”Just the beauty of the craft. Seeing the creativity and inspiration used to create something so beautiful piqued my interest. It was sweet, to be honest.“
– BIGZIQ, SPEAKING ON WHAT SPARKED HIS RAP INTEREST.
The Hip-Hop pantheon, local and foreign alike, is replete with icons, subgenres and moments for multiple generations. While many hold a puritan view of how a Hip-Hop record should sound, diversity lies at the heart of the genre. Sounds and subgenres reflect their locale, with the same naturally evolving with time. Each generation of Hip-Hop artistes bears a distinct message and a distinct mode of expression.
In making a mark in Hip-Hop, an aspiring legend must dare to break new grounds. BigZiq, born Michael Aina Simileoluwa Isaac, is proving to be up to the task. The process has been a slow burner for the Big 10 Records signee, unveiling his debut single, ‘On Code’ in April 2024. This arrived on the backdrop of a slew of covers and years as a songwriter. With Nigerian Hip-Hop at a transitional stage, BigZiq is set to imprint more dynamism with a distinct infusion of Afrobeats, trap and drill.
In an interview with an Album Talks’ representative, BigZiq lends more insight on his debut single, his interest in rap and his views on the local Hip-Hop scene.
A-T: Surely, the release of your debut single, ‘On Code’ has been a long time coming. How does it feel to finally get started?
BIGZIQ: It feels amazing, to be honest. All in all, I’m just grateful to God and to my supporters. They got me through the tough times and now we’re here.
A-T: It must have been quite the build-up. What inspired the single?
BIGZIQ: My love for, and the need to connect with, the streets. It’s a song filled with a part of my seriousness on the hustle and the need to just have fun.
A-T: Very well then. It takes a lot of guts and confidence to consistently put out covers on social media. What can you say about your experience so far, and what would you regard as your biggest challenges?
BIGZIQ: It’s been rough, not goin’ lie, but I’m still thankful because it could’ve been worse. The biggest challenge would be making the videos. I remember my device would always give me issues during the making, editing, or uploading my videos.
A-T: Certainly a time-consuming challenge, but the rewards are gradually surfacing. In any case, which of your covers stands out the most for you and why?
BIGZIQ: ’To Be A Man’. My cover on that song was able to bring out the trials and frustrations that men in the world go through. I saw so many comments of people giving heartfelt speeches and confessing what they been going through for a while. Dax knew exactly how to make an impact with the song and that’s what I wanted to do to.
A-T: That’s quite profound. Taking a broader step back, what initially sparked your interest in rap?
BIGZIQ: Just the beauty of the craft. Seeing the creativity and inspiration used to create something so beautiful piqued my interest. It was sweet, to be honest.
A-T: Who are your favourite rappers, Nigerian and foreign inclusive?
BIGZIQ: I have a lot of people who inspire me, but rappers alone would be Ladipoe, Vector M.I, Falz, J. Cole and Dave.
A-T: Interesting picks. What about your favourite rap projects, from both Nigerian and foreign rappers?
BIGZIQ: A lot of projects that I cannot possibly finish listing, but there’s TESLIM from Vector. I like a lot of songs on that album, but my best track was ‘Clowns’ where he featured Ladipoe. Then the album Psychodrama by Dave, plus the recent album by J. Cole, Might Delete Later with ‘Trae The Truth In Ibiza’ being my favourite track.
A-T: Interesting picks, once again. Having observed the local hip-hop scene in the last couple of years, what do you think of its present state? What would you change about it?
BIGZIQ: Hip-Hop is actually thriving, and there are so many great artists that can testify to that. It’s just that it’s appreciated in some places and not in some. I’d like to leave my mark on the Hip-Hop and Afrobeats communities just like the greats.
A-T: That would be thrilling to see. Overall, what keeps you going as an artiste?
BIGZIQ: The constant feeling to be great and make things better for my mum.
A-T: What more should we expect from BigZiq in the coming months?
BIGZIQ: Creative masterpieces from different dimensions of music. In short, you won’t expect it.
– This interview was conducted and written by Clinton Durueke, an Album Talks writer (X: @ClintCDurueke).
