{"id":107699,"date":"2022-05-31T11:54:23","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T09:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/?p=107699"},"modified":"2022-05-31T12:24:53","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T10:24:53","slug":"khaid-afro-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pan-african-music.com\/en\/khaid-afro-trap\/","title":{"rendered":"Khaid joins Nigeria\u2019s afro-trap renaissance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Earlier this year, the Nigerian music scene was introduced to a 17-year-old artist whose music and aesthetics signify a wave of uniqueness and vigor. Khaid\u2019s sonic palette encapsulates a blend of Afrobeats, trap, pop, and Amapiano. His signing to Neville Records, helmed by Nigerian internet sensation Sydney Talker, was buoyed by his penchant for trap freestyle. Growing up in the streets of Ojo, Lagos; he cites Polo G, Rema<\/a>, Juice WRLD as his musical influences, \u201cmaking my kind of music in a place like Ojo cost me opportunities to perform at concerts<\/em>,\u201d he says. This would see him nurse the idea of ditching trap completely before now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His debut single \u201cWith You<\/a>\u201d, \u200b\u200ba record inspired by love and loss, has since racked up over 10 million streams across DSPs. Speaking on \u201cSki\u201d, the follow-up single, he mentions, \u201cputting my past life into Trap-lines is a gift and I want everyone to feel it because it’s real<\/em>\u201d. The rapper has gone a step further releasing his debut project Diversity, <\/em>a six-track release \u200b\u200bthat recounts Khaid\u2019s encounter with love, heartbreak, and his <\/strong>past life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this piece, Khaid speaks with PAM about wielding his back-story, trap in Nigeria, and his motivations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

You started the year as a regular guy and now you\u2019re Khaid. Tell me about who you used to be before now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basically, Khaid was this kid with a strong passion for music. I grew up in the streets of Ojo, where I used to be a mechanic. Looking at my life now, it feels like a dream being here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A mechanic\u2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah. Music was shaky for me, so I started the mechanic apprenticeship as a backup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How did your passion for music come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started singing other people\u2019s songs at a very tender age. I was used to rap songs and some Micheal Jackson music, which developed my melodic part. My mom listened to a lot of foreign music, especially Micheal Jackson while my dad loved Fuji. My passion for music stemmed from the uniqueness of both worlds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Did you pick up other artists as you grew?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definitely. Polo G influenced me the most. Juice WRLD, XXXtentacion, NBA Youngboy, etc. I got to points where I knew what I wanted to sound like and how to mix a part of my past and present to get something unique. I also picked up some Fela<\/a> because my dad played it very well too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is it like being from Ojo and making your style of music?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t the easiest because it’s hard to see my kind of music resonate in such a place. It took determination and the need to set a bar for myself. I knew I\u2019ll have to do something different to cut through the noise, despite how unwelcoming it could be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

So, you also took to social media\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, that was important as I thought it\u2019s a way to attract potential investors. At the time, I made pure street music but sometimes, I\u2019m inclined to make trap freestyles just to flex my muscles and be real with myself. It was one of the [Trap] freestyles that eventually caught the attention of Neville Records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Were you, at any point, conflicted between making street music and trap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, almost every time. I wasn\u2019t getting opportunities to perform at concerts in Ojo because of the kind of music I made. I\u2019d wanted to drop trap for this reason but thanks to the positive-minded people around they encouraged me to keep going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tell me about \u201cSki\u201d, your last single before the project<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSki\u201d gave me an opportunity to express my feelings in a different genre of music. At the time of writing that record, I was reminiscing about my former days, so I had to put my past life into Trap lines for anyone to feel what I was saying. I wanted the melodies to resonate with people, that\u2019s why I filled the lyrics with real happenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n