Determined to pave his own path, Renekade takes a different approach to rap than his mainstream UK contemporaries. His refreshingly soulful beats and suave delivery allow him to explore artistic avenues in his own right, “If you pick a certain type of beat people expect you to rap a certain type of way. It gives me more freedom to speak on a wider range of topics rather than just what is commercially out there at the minute”. Renekade channels life around him into his verses; hailing from Croydon, his diversity of experiences gives him a fuller perspective of life to draw from, “It makes you more of a round person, rather than a one-sided person who only knows one way of life. It exposes you to things that will make you grow quicker than other places”. We interviewed Renekade to see what he’s all about:
What inspired you to make music?
I was in a lesson in school. I ended up writing one of Eminem’s verses on the back of the sheets in a business lesson and it got taken away from me because it wasn’t what I was supposed to be doing. The more stuff that got taken away from me meant that there was more for me. I started writing more; Nas verses, Kano’s verses. I ended up writing my own verses and started from there.
What continues to inspire you currently?
I haven’t listened to much rap besides from T Shirt Weather in the Manor by Kano from 2010 onwards. I don’t like how meaningless it is – it’s all wishy washy. Rappers these days are not really rappers – they’re just singers. There doesn’t seem to be anything deeper than making a song. Some more recent things I’ve listened to are Potter Payper and SBTV warm up sessions – aside from that, the only people I really listen to are Kano, Nas, Tupac and 50 Cent. I’m more observational – I can literally see something whenever I am out, and it will set off a rhyme.
For those new to your work, how would you describe it to them?
Not your average sound. Something different, and hopefully inspirational for people who are willing to be different with the heart to run with it.
Favourite part of your creative process?
That first time you find that line and you write your verse, and you haven’t performed it for anyone yet, but you know as soon as it’s put on the track you have a feeling of knowing it’s going to hit someone right in that spot – It gives you that little bop in your step knowing you’ve got that to come. But the music isn’t worth anything unless people relate to it so once it’s out there’s a second wave to that satisfaction as well.
If you could have been in the studio to see any project, dead or alive, recorded, which would it be?
*He laughs* I think I’ve got two – It Was Written by Nas, and Kano – Hoodies all summer. My favourite tracks off those are ‘The Message’ and ‘Good Youtes Walk Amongst Evil’.
What’s the most recent song you reloaded?
I don’t listen to music too much because it affects how I then write. I try to stay away from listening to too much music at all because it influences what I write next and changes my style. Then it doesn’t feel authentic to me. But If I could think of the last one it would be ‘When It Rains It Pours’ by 50 Cent.
What should we expect to see from you in the near future?
Immediately I have a YouTube mixtape called Mellow coming very soon, and I’ve got a big project coming, either as a single or in an EP, which is in the early stages of mixing and mastering. That’s what’s to come within summer, and I’m already planning stuff for winter.
- Written By: Sam Murphy
- Email: stmurphywriter@gmail.com
- Instagram: @s.murfy
