NEWS
EVENTS
Interview with Kingsley Rymz
Other | Monday 2nd May 2016 | Noelle
Hip-hop /Afrobeats Artist, K Rymz is a young man studying biomedical science whilst pursuing his first love music. We sat down with him on Friday and found out some things about him. Take a look.
Kingsley Rhymes, How are you doing?
I ‘m fine thank you.
Tell us about your background, who is Kingsley, who is K rhymes?
My name is Kingsley rhymez, I am from Ghana, I grew up in Ghana and moved to the UK when I was 15. I am currently in university at the moment studying Biomedical science.
You are at university studying Biomedical science but you do music as well. How does that work out?
A lot of people say that, even at university; some people look at me and think that I study music or fashion design. But then people forget that a lot of doctors use music to heal their patients. So in a way there is a correlation from my point of view.
When did you start doing music? Do you come from a musical household?
My influence started in Ghana when I was in school, I had two rappers in my class, so most of the time our seniors would come down to our block and ask for good rappers. I wanted to be part of those guys, plus I knew I could do better so that’s how I started, I was mimicking them and when I got to secondary school, I started writing my own stuff. Every Friday we have a rap battle in my area and most of the time, I would win, initially I started out as a battle rapper. I guess I could say I come from a musical household, my cousin is a sound engineer and another one is a DJ.
So you started off doing rap battles and when you were coming to the UK, you decided to take music seriously. What would you say is different between what you were doing in Ghana and the UK?
I think back in Ghana, I had a lot of things to write about; I would go out see something and write about it. Also there are loads of rap opponents, so you have to keep writing new things. In the UK, I don’t go out a lot of so I don’t get to experience new things, plus people in the UK don’t really do rap battles.
What type of music do you do and what kind of artist would you class yourself as?
I do afrobeats and hip-hop; to be honest it depends on where I am in life. Any type of beat you give me, I can jump on it. If I am on a afrobeats song, it will be more lively like a dance along, but if I am doing hip-hop it is straight punch lines.
You’re doing music in the UK now. I went on YouTube and I saw a few videos. Yvonne Nelson, how did that freestyle come about??
I believe I am one of her biggest fans. I love everything about her, any movie she is in I must watch it. So I wanted to send her a letter and I thought the best way to do that would be through music. So I did freestyle about her, hopefully one day she will see it.
Who are your musical inspirations?
A lot of people, but I grew up listening to Sarkodie, so definitely him.
If you could do a collaboration with anyone in the world, any artist who would it be and why?
At the moment I would say Sarkodie, because everything about him inspires me, what he is doing is exactly what I aim to do, he's my motivation, sometimes I want to quit but when I listen to him, he up lifts me.
Where do you see the Afrobeats scene going?
In general, I think it’s time for Africa, all the other continents have had their share and now it’s our time. I think afrobeats is taking over; literally everyone wants to do afrobeats now. People are no longer shy to say that they are from Africa.
How did you get signed to De’legacy records?
I met my manager at an event and she asked me if I was signed to anyone, at that point I wasn’t really ready to be signed so I told her not yet. We kept in contact and she was watching my moves; I believe she saw my process and this year in January we spoke and it became official. I signed with them.
What is your writing process like?
Most of the time I don’t write my stuff, it comes to my head and stays; when it is time for me to record I grab it out. Sometimes when I go to the club and I hear a song, by the time the song is done, I already have my verse. Whilst people are dancing, I am on my phone writing lyrics, it’s crazy.
Has being involved in rap battles helped you write music?
Yes, I think so.
What is your motto of life? What is your key to success?
Push – Pray until something happens and stay humble.
In the whole music scene, who would you say your top 5 are right now?
Sarkodie, no, wait Sarkodie is over the limit, he is on a whole another level. (He laughs) I will say Kofi Kinaata, Fuse, EL and Ice Prince.
How do we keep up with K Rymz? What is your social media links?
You can contact me @Kingsleyrymz on Twitter & Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat is @Kingsley_rymz
Thanks for coming down, we wish you all the best.
Interviewer: Exclusive Noelz
Transcriber: Noelle Asiedu
Twitter: @Missndott
