Mozambique: A Chat With Hip-Hop Superstar LayLizzy

He is Mozambican, he is an award winning Rap star, a Songwriter, and a Master in Business Law. He is hot, he raps in Portuguese, he is 28years old, he is Edson Abel Jeremias Tchamo and he is Laylizzy.

Our interview wasn’t planned. We kinda happened to be at the same place at the same time and I couldn’t let the opportunity to chat to him pass me by so I dragged him to the boardroom. Hehehehe

Believe it or not, this interview was 7mins 42sec. It was a short chat but very much worth it.

 

Kiki: I actually got introduced to you through the song you did with AKA. Then I saw you in the AZGO Festival line-up, and that’s when I started paying attention to you. So let’s start from the beginning. How long have you been doing music?

Laylizzy: It’s been 10years.

 

Kiki: 10years? You are 28 now so that means you’ve been doing this since you were 18?

Laylizzy: Yes, I started 10years ago. But in the beginning it’s never that serious. You just do it for the love of it. But I can say things got real serious 2years ago when got I signed to Geobek Records.

 

Kiki: Most artists say it wasn’t serious at the beginning. So you guys play first and then get serious later on?

Laylizzy:  Hahahaha, speaking for myself, it was just the passion and love for making music back then. And yeah, now things are serious.

 

Kiki: Ok I get you. So how has the journey been so far? Since you started 10years ago?

Laylizzy: It’s been the usual challenges you know. People not believing or trusting that Art is the way to go. They think you should get a 9-5 job. But nowadays it’s much better, the support is there.

Kiki: Speaking about the 9-5. How did your family react to you choosing Art over a ‘normal’ job? Did they ask questions like; ‘Does it pay the bills?’

Laylizzy: Actually that was the first question. Hahahahaha, but I did very well in school so that kinda put them at ease. They told me I was grown up, and because I studied that made them believe that I know what I’m doing. They encouraged me to be the best I can be, and that was all I needed from them.

 

Kiki: Ncooooooo, that’s so sweet. Anyway, was it easy for you to choose music over 9-5?

Laylizzy: It was very easy because everything around me was music. At home, at school, I was surrounded by music. My producer Ellputo has been producing since he was 12years old. He has won awards. Our work together actually gave me 3 awards. So it was easy choosing this route.

 

Kiki: How many albums have you released?

Laylizzy: I haven’t released an album yet. But I have released 5 mix tapes. I am busy cooking my first album as we speak.

 

Kiki: Oh, you’re busy with the album? Can we get an exclusive on who is gonna be featured on the album?

Laylizzy; I think I’m gonna keep that part as a surprise. But in the past I’ve worked with Ice Prince from Nigeria, Navio from Uganda, Kaligraph Jones from Kenya, and of-course AKA from South Africa.

 

Kiki: Ok, so that’s four African countries so far. Who would you like to work with that you didn’t work with in the past or in the upcoming album?

Laylizzy: I’d say Davido, Cassper Nyovest, Riky Rick, Kwesta and Da Les.

Kiki: You wanna work with Da Les? Is it because of his association with AKA?

Laylizzy: You know what? Da Les was the first South African artist that I seen in my life?

 

Kiki: Are you serious?

Laylizzy: I’m telling you. When he was like 14years old back in the day with JOZI. I’ve met him a couple of times, he’s been to Mozambique. I was actually in his show, and I’m planning on taking him to my show as well. We just did a big Festival, we are busy preparing for a tour around Mozambique, South Africa and other places. Forgive me I can’t say much about it for now.

 

Kiki; Sigh, and here I was hoping for at least one exclusive. You’re really killing me here. Hehehehe

Laylizzy: I know, I’m sorry. But trust me you will get the info in good time and that’s a promise.

 

Kiki: Going back to the Festival, Tell us more about that.

Laylizzy: The festival took place over a month ago. We had about 7000 people there it was amazing. The next one we wanna go big. We still making the line-up, but obviously Mozambican artists gotta be there because we have look out for our own.

 

Kiki: Sounds like it’s gonna be massive

Laylizzy: It’s gonna be huge. We want it to be something that Africa actually notices and looks at it as one of the landmarks of Africa.

 

Kiki: I can’t wait. Moving right along….looking at how focused you are and how far you have come. Is there a point in your life when you almost gave up? Like, ‘nah this ain’t for me. I ain’t got time for this’ type of situation?

Laylizzy: Yes, it was during the time when I was knocking on doors and nobody was opening even though I knew there’s somebody in there. But with Geobek Records we grouped up as a team and told ourselves that we are going to kick the doors down and get in.

 

Kiki: Is there something else that you still wanna do to grow your brand? Something that’s not really music related.

Laylizzy: I’m looking at fashion.

Kiki: Phew, I kinda knew that. I can see the way you are dressed. Hahaha

Laylizzy: I’m a fashion person. We gonna start a new brand soon. I can’t say the name though. Hahahaha, sorry! But all I can say is that it’s going to tell Mozambique’s history to the world through fashion.

 

Kiki: Wuuuuuu, excuse us. And are you gonna be designing the clothes?

Laylizzy: I’m not gonna be designing but I’m going to be having a lot of input into the designs. We gonna team up with amazing designers from Mozambique and South Africa. We gonna put our heads together and make something dope for the continent.

 

Kiki: You seem to be a busy bee. Were you like this when you were growing up? What kind of a child were you?

Laylizzy: I was such a cool child, I was very quiet and very respectful.

 

Kiki: Hehehe, if you say so. It’s been such a pleasure talking to you. I have one last question which I have to ask. I always have to ask all my interviewees this one otherwise without this question, it wouldn’t be a Kiki interview.

Laylizzy: I’m ready, bring it.

Kiki: What would you like to be remembered as, the day your creator calls you home? What do you wanna leave behind? That one thing that should pop up first in my head when I think of Laylizzy.

Laylizzy: He put Mozambique on the map. And he inspired Mozambican kids to be better, do better and to follow their dreams.

 

Kiki: Thank you so much for this. Any last words for the readers?

Laylizzy: Look out for Laylizzy, Ellputo and Geobek Records. We are coming out with a lot of quality music and we are doing it for Africa and Mozambique. My latest single, SLAY is now out and available to download so do check it out.

Laylizzy will be part of the Castle Lite Unlocks line-up in Maputo on the 21^st July. Yes, this is the same event with American rapper, FUTURE. We spoke about HERE, and I will sure be there. Let’s GO!!

 

@KikiMarli

[email protected]