Backla$h is an acclaimed rap artist who is making his comeback after a two year retirement. Though only 17 years old, he conducts himself with a surprising level of maturity and humility. He does not need an entourage or manager telling him what to do and says that artists who do will never achieve true creativity. Backla$h creates music primarily for his fans and to offer something new to his genre. Though fame found him early, he took a break to focus on school but continued writing music. He is now ready to release a new album that tells a story and shows his range as an artist.

1. Backla$h isback, and betterthanever. Havingbeenretiredforalengthy2 years,newsbroke on
twitterthatthe long awaitedcomebackwason.Andforgood. While,The I’shadbeendottedand
the t’s had beencrossed,we,the audience of wishful thinkerswithearsandeyespermanently
lockedtoour radios(forthe firsttime since the announcementof backlash’sretirement),laptops
and smartphoneswaitedinanticipationtohearconformationof the news. Today,we findhimina
Sohohotel,dressed inthe usual attire of trackingbottoms,flatcapand zippedupjacket,waiting
silentlyinthe cornerof the roomwithgoldenlightsbearingdownonthem.“Justanotherday”he
states,as he getsup shakesREBEL’s hand,grinningtriumphantly, notknowingthe impression that
he will create of himself.
Havingbeenone of the bestsellingrapartistsof thisgeneration,youwouldexpectBackla$hto have
a swaggerand an arrogance to his personalityandof the way he conductshimself.Withinsecondsof
meetinghim,we quicklyrealise thatneverjudge abookbyitscoverrings true withthisfine
gentleman.There iscertainlyahumblenesstoBackla$h,ashe doesn’trunamokwithan entourage,
or have an assistantor managertellinghimwhattosay everycouple of seconds.Backla$his
Backla$h,someone whodoesn’tneedtobe toldwhattosay because he believesinwhathe says,
whichissomethingthathe believesisvital tobecomingsuccessful.“Ibelieve thatyouhave tobe
you,otherwise youwillbe livingalie throughoutyourlife”saysBackla$h.“These people thathave
managerspesteringdone theirearevery20 secondshave noballs.These peoplewillneverbe able
to be artistsif theyare theirmusicwill dropinquality.”
Backla$h showsa huge amount maturitythroughout the interview despitehis tenderage of 17.
Startinghisprofessional musiccareerat the age of 15, he musthave beennervousof gettinginto
the musicindustryat sucha youngage.“Not really”statesBackla$hwithconfidence”Ihadbeen
creatingmusicfor a longtime at that point, andI alwaysknew whatI wasgoodat and whatI needed
improvementinwhenitcame to makingmusic”. Thisattitude shownbyBackla$hisexactlywhyhis
albumhisfirsteveralbumwentplatinum, whilstalsoearningcriticallyacclaimacrossthe globe and
the respectof his fellow musical peers. Yet, WhenREBELmentionssome of the namesthat
backlash’smusichasattracted,Backla$h seemsuninterestedandinterrupts“look,it’salways
flatteringtohave yourmusicliked,especiallywhenitfromartiststhatyou grew uplisteningto,but
ask anyartist whatattracts themto continue wantingtocreate music,andtheywill neveranswer
that theywantto be acceptedbypeople thatare inthe industry.But,theywill answerwithone of
twooptionsA) theywantto make a difference andoffersomethingnew tothe genre orb) theydo it
because they wantto showtheirappreciationtothe fans.Ihave alwaysfoundmyself inthe second
category,and youwill findthatIwill continue tocreate musicbecause of thatcategory.”Whenwe
questionwhyhe thinkthisway,he asalwayshitsrebel witha well-reasoned response “Because I
[always] feelresponsibletocreate musicnotfor myself butforthe fans.I personallyfeel that being
differentinanalreadyvariedmusical doesn’tmatter,butcreatingmusicthatyou know thatwould
wantto listentoand enjoymattersa hell of alot”
Withfame and musical credibilitywell withinBackla$h’ssights,Backla$hdidthe unthinkable when
he decidedtotake a break frommakingmusic.Leavingfellow starsandfanspuzzledbyhisdecision,
manyponderedwhyhe didn’tstrike whilstthe ironwashotconsideringhe wasnew andfresh.“I
feltthatI shoulduse themyearsto focuson myschool work” Backla$hsays ”yet,to be honest,It
never reallyfeltlikeabreakto me,as I waswritingdozensof new songsmonthlyduringthatperiod
and wasin continuouscontactwiththe musiccompanythroughoutthe break.Atthe endof the day,
I knewI wasgoingto comeback”. REBEL isimpressedathow the youngman isconductinghimself,
as he is shownto answereachpassingquestion withacheeky charmandeloquence whilstproviding
a variationof knowledge.Thismakesusthink,ishe like thisatall timesordoeshe throw the
occasional diva-like tantrum?“I’ve neverthrownadivatantrum, no.I feel like youhave tobe

2. humble inthisindustry, becauseotherwiseyouwill be leftouttodry, especiallywhenyoucome
froma poorarea and have giventhe opportunityof alifetime.You’dhave tobe a dipshitnottotake
it”
Yet the questionsthatseemstobe oneveryone’slips,is whynow isthe right forBackla$h? “I mainly
wantedtocomebacknow because Ifeltitwasthe righttime.Ifeltthat I neededtogetbackintothe
studiotocreate freshnewmusic,otherwise the anticipationthatthe fanshad woulddie out
eventually.Some comingbackisdefinitelyacase of me feelingthatIowedcreatingthisalbumfor
the fans since theyhave beenwaitingsolong.” Throughoutthe interview one of Backla$h’s
favourite topicshasbeenwhathe feelsthe fansneedandwhatthe fanswant.You getthe feeling
that there isa mutual respectbetweenthe artistandhisfans”oh,most certainly.Ihonestlybelieve
that I have the bestfansin the worldand I mostcertainlywould notwanttochange anythingabout
them.”Backla$h hasmost certainlybeenanhonourto have as an intervieweethroughout.Whether
it be answeringquestionswithapositive attitudethroughoutorhavingmannersatthe level of the
queenBackla$hhas beenadelightthroughout.YetBackla$h,uponaskedwhatfanscan expectto
findwithin,becomesmore serious,almostdroppinghischeekyandladdishattitudelikeitis
mandatory.“Theycan definitelyfindsomethingnew throughout.Ithinkthe maindifference isthat
the entire albumislike astory.”Backla$h continues “Ithinkmore than anythingthe albumshows
the variationthatI have withmy art and showswhyI’mconsidereddangeroustoolderperformers
careers”
If there is one thingto be sure of withBackla$h,isthat despite the cuddlyoutercore,he isn’t
someone tobe messedwith.