Chipmunk

It's been quite a month for Jahmaal Noel Flyffe. Better known as Chipmunk, he's just scored his first No.1 with the irresistibly catchy 'Oopsy Daisy', having shocked the music world two weeks ago by beating Eminem and Kanye West to the Best Hip-Hop title at the MOBOs. And all of this from a man who only picked up his A-Level results in August (he got a 'B', a 'C' and a 'D' in case you're interested!). We gave him a call to find out how he's dealing with his rapid rise to fame.

Why did you want to finish your A-Levels when your music career has been taking off so successfully this year?
"I'm not a quitter man. I've always had a passion for learning new things, whether it be in the music industry, college or on the streets. I just like to learn and be wise. The wisest man lasts the longest."

Can you tell us what your latest single, 'Oopsy Daisy', is about?
"It's a break-up song, but it isn't depressing. It's a song which acknowledges that sometimes people go around in circles before they can make final decisions. It's all from personal experience and people around me."

What can we expect from your debut album, I Am Chipmunk?
"What can you expect from my album? You can expect to understand me and feel like you know me through my music. This album represents the first 18 years of my life and I just hope people appreciate it and it goes down well."

There's a track on the album called 'Dear Family' that seems quite personal. Can you tell us about that?
"Just over a year ago, my home split up and I didn't really know who to talk to about it. I didn't like talking about it and I still don't like talking about it, so I just wrote it all down in a song. I tried to make sure that every question people might end up asking me was answered in that one song."

What's your stance on illegal file-sharing? Will you mind if your fans don't pay for your new album?
"If there was a way to stop it altogether, it would have been stopped, but there isn't. But if you can make fans realise the importance of buying your music, they will go and buy it if they're true fans. Live shows are important. I always put on a show when I'm playing live. I zone out and have a party onstage. Then people will come away thinking, 'I'm going to buy that CD man'. I drum it into their heads too: 'Oopsy Daisy' out on October 4, who's going to buy it?' Then everyone in the audience screams."

Do you get annoyed when people accuse you of ditching your grime roots?
"I just think that I'm a star who has popped up - I'm a popstar! I'm happy because I haven't been forced to make any of the records I've put out. I just do what I want to do. I can still be old-school, but I'm growing up now. A lot of people want to pretend to be angry everyday, but I can see through the fakeness."

Do yoy see yourself as a businessman as well as a musician?
"Definitely. I've set up my own label already. It's all registered and ready - Cash Motivations. But I'm not focusing on that right now. I'm building up my own brand so I can become big enough to bring some acts through to the mainstream. I'm real with myself. I know I'm not strong enough to do that right now, but give me two years..."

You seem like a workaholic. Can we expect a second album pretty quickly?
"I work myself until I can't walk. Then I may have to cancel a few things. But then I just go again. A second album will be done pretty quick, but in terms of getting it out, that all depends on the timing. You've got to make sure people are ready for it and that they've digested the first one. You don't want to over-saturate the market. I've got ideas though and I'm jotting them down."

You've started a pop career through hard work. What do you think of people who find success through shows like X Factor?
"Shows like X Factor, I think they're pretty cool man. Personally I wouldn't go on a show like that because I've got to walk around Tottenham. But they can work for certain people. Look at all the acts that have come through this year - they're all cool. Alexandra Burke is heavy. JLS are heavy."

You've done quite a few collaborations already, but there is anyone else you'd like to work with in the future?
"Who would I like to work with in the future? I would like to work with Chris Martin. Yeah, yeah. I like Coldplay. I just want to go out of the box. I want to work with people who are the greatest in whatever they did. I'm just preparing myself."

Chipmunk's debut album I Am Chipmunk is available to buy now.