Artist Spotlight: Rippa
Introducing Rippa, the 20-year-old Brixton native of Jamaican heritage that immediately defined himself as a standout prospect. His cool, tripped-out VHS-inspired visuals juxtapose an intelligent, thought-out lyrical delivery that glides across the thumping afro-swing anthem, produced by UK sound system icon Toddla T.
Through the electric music video directed by generational UK talent Ray Fiasco (Knucks, Flo Mili), we see Flows awaken as Rippa manoeuvres through London and the River Thames, with sharp cinematography and quick cuts that depict the pace and disorientation of London life against his calm, inspirational flows.
Luckily, we were able to have a conversation with him about his first release and get a gauge of what we can expect from him going forward.
You’re a well-known community activist. What’s led you to taking that role, and what does it mean to you?
To be real, there are so many layers to what I do in the community. I’m 20, so I’m borderline an adult and borderline a young person- it’s a weird group to fall into. For me, growing up in Brixton meant it could be a real mess, and what’s happening between the young people, all the anger and things, are getting worse. I got tired of all the talking and politicians running their mouth, so for me, being here knowing and what’s going on, it’s only right I do something to help guide and resolve these situations. I want to show them that you can be a positive role model that’s from these areas and still thrive.
Do you feel like Covid had a real impact on the anger between young members of society, and had a hand in making a lot of these situations worse?
100%. Some people actually thought that Covid was going to put a pause on knife crime. People don’t understand that a lot of the beef is deep-rooted; two years of being at home is not going to.
stop any hatred when they see each other outside. The amount of back and forth just led to pure smoke.
How does your role in the community impact the music you make?
Coming from the environment I come from, it would be easy to talk about other things… but what’s the point? Everyone’s doing that already, and it’s not like it’s the only thing going on in my area. So, I’d say it influences my music because it motivates me to spread a positive message.
Are there any artists that do a similar thing that you take inspiration from?
I’m more interested in conscious rap so a bit of Dave and Knucks, Avelino- people that keep it real and are actually talking about stuff. I vouched to myself that I’d be real and ensure I maintain positive vibes.
You named a few UK artists there - are there any artists from the US that you take inspiration from? Or is your listening more focused domestically?
As a musician, you’d think I listen to a lot of music when in reality, it’s usually just me and my notepad. I’ll bop to these guys from time to time, but not often. I am open to a variety of genres because I personally experiment with different genres such as: RnB, Drill… all sorts.
RnB?! Can you sing?
Fam! Just give me time. Wait, when I’m claiming Valentine's day as my birthday.
You’re a co-author of Ciaran Thapar’s Cut Short. What’s the book about, and how did that opportunity come about?
Ciaran’s my guy! I met him when I was 12 at school, where he was a mentor to me whilst he studied at uni. He helped me with my schoolwork through a program called IntoUniversity and
even though mentorships don’t usually last long, we kept the connection, and he watched me grow up. He was a good influence; I don’t know how it would be different if he wasn’t around, but I know it would’ve been very different. We used to write articles together, so it was a no brainer when he proposed writing a book- I didn’t fully grasp the scale of what we were doing, but I ended up being one of the main characters. The book explores the importance of a positive role model and looks at the problems faced by kids in certain communities. It was like a conscious reflection of his journey in youth work.
You’ve just released your first song, Flows. How did that song come about and how do you feel about the release?
Flows is a very old song. I wrote it in lockdown, and I listen to it for nostalgia purposes. I remember just one day in lockdown feeling like going somewhere new- I just jumped on a random train and ended up in Blackfriars. I like being adventurous and leaving the ends. I was near the Thames and started free styling and things just snowballed from there. I’ve ended up meeting a few people along the way of my music journey, people like Annie Mack and Toddla T. Annie Mack did a podcast because she saw one of me and Ciaran’s articles and afterward, she’s called me saying she heard I do music. She encouraged me to get in the booth- it was something I just had fun with, but she started mentoring me and helped me take it seriously.
In Flows you say you’ve got “business plans” - are those music related, or are there other entrepreneurial avenues you plan on exploring?
I don’t plan for music to be my sole source of income- people think that because I’m talented at it, that's my sole focus. I’m entrepreneurial- I’m into foreign exchange markets, cryptocurrency, stocks, and real estate. I’ve always been interested in investments and finance, anyway.
You clearly have a lot of fun with music, How would you describe your sound?
I’d describe it as conscious vibes. I don’t really have a particular sound, I like to switch it up. I might be writing to an afro-beat song, a trap beat, or even an RnB beat.
Ray Fiasco directed the video for Flows (whose previous works include videos for Knucks and Flo Milli). What’s he like to work with, and what was the inspiration behind the music video?
It was jokes, and Ray knows exactly what he’s doing. It was the first time having worked with a proper videographer, and we ensured we executed on everything to do with the water from the treatment. It was a good experience- we ended up in Nando's halfway through and he was very shocked that I ate a whole chicken right in front of him.
What are your passions away from music, and how do you think they impact your creative process?
Kickboxing. I want to start MMA. I really enjoy the discipline of learning martial arts; to be able to carry yourself like an athlete is something that is universally respected, and it will make you humble yourself. I like cooking as well, the whippery is a curse and a blessing- being a Jamaican man, the food has to be on point.
You just mentioned your Jamaican roots- has that influenced your music as well?
The way I write is definitely a product of my roots, some of the flows I’ve created have that yard influence. People may not understand how I manage to do some of things I do musically, but the influence is definitely from my culture.
I’m sure we’ll all be keeping an eye out on Rippa’s progress, and his infectious energy will surely see him persevere in whatever he puts his mind to.
Just like the man himself said: “It’s the idea that I’m gonna keep flowing and nobody can suppress my shine. It’s an uplifting song for young people– something to give them some hope in these times.”