Artist Spotlight: Moko

Genre-defiant, charismatic and charming, multi-faceted Londoner Moko offers an effortlessly distinctive sound. Upholding a nuanced maturity to his gritty street-influenced stories, the rapper is laidback in his delivery, with a vividness to his lyricism and sharpness to his flow that drives forward his multi-dimensional style that refuses to be refined into one sub-sound. 

Elusive in the grander scope of UK rap, Moko’s limited releases since his acclaimed 2020 debut Eighteen only add to the anticipation and ambiguity that circles the rapper. Finally, new music has emerged in the shape of Back2Roadz, the first teaser from his upcoming EP that is set to drop in October. The track finds Moko at his intricate yet nonchalant best, gliding over the atmospheric instrumental, sugarcoating his raw and abrasive bars, embodying his experiences through his acute craft. 

With an approach is like no other rapper in the country right now, yet with a sound so widely marketable, Moko seems destined to soar over the zombified commercialism and tedious repetition that plagues much of the UK Rap scene. If he stays consistent, there is no reason why Moko can’t be a significant name in the industry. 

I spoke to Moko about the new single, his storytelling lyrical approach, breaking boundaries, and the progression of his sound. 

Who and what influences you? 

Everything to a certain extent, but responding to life mostly, writers like James Fauntleroy & Paul Simon are some of my biggest musical influences though.

When and how did you first start rapping? 

I wanna say I was like 13, my dad had a studio in Hammersmith, he took me and we made my first song, if I heard it now I’d wanna be sick.

What does music and creation mean to you?

It’s some sort of freedom, for me, expressing how I feel through song is easier than speaking it out

How would you define your sound? 

I can’t really define it, it’s just me, what I hear in my head I just put to music 

The UK Rap scene is very cluttered right now, what do you think you are offering that no one else is? 

I’d personally say I’m not just rap, I can rap, but I can also make a very varied music and that’s what I wanna explore, I wanna be the artist that break the boundaries of being boxed in, show people you can make whatever music you like and still be successful, it just has to be good in its own right.

What’s your opinion of the direction of the UK rap scene like TikTok rap etc?

If I’m being honest, I’m not too clued up on social media and what the scene’s doing so much, I’m in my own bubble and for me that allows me to make the best music I can, I do tap in but I’m not watching super hard, but regardless as long as the scenes thriving, I’m happy.

There is a major story telling vibe to your writing, do you tend to write from experience?

I write from experience or I just write what comes to my head at the time, or I’ll tweak lyrics because I can’t say certain things, I think writing is more of a expression for me though, some things I might say are vulgar but if you really knew me you’d know I’ve grown into a very respectful person, but I can’t help that at times I might fall into old tendencies, we’re human I guess.

There is something really instinctive and effortless about your delivery, does spitting come naturally to you? 

Rapping does come natural to me, that being said I’ve grown to prefer writing melodic stuff, but if I’m in the mood, I can always pen a good rap, it’s just that I find being able to write something more conceptually different come more naturally to me when I write a sung song.

Since your project Eighteen you’ve been pretty quiet on the release front, why is that?

Life, wrestling with the devil.

How has your sound and styles progressed since that project?

It’s progressed a lot, it’s even progressed past the project that’s coming out, I’m kinda behind my own schedule at the minute, because musically where I’m able to take things is far more advanced now. The message in the songs I write now is far more provocative, and that’s what I wanna do.

Back2Roadz is such a cold release, where did the idea for the track come from?

The track itself is very old, it’s at least 4 years old I believe, maybe 3. But it would have just been a reflection of my headspace at the time.

What can we expect from your upcoming EP? 

I don’t want anyone to expect anything, just be open, I like the music, my family like the music, & we all have very seasoned ears, I come from a musical family so when everyone likes it & they aren’t just saying it, I know I’m onto something good, so I’d say just be open.

If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track would you play them?

I’d play them either Eighteen or Routine, those are my more vulnerable tracks out so I’d want them to understand I’m human too, and hopefully they can feel something from it.

What is to come from you?

A experience, more than just songs, A experience.