Not being from London should not discredit anyone, from pursuing their dreams any career especially music. Neither should it discredit anyone, from bringing their credibility, style and rawness to the growing & already thriving scene at the heart of the UK. This is where we introduce you to Sheffield raised UK Rapper Coco and he is currently one of the few that have done just that. After the well received track “Big Bou Yah”, Coco went on to “Big N Serious”. Following this hyped track, the rapper continued on to produce a remix featuring Nadia Rose and Rated Awards winner AJ Tracey.
In additional to “Big N Serious”, Coco’s released other tracks such as “My G” and “Ova Here” featuring Protoje, added more success to his growing reputation as the one to watch for 2017. To even top it off, he had a chance to bring his own when he was invited to “Fire In The Booth” on Radio 1Xtra.
With more collaborations on the way, and a headline gig next year, Coco is definitely bringing his own attributes to the new fascination surrounding Grime. In this interview, he reflects on his successes at such an early stage of his career, representing Sheffield, going to Jamaica and the future possibility of having a tour.
1. How have you been Coco? We see that you’ve been diligent since the beginning of the year with your “Big N Serious” single. As well as the remix with Nadia Rose and your new released track “Ova Here” featuring Protoje. Now that you have your headline show next year, how would you describe your year so far?
It’s really been a rollercoaster so far. Just me, little old Coco coming from Sheffield, just doing the things that I’ve done to represent my city. It’s a proud moment for myself and the peers around me. I always wanted to do music from young. It’s just a matter of time before it kicked off for me. Y’all know what I mean.
2. For you to get on the “Fire in The Booth” invitation it must be one of your highest achievements. How does to feel to be recognised and validated by the public with the positive comments so far?
I think with Fire in The Booth, I remember when Toodla message me like…after the release of Big Boi he said “I think you’re ready for the Fire in the Booth.’ I was like “What? Really? Are you sure bruv?” Obviously I did it, but I thought that it was a bit early. I think Toddla & Charlie (Sloth) must have seen something in me that was ready. It was the all buzz from “Big Bou Yah” to be fair, because I had so much airtime and it got quite a good reception. I think Charlie was like “You know what? I want to get Coco in there.” I prepared for that still, to the point that I recorded it, listened to it for a week straight to the point that I don’t forget none of the lyrics, but it was sick. Charlie’s cool as well man.
3. Do feel a sense of pressure since you’re coming from Sheffield? As London has a huge Grime scene.
I think there’s always going to be that stigma about someone coming from outside of London doing the Grime thing. Whereby you’re sort of the underdog and you got to work a bit harder. BUT I just look at it like, even though I’m from Sheffield and not from London, I’m still just as talent as the people from London. It’s not necessary about where you’re from, but what you’re bringing to the table, it’s about your personality, your attitude…everything. So I think if I didn’t have any of those attributes then I might have been stuck. I already had a plan in my head that I want to do this regardless. Whether I’m from Sheffield or not, it is just a matter of time. There is a little bit of pressure, don’t get me wrong, but I’m here to sort of kick down that stereotype.
4. Which other artists from your area do you wish to recommend?
There are a lot of MCs from Sheffield. There’s a guy called Kanon, which some of you have probably heard of before. He’s representing Scornfam. Eldiz – he’s from my sort of background, my camp. Deep Green, he’s not Grime but he’s such a good artist.
Look out for them people in the future man.
5. What’s the inspiration behind your name Coco? Does is have something to do with your favourite cereal Coco Pops?
Everyone always asks me this question.
One day, I was moving to a new area in Sheffield and I met a group of friends. We were playing with this ball and the ball was flat. So they threw it to me, I’d headed it and it made a funny sound. Then they say ‘Hey, he’s got a cocoabean head.’ So it was a diss at first, but the name just stuck. I couldn’t shake it off, everyone started calling me Coco. I went to secondary school…got more known for doing the music and Coco just stuck.
6. Describe your music in three words.
Original, energetic and timeless.
7. You have released quite a few tracks now, with your recent one with Proteje when you went to Jamaica. Reflect on the experience going to the island.
To go to Jamaica to do music is such a blessing. It’s a blessing in itself to being there, but to go there to do music…it’s mad. Protoje is cool. He’s a great artist. So it was even better to go over there with someone like him. So yeah man, it was a good experience.
8.Recently Skepta won the Mercury Prize and back in 2003 Dizzee Rascal was the winner. At the time, there was such an amazement with this new sound, but also a lot of controversial views most claiming that it promoted violence. While Dizzee Rascal collected his award it would be fair to say that Skepta would have been working his way through the industry / underground alongside the likes of Wiley, Kano, JME…etc. How is their diligence and achievements inspired you, since you’re now on the come up?
You know what? It’s like…even though I’m not a big big piece of the puzzle of Grime music, it feels like we’ve all been fighting this war. It goes to show that you don’t need to get signed to be a good musician (artist) to reach thousands of people, and let your sound reach them. All you have to do is believe in your thing and keep going. For example, with my story coming from Sheffield, it’s kind of my own personal battle, but at the same time, I’m going to make sure that people hear my music and enjoy it regardless. I also think timing has a part to play as well.
9. Is there any possibility of doing a tour? Now that your headline gig is in 2017.
You know, I never really thought about a tour, to be really honest. I’m quite modes. I don’t even know whether I’m big enough for a tour. With my team, we just take everything as it comes, so if it feels right, and we feel that there’s going to be a good outcome then we’ll do it. Simple as that.
10. What’s next now before the end of year? Any prospects of producing an album or an EP?
I got my next single coming out in November, that should be big. I kept telling Toddla T that we need to get this one out asap. I got a couple of shows towards the end of the year; Christmas time…I might have something before my headline gig, just like from my hometown or something. I’m just always working. There’s never time that I’m not doing something regarding music.
11. What advice would you give any aspiring musician from the Midlands that wants to get into your position?
Originality.
I say Originality is very important because there’s nothing worse than being like the next MC or the MC before you. So you have to bring something fresh to the game that people will embrace. Also, just believe in your thing man and surround yourself with people that are positive and willing to help you achieve that goal.
12. Apart from Nadia Rose & AJ Tracey who are successful as individual artists, who else would you love to collaborate with?
You know what? With this question…I’ve got a lot of material coming with London MCs. So I can’t say too much right now.
13. How can people find out about you and keep updated with your new releases, as well as the latest news?
On all my socials it’s @TheCocoUK. Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook…social are the here-tings right now so hit me up man.
14. You can say anything that you want now.
Wallis!