Words by  Rehana Harmony

Creative Direction:Derrick Odafi & Frank Rodgiguez

Photography Kay Ibrahim

Photography Assistant Nifty

Hair/Grooming Blessing Kambanga

Stylist Connor Gaffe

Styling Assistant Sain Wilkinson

Project Manager Jessica Rushforth

Project Assistant Jessica Offor

Special Thanks to Lucid Online

Since you started your career, you've hit the ground running. In a short amount of time you’ve been able to lock in a large fanbase who is always eager to hear heat you have coming, why do you think that is?

To be honest with you, I just think that I’m providing a different sound every time, even though it's the same there’s always a difference. So I kind of think people are always anticipating what’s next. That’s exactly what I’m going to show on this mixtape, because I’ve got a variety of genres on there as well.

We've read  that when you were growing up, you didn’t have much self-belief. And, I think that's a story that a lot of guys can identify with. What sparked your courage and confidence to pursue something so out of the norm?

I’ve always loved music, so the more I was dropping music and I was getting a good reaction from each of the songs. I was actually starting to believe in myself and would think to myself ‘rahh I can actually do this, I can actually become something that I’ve always wanted to.’ You know what I mean? So I just kept at it to be honest, now I think it’s at a level where people actually appreciate
my music.

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So you’ve always thought this is something you would like to do, but you never actually saw it as possible?

Exactly, l’ve always rapped! I have little clips of me on my iPod, from when I was 8/9 in the studio just messing about, you know what it is? I just love to rhyme. Always loved it. I used to do that now and again as a little hobby, and then it just kinda took off.

The ability to freestyle is something that I’ve noticed is lacking in the industry. Do you think it’s important an important skill to have?

Definitely, because a lot of the rappers these day, aren’t really artists. They just know how to make drill sound good. I don’t feel like that’s an artist, because you have to actually be musical, be ableto freestyle on the spot and rap to different beats, there’s so much to being an artist.

Hoodie - Off White

T Shirt - Artist's Own

Jeans - Artist's Own

Sequinned Strapless Dress Sebastian Nissl

Jewellery Isabel Marant Alighieri & ASOS 

You have a son, and we can imagine that your going to be very inspirational to him growing up. If he turned around to you one day and told you he wanted to become a rapper, would you encourage that?

Ah, I think it's hard to say. Obviously, I wouldn't bring my son up thinking I want my son to be a rapper, but if he did tell me that he does music. I would 100% support him, I would be able to steer him in the right direction as well. I'd be able to give him a few tips on certain things. But again, I'm
definitely not raising him up to be an artist.

How have your family taken to your new found fame?

My family are very supportive. Actually, you know what at first, they didn't really agree with it because of the genre, the lyrics and those sorts of things. But now everybody's just seeing what it can actually do for me.

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How often are you in the studio and what's that process like for you?

I'm probably in a studio, like every other day. I’m always making new music, I've got over 100 songs, they’re just sitting there and nobody's ever heard them. And, those are the songs that would probably never be released. I just do it to better my sound and make it more refined.

So how do choose songs? Do you pick them with the intention of it becoming a hit or...?

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Yeah, It’s the ones that I connect with the most, I have to feel like it has to have a clear message. There are some songs that don’t hit me at all, I’ll know if it’s a hit straight away though. Sometimes I'm with my friends, and we’ll build a whole vibe in the studio. And then at other times it's just me and the producer, just putting in the work and getting our heads down.

How do you feel you’ve developed since ‘Do It And Crash’?

I feel like my voice, my sound, the way I write. I’ve developed so much, I feel like everything’s on a completely different level to that. Like for me to listen to ‘Do It And Crash’ right now, I’d probably cringe.

I know that you grew up in a musical household and that’s where a lot of your influences come from musically, can we expect different sounds throughout ‘Drip N Drill’?

The tape is a contrast of different music, I’m trying to create my own sound as well. I don’t want to sound like anyone else, I’m trying to perfect a sound that’s just for me.

It’s clear that your working towards being a well-rounded artist and we know that you don’t want to be known as just a drill artist. But the genre has a lot of negativity surrounding it in the media, do you feel as though the music, rappers, and lifestyle is accurately portrayed?

Definitely not, I understand that the lyrics might promote certain things. But every other genre promotes different things, the majority of the people who do drill are from areas that are known for crimes, etc. That’s all they can talk about, plus drill is so good because it enables people to earn a living and become somebody else because of the it. Not all of it is negative, do know what I’m saying?

Do you think there’s a responsibility for those who have left the lifestyle, to change the narrative? Because if your out of the lifestyle then surely that could be seen as in genuine?

Yeah, it wouldn’t make sense I know, but this isn’t the only genre that does that. A lot of rappers talk about things they’ve never had in their lives and it’s all about the image and what sounds good.

Do you plan on breaking the US?

It would be nice to kick through some doors in the US and open up some new doors for others. America has more impact than this country and I’m not trying to be someone who’s known for two years, I’m trying to be a name that lives on.

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