“The Sky Is The Limit For Me” – An MM Exclusive With MLizzy

MLizzy is on a mission to become the next South London Rap superstar. His straight talking, uncompromising style has seen every one of his six releases find a wide audience, setting the Streatham native on the path to domination in the Rap game. With co-signs from the likes of Headie One and Chy Cartier, this is a newcomer who is looking to stick around.

Following the release of his most recent single, ‘BPD’, I sat down with MLizzy to talk through his musical origins, his admiration for Dave and Central Cee, and what is next after a glittering start to his career:

How do you think South London and Streatham in particular has influenced your music?

Growing up in Streatham, what I rap about is just about what I’ve been through and what I’ve seen. For me when I’m rapping, I’m not only rapping for me but I’m rapping for the area. I’m showing people a different side of Streatham – my side of Streatham. That’s how it’s really influenced me. Obviously you’ve got other rappers that have come out of the area as well. That’s obviously a big motivation for me to see guys like Frosty and Dave do their thing, knowing that I can be the next one to make it out and just tell my story.

Have you always grown up around music?

Definitely, I’ve always grown up around music because I’ve got a lot of siblings. When I was younger, back when it was like Channel U and stuff, they were just slapping on music videos and sending me music and all of these things. My musical background is more so from my siblings, because they were always interested in Rap music. It’s something that I’ve just been around from young, really.

Who would you say you’ve drawn influence and inspiration from?

I don’t really know to be fair but that’s sort of what brings the authenticity to my music. If there are people I take inspiration from though it would have to be some of the GOATs of the game like Cench and Dave, because I’ve seen them grow and do it the right way, and show what the blueprint is. That gives me something that I see, and think that I can replicate this and make it my own, really.

You’ve already spoken about Dave and Frosty but you also have a song called ‘Like Von’ as well. How do you think your influences are split between the US and UK?

I’m definitely influenced by the US. I listen to a lot of US music, like that sort of Chicago sound, that sort of Drill sound. When I listen to guys like King Von and Durk, I try to implement that into my own style as well. As much as I’ve got the UK influence, there is definitely influence from outside the UK with the US through the way they rap and the way they put things together. I try to replicate that in my music.

In relative terms you’re quite new to the game. Do you see that as an advantage and what have you learnt so far?

It’s a bit of both. I think the advantage is where I’m so fresh, so I can experiment and have fun early because the fans don’t really know what to expect. It’s also a disadvantage, because I feel like I have to keep proving myself every song. I don’t mind that though, I’m hungry, but I feel like every song I’ve got to prove myself. There are always going to be new listeners because I’m new. I’ve always got to prove myself and show I can definitely compete with the big players of the game.

What would you say has been your biggest learning curve?

Everyone has different tastes in music. From Like Von to CDM to 6ix Teen, they’re all different sounds. After Like Von I thought maybe I should stick with that hard, Drill sound, but 6ix Teen is a completely different beat. For me I believed in the music but it was a risk. I didn’t know whether the listeners wanted to carry on hearing that one sound or more versatility, so that was definitely the biggest challenge. Once it came out, a lot of people resonated with the song. That’s probably a learning curve – just having fun and not being scared.

At what point did you start taking rapping seriously?

For the last year or so I’ve been taking it really seriously. There’s so many songs that people haven’t heard. Me and Fnrbeats have just been in the studio, working, working, working.

It goes back to the Streatham thing, and me seeing people from my area make it out and do these things. I believe in my talent enough to know that I can do the same thing. That kind of just instilled the hunger from there, seeing everyone else make it out, and me thinking there’s no reason why I can’t be the next one.

I want to touch on your track ‘CDM’ quickly which achieved viral success. What was that feeling like and what do you think it is about that song in particular that struck a chord with people?

I feel like it’s relatable and the authenticity of the song made it popular. Obviously the football bars are in there as well, all of these things. I feel like it really went off for the girls more. When the girls enjoy something the mandem are naturally gonna enjoy it as well.

The way it blew up so quickly was mad, but we just work so hard that we’re not even living in that moment of it blowing up. We were just thinking, cool, the motions coming, we need to get back in the studio. We had to make sure we were patterning up, because now the people are just gonna want more bangers.

Your relationship with Fnrbeats seems really close. How did that come about and how does it feed into your music?

In Fnrbeats there’s Fermz and then there’s Renz. I’ve known Fermz since I was like 15, so that relationship’s been there. Once we got to the studio, it just blossomed into something even bigger. We’ve created a brotherhood.

I think it plays a massive part in my sound and my music, because we work so closely together. The sort of bond we’ve built over the music, for me, is second to none. I can’t even explain it. You need to see it live-o in the studio where we make the magic happen.

You recently dropped your latest single, ‘BPD’. Can you tell me a bit about that?

For me that’s the most stripped back, authentic MLizzy you’re going to hear. Obviously, I’m also touching on some serious points that I feel like everyone can relate to. Whether you’re female or whether you’re a male, I feel like everyone can find something in the song that’s relatable even if it’s the hook or the LuluLemon bars. There’s so many things in that song that people can resonate with, so I like BPD.

What do you think sets you apart from other rappers and keeps people interested in your music?

My reality and perspective on things. Like I say at the start of my songs, if I’m lying, I’m flying. For me, I’m just coming into the studio to talk my truth every time, you feel me? I feel like that always resonates with the fans. As a consumer, you know when you’re listening to someone it might be a bit fabricated, but when it comes to me I feel like they understand that this is the realness. You can sit down and listen to an MLizzy song and feel like every lyric is making sense and I’m not selling no one no dream.

You’ve obviously mentioned Dave and Central Cee as a blueprint for your success. Where do you see yourself taking this?

The sky is the limit for me. I don’t want to limit myself and set small goals because then it’s easy to think you’ve made it. I never want to slow down. I might be looking up to these man but I want to get to their level and take it even further.

In the short term I’d like to properly solidify myself as a household name in UK Rap. I want people to mention MLizzy when they talk about the UK. We’re in the studio working every day, locked in. We even surprise ourselves because every day we walk out with another banger. The sky is really the limit■

‘BPD’ is out now across all platforms.