MOKA BOKA // Interview

It was in Nantes, during the Hipopsession festival, that we went to meet Moka Boka. This talented Belgian artist is grateful for the passion of his audience. With a smile on his face, a warm welcome and a friendly laugh, the one, who’d spent a year in London, in the Levisham district, gave his time for A Rap & A Cup Of Tea. He left his mark on the international scene thanks to his appearance on the Colors Show, and now has entrusted us talking particularly about his beginnings in music and his desire to take the time to ensure he releases high-quality music.This 26-year-old man from Brussel has been very honest about the music industry, which he learns more about every day. Always lost between failure and the ideal, Moka Boka - from his real name Julien - told us about his life philosophy and the importance of his mixing in his music. Since he has been publicly validated by artists such as Romeo Elvis, Krisy and Lomepal, he won't fail to seduce you with his suave voice and honesty. It's impossible not to fall under his spell as he's destined for an amazing future.

Did you fall in love with Rap when you were young, or has your love for it developed over time?

I’ve been listening to Hip-Hop for a long time, but when I started rapping, I was 16. Now I am 26, so it’s been a while since I “fell in”. (laughs)

How did this happen?

I was born into an artistic family. My father's a musician, my mother's a dancer and I have always loved music. We listened to a lot of music, whether it was at home or on the way to school. I always liked the inspiring, creative side of things. Seeing rappers on stage like 50 Cent or Kanye West - or other rappers, female or male, for that matter - made me want to be one of them. I thought it was fascinating and it really made me want to rap.

Your Rap style is often described as charismatic which is quite rare as a definition... How do you explain the charisma that you have integrated into your sound?

Thanks for the compliment, I’m really glad. The charisma, I can’t really explain. Maybe it comes from being myself or my voice? I’m often told that my voice appeals so it would be possible for it to come from there, perhaps? (laughs) What attracts me most in Hip-Hop is the flow and attitude. That’s why I love english-speaker artists so much, because the emotions they convey to me are through those two factors. When I was a kid, I didn’t really understand what they were saying, but I was really trying to replicate what they were doing through their flow and their gestures.

You had the chance to do the 'Colors Show', which is a Youtube channel that really serves to promote talent at the International level. Did you feel that it really brought you a new audience?

The 'Colors Show' was incredible; it really boosted me as an artist but also helped my visibility. I was really happy to see that people outside French-speaking countries loved my music. I think that in music, there are no borders, and I was pleased to see that I had managed to get English-speaker to join my music.

In the comments we can see that there are many English-speaker people who congratulate your performance by commenting “I don’t really understand what he says but the flow is crazy!”. Is opening up to the International audience something you’d like to develop more?

I won’t hide the fact that their reaction made me very happy, although I didn’t expect it at all. I’m curious to try new things now. You know, I didn’t really realize the impact that Colors would have on my career... I decided to take my time with it, and especially take the time to better understand the music industry. I do Rap, but I’ve never really used to hanging out with people from this industry. I was solo you know, I did what I wanted to do without really calculating everything that was going on around me. I was doing Rap in my room, I didn’t tell anyone about it, but now things have changed and I take the time to meet people to make connections.

Are there any features with international artists that you’d like to do?

I’d say Saba, J.Cole or Boogie; he’s really hot! I’d like to do something with them that could be cool to mix our musical universes.

I saw that you were sometimes described as the 'Krisy's favourite' [e.d: a rapper, beatmaker and very talented Belgian producer who also used to works with Damso and PLK]...

It's true that in Brussels, he was the first one who helped me. I did my project Pas De Pluie, Pas De Fleurs with him. So, I think I earned that nickname somehow. (laughs) Actually, at the time, he really supported me and I see him as a mentor because he's older than me, and he has more experiences too.

The first person who has to be satisfied with what we’re doing is ourselves.

A year and a half ago, you joined his label called Le Jeune Club. It must have been a turning point in your career?

I had a lot of feedback from the Jeune Club fanbase, it was cool actually. I'm glad to be part of Krisy’s entourage because he certainly has a lot of contacts and he is, above all, an artist that I like. I have great respect for his career. We have a lot in common on a personal level but also in our way of working, because, just like him, I often record in my room, for example.

We also saw you in Lomepal's 'Planète Rap' on the French radio channel Skyrock, in this freestyle between France/ Belgium. It was powerful to see so many Belgian rappers gathered in a freestyle session. To be part of this great line of talented Belgian rappers is an additional benefit or just extra pressure?

I wouldn’t say it’s a pressure. As I said, I’m really starting to come into the Rap game, and I’m trying to get in there. You know, in Brussels, 'everybody knows everybody'. I don’t think that all those Belgian rappers knew who I was before I started having people talk about me and my projects, so I didn’t see it as a pressure. This 'mini-pressure' that I sometimes feel, I try not to think about it. That’s why I prefer to take my time. For example, after my last project, I had tracks ready to be released, but I decided not to rush things on the basis that people 'expected something from me'. I’m really trying to find the balance between strength and pressure.

It also proves that you’re being validated by such influential rappers as Romeo Elvis, who also brought you into his own 'Planète Rap'. It must be a lot of credit for you?

Yes, it's incredible because he's an artist that I have been listening to for so long! I have seen his career and evolution, and in Brussels, he has become an important person. The fact that he liked what I did really boosted me, undeniably.

What’s impressive about your lyrics is that you find the balance between pessimism and hope. How do you do that?

It's true that I have one side that's really pessimistic, and the other one is optimistic. When I realize that I'm really in the dark, I try to get out of it because it isn't a good state of mind and I know I have the ability to change that. It's true that sometimes I can be really negative but I have a life philosophy that believe that there's always hope. Sometimes you’re at your worst, you think you’ll never make it...but that’s not true. Until you’re dead, you still have the ability to get up and change things. That’s what I try to show in my music. But I'll never be an artist who only sends out optimistic messages, because it doesn’t really sound like me.

When you started writing your album did you have a desire to connect your words with your audience and say "Don’t worry we’re all in the same boat" or was it really personal?

Actually, I was surprised, I didn’t expect this. When I did this project, I wanted to show the state of mind I was in at the time and I didn’t really question whether people would like it or not. Therefore, I did not expect to have such feedback

And now it’s changed the way you write?

Yes, no doubt about it. Before, I wasn’t really used to writing on a theme, and now, I’m trying to give direction to my lyrics and to focus more on a feeling or an emotion. My aim is really to develop and test new things so I don’t do what I’ve already done whether textually or in beatmaking. It's good to try new stuff.

The fact that Roméo Elvis liked what I did really boosted me.

In an interview you did with Paris Match, you discuss your race and the fact that you questioned yourself for a long time. You say, "Among the Whites, I’m Black. Among the Blacks, I’m White. But who am I then?" Is that a question that still haunts you?

No, it’s much better now. (laughs) It’s true that when I was younger, I wondered a lot about this. I find that the theme of mixed is something that really follows me, whether in my music, my choices of production...everything is mixed. I can’t really pick a side. I think it’s really related to all the different cultural influences that I’ve had since I was a kid. It really reflects what I do and what I am.

In Heracles, you say "The objective: to be as free as possible"... Can you tell me more?

My goal is to have as few restrictions as possible. Being free is very broad as well. Total freedom? I don’t know if it’s really attainable. You constantly lose some of your freedom in the choices you make. For example, if you are on a label you are less free than being independent.

Would you like to be independent?

Yes, that’s the objective. But right now, I still have so much to learn and understand. It’s the beginning for me, and I’m really into finding things out. I got into music without really being prepared for all that it entails, and I am constantly discovering how it works. I live day-today, and being independent is not my priority right now. I know I still have a lot to learn from the people around me through their experience and advice.

Sometimes you’re at your worst and you think you’ll never make it... but that’s not true. Until you’re dead, you still have the ability to get up and change things.

I'm so intrigued by your nickname... Can you tell me more about what your name means?

Actually ‘Boka’ is my last name, and in Congo – the country where my father is from – in the Kikongo dialect, ‘Boka’ means “the one who says things”. And ‘Moka’ is also a nickname that was given to me before, and so, in a way, my name means “Moka: the one who says things” and it fits me well.

Can you tell me more about your plans?

I am preparing a new project of about ten songs that should be released before 2020 and then I'll try to release as many things as possible and be as prolific as possible. The tracklist is ready and the project is almost finished so I’m glad about it.

The last album was so successful. Are you anxious that this one might not succeed as well?

I wouldn’t say I’m anxious, but I still have a little stress before I get a new album out, that’s for sure. Especially now, since it’s been a while since I released anything new and I want to please my fans. I think more about what I do and how to satisfy them, but I can’t be too clueless about it anyways, or I fall into a trap. The first person who has to be satisfied with what we’re doing is ourselves.

Are there any goals you’d like to accomplish as an artist?

I would really like to be heard everywhere no matter the borders. I also want to continue to perform on the stage; to go and shoot, but above all, I want to improve myself in what I do and to become even better. The goal is to be a good artist and have a great career.

Instagram: Kwami.Boka

Words © Fanny Hill Scott // Photography © Adèle Boterf