W1zzy: An MM Exclusive

W1zzy is one of those artists who doesn’t do a lot of interviews, and you don’t really know too much about him outside of the fact that he’s repping SW6, is “half Jamaican, half trapper”, and has a co-sign from UK heavyweight K-Trap.

If “Voice of the 6” is a compass, the needle teeters between street machismo and the most affable vulnerability to come out of W1zzy’s catalogue. With an athlete-like approach to building up his discography, the project features some of the classic signature stamps of approval that can certainly guarantee its growing success, from K-Trap, Blade Brown, Figs0 and Youngs Teflon. W1zzy goes much more in-depth about navigating the transition from “streets to the pavement”, and there are plenty of notes to leave you feeling inspired to get up and focus on the right things that give you purpose.

Mixtape Madness sat down with the artist to talk about his west London upbringing, musical inspirations, and writing process:

What kind of access did you have to music, if any, when you were growing up?

​Music wasn’t even my thing, like there were youth clubs doing music and things like that, but that wasn’t for me. I would rather go and play football or do something else. My family didn’t do music, and my friends didn’t either. So yeah, it wasn’t really a music thing for me growing up.

What is it like to grow up in Fulham? On one side, you’ve got the high-end stores, famous people and glamour and glitz. On the other hand, you’ve got your working-class areas, and there’s a very obvious split between the two…

Fulham’s nice man. It’s a nice area because the River Thames flows through it. In my day-to-day life, I see the glamour daily, which makes me want to aspire to it. It makes you think, if I’m on this side of the Fulham line, I need to be on the other side of the Fulham line.

What was the journey like when it came to mentally and physically preparing yourself to action with the intention of wanting better for your life?

​As a teen in London, it’s very easy to be pulled into a different kind of life. As long as you know what your goals are and what you’re aiming for when it comes to getting what you want out of life – being disciplined and consistent in what you’re doing – that journey can move you forward. But it’s not an easy journey, and obviously, the ways some people achieve that success won’t always be the same for everybody.

When you sat down to think about the purpose of this project, what came up for you emotionally ?

The story I tell is my story, so it’s not really a thing of figuring out what I’m saying because I’m very comfortable just voicing the events of my life. I also make my music at home because I feel like that’s where I’m most creative and can express myself the best.

What is your ‘why’ for making music to begin with?

I felt like my way of transitioning from the roads to the pavement is music, like the last two years of my life have been very different to the previous years. I’ve been so consistent for the past few years because it’s just my way of navigating through life now. I’ve got kids, and they’re getting older, so I don’t really want to be the same me that I’ve been, for their sake more than anyone else’s.

I know you’re someone who’s really into browsing different producers on YouTube and finding people to work with in that way, but what is it that you look for in a beat specifically? 

​The drums and the bassline first and foremost. It has to be dumb; like if you play it on 100% volume, it’s going to blow the speakers.

Who would you say, outside of your peers in the UK and inspirations here, do you look to for musical inspiration?

​Whilst making this album, I was actually listening to a lot of American artists. I listen to EST Gee, 42 Dugg, and Skilla Baby, who’s also from Detroit. UK-wise, regardless of our personal relationships, K-trap, Blade, and Youngs Teflon are artists I’ve been listening to for years.

They’ve been in the game for so long, and it’s mad because I remember one time when I was young, going to my cousin’s studio at his house, and he put a beat on and said rap. The first bar that came out was actually Blade’s song. I was a heavy, heavy Blade fan growing up. “Don’t You Ever Go” is one of my favourite songs, especially with that Janet Jackson sample; it’s a classic.

I wanted to ask about your thoughts on the personal branding element of an artist. What do you feel is important to consider when honing your sound and identity?

I feel like you need to solidify your sound and what you do before anything else. Obviously, I’m not saying don’t experiment. Music is art, but for there to be a stamp, you need to know what you do and do it well.

Everyone would call me a trap rapper based on what I speak about, and I’m okay with that because that’s what I do. It’s about being clear on your identity and letting people recognise you for it.

I feel this way because I’ve been studying a lot of other artists on their come-up and where they’re at now, and it’s clear that the reason they’ve excelled is that people like you for what you started with, and if you go out and start doing other things, you may potentially lose the support you had.

Have you faced any challenges with having to adapt to the algorithm and social media over the course of your career with branding and marketing strategy?

​To be honest, it’s like a battle because everyone’s saying, “Oh, you have to do TikToks, you have to post your song a million times a day,” but it just doesn’t resonate with me. I’m also fully independent, so I’m like super hands-on. I wouldn’t say I have a team with different people assigned to each role. It’s literally just me, my brother, and my cousin banging our heads together and trying to figure it out.

Who are some of the producers that you enjoy working with?

I’ve worked with Michelin Shin. He’s a good friend of mine, so we’ve worked together for a few years now. Who else have I worked with? M1onTheBeat, Louis Aura and Remedy are also on this project.

What does your writing process entail?

First and foremost, I have to hear the beat. I can’t pre-write. I play the beat, feel it, and then I’ll start to think of a bar. Normally, if I’m writing a 16, I’ll split it into fours. In the first four bars, I’ll find the fourth bar first and then work backwards. I only noticed I did that a few months ago. If I showed you the notes for one of my songs, it probably wouldn’t make any sense because I’ll have one bar written down and then fill in the three before it later.

I don’t know why I do it, but that’s my writing process. It’s almost like the destination is the fourth bar, and I seem to know how to get there first and then travel backwards.

Can you tell me a bit about why you chose the name “Voice of the 6” and what that voice entails?

We called it “Voice of the 6” because the postcode is SW6. If you’ve seen my artwork, it’s the Hammersmith and Fulham borough maps. So, Hammersmith is W6 and Fulham is SW6. So, when I said the voice of the 6, I meant the voice of the whole place. I describe that voice as raw and unapologetic most of the time.

​Q. What kind of feelings do you hope to inspire in your audience, and what do you listen to keep you going?

Whatever you feel you need to do in your life, I hope my music motivates you to do that. That motivates you to get up out of bed and get it done. As for me personally, I feel like my life’s so stressful, so when I’ve had a rough day I’ll put some reggae on, and I’m instantly in a better mood.

How do you feel about the UK music scene right now and how confident are you about your place within the ecosystem?

Rap has been around for many years now, before this underground rap stuff started blowing up and even before other sub-genres, like drill and hood trap. There’s always going to be a place in music for rappers, regardless of how many genres pop up in the scene.

What are some upcoming plans you have post the album release?

I feel like when I get to a stage where I’m in a position to help other people who come from where I’m coming from and want to transition. But as for the near future, I’ve got a headline show on the 20th of August at the Lower Third that I haven’t announced yet, but hope to soon■

Words by Sakithya Nathan