It’s more introspective, it’s more in-depth. I feel like the Daily Duppy freestyle opened me up to, like, a different level of rap rapping. There is more to prove, but I’m sitting in a place where I feel like people understand me a bit more now. Now that you’re in the race, do you think there’s anything left for you to prove as an out-of-London rapper? Birmingham grime MC Lady Leshurr deserves her flowers for kicking down doors early on that front, as does Manc rapper Bugzy Malone, who helped open them even further for locals like Aitch to slide through. At this point, though, I like the fact that we can just focus on the music and I can actually go to the studio in peace.” While a life led by the streets landed him behind bars a few times, music was always there to keep his dream of a life of comfortability and stability alive.įifteen years ago - ten years ago, even - most rappers from outside London could only dream of making a name for themselves. “Obviously, when I know that my future is fully secure, then there’s definitely no turning back where I’ve come already, so I can do what I want. “I’ll have to look into it in the future,” he says. “Everyone knows I rep Manny to the fullest anyway.”Īs for the face reveal, that’s not on the cards – just yet. “It just looks and feels cleaner as Meekz,” he says of shortening his rap alias.

He hasn’t confirmed his real name and his age is still unknown, but that mystery has only added to the hype around the artist formerly known as Meekz Manny. He’s kept his face concealed since day one, although there are a few unclear, unmasked shots of him floating online - some of which are said to be mugshots. In 2019, Meekz entered the UK music scene with nothing more than his punchy flow, a love for no-frills production, and a gift for telling steely-eyed street tales with memorable wordplay. “I have to worry about the girls chasing me now,” he says with a laugh when asked how life has changed since the rap fame. He’s chill yet animated, open and honest, and seems like the kind of guy you could catch a joke with. Despite the guarded appearance his black bally might portray, Meekz seems pretty comfortable during the interview.

Meekz rarely gives interviews, and he tells me that talking to journalists isn’t something he feels used to. It’s a few days before the rapper drops Respect The Come Up, his debut mixtape and arguably one of the most anticipated UK rap projects of the year. Meekz is at his home in Gorton, southeast of Manchester’s city centre, when we connect over Zoom. “The excitement’s proper overwhelming, man.”

Black gas mask rapper