PHOTO: Zek Snaps
ON THE RADAR
BACKROAD GEE I
In 2021, BackRoad Gee’s star is rising higher than ever. Here, the energetic East London rapper gets to the heart of his bombastic sound and reveals his studio secrets...
t’s been crazy but I appreciate everyone and everything,” BackRoad Gee tells Music Week, dialling in from his London abode at the beginning of what’s already a busy year. “I’m just keeping it humble, trying to put that groundwork in.”
The 23-year-old is coming off the back of the best 12 months of his life so far, despite living through a global pandemic. The British-Congolese rapper, who was born and raised in Plaistow, East London, entered 2020 on a mission: to shake up the underground rap scene with his raucous flow and earworm ad-libs – and boy did he do that. Growing up on a diet of everything from the now-defunct
grime TV station Channel U, to the Wu-Tang Clan and Fugees CDs handed down to him by his uncles, BackRoad Gee began MCing at the age of 14, inspired by local spitters Griminal and Ghetts (or ‘Ghetto’ as he was known back then). He’s come a long way since, and even collaborated with Ghetts on his recent Conflict Of Interest album. After deciding to sharpen his focus entirely towards music,
he released the Mukta Wit Reason mixtape in 2019, but it was in April 2020 that everything changed for BackRoad Gee. First up was Party Popper – his collaboration with fellow
risers Ambush and Pa Salieu – a banger from his summer EP, Mukta Vs Mukta. Made with frequent collaborator Finn Wigan, who produced most of the record, the track’s grime-leaning drill soundscape and rowdy energy resonated with fans of both genres (and beyond). It also marked the first time we were introduced to BackRoad Gee’s now-infamous ‘my family’ ad-lib – which would go on to become the backbone (and title of) of one of Pa Salieu’s biggest songs to date. Released last September, their collab has 3,326,877 Spotify plays. BackRoad Gee is building nicely, with more than half a million monthly listeners. “The reception to My Family has been beautiful,” says BackRoad Gee. “Really, really beautiful. Everyone’s taken to my vibe, the ad-libs and that, and they love the song and video – they just love the whole moment! It was a very nice day filming the video out there with the guys as well, my family.” While it’s still early days for the rapper,
his profile has grown tremendously in terms of press coverage: this time last year, he had only done two interviews, but interest has skyrocketed of late. “I like doing interviews and photo shoots,” he admits. “It’s something I’ve had to adapt to, but I actually enjoy it and I love being active.” Which is definitely a good thing, because his promo run is about to pick up major speed when he drops his Summer Ina Da Winter mixtape in the coming months. It’s coming out via 23 Formation (a London-based management team and label, who also work with the rapper Snap Capone), and while independence seems to be working
16 | Music Week
fine for BackRoad Gee today, signing with a major isn’t totally off the cards. “Right now, we’re just working and making things happen,”
he says. “Everyone’s coming in, there’s a lot of offers and placements and whatnot, but for now, we’re just seeing how it goes.” Where the Mukta Vs Mukta EP was heavy on grime and UK drill, Summer Ina Da Winter leans heavily towards its maker’s African roots, both in production and his choice of superstar collaborators. “Working with Burna Boy was a crazy experience,” he says of the punchy, richly melodic Spin The Block. “I met him when I was out on a vibe at the studio, and he literally dragged me into the booth, we stood side by side and went back to back on the track. That night ended with some bangers.” It turns out some of the best collab tracks happen when
they’re not planned. “That’s how My Family happened as well,” he adds. “Literally, Pa Salieu called me and was like, ‘Yo! Man’s in the studio, come through.’ I was like, ‘Say no more! I’m coming.’” If you’ve seen any clips of BackRoad Gee in the studio online, you’ll know that the recording process is nothing but good vibes, which is no doubt why he’s secured hook-ups with Lethal Bizzle, JME and Stefflon Don, who also appears on the new project, as does his old friend Pa Salieu. BackRoad Gee wants people to enjoy his music but, he warns, please don’t limit him. “Musically, I was influenced a lot by my country, Congo,
ESSENTIAL INFO RELEASES:
Summer Ina Da Winter (TBC) LABEL: 23 Formation (with The Orchard) MANAGEMENT: 23 Formation WHAT THE TEAM SAY: Reece Stewart, artist marketing manager, The Orchard: “What’s
American music, UK music, Spanish music... I listen to a lot of different types of music, so all of that will come out at some point,” he explains. “I’m that kind of guy. This is what I do!” He seems to relish the idea of challenging expectations with his releases. “Obviously, for a lot of people, it might come as a bit of a shock, like: ‘Wow! He’s doing something else?’ But I’m just showing what I can do as an artist. Plus, the whole tape is not just Afrobeats. It’s not only that – it’s really a mixture of everything. And how my flow works, I rap how I talk. That’s why it sounds different. That’s the whole thing about it: I actually speak like that.” Similar to grime veteran President T,
unique about BackRoad Gee is his desire to channel any genre of music. There are no rules or boundaries. As he aspires to make his mark globally, he’s showcasing his identity through his craft, and the music he has coming has the potential to take him to a new level. The key ingredient to all he does is BackRoad Gee.”
then, we ask. “Exactly like that,” he laughs. “Prez T is a bad boy.” BackRoad Gee ends our conversation by
letting it be known in no uncertain terms that he’s in this for the long haul. “Listen,” he urges, “I am here to stay – I am not here to play! And for anyone out there trying to do this music thing, all I’d say is just believe in yourself, keep doing the work, and it will happen. Insha’Allah!” Yes: amen to that.
JOSEPH JP PATTERSON
musicweek.com
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