This is the who we be podcast with me DJ sensex. Every alternate we can connect with the people that Define our culture. I'm talking to the producers DJ's few artists big artist the Legend legend when hip-hop you came back Grime Apple spring. I'm doing all of that all of that all of that. This is our culture. This is who we are. This is who we feel we should be First of all, I got to give a big shout-out to Dre school for mixed pack a shouts Miss Lola way as well as she recently hit me up in the grandma. She likes em, absolutely. Love to who we be podcast. But when are we going to hear from the female y'all? Listen Lola? I got you if you're gonna like this, this is Stephen, London. You're when I'm in the presence of greatness the queen herself stuff London looking all a list of everything. I think you know. Is these is good to be able to hook up with you today? Because I wanted to catch up with you and talk about you know, your journey so far like you had an amazing run know that there's much more to come and more to follow but just to catch up for people who may not know that your story. How did it start for yourself. Like what is a start for Stephen and the artist I come from a musical family. So there's like my mom and dad are seven kids together and growing up my dad. Dad was very heavily influenced in the music scene like he was like, well we call it in Jamaica like a DJ but it's like a scene J Jeremy in someone. Who does that your drive kind of thing which one that always does and then I think when I was like seven eight, he would always encourage me to write or read sing some songs on like a tape recorder. So it was he still I gave me a tape recorder and I used to always yeah just sing over songs on there and write my own stuff. So from the age of 8, I was writing and then he took me to the studio for the first Time when I was nine. Wow. Yeah, and then there was a guy he knew which his name was unique and he wanted me on one of his songs and he wanted the kid on a hoax. Like I think he kind of wanted it like hard knock life like Jay-Z type of thing. And then yeah, that's the first time I went to um recorded before, you know, number one records and tearing up the charts and tearing up the club's of hurt me and everything that you've been on the ground for a minute. I think a lot of people think you're just new and you just came out and you started out from when he was 8 or 9. I'm in the studio. What was the next point from when you discovered that like, you know, could you got the influence of your family but you know the whole to make them by was different to the that vibe that when did that come into your life rap as well from younger because around the house we would always put on like instrument or then as a family we would just start freestyling like we'd be like, okay, let's freestyle but none of us were really that good really coming up with a younger but that's what we used to do. And then I'm in my my sister because I was singing The times almost always tell me Steph like you you're sick. Like when you freestyle like it just sounds sick, even though to me it was like not good, but she saw potential anyway, and I remember going to the studio and I was always singing so from the age of 18, I was going in and out studio and I'll sing anymore, but I was never like a real singer. You know, I mean, I was always like just in between but always try and sing and then I would be shy and in my voice will crack and then I couldn't hit certain notes and I was like, you know what this is just this is long and then I thought about what My sister's keep telling me stuff. You need to see to rap like your secret weapon. And I think that's when I started taking it serious and I was like 18 19. Who was he listening to like? What rappers would you listening to that kind of encourage you to start going from singing to rapping? I was listening to so many like my household was always on music whatever was on the channels. That's what we would listen to so whatever was banging so it will be like definitely Lil Kim. I Used To Love Her Eve. I remember as well like when she's part of Rough Riders and she'll just come. And look dope. Yeah, you got foxy as well. Obviously. She was sick and I remember seeing all these women just thinking at the time even when I wasn't rapping just thinking how unique they are and how every time I hear a track and there's a female wrap around it. I can't wait to hear what the females going to say is like a waiting game and it was always going to it was always late and it felt to me that way to go over the track and that's why I admired as well. You're the Knight is was popping for Papa was mad was crazy, you know foxy Kim knowing he'll Missy right? They go like so sick. I'm not saying there was maybe there wasn't maybe just one main female. I'm not sure but as a kid growing up, I didn't see like it that it was just one main one to meet was like everyone was lit. So we trap meant the most to you that you know, like inspires you like the you connected to the new like, you know, I'm going to do this definitely Little Kim, but you know at a time when I was listening to her it wasn't I wasn't listening to her singing. I want to be just like I just kind of just listening to enough - always put she was sick. And then I feel like when I picked up wrapping I started remembering when I was younger and how I used to feel when I used to listen to and how I feel like to be like a real done. You got a kind of be in that type of Lane. Do you know, I mean, I don't know you can trap any other way like you can't just be like with your high-pitched voice or just talking about any or nonces. You kind of have to be like rough, you know, I mean like a bit like the man them. So yeah, that's what she made me see definitely so inspired by Lil Kim Your family is encouraging you to get into and to focus on lapping. When did you become Steph London? When the that when did you start taking it? Seriously, when you let you know what I can do this, I think I was about 19 I was about 19 and that's when the wrapped really started and that's when I was like, you know, what? Yeah, the more practice is the more better. I became and then I remember listening to like a lot of old school rappers and I remember seeing this interview what I say, like every line has to count and I forgot when I started to pick up my pen and started to remember that. I started to become a lot more better because I was like, okay, everything has to make sense and like for when I did lock off that those black that was a time when I was practicing every line has to kind of make sense. I can't just be seen anything and I feel like when lock off came off a full like that's what it was for the audience as well. They felt like okay this is actually lit and that's when I actually knew okay. This is stuff on them. That's what it was before luck offer. I'd seen I've seen you around like online like Has your name for purple? I'll see you you had freestyles and SoundCloud and stuff at our other things, but that really was like a rival for me. Anyway, when I saw the look of freestyle, I was like, I think I heard it first on Soundcloud missing the video and the guy was like I reached out to you as well as hell. This is hey, it's shit started playing it on my show. What was that response like that when you first put that out because that was like that was like the Rival moment, you know to be fair. That was the only song I did because I've had so much songs and never really put them. That but that was the only song I actually did an I loved every bit of it myself before it would always be learning some parts of machines happy that Mark could do that better. That wasn't that good. So this was for me really the only song that I feel like I do this every bar every everything sounds like to me so when I got that response is like I can't say I knew it was going to happen, but I've thought okay, this might come now because I thought it was so late myself. So I remember playing in the studio and then like people in a studio and there wasn't really that loud. It was just like oh, yeah, this is Sick Enough, he cannot Rob this is sickening. I'm just dead lot on my own. I don't care what you think. I know this is lit. And yeah, so there was just receptive it man and they fought yeah, therefore it was late. So that's definitely a tuna. I could go around and say yo, I do music and play and a representation of myself. Yeah. You got hip hop out. Here we go crime. You got UK wrap how easy was it to establish yourself like at a time because where you're at now it looks like you've made it looks like it's overnight on it and everything else one. Was waived but you have been on I know you've been on the crying because I've seen you do it. Yeah, definitely have what was that like around that time like fighting to be heard and be taken seriously? Do you know what in all my career? I never I never felt like I was ever fighting should I mean I never felt like I had to prove something. I kind of just kind of just did what I did. So I never felt like this is now they have to see me like I've been on out here for so long drumming because even when I just started doing music and I wasn't really coming on the scene. I was actually behind the scenes trying to perfect my craft. That's what I really was doing. So, I knew that everything I was doing wasn't ready yet. So it wasn't until I was like 19 20 21 Around the lock off time where I knew I was ready. So for me it kind of started from there, even though it started before hand but on a serious note, that's where it kind of started From and it wasn't hard to like you said cause I was kind of only three my doing that thing you stand that automatically so it's like it's not like I'm battling with five other girls who kind of have the same sound, you know, I mean, I think it wasn't that hard. I just got called for features and I always was jumping on features and I made sure I did them straight away like that. Lethal be colored me for a feature when sneakbo holiday early on for a feature. I just made sure I guess who I need to get in the studio and do the speech and send it back and I have to kill it and that was my mentality all the time, like killing killing the track killing the features you go glow and You Got Confidence. Where does that come from? Everyone else? I think the normal Sagittarius I do know is I don't know such time as it is a bit. No, but my dad is well, he's like I'm a bit like that. So you speak with authority and and It moves through your music as well, right? That's a good thing. All right now definitely but you know for the rap game look is in Easy is fickle its unforgiving and you know isn't for the faint-hearted know what you've got this confidence where you know, like you just said you didn't feel like you had to fight most people do yeah. Most people are like now that's how that's how people feel you're right. So is it so you send us from your father? It is I think you got this. Yeah, he's a bit like that. He's very like, you know, I mean like why that is so bossy likes a fool like, you know, like genetics in it. Well, I don't is a bit low and my mom is so laid-back and so cool. Yeah. She's the total opposite to my dad. So like yeah, I was DJing in Manchester after one extra life and I did an after party up there and you know this club it was it was hot it was worth it. And and it was like, I think you're Who was then your sister was there and your sister was like yo play some Steph. No way. Ha ha ha, you know, I thought you you know the Clippers. I think I went on to do I like my routine mixtape? I think that's why I went on to do you and I dropped them rotating. I think that was the first I'm not sure but I think that was my first tune without having to remix anything like my first original. Soon the I dropped and I had all the girls in the video and I think that was another I feel like I've anyone doubted me that time when I dropped that video it was definitely like not kind of thing. She said to stay like it's not like just a common goal kind of thing. And I feel like that definitely solidified that mixtape is popping put you on the map again even more 60 shots as well. We did a video for that 16 shots is though. Thank you like and someone asked me if someone Ask me about it. I would you think that's how you met I was like, is that a seizure? No defining moment. I was like, you know, like point out together. I mean clearly it's about your family everything else, but you could feel the passion in that tract and it is it's real. Yes. One of the builders tracks decided. What was it like making that joint like, you know, why did you feel like it was the time to put that truck out at that point as she made 16 shots because I think sometimes I'm going to see Jonah be listened to Just stuff like just anyone anyone who are full of okay, he's got lit tunes right now who's just a lip person that I want to listen to and then I remember listening to some dancing and stuff and he's always talking about sucking my toes. I came out and I was like, you know what it would be good to like say something about don't tell me about my mom like, you know, I mean, you can't tell me because Jamaicans like they have a big thing where if you tell someone to suck suck their mom, it could be like a real problem, you know, I mean that you probably can't come back from and and I thought okay cool. Gonna make a tune like this and at the time as well, there was a situation with my mom so I thought okay, so I just used all of that and then made the tune and then everyone that heard the tune was just like this is so late that I thought it was lit, but the way the response was I didn't think it was going to be like that. But because I'll drop in the mixtape at the time I'd done that shot the video and my producer which was named Fred he gave me the idea is that when you put your mom in a video at first I lost the light no put my mom in love with you actually that might be a good idea and I mean we got my mom in the video as well. Do you prefer to report to thing? That's difficult. I like both it depends as well. It just depends on the beat if I come in a studio and someone plays a beat if I feel like okay. This is a to need to sing on this is you need to wrap on. I'm not gonna lie. I feel a bit more expressive. I could express myself a bit more bitter think we'd singing Tunes even a lot of stuff that I put out yet. There's a lot of tunes that just might have acoustic or some shit and that freestyle to but I'll be thinking about something that is real to me. And I feel like it's way more expressive because it takes longer to like takes a lot longer to find the words and we drop you gotta like be quick quick find their words to fill in all the gaps when sometimes you don't need so much words to express yourself. So yeah, sometimes I feel like here singing as a bit more expressive but I love the edge of the wrap. I love the I love the hardness about it drumming was your Minister Stephen. That's what means Yeah, I just say about a lot of people like a lot of people love the normal Style remix. Yeah, people love that verse who you feeling out of the UK like MC was like inspires you what would you wake you do? I react there's so many people I think gigs is good. I think I got to say Dutch. Of course Jay Haas most Stacks love most acts obviously love like he's our I think he's told Type of rapper. Well, you said that yeah the way you said yesterday and I like most I think he's very different and I remember being in the studio with more like years ago when me and him wasn't left open or anything and I remember the boys tell him you need to work with him. You know, he's sick and I'm like, okay cool, and he's just standing there. Yeah. Thank you for saying that. You right quick. Like, you know, you go to Feast Island, like he's basically saying you can wrap because you know, like there's a lot of people you can you can wrap like this a lot karaoke shit at the moment. There's a lot of people who started rapping last week and you know, they pop up or whatever but he was like no no, no, she she can give as good as she's got she's dope nice and you like what kinda studio and everything? Yeah. I learned to write quick because when I was just coming up as well, I was like around a lot of mundum so we would go The studio members video is time like at this time is money. So you have to pay like 2,500 hours. So we have to be quick. So there was there always be free people on a tune. I'll be the only girl that we to man them and we all got all right, and we all gotta lay down these Tunes in like three hours like maybe three tracks. So that's how I learned how to write real quick. But also try and make sense of what you're saying. So I'll be in the corner right and I'll be done before everyone and they'll be like rust if we did they were late ever. So whatever the Malcolm being lame and they'd be like not angle and I'm not 10 times. They'll be like Steph. Man, I think I got to redo my work and that was the aim. I was like now I'm gonna be so sick that it's just gonna fake mad. I got to go really diverse and that's what was happening all the time and them times. Did you ever feel intimidated because it's you know, as a guy I can't imagine what that's like like what if you're the only woman in the room, you know laughs is very, you know, it's misogynistic isn't exactly women friendly, but you know, your elbow and your way through like you're fighting to be it but without any points where you are, like I never I never I never felt like that still don't I feel like if anyone anyone that does anything in life, I feel like if you ever feel Like a bit disheartened or you know, I mean someone might be a bit more above you just go back in the lab and make sure you're hotter than them or or make sure you're the best you that you could be is all down to you is all in your hands. So like I'll never joke about something called feel like I'll just make sure it happens like make sure that I'm I sound the best on the track or the just the best me doesn't have to be the best but the best use so when people hear that, yeah, that was that was sick, you know intimidated to being the only girl in a room full of guys that No, I feel like I feel like that's good because you stand out morning everyone. You're the only girl says you're the only one everyone's going to look at. You know, I mean, yeah. Hey me is the Anthem. You know, what was it like making that and did you think of the time it would do what it's done? Make it I didn't take too long to make it as well and it was based off of a true story which happened a while ago a couple years ago. And nah, I didn't I knew it was going to be a big track though. I didn't know I didn't know because when I use a plate in my kitchen because I had this five bedroom house and we had like this big island in the kitchen and I used to always have people around my house and then I would always play that song and everyone would always sing it like how everyone sing it now it would always be like an Anthem type of song and I think that this one is going to be big Up, of course, you don't know that it's going to be that big. You just know it's gonna be a sick tune like people going to love this tune, but I didn't know it was gonna go platinum. I didn't know that I mean it connects with women though in a way. It's like, you know aside from your sister telling me to play some stuff like it's not so you got play that track any Clips say anything like any show any festival and you play it as a DJ, you look like a genius because you think that thousands of women singing so but it's crazy the way that you resonate because in easy to do not everyone does it it's like it's not giving you know, you know, that's crazy. That's a blessing because that was actually my first official single offer label as well. So everything else I did on my own everything else was just just me and then I had my manager on board and then to have that and a part of a label, you know how it is like some people say like as a bit pressure to be a part of the label and the day But yeah, I assigned obviously my label Universal and I definitely delivered way of that one. She was that I'm happy about that. I'm happy about that. Okay. Now that's dope. So you come up you done your thing UK wrap and everything else going from lock off to 16 shots her and me. It's popping off in the UK. What's the response like worldwide? Like I see you doing promo in America and everything. Was it like going over there from a Because you know we talk about how great you Casey news right now. It is it's amazing. I don't think it's ever been as great as it is, but we're still yet to have the MC pop up in the US and yeah do that thing over there, you know is you the US has actually been really good to me. Actually every time I go over there and do a couple interviews the people are so support if they know so much about my journey as well and it feels like they're mad excited to see what I'm going to do next. You know, I mean Yeah, and they're just mad supportive. I think the last time I went over there and did that radio promo after that like they've been battering hurting me is like it's not even a joke. They just been putting in the work because I feel like they met me now and I feel like okay cool. Let's support this girl, which is mad because a lot of people don't just get that support just like that. So I'm proper grateful for that. But yeah, I feel like it's it makes me want to go away more harder when it comes to rappers. Well, you know, I mean, I'm a rapper as well at the same time and member they only here in hurting me for the first. I'm sorry, I think in this this chick is a singer and I want to let them huh. I'm actually a rapper that's things like you need to know. I'm a singer that rap. So with this mixtape that's come in. I feel like - Stephanie that point I want to prove so I think the work that we started that as well the week it for ya. Everyone loved that one. Yeah. We could we could I like will kick man is right. He's a nice guy. Eggs works with fakie and gas and everything. He understands Grime you gave up on the scene and I think it does a lot for us than people realize we're in terms of put on his own out there but is doped he embraced you and you know, yeah, but it's even better that you killed it. So, yeah, definitely now in the game where you know you seen you came up and you know, this is nice. Is that I'm back. Then you had Lil Kim phuc. See Lauren Missy. Yeah, I know but they all went platinum as well. But right now is with his handful and the handful they were getting compared and like cause you know, I've seen people like oh, yeah. She's the UK Nicki Minaj. I want to be just a UK He Caden artists behind that no one says us the u.s. Future the u.s. Cardi job means just fastest-selling. But how is it by now? You know I get the comparison especially in the beginning when you don't really know me and you here maybe one to tuned because I'm Jamaican and I was he/she does departing as well sometimes and I rap she wraps, you know, I mean and Jeremy you just going to find similarities in general. They that's what they do in general try to compare people to each other. But if you really know much things, you're not going to be comparing me to her and it's not even a bad thing because I think she's dope but you're not going to be comparing me to your gonna see that I'm stiff, you know, I mean and that's why it is. Yeah, how do you feel about the way that people are trying to pick cardi B against Nicki Minaj and for me, I'm like, I'm I really like, you know, like people People are like it's like they wanted to fight versus once a time. Yeah. It's like it's the anime, you know, it's just good. You got great artists like there's no need to be like, yeah, you know, you know is I said, I've said in my previous interviews as well that's always sad that it was want to put females against each other but also said females do separate themselves from other females as well. So it's not like everyone else does it some people do it to themselves and they just want to be the only female there some people have done that in the past. You've seen it and it happens and that's sad and I feel like Like if you're confident in your in your things and you're confident, you shouldn't be scared to to share the spotlight. Do you know I mean, you shouldn't be scared and I feel like it's dope when other females support each other especially female rappers and I feel like once they start doing it. I feel like more the world will start doing it. You know, I mean, once you see the world sees that is acceptable to them and they really Embrace each other then the world of start embracing it and that's just I think way is yes. Oh, yeah, they used to do that back in the day. Yeah, they did. Exactly, and I don't think it was as bad with certain. The art is like putting against each other because they made sure they let the world see that we are one like we're together which I mean, why do you think is so few females in rap compared to back in the day because even even in a is like you have salt and pepper Queen Latifah MC Lyte. This is a really solid history of like, you know dope our is the came through but why is it like why is it only a handful now like the coming through? I have no idea. I feel like sometimes it can be slightly a bit more harder for the female, especially a female who's not really into the sexy type dressing and maybe that's not their style and then they have to figure out how to come through an industry because a lot of people are more taken to people who maybe show a bit of tip in the bit a bomb or some shit. So like what about the rappers that do not mean like to wear trachy that's a bit more difficult because now you haven't got what people are eye-catching looking at even if the person is a bit shit, but they have a bit of luck. We'll be at it and you're like oh shit. Yeah, I like I like her but really she ain't that great, but you love the way she looks but know what about the girls that's wrapping in a Trekkie. What are you got to look at? So now she's got a lot deliver even a bit more than a female that looks a bit sexy July means a full like that stands in a lot of people's way and I feel like that discourages some females were full up when they're not getting heard because they might not fit in that bracket of the sexiest or whatever and I feel like that could be a bit of a problem. But at the same time I do see a lot of females coming true in America. Are like on the ground like you got the Asian down the Cuban doors and all these all these dog has. Yeah. I like them. I think they're dope and I feel like they're coming through a bit more on their own tip where they're kind of, you know, I mean not trying to do this big boom big bursting the kind of just doing their own thing and I feel like that's good for young girls that's looking up to them knowing that you don't have to look like that to be heard. You know, I mean, they got the bars though not all of them. Some of them got some choose though that you could run in a club and it sounds late. Do you know I mean But not all of them have really the buzz the buzz. It feels like you're taking your time with what you're doing because I've heard some stuff that you've done that you got. You got big tracks. Yeah, like I don't think people realize how great your pain Gamers and is that even the fact that you point out a mixtape next rather than an album, like what is that? You're just taking the time of it sound if I'm looking to be here for a long time, so I'm not going to rush, you know, I mean like like you said, I do have a lot of jeans that you have a lot of A big change that's like album material big singles. Definitely gonna try a hundred percent is yeah, that's definitely got to try a hundred twenty five percent and sometime the labels even like to me when he just put this out on my own. I don't want to do that yet. I want to like, I feel like the greatest all is are the people that never rush stick stay true to themselves and not really worry about a chart position but more put in the ground work and I still feel like I've got so much ground work to do and so much really let them I feel like more a molding of me. Like a still got some some work to mold and let people really know who I am before I do so much of the commercial stuff even though there's nothing wrong with you commercial stuff because I feel like that's who I am as well. You know, I mean, that's the type of stuff I can write and that's why I'm good as well. So, that's me, but I feel like a bit more. This would be more edgy a bit more edginess though. I got some more edginess in me and it would always be there anyway along along the road, but just a bit more just to let people know I'm not just here. For the charts. I'm here on the Gridiron in Army. That's good. But I know a lot of people will they be trying to get the back straightaway? I got the bag still I'm I got the bug bomb. I'm gonna get some more soon. It's coming. What can we expect on the mixtape? Yes, um some real Tings some you know, what like I feel like my first mixtape was really good. I feel like it would be good. Even when I wasn't it now and I'm like yo, this is actually sick at the time. I leave elastic it actually was but no one listened to I'm the oldest. The sea I feel like just going to get some proper rap tunes. Definitely some some Vibes. I'm UK type Vibe / the Dancehall thing but what are always been doing anyway, because I feel like I've listened to some people's albums, especially in the states and just don't get that yard Vibe. You don't get that even the British yard Vibe afrobeat / yard. You know what we do like, I miss that when I hear them when I listen to certain people's album like this is something they really don't do and I feel like definitely have to keep that. I don't think they can. Yeah, they probably they probably can't even trying for years to get probably got no, they probably can't and I feel like that's that's actually a dope aspect that we have that we should just definitely Embrace and never never never let it just slide. So yeah, what's the biggest mistake you made? What in music in general? What's the biggest mistake? Oh my gosh. I can't think of a mistake my ex. No, I'm joking. I'm playing her. What's the biggest mistake on my own? I would say the biggest mistake but a mistake I've made is always expecting people to be like me like in friendship was like I always expect a certain amount loyalty because I'm that person. You're not mean you expect and I feel like that's why people get hurt because you always think another person should think or do what all approach the situation how you would approach it when you have to realize that everyone is individual and they're going to do what they're going to do and you just have to you know, I mean, sometimes keep yourself to yourself with And situations and that's what I've learned. Anyway, the attainment you've worked with a lot of artists and you know, you've had people featured on your music, you know, French Montana hurt me hurt me remix was helped. By the way. I think that was an event and you know you featuring another records that it's like every other week you unlike some kind of big muscle, but it's all coming out what's been the greatest learning experience like recently because you know you you Come through you've made it look easy, but it is a struggle. But what is the most important lesson you've learned on this road to success never lack like always give it you always give it your best. Like if there's any bars that you feel like I want to change every time you hear it, but you just feel like I've already done it. Let me just let it go out don't like make sure that everything you do you love visuals the way you sound the way is mixed but I'm a part of every part of everything like I direct my videos. I'm in the studio. You're like basically co-produce even though Rambo give me the credit but Rhymes I do Co pretty slow is tell you what to do on the track. No, but I always I'm always involved on that heavily involved and even certain times like don't play that make sure you work harder than you play. Make sure you work harder than you play and I feel like everything everything you put in is what you're gonna get out. If you put in 30, you're getting free if you put 50 again 50 if you put a hundred you're getting a hundred and I think that's just the power of the universe and that's what you Really is you accepted that your role model Yeah by force. I'm not trying I'm like, I just turned 26 like I'm not trying to be I'm sure you anyone in it that was 26 and that's now their age of today. You've learned so much. I made so much mistakes. So he's like I'm not going to be sitting here acting like I'm perfect or acting like I'm going to be teaching your kids the best thing. I just I me come here for do music. You know, I just Michalka money and them today, but I know I'm a role model but at the same time No, it can't be. The overall being for a child, you know, I mean, they have to have something else look up to you as well. And I think it starts from home. So put your very strong woman even speaking to you now, like, you know, obviously a healthy music spoke before but even like when were talking about, you know, I'm trying to find the struggle. It doesn't look like a joke, but it's like you're you are used very very strong person some people Eat that because I haven't got our around them and that's to say nothing. I think sometimes eyes don't realize how much you know, you are raising a generation of kids for your music and your Artistry just by default because there's nothing else. Yeah. Well, I hope if I'm a role model people just look at the best qualities just pick the best sites just pick the best sides and then yeah learn from my mistake then whatever mistakes you feel like I made make sure you don't do the same e learn from them. You certified as an MC as a rapper, you know, you rap to some of the greatest in the UK and in the US and you're very very sick songwriter. Who do you rate? Party next door. I think he's sick and actually see. Oh Sean Kingston and he was doing some amazing stuff. I was like, oh that's dope. You just doing a lot of stuff on top of his head and I was like, that's sick. Who else do I read Drake? I think he's adult songwriter as well as his sick. Actually think Niko's are dope. You know, I think the way they put their word plays a bit different most of the songs sound the same. They find a way to still make it different the know you're not tired of them, which is good. That's that that song right in a bit. That's the math ability to you kind of every move. He needs a new Migos track. Yeah. It's kind of like yeah you do they feed in you write is like you but you don't feel like it's the same sound but it still feels different. You're not tired of it in a lot of here we go. Again. It's just like, oh, okay cool. This is late again. And that alone I think is a good ability to write I like the weekend. Yeah, I think he's dope as well. He's dope around what for you is the ultimate collaboration to Ultimate cure yourself. What were you trying to get people to try to bag people ask me this summer? I don't know. I would say Paulie. I think he's sick. He also funny to me like it might not be the biggest artists that I feel like I need to be around or I need to work with it could just be Something that's so special that I see in that person that feel like rod for me to just even be in the studio. Would you like like when I say party for me to just be in a studio and hear your Vibes and what you how you work that would be an honor to me? And even when I was in a city with Sean Paul that to me was like a real big situation at the time. I didn't really see it. But I sat down and thought about it. I was like yo Steph you always used to listen to this guy when you was a kid when I grew up in Holland and I told people I'm Jamaican didn't know what Jamaican one side, you know, Sean Paul, they'd be like, yeah be like, hey, that's me. That's what I am. He will be my go-to. Reference so people could know what the hell what the hell I'm from. So like yeah just to be studio with people like that even having Sizzla, um on hurting me remix don't stuff to me or like or like big for me. They all came through on that. They didn't know that was that dummy mix is powerful and Caesar was a whole surprised. I didn't even ask him to be on it just happened free popcorn. So that was crazy and obviously in her Ami also reference to one of his tracks, so that was crazy that he's under remix. It's the that's imagine it one of my favorite songs. Actually dry cry. Swear you taking this tip to the top baby with it? Well P or was the moment when you let you know, I've done it. I've made it that I have arrived. What is that according to your goal? I don't know what when that's going to be or what moment is going to be but I feel like definitely when I feel like I've made my stamp and I brought out all types of music that I've been doing that people probably in heard of just all the stuff that I love as well just different types of sounds and combining them all into this one. One thing which is stifling done. Yeah, I think when I get to that point where I could do any type of genre that I want and you still feel like this is just if she does it all For look at that point. I'll be like ok, cool. Well done it but it's dookie. Go to know living in a crazy time where you know, you got a situation in America you got situations going on over here. You seen black lives matter become a thing me to movement gender pay Gap thing that's going on at the moment and there's been some other situations with been going on definitely in the center of London Lite. What advice would you give to young women coming through? Because you know, Your Role Model one of the strongest women I have met you're doing it you're making it you're killing it yeah, you mean struggling I feel like You should never feel like you need someone to get somewhere. First of all, I feel like always rely on yourself and just know that Anything Can Happen through you, you know, I mean, I don't feel like you should never sell yourself short to get somewhere like always stand your ground always know your worth and don't ever sell yourself short and that's definitely what I would say to people like ya know. You're with a friend. I think that's so important. And I feel like you get so far with that as well. Yo, she's one of the strongest women I've ever met. Shout out to Steph London shots of right shout to the whole team of pulido for making this happen is another Pepper's old fuse feeding that make sure you check out the other episodes of the who'd be podcast. Yeah, we caught up with Dave sneakbo gigs, Michael thapa is it's all on Spotify at man. Check it out. Now if you want to find out what's going on in the world that hip-hop Grime UK wrap drill, all of that. All you gotta do is follow us who he be. Let me know who you want to hear. The next episode of The Who would be podcast hit me up DJ sensex on everything Twitter Instagram Facebook. All of that can check me out every Friday. Day 4 9 p.m. On BBC Radio 1xtra
At just 26 years old, Stefflon Don has achieved a lot; her own label imprint with Universal Records, a platinum-selling single with French Montana, a slew of underground hits and a truly international fanbase. First bursting on to the scene in 2015 with her remix of Section Boyz' breakout street anthem, Lock Arff, Steff's relentless work-rate and business savvy has earned her a space as one of the UK's most exciting rap acts today, but global superstardom didn't happen overnight. Born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents, Steff spent her formative years in the Netherlands before returning to the UK at 14, ultimately settling in East London. Attending her first studio session at just 9 years old, it was her father, a DJ himself, that first encouraged a young Steff to explore her talents as a songwriter, penning her first songs at the tender age of just eight. Fast forward to 2018 and she is not only a tour de force as a singer, but also a formidable MC and astute businesswoman. In the ninth episode of the Who We Be podcast, DJ Semtex charts the rise and rise of one of the UK's most exciting female rap acts, following her journey from street anthems to global chart hits. The pair discuss the impact of coming from a musical family, being inspired by the likes of Foxy Brown and Lil Kim and the importance of building a solid foundation on which to grow your career. 