Monthly newspaper and online publication targeting 18 to 35 year olds. The ultimate guide to the hottest parties, going out and having fun. Music, fashion, film, travel, festivals, technology, comedy, and parties! London, Barcelona, Miami and Ibiza.
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You started writing your own stuff at age 14, is that when rap became serious for you? I guess I first started taking it seriously when I decided I wasn't going to pursue a sports career when I was really young. I started realizing you have to apply the same attitude towards any profes- sion as you would if you wanted to become a professional sportsman, every day relentlessly training, so I do the same but with rap. So what kind of raps did you start out doing? A bit more American influenced, I remember at the time I was listen- ing to a lot of 50 Cent and I was heavily influenced by his accent, so that was quite funny. At what moment did you think, you know what, this music thing can work for me? When I started showing people, their reactions was kinda differ- ent to when my other friends where rapping at them. So I would always get a mad reaction, like a really powerful reaction from peo- ple, I guess that's what planted the seed in my head. The thing about me as an artist I am not really put- ting on an act as an artist, it's just me and people could see that. Tell us about your latest album Wizville? The album is supposed to be like an audible representation of my mind so that's why I have got peo- ple featuring on it that I grew up listening to and who helped shape me as an artist. The songs on the album are taking you on a journey through the various moods and energies that are flowing around my mind, and then visually I have depicted it on the album as a place/city.. when they look at the booklet I want people to feel like they are travelling through Wiz- ville in multiple ways. When you read the booklet, there is a map and you can travel through the map listening to each song and there are different areas of the town labelled as different songs and that's the vibe I am trying to create, it is a very varied album, its showing all the different sides to my personality and me as a character. Now, this album features some legends from Rodney P, Meth- odman to Dizzee Rascal, who I know was a massive inspiration to you growing up, how was it working with all those legends? Just very humbling, puts a lot of stuff into perspective, it's very sur- real. Also really interesting to work with idols. So what was that initial meeting with Dizzee like? I was very grateful to be invited to the studio and he is a very genuine person. He welcomed me into his space and he encourages you to be creative and do your own thing. Doesn't make you feel awkward about the difference in notoriety. So it was all nice, it was good vibes! Is there a message you are trying to get across on this album? Nothing in your face, you have to read into it, I do that on purpose. I am more than capable of putting out an album full of really obvious messages and really conscious messages etc. But at the end of the day, it's like Inception you can't just put ideas in people's head and make them believe it. If you want to create genuine results and you really want people invested in you it's important to do that through the energies that you are evoking in them. A lot of energies on this album it's just like being able to achieve your goals without being cheesy or obvious about it. Like look at what I have done, look at what I am doing with my rap career and I am just putting a voice on it, I am putting a beat behind it as to what I am trying to do with my life. Anyone that does music I want it to motivate them and anyone who isn't trying to be a musician, I just want them to be able to put life on pause for a couple of hours and just enjoy the music. What advice would you give to up and coming lyricists? I would say read, educate yourself, practice every day for hours and hours to the point it seems obses- sive and weird. Don't wait for a handout. Make your own luck by working harder than your compe- tition. Proudest moment? Seeing my music help people go- ing through difficult times is one of my proudest moments. And then as well as that, being able to work with Dizzee whose someone that I have always idolized, that was a very, very proud moment for me. And also playing my music on the other side of the world and being paid to be on the other side of the world doing what I enjoy doing is really good affirmation of your hard work. That's true! So what else can we expect from you in 2018? Just a lot of hard work, a lot of good energy. I would say there might be more music coming this year, I have got a higher work rate this year and in general so we will see. INTERVIEW OCEAN WISDOM 2018 / ISSUE 108 35 HIP HOP & RNB " DON'T WAIT FOR A HANDOUT. MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK BY WORKING HARDER THAN YOUR COMPETITION. " Known for his intricate flows and catchy but deep lyricism Ocean Wisdom is an MC known for his numerous killer tracks. Ocean's latest album Wizville has already hit Top 40 on the UK Album Chart and features legends like Dizzee Rascal, Roots Manuva, Rodney P and plenty more. We catch up with the rapper to talk about the inspiration behind Wizville, working with his rap heroes and his proudest moment so far. Patience Takyuka | Guestlist follow @Ocean_Wisdom