Meet Realz: No L’s for the UK Grime Artist
A major part of the Grime collective, Mucky Wolfpack, Realz has already performed on Tim Westwood TV and stormed battles on Lord of the Mics
Raised in Bow, East London - the birthplace of Grime - Realz's exposure to the genre was at the very beginning when he started writing lyrics at age 15. Surrounded by the sounds of Grime pioneers RuffSquad, Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, finding his place within the scene was inevitable. Despite his early accomplishments like being a part of the Grime collective, Mucky Wolfpack, performing on Tim Westwood TV and battling on Lord of the Mics, Realz expressed that he only recently started taking his craft seriously.
“From the beginning, I was writing bars because all my mates were doing the same thing. I came in when YouTube had just started. The music scene wasn't as open; it wasn't on social media. We were on MSN and stuff. We were just writing bars and having fun with it”.
Listening to your music, especially your old freestyles, they were quite raw. Would you say that was you letting out your emotions?
“At the time I didn't know that's what I was doing, but when I look back it’s because we were all around a lot of madness. Some of us spat lyrics and it was all raw. It was authentic. Nobody was trying to make it in music. Everybody had their own style”.
NM: There was a time when Grime represented UK music. Do you think now the genre isn't appreciated enough?
“With every genre, there has to be some evolving. Every artist that's doing Grime and sticking to their own way of making it is doing well. Look at Novelist, even Skepta, these are artists that came from Grime. They haven't tried to do anything way beyond that and it's gotten them pretty far. D Double E [is] getting adverts on Ikea. Soon as Stormzy and Wiley decided to do a Grime battle you ain't ever seen the country move so mad. You wouldn't get a rap battle like that. If it wasn't for grime a lot of these youngers wouldn't be here. Drill is the same kind of energy - raw, authentic, a few disses here and there, and I like it. Every genre has its time. Funky house had its time and now Drill is having its moment. I'm sure the Grime moment will come back again”.
You joined Ghetts on his tour - how was that experience?
“Anyone that knows me knows that Ghetts is my favourite artist from a long time ago. It was a sick experience even to have him on a tune - 25 Remix - [with] Che Lingo and Geovarn. That was the first time I've ever been on tour. I learnt a lot. [Ghetts] takes his craft seriously, I took a lot of notes on that tour. Something that I appreciate for life still”.
Was he one of your inspirations growing up then?
“100%. Apart from Dizzee Rascal, Crazy Titch and American rappers like Tupac, Ghetts has been the artist that I thought, right, that's the bar. That's the level I'm trying to aim at or even go beyond. It's mad that years later we're on the same tune and on tour together”.
The Bow-based rapper has just released the first single from his upcoming joint EP with fellow East London collective The HeavyTrackerz, titled Ball (featuring Nic Hundrds).
What is it like working with them on this project?
“Sick because I've known them for years so the friendship [and] chemistry [are] already there. I like the fact that they're honest, they're not just yes men. If I spit a bar and it's not hard, I've got to go and rewrite that. We're having so much fun with it, this project is sounding sick so far and Ball is a very nice warm-up.”
What can we expect from this upcoming EP?
“Very good music. [We've got a] Grime track, a Drill type of track, a Garage tune. I'm treating it like my baby. The vocals are on point, the artwork, videos are sharp, so expect quality. I might fling a freestyle off the back of that so everyone knows that [I’ve] still got bars. I'm very open-minded when it comes to music. I feel like as an artist it's the best thing to be, you don't have to limit yourself while also making it make sense.”
You've done a lot of collaborations, one being with Wiley on his album, Godfather 3. Who would be your dream collab?
“I'd love to make a tune with Chris Brown, but it wouldn't make sense. The one that I feel I could get done and it would be sick is Skepta and Kehlani. I even want to do another riddim with Ghetts.”
What's next for you?
“I've got a single that won't be on the EP, maybe before it drops. I've got collaborations planned with up and coming artists. I'm just waiting to see what happens with corona so we can get back on the road and do the shows. I'm craving music so just expect releases.”