto being surrounded by urban music. I always had a passion for performing even when I was a kid. I kind of just combined the urban elements with my Indian background to create my sound. I actually got into performing when I used to rap in elementary school. Basically if I behaved myself everyday in class, my teacher would allow me at the end of the school day to go up, perform, and rap in front of my class.
UM: What is your real name and how did you come up with “Blitz”?
B: My real name is Tony. My cousin who was murdered back in 2003 named me Blitz. Blitz is short for Blitzkrieg and Blitzkrieg was a war strategy used by the Germans in World War II, which is an all out unexpected attack. He always said that when he heard me rap… a Punjabi guy rap the way I do - it sounds like a Blitzkrieg. It started as a joke, but after he passed away, I kept that name as a memory for him.
UM: You were discovered by Panjabi MC, how did that happen? Do you have any future collaboration’s planned with him?
B: I was in Toronto, in my hometown and I was just free styling and doing my thing in high school. Somehow, I don’t know how, but he got a hold of my demo CD. I don’t know whether a DJ gave it to him or something. But he got a hold of my demo CD and he played it on his radio show. Punjabi MC had a radio show in the UK back then. Everyone heard it and was impressed by it. From there I kind of launched my career in the UK, where people were trying to contact him and me saying who is this guy? In terms of working with him again, yeah, I’d definitely like to work with him sometime in the future. We’ve talked on and off, here and there, about collaborating sometime in the future but nothing concrete is planned as of yet.
UM: You have collaborated with big names such as RDB and Juggy D. Who was your favorite to work with and why?
B: I’ve collaborated with all these guys and I think my favorite so far… I don’t know my favorite, but one of the most memorable has to be working with Juggy D. I flew to London to record the track with him, then we flew to Scotland to mix and match the track, and we shot the video in Toronto. So the entire process of making the one song and video with Juggy, it just took me around the western world. The process was a really long and fun process.
UM: What is the biggest misconception that people have about yourself or your music?
B: I think the biggest misconception people have about me would be that I’m someone that I’m not. Because they see me rap, wear a hat sideways, or wear my pants low; people might think that I never went to school or that I never educated myself. They probably think I’m a lot more high maintenance then I probably am. Which is totally far from the truth. I went to university; I got a degree in marketing and got a post grad diploma in marketing. I’m very humble and down to earth.
I think that’s probably the biggest misconception that people think of rappers/ musicians and they think they can’t do anything else. The truth is the total opposite and another misconception would probably be that we do Indian rap or do Indian music. But in reality we just do regular music like hip-hop. We’re not Indian MCs! We’re just MCs that happen to be Indian. It would be stupid for us to not capitalize on the Indian market, but we’re not just Bhangra rappers.
B: I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. The way I got involved in music was just living in Toronto being surrounded by urban music. I always had a passion for performing even when I was a kid. I kind of just combined the urban elements with my Indian background to create my sound. I actually got into performing when I used to rap in elementary school. Basically if I behaved myself everyday in class, my teacher would allow me at the end of the school day to go up, perform, and rap in front of my class.
UM: What is your real name and how did you come up with “Blitz”?
B: My real name is Tony. My cousin who was murdered back in 2003 named me Blitz. Blitz is short for Blitzkrieg and Blitzkrieg was a war strategy used by the Germans in World War II, which is an all out unexpected attack. He always said that when he heard me rap… a Punjabi guy rap the way I do - it sounds like a Blitzkrieg. It started as a joke, but after he passed away, I kept that name as a memory for him.
UM: You were discovered by Panjabi MC, how did that happen? Do you have any future collaboration’s planned with him?
B: I was in Toronto, in my hometown and I was just free styling and doing my thing in high school. Somehow, I don’t know how, but he got a hold of my demo CD. I don’t know whether a DJ gave it to him or something. But he got a hold of my demo CD and he played it on his radio show. Punjabi MC had a radio show in the UK back then. Everyone heard it and was impressed by it. From there I kind of launched my career in the UK, where people were trying to contact him and me saying who is this guy? In terms of working with him again, yeah, I’d definitely like to work with him sometime in the future. We’ve talked on and off, here and there, about collaborating sometime in the future but nothing concrete is planned as of yet.
UM: You have collaborated with big names such as RDB and Juggy D. Who was your favorite to work with and why?
B: I’ve collaborated with all these guys and I think my favorite so far… I don’t know my favorite, but one of the most memorable has to be working with Juggy D. I flew to London to record the track with him, then we flew to Scotland to mix and match the track, and we shot the video in Toronto. So the entire process of making the one song and video with Juggy, it just took me around the western world. The process was a really long and fun process.
UM: What is the biggest misconception that people have about yourself or your music?
B: I think the biggest misconception people have about me would be that I’m someone that I’m not. Because they see me rap, wear a hat sideways, or wear my pants low; people might think that I never went to school or that I never educated myself. They probably think I’m a lot more high maintenance then I probably am. Which is totally far from the truth. I went to university; I got a degree in marketing and got a post grad diploma in marketing. I’m very humble and down to earth.
I think that’s probably the biggest misconception that people think of rappers/ musicians and they think they can’t do anything else. The truth is the total opposite and another misconception would probably be that we do Indian rap or do Indian music. But in reality we just do regular music like hip-hop. We’re not Indian MCs! We’re just MCs that happen to be Indian. It would be stupid for us to not capitalize on the Indian market, but we’re not just Bhangra rappers.
UM: Have you had any formal training in music?
B: I was trained to play the guitar and drums when I was younger. I like all types of music including rock. So, I bought a guitar and took guitar lessons and drum lessons when I was younger. I still play guitar here and there, not as often as I used to.
UM: If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing?
B: Marketing Consultant. Somehow I’d be involved in a creative process. Helping brands or people launch themselves and gain brand equity and brand recognition.
UM: What’s a city you want to perform in most that you haven't already performed in?
B: Dubai. I haven’t had the chance to go to Dubai yet. I would love to go to Dubai and perform out there. I’m just curious to see what it’s like. People tell me that they have some amazing sightseeing and all these crazy things like ski slopes in malls.
UM: Do you have a desire to work with any mainstream American hip-hop artists, and if so, who's on the top of your list?
B: Yeah, of course! I’m a fan of mainstream North American hip-hop. That’s what I was influenced by. If the opportunity ever came up I’d love it! I’m a product of that underground late 90’s hip-hop. So I’d definitely want to work with somebody like Nas, Mos Def, or J. Cole.
UM: What is your biggest turnoff or pet peeve when it comes to women?
B: My biggest turnoff about girls and people in general is when they are not ambitious or don’t have goals. By being someone who is very ambitious, I’m shocked with the amount of the people who don’t have goals. I’d rather be broke and have a dream then a million dollars and no aspirations.
UM: What is the nicest thing a fan has ever done for you?
B: I think the nicest thing was when fans come up to me and tell me their life stories. Where they were, when they first heard my song, and how it affected them in their life. It blows your mind. What really impresses me is when fans come up to me and they say I bought a mix tape off of you 8 years ago, off the streets of London, and I like #5 on it. That’s what really impresses me and that’s what really touches me when somebody knows my work from my demo tape days and they remember.
UM: What is a quote you live by?
B: The quote I live by would have to be, “Iron sharpens iron”. Basically what that means is that if your mind is a piece of steel and if you hang out with people who are just as sharp as you, you sharpen each other’s skills. That’s a motto I live by. I hang out with people who bring out the best in each other.
UM: Are you involved with any type of charity work?
B: I do a lot of donations but I keep on the low where I donate or how much I give. I do donate to some worthy causes that are very close to me. Cancer research is one of them. My uncle recently passed away from cancer and I see the affects that had on him and my little cousins. I see how that type of disease and having a loss to that disease affects an entire family.
UM: What message do you have for your fans?
B: Thank you for supporting. Continue to support getblitz.com. For everyone who doesn’t know who I am, or what I’ve done, stop living under a rock and join the fanpage: facebook.com/blitzmusic. (Laughs) We international baby!
B: I was trained to play the guitar and drums when I was younger. I like all types of music including rock. So, I bought a guitar and took guitar lessons and drum lessons when I was younger. I still play guitar here and there, not as often as I used to.
UM: If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing?
B: Marketing Consultant. Somehow I’d be involved in a creative process. Helping brands or people launch themselves and gain brand equity and brand recognition.
UM: What’s a city you want to perform in most that you haven't already performed in?
B: Dubai. I haven’t had the chance to go to Dubai yet. I would love to go to Dubai and perform out there. I’m just curious to see what it’s like. People tell me that they have some amazing sightseeing and all these crazy things like ski slopes in malls.
UM: Do you have a desire to work with any mainstream American hip-hop artists, and if so, who's on the top of your list?
B: Yeah, of course! I’m a fan of mainstream North American hip-hop. That’s what I was influenced by. If the opportunity ever came up I’d love it! I’m a product of that underground late 90’s hip-hop. So I’d definitely want to work with somebody like Nas, Mos Def, or J. Cole.
UM: What is your biggest turnoff or pet peeve when it comes to women?
B: My biggest turnoff about girls and people in general is when they are not ambitious or don’t have goals. By being someone who is very ambitious, I’m shocked with the amount of the people who don’t have goals. I’d rather be broke and have a dream then a million dollars and no aspirations.
UM: What is the nicest thing a fan has ever done for you?
B: I think the nicest thing was when fans come up to me and tell me their life stories. Where they were, when they first heard my song, and how it affected them in their life. It blows your mind. What really impresses me is when fans come up to me and they say I bought a mix tape off of you 8 years ago, off the streets of London, and I like #5 on it. That’s what really impresses me and that’s what really touches me when somebody knows my work from my demo tape days and they remember.
UM: What is a quote you live by?
B: The quote I live by would have to be, “Iron sharpens iron”. Basically what that means is that if your mind is a piece of steel and if you hang out with people who are just as sharp as you, you sharpen each other’s skills. That’s a motto I live by. I hang out with people who bring out the best in each other.
UM: Are you involved with any type of charity work?
B: I do a lot of donations but I keep on the low where I donate or how much I give. I do donate to some worthy causes that are very close to me. Cancer research is one of them. My uncle recently passed away from cancer and I see the affects that had on him and my little cousins. I see how that type of disease and having a loss to that disease affects an entire family.
UM: What message do you have for your fans?
B: Thank you for supporting. Continue to support getblitz.com. For everyone who doesn’t know who I am, or what I’ve done, stop living under a rock and join the fanpage: facebook.com/blitzmusic. (Laughs) We international baby!