Wednesday ,2nd August 2006

One was once Puffy’s manservant; the other is the Murkle Man’s nemesis. Take Fonzworth Bentley and Urkel, put them in a room with some specs, a brolly and a waist-coat and what do you get? Haute couture conversation, obviously.





Alright Fonz, Urks. What’s going on?


Fonzworth Bentley: I’m really good thanks. I’ve just done some radio interviews and I’m on my way to a studio session with Kanye West later. We’re just finishing my album, CoolOutrageous-LoversOfUniquelyRawStyle or COLOURS for short, which will be out on Kanye’s GOOD music really soon.

Urkel: Urkel doesn’t usually talk, but seeing as it’s RWD, I’m very well, thanks. My favourite colour is pink. Pink with flowers.

FB: I love colours.

Er, right. What do you both think of nerd being the new cool?


FB: Well, you have to understand the way I dress isn’t considered nerdy. Growing up in Atlanta, you were either preppy or sporty - tracksuits weren’t for me – and it was certainly not uncool to dress preppy. You have to remember it was me that got Puffy out of those shiny white suits and into the bespoke tailoring with the first Sean John collection. Now everyone has adopted that look. I’m super-fly, very well-educated, funny and handsome. What’s not to like (laughs)?

Urkel: Yeah, the nerd concept is getting old fashioned now.

Proper nerds play a musical instrument - true or false?


FB: Well, I’m a classically trained violinist.

Say no more! Urkel, any nerdish urges you’d like to confess to?


Urkel: I am into my technology. I like the Blackberry and I had one of those MDA Vario’s but I didn’t like it because it was too big. And when I was younger I used to read the dictionary and learn new words.

FB: Expanding the mind is of great importance. We can’t all shoot guns, after all.

Is it true the ladies love a nerd?


FB: (Laughs) Of course. I’m not into the movies type date, I’d rather take a woman for tea and enjoy some conversation. Women really like that.

Urkel: Some people say I can’t dance but the girls still come up to me all the time.

Ok; Braces or a belt?


FB: Braces, of course.

Urkel: Braces are the way forward; you can flick them, they keep your trousers up and they are great for a dance move.

Scooby Doo: Velma or Daphne


FB: Definitely Velma because I really liked that bob. I have thing for bobs, they’re very attractive.

Urkel: I’d have to have them both, it would be a menagé thing.

Oh Urkel! Glasses or Contacts?


Urkel: Glasses; the bigger, the thicker, the better.

Tweed or argyle?


FB: Oh dear, they’re incomparable. One is a pattern and the other a material. How can you compare them? That’s a very uncool question (Laughs).

Sh*t, busted. Can you please explain the benefits of the waist-coat?


FB: Well, there are so many. If you want to be dressed up but you don’t want to wear a jacket or blazer then the waistcoat gives you style without feeling overdressed.

Mr B, are you a typical Yank who knows nothing about UK music, or are you in the loop?


FB: I love UK music, seriously. We know a little about you guys, but honestly so much of the good stuff doesn’t make it over here, unfortunately.

Urkel: I think people aren’t working hard enough and also people need to support grime more, including the artists - that’s how hip hop got big over the last 20 years. Grime isn’t going to become big overnight. It takes years to evolve.

Do you have any favourite UK acts?


FB: I love Omar. Faith Evans actually told me about him. She played me the album and I thought it was one of the most incredible things. I’ve been trying to get hold of him actually because I want to work with him.

Urkel: Have you heard much grime?


FB: No. I’m aware of it as a music and my UK friends tell me it’s something I need to hear, so when I’m over I’m definitely down for checking out some real hole-in-the-wall places. I think it’s something I really need to see live.

Urkel: The problem is a lot of avenues for grime are being closed off by the media and police. Raves get shut down, grime artists can’t go on radio cos stations don’t play it. Sometimes I think the future doesn’t look bright for grime.

FB: It’s a problem hip hop had at one time, but I think we’ve shown that things can change and hopefully events like the Summit will help change that.