JaJuan Malachi

Since the release of her mega viral hit: “Indian Summer” dropped back in July of 2021, which now has over four millions views on YouTube and counting, Indian-American songstress Shuba has elevated her career to higher heights with zero signs of slowing down anytime soon. 

By virtue of her well-balanced penchant for uncanny artist imitation, compelling vocals, catchy raps and ultra relatable lyrics, Shuba has become synonymous with the concept of “going viral” and has become a leading force among today’s fleet of artists who have optimized the power of social media to become household sensations seemingly overnight. 

With over 5.6 million followers on TikTok and 1 million followers on YouTube, Shuba’s digital footprint is only growing larger by the day and her star power is skyrocketing with rapid speed. 

Recently signing to Snafu Records, which describes itself as a “hybrid tech and music company with the heart of a record label and the mind of a start-up,” Shuba joins the ranks of artists like Gia Woods, Hit-Boy and Sam MacPherson. 

Through an eclectic mix of influences, which include Hip-Hop, Pop, R&B and Bollywood, The Indian shapeshifter prides herself on being a refreshing act who plans on breaking some of the monotony that has plagued today’s music scene. 

Coming up as a minority in the United States, Shuba’s mission is to craft timeless music for “the underdogs who feel stuck inside society’s norm.” As someone who identifies and actively combats this sense of confinement, she wants to illuminate to her audience that it is possible to liberate themselves and break free from limitations. 

Fortunately enough, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal was able to chat with the blossoming starlet about life, career, next steps and more. 

Here is how the interaction played out: 

JaJuan: For those who aren’t familiar with you just yet, tell us about your background and how you got your start in music?

Shuba: I was really fortunate to have parents who encouraged me to sing and be creative. My parents would show me trending music from the U.S. and from India and many other countries, and I would listen to all these songs on repeat in the car and at home. I also really loved imitating people- teachers, aunts, etc., and eventually started doing impressions of famous singers. I’d say that’s how I learned a lot of my technique. 

JaJuan: Being Indian-American, how has that impacted your career trajectory, if at all?

Shuba: It definitely seeps into the melodies and concepts I write about. I’ve been very split culturally my whole life and am constantly re-working my sense of self and who I am. I think this helps me relate to a lot of kids who grew up in similar backgrounds in the U.S.

JaJuan: After listening to only a couple of your tracks, I noticed that there are myriad genres infused into your music, some of which include Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B and Bollywood. How would you describe your soundscape?

Shuba: You nailed it! I like to think it’s Ariana Grande x Eminem mixed with some Bollywood. I love storytelling in my verses but having a really easy chorus that feels universal. 

JaJuan: With over 5.6 M followers on TikTok, you’ve gained quite the following? How crucial has social media been in the development of your following and overall brand?

Shuba: It’s been pretty crucial! I didn’t even know people would like hearing me rapping until I started doing it on TikTok, and now I sometimes like to use that in my music. It’s been really helpful in getting my presence out there and teaching me how to constantly challenge myself creatively and pick up on new and interesting trends in music. 

JaJuan: Since being in the music industry, what is some of the best advice you’ve received thus far and from whom?

Shuba: A.R. Rahman told me to think about pursuing your passion as going to an island and burning the ship, so that you couldn’t be tempted to have a plan b or any sort of back up plan. You would have to learn how to survive on the island. That really stuck with me. 

JaJuan: With your TikTok compilations, you’ve shown that you have a knack for supremely imitating the sound and cadence of an eclectic range of artists: Ariana Grande, Eminem, Celine Dion, etc. When’d you discover you had this special talent?

Shuba: My mom and sister started noticing that I was getting suspiciously good at doing impressions when I was in middle school! We all thought it was a fun party/ home trick but I had no idea it would mean anything more than that at the time. 

JaJuan: Outside of the realm of making music, what are some other creative things you enjoy doing?

Shuba: I need to get way better at doing more creative things outside of music, but I like journaling. I’ve kept a journal for forever and it’s really therapeutic. I should probably get into painting or makeup though too. I’m starting to get into fashion.

JaJuan: What was the inspiration behind your latest single: “ICON”? How’d the idea come about?

Shuba: The beat for Icon was so bare and had a lot of room to tell a story. I wasn’t sure which story exactly to tell so I thought I’d just talk about my life literally. At the time, I had just taken off on TikTok and went knee deep into writing my own songs again, so I thought I could just talk about that and give people a subtle introduction to my artist side and my dreams.

JaJuan: I noticed that you’re signed to Snafu Records, which prides itself on optimizing technology to put their talent in the driving seat. What prompted you to team up with said label?

Shuba: My A&R who signed me was so passionate about what I was doing and seemed to really be excited to grow and help me make amazing songs. 

JaJuan: What are some things you have lined up for 2022?

Shuba: A tour in the fall,  writing a bunch of new songs, shows in the summer, traveling a LOT (India, Nashville, New York, Chicago etc.), making content as much as possible, and working with amazing people. 

JaJuan: Where do you see Shuba in five years?

Shuba: No idea haha. I’m just grateful to be alive and well right now. We will see what the universe has in store for me. 

To keep up with Shuba, check her out on TikTok 

At the tender age of only 17 years old, Afrobeats newcomer Khaid is adamant about bringing a youthful feel to the relatively mature landscape of the beloved genre. 

Coalescing a unique, well-mixed blend of Afrobeat, Trap and R&B influences, Khaid is a refreshing archetype for what an Afro Trap artist can feel and sound like within the modern era. With an aesthetic comparable to some of his contemporary counterparts: Roddy Ricch, Tems and Polo G, the young African melodic crooner is solidifying his own stake in the game. 

By virtue of his penchant for recording freestyle videos coupled with performing on the streets of Lagos for multiple years, Khaid has been able to cultivate an organic buzz and following. As fate would have it, he was discovered by prominent Nigerian multi hyphenate Sydney Talker, who has since signed him to his record label: Neville Records. 

With the release of his well-received, international debut single: “With You,”, which dropped in February, the young sensation has already amassed over 677k views on YouTube and has amplified his clout going from 10k followers to 136k followers on Instagram. 

Given the fact that he is on the verge of dropping his first EP real real soon, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal found it to be an opportune time to chat with the 17-year-old phenom about his background, future aspirations, how it feels to be a rising teenage star and more. 

Here is how the conversation played out: 

JaJuan: For those who have yet to hear about you, tell us about your back story and what inspired you to start making music?

Khaid: My name is Khaid, I am the fifth child out of eight children. I was born in Lagos State, Nigeria. I grew up in the streets of Ojo – Shibiri to be precise. Growing up in the streets was not too friendly because I basically came from a poor home. But it didn’t always go bad. The streets for me were just a place to live and learn the basics of how life can be unfavorable sometimes. The streets taught me how to hustle. On the streets, you just have to see a reason to grow.

I was once a car mechanic. 

I was inspired to start making music by the influence of those around me, ‘cause I grew up in a family that listened to different genres of music for the love of it. Having friends too who loved music was everything. Freestyling on the streets was everything for me. My friends and I would meet everyday to freestyle on beats.

JaJuan: Who would say are some artists that have had a hand in shaping your sound?

Khaid: Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson, Polo G, Juice WRLD, XXXtentacion, Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid.

JaJuan: What are some of your biggest motivations?

Khaid: My family, the struggles of street life, and my vision.

JaJuan: How would you describe your sound?

Khaid: I am an Afro trap artist. My sound is diverse in all ramifications. So we change with time. 

JaJuan: Outside of music, what are some fun things that you enjoy doing as simply a teenager living in Lagos?

Khaid: I enjoy playing football, I enjoy drawing, and I enjoy checking out fashion. 

JaJuan: What are some songs you currently have on your playlist?

Khaid – With You

Crayon – Excuse Me

Polo G – Fortnight

Juice WRLD – Fine China

Juice WRLD – Burn

Polo G – Hollywood

Ruger – Ruger

Juice WRLD & Trippie Redd – Blastoff

Victony – Like That

Dethedon – Hello De

Rema – Woman

Reminisce ft. Buju – Hustle

Ruger – Snapchat

Savage ft Victony – Rosemary

SSG Kobe – Mia

Trippie Redd – Supernatural

SSG Kobe – Sandlot

Juice WRLD – 734

Juice WRLD – conversation

XXXtentacion – Ex Bitch

Jajuan: I know your debut single: “With You” dropped not too long ago. What was the inspiration behind the track?

Khaid: The song was inspired by my mechanic colleague who was in love. He had this girl he was dating at that time, and he complained almost every time that he was tired of the girl being a nag. At work he always told us he wanted the relationship off. But at nighttime after work, I’d see him talking to her with smiles on his face and I would keep on teasing him saying, “You just want to be with this girl,” so I thought about writing something related to his story, and that’s how “With You” came about.

JaJuan: Do you remember your first interaction with Nigerian creator Sydney Talker? How would you describe your dynamic with him?

Khaid: Yes, I do. My dynamic with Sydney Talker is out of the box. He is a brother like blood to me. He is a coach I prayed for. He looks after me in everything. I mean everything beyond music. There’s almost nothing about me that Sydney is not involved in.

JaJuan: If you could work with any artist at the moment, who would it be?

Khaid: Anyone that has a positive message and the perfect melody.

JaJuan: How does it feel to be 17 years old with a record deal? What are some cool things you’ve been able to do now that you weren’t able to before?

Khaid: I feel blessed and thankful to God to have a record deal at 17. I’ll say my creativity has expanded, and having people to guide me on whatever I am doing is the real blessing.

JaJuan: Where do you see yourself five years from now? Will you be solely focused on music or do you plan on expanding your brand beyond it?

Khaid: Five years from now, I see myself still making music, still trying to explore, being a bigger and better version of myself. Time will tell what more I can do. I trust God on this. If you had asked me this question five years ago, I am sure I would not have seen today as the answer. God blew my mind. So it’s safe to say, I can’t fathom the best to come. But I know it’s gonna be massive. 

JaJuan: What does Khaid have in store for the rest of 2022?

Khaid: I have an EP dropping soon. And I think that’s the real definition of what my sound is. Diversity…

To keep up with Khaid, follow him on Instagram

Since the drop of his hyper successful, supremely infectious international single: Drogba (Joanna) consumed radio airwaves back in 2018, Ross-Emmanuel Bayeto, more famously known as Afro B, has possessed an inimitable stronghold on the global landscape of Afrobeats music.  

As the originator for what he has coined the “Afrowave” sound, which embodies a fine combination of Hip-Hop and Dancehall coupled with African rhythms, the U.K. DJ turned worldwide phenomenon prides himself on being a leading purveyor within today’s burgeoning world of Afrobeats. 

With a stellar track record in curating authentic Afrobeats vibes and capturing the true essence of the genre with relative ease, Afro B is in the process of major ascension and verifying himself as a trusted source for lovers of the genre. 

Starting off in Southern London with his musical roots grounded in DJing and playing the piano, Bayeto has leaned into and fully embraced his artistic metamorphosis. Over the last few years, Afro B has sought to illustrate that his talents aren’t myopic or bound to a single dimension. 

While some might argue that he’s been MIA for a bit, his resume would certainly dictate otherwise. Over the last few years, he’s released a well-received trilogy of genre elevating records: Afrowave, Afrowave 2 and Afrowave 3. In conjunction with his last full-length projects, he has collaborated with a litany of prominent sonic heavy hitters across the African diaspora, some of which include T-Pain, Vybz Kartel, Busy Signal, WizKid, French Montana and much more. 

In 2022, Afro B is resolute about continuing his reign as a prolific hitmaker. With two major singles already out this year: Shisha (ft.Niniola & Busiswa) and Beautiful Girl (Sohni Kuri) alongside fellow U.K. musician Bambi Bains, the rising legend is committed to pushing the culture forward and contributing to its rapidly increasing allure across the globe. 

Fortunately enough, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal was able to chop it up with the Afrobeats megastar. During the exchange, they spoke about his origins in London, how his life has changed since Drogba (Joanna), the Afrowave movement, his future aspirations, new music and more. 

Here’s how things went:

JaJuan: For those who aren’t aware yet, tell us a little bit about your background and how you got your start in producing Afrobeat music? 

Afro B: I was born and raised in London. When it comes to music intake, I would consider myself extremely eclectic. I enjoy all types of music and of course African music played a big part in my life as that is where I am from. My heritage is Ivory Coast. I began my musical journey playing piano in church. The church was francophone African, the music played in church had Ivorian and Congolese influences. I then went on to DJ in 2009/2010, I was an Afrobeats specialist DJ. 

 JaJuan: How’d you get your start with DJ’ing and Afrobeats? 

 Afro B: I had two friends who were already into DJ’ing — Kenny and Patrick. Both taught me how to DJ and I chose the lane of Afrobeats. It was a genre that didn’t have that much spotlight at the time, but I knew that there was a demand for it. 

JaJuan: Since moving to New York, how has your life and career changed? Have you been able to spread the Afrowave a bit more in N.Y. versus being stationed in the U.K.? 

 Afro B: New York opened my eyes on how the genre can expand even more. It’s the first city to really embrace the genre. I’ve done multiple interviews and met key players in the music industry, they all showed great interest in contributing to the spread of the Afrowave. 

JaJuan: After halting your DJ days to focus on producing music, have you missed the club scene at all? Or do you still dabble from time to time? 

Afro B: Whether I am DJing or not, a lot of my time is spent in the club. I love the environment and seeing people react especially to when my music is playing. 

JaJuan: Now that it’s been almost three years since the initial release of your international hit:“Drogba” (Joanna), how has your life changed? What have you been up to? 

Afro B: Since Drogba, I’ve been able to explore the world and that’s one of my favorite things to do. I’ve always loved being in new environments and learning about different cultures. I also love introducing new people to my own African culture.

JaJuan: How would you describe the Afrowave movement? And who would say are some artists contributing to the genre lately? 

Afro B: The Afrowave movement is to connect non-Africans and the African diaspora to the continent. I feel that everyone who is participating in the genre of music is a part of the movement. Once people enjoy and dance to the sound, they’re involving themselves with the movement and culture. 

JaJuan: Talk to us about your latest single: Shisha? How’d your collaboration with Niniola & Busiswa come about? It’s such a vibe. 

Afro B: Niniola and Busiswa have always had a relationship. It was only natural that we’d would link up and make magic. Both women are house music specialists in my opinion, I love their sound. 

JaJuan: Now that Afrobeats has gained a massive surge in popularity over the years, what are your thoughts on the future of the genre? Do you think it could be as big as Hip-Hop one day?

Afro B: I believe that it’s already on its way to be as big as Hip-Hop, the genre is getting a co-sign from A-list Artists and you can’t avoid it on radio or at a club. 

JaJuan: Since the pandemic shut down a lot of artist/fan engagement opportunities, how have you and your team combated this issue? 

Afro B: We plan to continuously provide content for the fans to keep the engagement there. Every month we plan to give the people something new to talk about and listen to. 

JaJuan: What does your creative process typically look like? 

Afro B: My creative process is never the same and unpredictable, I can come up with choruses in 10 seconds, others can be 1 hour or a day. It varies depending on the vibe of the session. I always aim to keep the fun element of the creative process; I feel that’s how you get the best result.

JaJuan: For a lot of your music, I noticed that you team up with Team Salut on the production tip? What about them keeps you coming back? 

Afro B: We have great chemistry and understanding. That is the main thing the artist and producer needs in my opinion. You both got to be on the same page. 

JaJuan: Now that we’ve officially entered 2022 and more things are opening back up, what can we expect from Afro B, both personal and professional? 

Afro B: Expect more music, I plan to release something new almost every month this year. Also expect a lot more international collabs, the dream is to be as Global as possible. 

JaJuan: Before we wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like for us to know? 

Afro B: I plan to build studios around Africa beginning with my home country Ivory Coast. 

To keep up with Afro B, Check him out on Instagram

Ever since the advent of his music career back in 2019, L.A. rap crooner Louis Murray, better known as, LOU.M has embraced a ground-up, “quality over quantity” approach to delivering high-level music. 

Instead of aimlessly spewing out a plethora of content like most newcomers, LOU.M has been a bit more methodical in his approach.

With an eclectic skill set of adept vocal ability mixed with a hard hitting rap prowess, LOU.M illustrates that being a multi-hyphenate is not the exception but a core requirement within today’s intertwined landscape of Hip-Hop and R&B. 

Gleaning salient influence from idiosyncratic Hip-Hop heavy hitters like Smino and André 3000, LOU M.’s sound can be described as serene, atmospheric and supremely chill. 

In a modern-day soundscape replete with monotonous flows and distasteful imitation, LOU.M’s evades this trend as he’s able to espouse his own refreshing, “out of the norm” sense of originality.  

Considering the release of his latest single: Outside, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal chopped it up with the rising star to discuss a number of pertinent matters including his background, inspirations and aspirations for his career. 

Here is how the conversation played out: 

JaJuan: For those who don’t know much about LOU.M just yet, tell us about your background and how you got your start in music? 

LOU M.: Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA all the way through my high school years. After that I went to college at Stony Brook University out in Long Island, NY. Played football all four years on scholarship. Felt like it was necessary for me to go somewhere else and experience the culture there. Dove into it and at the same time I continued to write even more. I started off writing poetry when I was in High School, I kept writing and also started performing live at events while I was in college. That foundation kept me confident and built a strong base of people that were actually keeping up with my poetry. In 2019, I performed at an event and I met a woman that invited me to recite a poem for her album in the studio. February 2019 was my first time ever hearing myself after being recorded and I never stopped. It felt natural and made so much sense to me so I really decided to begin writing in song. 

JaJuan: What does your creative process entail? 

LOU M.:My creative process really comes from drawing out my own personal experiences or those that I’ve encountered in life. That’s where I draw inspiration from. I’m a writer so I really just like to sit and take the time to let the thoughts pour out in the best way I see fit for whatever beat I’m working with. Sometimes I can finish a whole song in a day, other times it can take weeks or even a month but that’s simply because of whatever the content of the song is. I believe I hit pockets of time where I may feel stuck with a song and to me that means I just have to keep living. The story will fill itself in. 

JaJuan: What motivates you to pursue a career in music?

LOU.M:What motivates me to pursue this career in music is my family and also the simple fact that writing these songs is a great outlet for me. Whether it is joy or sorrow, it has become important for me to write and speak my mind.

JaJuan: Who are some of your biggest inspirations and some artists that are on your radar at the moment?

LOU.M: Some of my biggest inspirations come from paying attention to those who came before me and really had an impact in this industry just by being themselves. Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Andre 3000, even groups like Wu-Tang. I listen to a wide variety of music, old and new. So it varies who’s really on my radar, sometimes I really focus on production, other times I can be really into hearing lyricists or people who are more focused on just creating an overall vibe. 

JaJuan: Outside of music, do you have any other creative outlets that you enjoy? 

LOU.M: Outside of music I really enjoy snowboarding. Got the season pass so I’ve been going pretty frequently and it’s a positive way to use my energy. It’s easy to misuse your time and energy in this world so finding another outlet to keep myself focused is a blessing. 

JaJuan: As far as your career trajectory goes, are you striving for a traditional record deal or are you a proponent of independence and creating and promoting your own art without the “machine” behind it? 

LOU M.: I think the concept of being an independent artist is important, especially the way the business has changed over the years. I feel like I came into the game at the right time to grow. With that being said, I’m still open to partnering with the “machine”. It’s a matter of balance and everyone’s situation is different from what I understand. Paying attention to detail with whomever you deal with seems to be the most important part when it comes to doing business in this industry. 

JaJuan: If you could do a collab with anyone in the industry right now, who would it be and why? 

LOU. M: If I could collab with anyone in the game right now it’d be between Smino, Andre 3000, Tyler The Creator, and Kendrick Lamar (more specifically, PG Lang). 

JaJuan: What was the inspiration behind the concept of your latest single: Outside? 

LOU. M: I wrote OUTSIDE towards the end of the summer of ‘21. The inspiration was from my point of view of what I was seeing while I was “outside”. Still in a pandemic but people wanted to be outside. They wanted interaction even though it seemed unattainable at one point. 

JaJuan: What can we expect from LOU.M in 2022? 

LOU.M: What you can expect from me in 2022 is consistency.

To keep up with LOU.M, follow him on Instagram

From his humble beginnings in The Bronx to the lush grasslands of Ghana, OG Picasso is a rising star in today’s Afrobeats milieu and is more than resolute about making his presence known. 

As chief progenitor for what he describes as the “Tempoh,” Picasso’s sound is exuberant, vivacious and replete with good vibes and positive energy. 

Colliding sonic elements of Afrobeats and Trap, Picasso prides himself on being a leading figure in the cultivation of a newfound genre: Afro-Trap. 

Teaming up with Gelatto, who is the second half of the Afrobeats duo: G-Tempoh, they’ve been able to develop a strong international following. On YouTube, their first massive hit “Mottoh,” has amassed over 20K views and counting. 

Their latest release: Welcome to TrapAfrica, which was shot on the real-life streets of Kumasi, Ghana, was released in early December. So far, it’s already gained over 10K views on YouTube. 

In addition to his passion for creating musical vibration, Picasso dabbles in a litany of creative endeavors, some of which include modeling, photography and being the chief creative director for a Korean streetwear brand: Smoke Rise New York. 

Being Ghanaian-American himself, Picasso is a major proponent for the unification of the African continent. He hopes to provide a conduit for that through his music. 

With only four years in the game, OG Picasso has already covered a lot of ground with so much untapped potential still waiting to be unleashed. 

Before reaching his ultimate apex, JaJuan Malachi of The Knockturnal was fortunate enough to speak with him about his origins, the AfroTrap movement, upcoming developments, his vision for the future of music in Africa and much more. 

Here’s how the conversation played out: 

JaJuan Malachi: So for those out there who aren’t familiar with OG Picasso just yet, tell us about your background? 

OG Picasso: Well, I’m an African artist. My name is OG Picasso. I go by OG Picasso. My family is from Ghana. I grew up in the Bronx. My dad is a chief. He became chief when I was like seven, so he was away from me. Growing up, I didn’t really get to see him like that. As I got older though, I got to actually go to Ghana and to see what he’s been doing and everything. I kind of understand why he wasn’t there. I grew up playing ball. I guess that’s the narrative for the average Black kid in The Bronx. Don’t get me wrong, I was cooking but yeah. A few years ago, I got into music with my best friend Gelatto. 

JaJuan Malachi: Oh word, what year?

OG Picasso: Probably like 2018. Yeah, we always used to freestyle and eventually, we were like yo! Let’s take it seriously. We formed a group called “G-Tempoh.” I’m one half of that group and we’ve been keeping it going ever since. 

JaJuan Malachi: Dope! So what type of music do y’all specialize in? 

OG Picasso: We specialize in Afrobeats, Rap, R&B, Pop. We’re very diverse but we mainly focus on Afrobeats. 

JaJuan Malachi: Gotcha! We love to see it! So for my next question, what is the AfroTrap movement and how’d you first discovered the genre? 

OG Picasso: Well I grew up in the genre a little bit. I grew up in the old roots of Hiplife, like Ghana Hiplife. That was like, older African music that my parents listened to, you know. And Trap. Since I come from the Bronx, you know where Hip-Hop was created, I naturally gravitated towards it. It just became a movement. It’s like getting your roots back. You know, there’s like a lot of Africans in the Bronx and in New York in general. It’s very diverse but there are a lot of Ghanaians where I live. The fusion was kind of inevitable. 

JaJuan Malachi: So how does it feel to be a member of the first frontier of the AfroTrap movement in general? That’s actually pretty dope. 

OG Picasso: It feels great! I feel like I’m a born leader. I’m going to be very honest with you but I feel like I really love being apart of it because I feel like I get to push it as far as I can. I get to move it the way I want to move it. I even created a niche movement called TrapAfrica – The “Trap” stands for “Those Representing African Prosperity.” So, you know, African Prosperity is very important to me. I feel like it’s really the only place where we’re not persecuted. Where we can actually be home and we don’t have to really deal with racism. When you go home, no one is really looking at you crazy. You can’t do that in Europe. You can’t really do that in America. Even in South America, they probably look at you differently if you’re a little too Dark. Ghana is where I feel home. That’s where my people are from and that’s where I feel like we should all build as a people. 

JaJuan Malachi: I’ve never been to Ghana before but I’m a huge proponent for solidarity myself. I’m sure I’ll find my way there. Who would you say are some of your biggest influences, music-related or otherwise? 

OG Picasso: A lot of great leaders, of course. I’m gonna be frank. I’ve gotta say Kanye is a big influence. I feel like I respect and admire his craziness. Because you know, people have always tried to put him in a box and everyone always tries to say something but I would never take advice from people who aren’t where I wanna be. He never does that and that’s what I respect most about him. Um, who else? Akon! I really respect Akon for what he does. He really came up out here in the U.S. but he really went back to his own country and started really developing like. 

JaJuan Malachi: Oh, word! Senegal right? 

OG Picasso: Yes, Senegal and other countries around there. I really respect that. I also wanna do something like that on an even larger scale. 

JaJuan Malachi: What do you think about like, Saint Jhn and WizKid? 

OG Picasso: Saint Jhn? I f**k with Saint Jhn. He’s hard. His whole rockstar aesthetic. His grind.I actually read about how he came up. He was like a writer, trying to write for Rihanna and everything and no one was really jacking  him like that but he kept going. He linked up with Big Spark and he really went in. And WizKid, you know, he’s just a legend. He’s been doing this since, as far as I can remember. He’s worked with so many Ghanaian artists. Of course, I grew up hearing so much of his music before Nigerian music really became mainstream out here, you know because he’s already worked with so many African legends. 

JaJuan Malachi: So now he’s pretty much just reaping the harvest of his labor pretty much. 

OG Picasso: Yep! And he’s keeping it going and that’s what I really respect about him. He’s putting other people on the map and he’s putting his country on his back. 

JaJuan Malachi: Hm, I feel that! So, I’m curious to know. What does your creative process look like? Does that entail you just being still in a quiet space or does that entail teaming up with some of your homeboys, bumping some music and catching an organic vibe? Describe that a bit for us? 

OG Picasso: Recently, I’ve been linking up with a mixture of artists and producers in Brooklyn or Queens. Before, when I first got started, we would find a beat on YouTube or whatever but nowadays, I’m in the studio, I’m with the producer and we’re making the beat and the song from scratch in that order. I love to rap but truthfully, I don’t even write that much anymore. I really like to get in the moment. Like, I write after starting the beat production and while we’re creating the beat, step by step. Now, my songs are more organic. They are really written for the song. 

JaJuan Malachi: So like the production and sort of like the songwriting process now go in tandem? 

OG Picasso: Yeah, they’re more intertwined now. 

JaJuan Malachi: So, now I really wanna know something. You’ve got some much going on. I mean, as a musician, a model, a creative director for a growing clothing brand and more, you do quite a bit. What is the motivation behind your hunger and how do you manage to execute on everything you touch? 

OG Picasso: I wake up and want to see my dreams come to fruition. I want to be the highest selling and most influential artist on the African continent. I want to be an amazing performance artist in the arts (music, acting, fashion.) I want to go on a European music tour, an African music tour, and a worldwide music tour. I want to see the world and connect with its people. That’s what fuels my hunger.

JaJuan Malachi: So to my knowledge, you took a trip to Ghana sometime earlier this year. What was the purpose of that trip and how has it impacted your musical pursuits? 

OG Picasso: Truthfully, it’s changed everything for me. The reason I went out there is because I have this song called “Welcome To TrapAfrica,” which I wrote when I was in Ghana like two years ago. And I was listening to the song during the pandemic and like, I just had a vision. I was like “oh, it was Africa.” Like I had to make the video in Africa. It’s crazy because I was talking to one of my childhood friends: Walter. I did a music video in London before the pandemic. When we were talking, he was like “yo, you gotta go do a video in Africa, what’s going on?” 

Then after that, I got the tickets like a week later. I was like “yo, f**k it.” I wanna produce this s**t. Honestly, it’s changed everything because whenever I talk to people, I feel like it gives me a different level of credibility. Like “No, I’m not just any ole’ rapper from the Bronx.” I’m an international artist, I’m an international superstar. Like this is the beginning. This is what I did. You see this. 

JaJuan Malachi: So, you’re adamant about showing more so than telling pretty much. 

OG Picasso: I’m able to show. Because you know, we all tell but like, you’ve gotta show. 

JaJuan Malachi: I mean for anyone who looks at your instagram, the content is there. It’s undeniable. The production is there. The musical prowess is there. 

OG Picasso: Yeah, there’s this thing about Instagram that I really like. There’s a lot of content creators. I’m not a content creator. I really just use Instagram to document the stuff I do in real life. 

*Mutual laughter* 

OG Picasso: It’s not like I’m doing this for Instagram. A lot of people got that backwards. Like they do stuff for Instagram when you really should just be doing things in real life. And then use Instagram to document your process. 

JaJuan Malachi: I got you! So it’s not performative, it’s just truly, genuinely you. 

OG Picasso: Yeah! Real Life S**t. 

JaJuan Malachi: That’s what’s up! So Afrobeats, now perhaps more than ever, wields a high level of appeal never before seen within the genre. What do you think about the future of it and what role do you plan to play? 

OG Picasso: Alright so, current Afro-beats are really led by Ghana and Nigeria, so West Africa. South Africa is really coming up in the scene. They have a genre called Amapiano. Recently, I’ve been studying music from West Africa, East Africa, South Africa, West North Africa and Central Africa to get a more well rounded sound that’s not really based on the mainstream of Ghana and Nigeria. After awhile, certain things get repetitive because you know people get influenced by what they are surrounded by. Even with rap and drill music, everyone listens to drill music, so most people aren’t making drill music now. I feel like if you really wanna be a great artist, you have to study every aspect of the genre that you’re in. That’s what I’ve been doing. I’m creating a sound that’s gonna be a combination of all of them.

JaJuan Malachi: That’s super dope! So you’re just like coalescing different influences from the various regions within Africa overall and sort of just bringing them together. 

OG Picasso: Yeah, I wanna go on an Africa tour. I wanna hit every single country, every island, every province. I want everyone to feel like there’s a little piece of me in every performance wherever I go. 

JaJuan Malachi: The general aesthetic of your videos are super visceral and free-flowing. Walk us through the mindset behind your latest video: Tempoh Tantrum? It seemed like a lot of fun to shoot. It seemed like y’all were going crazy living life. Really painting a picture for people who’ve never been there before. Walk us through the logistics behind that and how you brought it all together. 

OG Picasso: Well you know the name, it’s “Tempoh Tantrum.” You know it’s a high tempo, it’s going MAD! So in the video, we’ve got dancers. I’ve got my family. I’ve got a bunch of other dancers in there. I’ve got kid dancers. We’re just going crazy. Like, I was f**king chasing goats up in the video. You know why, because I’m a GOAT. Forreal though, it was fun. It was an experience. I really wanted to show how vibrant African dance and African beats are and how it really creates a different type of energy where it’s high paced and you can just go up. When you think about Hip-Hop, beats that were created early on. Most of that originated in Africa. I got to the roots and I just kept up the Tempoh. I’m apart of G-Tempoh, so we had to make the Tempoh go mad. 

JaJuan Malachi: That’s fire. I think it was very high energy. High octane spirits going on in the video. It just made me wanna go out there and be a part of the movement. 

OG Picasso: When they say, “why don’t you go back to Africa?” Yeah, you should go back. 

JaJuan Malachi: I think it combated a lot of the ill-conceived notions we have about Africa in general and I think the portrayal of it was against the grain of what we’re used to here in America at least. So since getting started in this industry, what is some of the best advice you’ve received thus far? 

OG Picasso: Be yourself and build yourself. Truthfully, a lot of people get too caught up in trying to find themselves. We don’t know who we are. We just came here on this planet. You get to choose who you are. You get to see different things about yourself. I like this about myself, I’m going to keep it.  Oh, I like this sound, I’m gonna add it to my music. I like this look. Imma add it to my fashion. You get to build yourself. Music is a process where you build it. Even when I build it with my producer, we start it with a sound. You start with yourself, how you were raised and build it step by step. 

JaJuan Malachi: Do you recall who told you this? 

OG Picasso: It’s a process that I discovered. I actually don’t remember. 

*mutual laughter* 

JaJuan Malachi: For my final question, I wanted to know as we enter a new year: 2022, these last couple of years have been kind of hectic with the advent of COVID, our supply chain crisis, people getting trampled at Travis Scott’s concert, you know all types of things. I’m curious to know: what are the next steps for O.G. Picasso, G-Tempoh and just the AfroTrap movement overall? What do you have in the works? What do you have in the inventory that you plan on dropping soon? 

OG Picasso: I’m keeping up the tempoh’ man. Stepping on the gas. I’ve got a personal album coming out with one of my producers: Mike Ruiz. I got a G-Tempoh album coming out. I’m going back to Ghana in December to really like to create more and really build on the connections that I’ve made. Like last time I went, I was chilling with Michael Blackson’s cousin, next time I’m going to be chilling with Michael Blackson. I’m just gonna keep it going. I feel like the pandemic year really allowed me to really hone in and really see who I wanted to be. This year has allowed me to build the foundation of who I am. And next year, I’m going to f**king explode. 

JaJuan Malachi: Alright bet, we’ll we’re here for it. I can’t wait to see what fruits come out of this next level. 

OG Picasso: Thank you fam for having me!  

For more of his content, follow OG Picasso on Instagram.