The internet has truly brought the world together , one of my go to illustrating Artists and now Good friends , I met several years ago by way of Youtube! After commenting on several of my videos with positive feedback , we somehow struck up a conversation and I found out he was an Artist , when he showed me his work, I was blown away. Nwabe, for those of you that are now just hearing about you , please let us know who you are , what you do and what you represent?
Hey, thanks a lot for this interview, Cy 🙂 Well, my name is Benoit Dahan , I’m a French comic-book artist, illustrator and graphic designer living in Paris and I’m 44 years old. I’m also a huge fan of Hip-Hop music since I was 13, back in 1988. In 31 years of Hip-Hop I’ve acquired quite a big knowledge of rap artists, groups, even obscure ones, albums, different styles of production, flows, and lyrics. And I can honestly say that an artist like Cymarshall Law is a survivor of a gold era, with quality music, flows and really meaningful lyrics, plus a unique, recognizable voice. Not only « survivor », because there is also innovation. I want to congratulate you for staying sharp like this for so long.
I’m also a frustrated hip-hop artist myself 😉 I’ve been rapping since the beginning, so 31 years also, just for pleasure. I used to make beats and scratches too. Because of my focusing on artwork, I made the tough choice of not developing my music side, hence the word « frustrated » 😉 Now, I just freestyle off the top of my head for fun, like a morning mind stretch, it’s almost daily routine, or should I say a « Daily Operation ». 😉
Both of my passions meet when I do artwork for album covers. I made numerous covers for Cymarshall Law, Skit Slam (aka Black Belt Poemz), Everliven Sound, Q-Unique (from The Arsonists / Rock Steady Crew)…
So what I represent is art in all its forms, and I couldn’t live without it, like breathing.
Have you always been a naturally gifted Artist / Illustrator? What techniques did you use to develop your skill?
I always used to draw a lot when I was a kid. I read lots of comics, both French and American ones. My dream back then was to become a comic book artist or « rock » star. So, that didn’t’ change a lot, haha. But as in all art forms, the gift isn’t enough, work is what really makes the difference. I attended a school of art, but the comic book part, I learned by myself.
You have a book detective series you’ve illustrated , how did you get involved with that?
Yes, in France I have the « Psycho-Investigateur » series, with the hero being a psychoanalyst with a super-power : physical traveling into his patients’ memories (not dreams). And recently, I began a new series, « Dans la Tête de Sherlock Holmes » (translation : « Inside Sherlock Holmes’s mind »), which gets a very good start, with a lot of sales in three months, better than ever for me (29,000 copies were printed as of now). On both projects, I work with 2 different, very close friends (Erwan Courbier and Cyril Lieron) who co-write the stories with me.
(On a side-note, Erwan and I used to have a rap group called « Little Big Men »). 😉 So that’s a lot of fun and a lot of work. I’ve yet to see the comic-book work turn into decent money, but it’s getting better right now. The Sherlock Holmes one will get Spanish, Italian and German versions too… Waiting for British and American publishers to get into it too, so maybe you can really read it one day, haha 🙂
I know you as a huge Hip Hop lover , recently you must have seen these Marvel/Hip Hop album covers, have you ever thought about remixing any classic Hip Hop covers?
Actually I didn’t know about them, no, but I just googled them. Yeah, that’s funny. But I prefer waayyy more doing non-existing stuff, custom-making good art for good new music 🙂
If a musical artist were to symbolize your style of drawing , who would it be and why?
Tough question. Maybe someone very technical and obsessively precise like Chino XL, mixed with the want for deep meaning, like KRS-One. But damn that sounds so pretentious to say this ! You’d have to ask somebody else 😉
What comparisons do you think can be made between being an illustrator/Artist and a Musical Artist?
Both struggle and are underpaid, that’s for sure. Both are unreasonable professions because of that. So people who practice any of the two as their actual job are people whose hope and willpower are huge if they’re still doing it after 20 years or more. Both are often problem-makers regarding family life. Both are professions of freedom, and freedom always demand sacrifice.
As for the emotions the two create, for me music is the most potent to create emotion. I LOVE telling smart stories in comic-book form, but I must admit that when I have a need for expressing spontaneous anger, sadness, etc, music is greater… and that’s why my little morning rap freestyle is my medicine.
Is there a time of the day you are most inspired to create Art? If so, when and why?
Oddly, like I said, morning for a few minutes of rap, or also for writing story ideas or script for comics. For drawing, afternoon or night, when everybody’s asleep and the phone won’t bother you.
You are not only gifted at drawing , but also the way you color your images really brings a piece to life , is there a method ? or tips you can provide for someone looking to improve upon their Art?
Thanks. The thing is : not TOO many different colors. Often, monochrome with just one or two colorful elements is much more powerful… and beautiful.
Do you create better Art when you are in a good or bad mood? Why?
For drawing, yes a good, relaxed mood is better. But… negative energy does get my motor running too, out of inner rage… Wanting to prove myself, outdo myself, and show the world I’m better than they think. That’s even more true with rap music : if I’m pissed off or emotionally or politically affected I’ll generally be better. I guess a lot of musical artists are like that too. Hey, that’s what Hip-Hop is about, after all : turning negative energy into positive.
Whether USA or France, we have f-cked up presidents right now who just want to accelerate the end of the world and want to make it seem like they have morals. I never felt the need for revolution more than now, and I guess it’s just the beginning.
Favorite Piece of Art? Why?
Wow, there are LOTS I could mention ! Since we’re mainly talking comics, I’ll go with one of my very favorite artists : Mike Mignola doing Hellboy comics. Best style ever for me.
If you could choose an Artist in the world to create the illustrations in the Graphic Novel of your own life, who would it be?
Dave Mc Kean.
What advice would you love to have known as young illustrator that you now know as an Adult?
F-ck what 95% of others think and say. If you want to be unique, you can’t listen to everyone’s opinions, it only slows you down and makes you hesitate. Chose 2 or 3 people who seem to have the best insight and constructive criticism. Never let your creation be too much influenced by an artist you love, because you’ll look like a copycat.
Favorite Movie?
The kid in me speaking : the movie which first made me a fan of Sherlock Holmes for life when I was 10 : “Young Sherlock Holmes », and after seeing that one, « The Hound of the Baskervilles » with Peter Cushing. I love old Hammer Studios films.
Also “Do the Right Thing” by Spike Lee definitely is one of my favorites, « The Big Lebowsky », « DJango Unchained ».
If you want to talk super-hero movies, I’d say « Dr Strange », « Ant-Man », and « Avengers 1 ».
Favorite Book?
Victorian literature is my favorite stuff, mostly. My Sherlock Holmes passion would make me say « The Hound of the Baskervilles » or « The Sign of Four ».
Also, books by HG Wells, like « The Time Machine », « Island of Dr Moreau » or « First Men in the Moon » are incredible and are far more than entertaining, they make you think and are so true to this day.
And (non-Victorian) : Voltaire’s « Candide » is sarcastically ahead of its time.
“Arthur & George” by Julian Barnes is great : both a biography of Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji, and an investigation to save Edalji who was a victim of racism.
Last Words : Whats next for you? Upcoming Projects? Where can people see your work?
I’ll be very busy with « Dans la Tête de Sherlock Holmes » for at least 2-3 years, and I’m happy about it, so I’m trying not to think too much about other projects. There is also a board-game adaptation coming, made by my publisher, Ankama.
I lack time to do hip-hop album covers, but I’ll do some for artists I love, whenever possible, like Cymarshall Law, Q-Unique, Skit Slam… I’d love to do some for people like Apollo Brown, Chino XL, Ill Bill, R.A. the Rugged Man, Masta Ace etc.
In the future, who knows ? Hopefully my comics will get published in the U.S. … As for super-hero comics, I would like to do that one day, but only if I have enough freedom for the story and art… A Batman or Martian Manhunter comic would suit me well, haha.
Thanks a lot, Cy ! It’s an honor to get this interview from you, can’t wait to hear your next projects. “Cyology 5” is nice !!!
People can see my work here :
www.benoitdahan.com (if you want to see Hip Hop, go to portfolio and click “hip hop” at the top of the portfolio section)
www.danslatetedesherlockholmes.com
www.psychoinvestigateur.com
~ Interview by Cymarshall Law
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