In Tini, part of her latest album Afrorave, Vol. 1, Toya Delazy crafts an electronic production that provides room to bring her signature flow into the light. The track is driven by a minimal, tribal infused groove, a homage to her South African heritage. With huge ambient sub synth pads, an intriguing riff and unconventional back vocals, the track sounds as original as it gets, making it very hard to label it under specific genres. Toya Delazy is building up a buzz around her gigs for a reason. Make sure to check her live next time she visits your city.
How do you relate to the London music scene? What are the main ingredients that make London one of the world’s leading music cities?
I relate to the culture like the whole reason the Scene in London is the way it is is because we all have a goal to be the best and if everyone has that mindset it makes a land of hard working and creative people.
You got brought onto the stage by Wiley. What is the best gig you have attended as a fan? And what would be your dream performance venue?
The best gig I’ve attended was probably Travis Scott at the 02 arena, like it was sold out and the energy in the crowd was just electrifying, I remember mid concert thinking this is one of the best moments of my life. My dream venue is defo 02 Brixton Acadmey, its like my fav venue Ive been to
What is the next big thing in the London music scene?
Uk rap/Trap is starting to make an mark on the scene these days, acts like Slowthai and Pa Salieu are getting their dues in the genre
What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?
“life innit”
What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?
Plumber comes over to clean stepsisters pipes, very good film in my opinion, especially the finish
One last thing we should know about you?
I’m a sugar shades ambassador, discount code PSWEATS10
For my last EP it was definitely a drive to convey an emotional/political rock bottom I had reached a few years back, as well as how difficult it felt to get out of it because of internal and external pessimisms.
How Important are political statements by music artists? Can music have an impact on politics?
Very. Everything is political, even a lack of politics is a passive affirmation of the status quo. So yeah, 100% if anyone has a platform and they do nothing with it they’re complicit in purely funding themselves. All art can have a political impact, but politics shouldn’t stop at art, material change is fundamental.
What would you change in the music industry?
It’s incredibly predatory. The mainstream face of music is run by execs who not only dip their toes in creative control, but abuse the artists in all kinds of ways and are protected by capital. All of that would need to go. The commercial aspect of the music industry does just as much to choke out the beauty of music as it does to source out talent, but much of that change can’t happen without systemic change, sadly.
Favorite UK Hiphop album of the past decade?
If we’re talking strict hip hop I still keep going back to Jam Baxter’s Touching Scenes regularly. If this were about grime tho, I’m yet to hear anything as colourful and wild as The Calm Before the Storm by Ghetts.
Best film you watched during the last year?
One film that really spoke to me recently was Wages of Fear by Henri-Georges Clouzot.
One last thing we should know about you?
My music wouldn’t be possible without the help of 3 other amazing artists I regularly work with: LumbeRoss, Orange Bloom and OS Elliott.
North West LDN rapper and creative Casscade returns with his new single ‘Crazy Scenes’, this time teaming up with the hotly tipped artist/producer Raj Forever. Out 23rd October, ‘Crazy Scenes’ was produced by the prolific American producer Saint Cardona (whose credits include; Young M.A, Octavian, Fivio Foreign and Mariah Angelica). With its accessible drill-flavoured beat, mixed with Casscade’s playful bars and melodic approach, there is something genuinely fresh about the track, as Raj Forever punctuates things with a memorable chorus hook, nailing down its radio friendly vibe and positive message.
Lyrically, Casscade takes the commonly used phrase ‘Crazy Scenes’ as inspiration to build the track around an aspirational message. Looking back at the harsh environments both artists grew up in, to where they are now Casscade explains: “The ‘I still hear the screams part’ in Raj’s hook just signifies that although we may not particularly be in bad situations anymore, they’ve left their scars. Nobody is perfect and I think it’s always good to remember where you came from.”
What is the main topic of your lyrics? Tell us a few things about your creative process.
I often find myself talking about things every other teen idolises.. Money & Women. It often starts with me saying a catchy one liner, an example of this is in the intro ‘Monie’ where in my first line I say “Nickname Monie, they all wanna get to know me”
You blend grime with lofi and chill beats. How many beats do you listen to before you end up using one?
I listen to multiple genres, I even find myself writing to drill beats & I’ve actually used the lyrics.
Best UK Hip Hop album ever?
Dave – Psychodrama
Why is it still difficult for UK rappers to break through to America?
I feel like there isn’t a strong enough link in between the both & when there is it’s more mainstream based. We need more underground collaborations, then it would help to open different opportunities.
What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?
“These haters didn’t help at all, they’re way too small, and shame on me I turned the volume low, now your prayers aren’t getting to God. I never learned the guitar, I never was all that smart, but I have come way to far, and do it for love, and I aim at your heart.” – ‘Mauvey’ – Vancouver
What is the true underground sound today (if there is one)
I don’t think there is a true underground sound.
Best Hip Hop album ever?
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, and Lauryn Hill is the best rapper of all time, Andre 3000 is second, I don’t want to discuss the matter further haha.
What would you change in the music industry?
Creators should be compensated more for their creations. How streaming services operate should change.
Oh. and the elephant in the room; could get some more people of colour holding key positions in the industry.
Favorite music related film?
8 Mile – my man was in every single scene!
Any future plans?
I’m releasing A LOT more music in 2021, and heading on tour, if the world doesn’t shut down again.
The notes app on my phone is full of song ideas and snippets of possible lyrics, leaving voice memos for myself of melodies that i might think of, but mostly when I get in the studio with Shurk, we just bounce off each other so naturally that we start writing something straight off the bat
Why is sexism so pervasive in Hip Hop culture?
There’s always been a lot of fragile masculinity in hip hop, but tbh most of the stuff I’m really excited about in the scene rn is from queer female rappers
Best Hip Hop album ever?
Umm, its tie I think. British: Constant Dikestar American: Miseducation of Lauren Hill
What would be your dream performance venue?
I’d kill to play Love Supreme
What was the best film you have watched during the quarantine?
Probably the documentary ‘Fursonas”
Any future plans?
I just cant wait for this rona situation to wrap up so i can get back to the club!
Existential nihilism, drug dependency. Is rap one of the best forms of self therapy?
Nah, honestly the best form of therapy for me has been various meditative/mental exercises? Rap has been a very good way to vent my problems and i suppose elements of it like gigs and making music with friends are very therapuetic. Honestly i’m still tryna find a therapist/get some medication and im still chain smoking spliffs, though i will say it definitely helped me stop doing psychedelics at every available opportunity. Life’s becoming a bit of a trip innit.
How do you relate to the Scotland music scene?
It’s a love/hate relationship honestly. There’s a lot of garbage, there’s a lot of people who think that because they’ve had a rough background they deserve more attention despite not having the skills/actual mindset to achieve it. I think that focusing too much on the ‘scottish’ element can really stop your reach, my second largest listener base according to spotify artists is london. Its less about relating to the scene and more about finding individuals that you relate to/relate with you I guess.
Favorite hip hop album of the past decade?
Uuuhh damn okay that’s a hard one tbh. The livi boy in me says LIV 3 by LIV (check it on bandcamp its a love letter to Scotland’s rap scene) cause it was the first tape i was ever on that wasn’t mine and my first time really working properly with other artists, Spawn Zero and Barz Fury (whos last solo albums both also could have taken that spot)
On a non hometeam vibe, Babau by Tzusan, or maybe idk CLBRKS last double tape? Sniff also just dropped a banger? I don’t really listen to a lot of music tbh aha.
Do you have an artist that you would describe as a hidden gem that we should know about?
Okay i’m definitely cheating but Sleep’s Cousin and Spacepope kinda sound the same vocally so i have a theory they’re the same person. Kaput by Sleep’s Cousin pulls me outta panic attacks, Celladwella by Spacepope makes me wanna cause em to other people.
This is your first E.P. Any future plans?
Goddamn do I?
Nah I do aha, lots actually:Postulated Substance Abuse is my next tape, just waiting on final masters from Barz who’s also featuring along with Spawn and entirely produced by Hypnokid (its kinda lofi kinda meditative kinda acidrap) Theres a collab tape with Dimwitted and Franky coming together, follow @speaksleazy on Instagram cause i cant really say much right now its all in beta phases but we are working on something that will hopefully help bridge the gap between ‘scottish hiphop’ and the ‘uk hiphop scene’ cause somebody bloody has to.
Other than that I’ve just dropped three singles and a feature on Mackenzies last album and one on Spacepope’s last e.p. too, Spawn says i did a feature for his next tape but apparently i was out my face cause i cant remember recording it at all but he says its good and i trust him.
Favorite music related film?
Uuuuhhh… I don’t really watch films tbh. Can I just say the What The Fuck music video on youtube cause all i have in my noggin as far as films go is The Bad Batch and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas and i was waaaay too baked to remember the soundtracks (except white rabbit in the bath obvs)
Im a Music Producer from Fife, Scotland. born Scott Russell Wilson Jr. & Been operating musically under the Alias B O Ḵ Ë since late 2018. Music has been a beautiful way for me too convey my emotions over the years and I look too continue my work on into the foreseeable future & I have faith someday it will give me a big enough platform too really impact humanity in positive way and push us back in the right direction as a species.
Describe your sound in 3 words
Pushing The Boundaries.
Favourite rapper, lyricist and producer
Favourite Rapper right now has to be Slowthai. That man is seriously on a whole other level! Even though he’s only dropped one official album at this point I can feel the levels of evolution & introspection going on and I honestly live for that shit.
Favourite Lyricist right now has to be Shogun. The way he attacks a beat with his own unique approach will be remembered for years to come, especially up here in Scotland. Props to him for all he’s doing for the Scottish scene right now too. It’s been a blessings being a part of it & I look forward to the future endeavours with Sho.
Favourite Producer is Moby. These where all really tough to just pick one for each but I feel like Moby’s been there since the very start of my love for music & even still too this day his album releases never fail to leave me in awe. It’s honestly probably where my love for making full length albums rather than singles came from & his music also pushed me more in the direction of trying to portray some sort of emotion or deep routed message rather than just go with whatever’s currently poppin’ – so I’m forever in debt to Moby for that reason & many more.
Best Hip Hop album ever
Again, It’s hard to choose the best hip-hop album of all time really but for me personally the one I’m most attached to on a spiritual level would have to be ‘Ready To Die’ by The Notorious B.I.G – The whole album is just complete raw realness to it’s core right from the get go & I love that. All the beats are legendary, the hooks are timeless, all the menacing bars & flows throughout just take me to another realm and have done since a young age. I always looked up to the rappers like Pac, BIG & any other rapper coming with something uniquely theirs & real.
Top Hidden Gem Artist
Honestly any hidden gem Artists I come across I take down the names & add them to the bucket-list of talented artists I would love to work with in near the future and in recent times I’ve been fortunate enough to mark off some of them names.
I would say a definite Hidden Gem Artist to watch would be MONROE (MONRO£ on Spotify) from Telford, England (UK). Bubbling up a lot of hype round his ends & for good reason, he comes with it every time and his bars & melodies just seem to be getting better & better. 100% someone to watch in the UK scene and I look forward to sharing some of the music We’ve got coming.
Future plans
As far as the future goes, I’m not entirely sure even where to start. Basically I have an Album I’ve been working on all year & In the process of getting this as good as it deserves to be I’ve ended up with way more music than I can even release.
So for now let’s just keep it one big exciting moment in time then we’ll focus on what’s next when it gets here.
In my mind it’s the Biggest album coming out of Scotland in 2020 so I genuinely cannot wait too share it with you guys, then move forward onto the next one like it’s nothing.
Plenty more to come that’s for sure – I just need to Stay Ready & Trust the process.
HipHop Paranoia 