In Talks With Murda: ‘UK Music History Is So Rich’

Murda is one of the biggest European rappers on the continent right now. The Turkish/Dutch artist has been making waves across the map for a while, but we sat down with him before his first headline show in London to discuss his career to date, and what the next steps of his journey will entail.

So you’re in London right now, how are you finding it?

Yeah bro, I came out for a show and we’re shooting a video as well. Aside from that we’re just chilling out. I love London. I love coming here, I’ve been coming here for for a while now. London is the bomb, bro.

Do you have any relationships with UK artists?

I was on Tion Wayne’s ‘Body-Remix’, so I’ve got a great relationship with Tion and I’ve met a few other artists this week which is exciting. I’ve been following the UK scene for a while now and I’ve been saying the growth of UK music. I fuck with the UK heavy, bro, so for me to be able to come out here and do a show is crazy.

What were your influences growing up? 

I think I got into hip hop with like, Biggie, Wu Tang – I was heavily East Coast influenced back in the day. I was really into everything that came out of New York and just East Coast Rap in general. But growing up, I used to listen to all types of music like Motown, I really grew up listening to Motown music. The soulful Motown songs are like my favourite songs in the world. As far as just influences, rapping, I think, like, I don’t know, like Biggie, Jay. Those were the guys that I used to listen to growing up, you know?

You’ve lived in The Netherlands, Turkey, and Spain. Do you think that these different cultures have influenced your music?

Definitely. I mean, me living in Spain kind of put me in a spot where I could absorb all that Spanish culture. The Spanish music, the rhythms, and everything, so I’m used to those. I went to an international school as well, so I also had friends from all over the world. I just was always into different cultures and into different nationalities and everything, I was always into that. That all influenced me the most in my career, I’ve seen and met a whole bunch of people from all around the world. Coming from London, you can understand that because it’s such a melting pot here too. Like you got a bunch of cultures that come together.

Yeah, exactly. What would you say in your career has been your defining moment?

I think in the moment we started making Turkish songs, because I’ve been in the game in Holland for a while. I mean, we, we did our thing in Holland, but then the moment I started making turkish songs, it kind of went to a whole different level. And that’s the reason I’m here, right now. I mean, we sold out the O2 Kentish with Turkish songs. You know, it’s crazy. So I think the moment we started making Turkish songs is the moment and the songs came out and people started reacting the way they did. That’s the moment I realized, like, ‘okay, we’re really onto something right now.’

You’ve got an album called ‘Made in Turkey’. Would you identify as Turkish or would you say you are more multicultural?

No, I’m multicultural. Definitely, definitely. But the thing about the the title and the album is exactly that. Like, we’re Turkish but we’re so much more than that you know? And I think the vibes that you hear on that album and the beats, the productions, the flows, the melodies and everything, I mean, you can hear that it doesn’t necessarily just sound Turkish, it sounds universal. It sounds like everybody can listen to it and you don’t necessarily need to understand Turkish to be able to vibe out to it.

You’ve dabbled in acting as well, is that a passion of yours?

Yeah definitely, bro. I don’t know if you got any links or anything but let them holla me for the next season of Top Boy, bro! I even got the English accent down ‘I make the p’s, bring the food, make the p’s, blud.’ I’m trying to be in Top Boy, bro.

(laughs) I’ll see what I can do

My man, my man.

How does it feel to be able to sell out a UK show? That must be a big achievement for you.

I was just talking about that today with my team. It’s a dream come true. Like I’ve been telling you I’ve been coming to London for a while now, and I’ve been following the scene here for a while and to be able to come out here and do a show myself is it’s crazy, bro. It’s crazy. It’s a dream come true. This is a legendary day in our journey.

Do you have any upcoming plans for music dropping soon?

Yeah, definitely. I’m working on an album right now. multiple albums. I’m working on my solo album right now. I’m hoping to put that out right after the summer but in the coming months, I’m gonna be dropping a whole bunch of singles leading up to the album so you know I’m gonna be I’m gonna be pretty active in these coming months.

Do you have any dream collaborations with any artists in the UK?

I mean, UK, I would definitely like to link up with like, Skepta and Dave. I really fuck with these dudes heavy, you know what I mean? That would be insane. But I mean, like, there’s so many rappers in the UK, bro. That’s what I’m saying, like Fredo, Abracadabra. Bro, there’s a whole bunch of rappers in UK I really fuck with heavy. Do you know Meekz? I’ve been fucking with him heavy too these past couple a couple of months. I just discovered him. His ‘Can’t Stop Won’t Stop’ song? I got that shit on repeat, bro. That shit is crazy. So yeah, there’s a bunch of UK artists that I really fuck with you know, I’m the type of guy where I’m open to work with anybody if the vibe is right, you know what I mean?

Yeah, for sure. And just finally, the European rap scene seems to be in a good place right now. Do you think you guys are having a moment right now?

Most definitely. I mean, a name I forgot to mention just a while ago is Central Cee. You see what that boy doing, bro? He’s definitely taking the whole drill sound overseas and really doing things with it in Europe with the collaborations, the ‘Eurovision’ song and everything. So definitely, bro. I think I think like the UK influence in music in general, just not even just hip hop, but just popping music, UK music history is so rich. So it was only a matter of time for the rap side of things to also influence the world in the way it’s doing right now. It’s great to see because like, I’ve been listening to UK Rap when it was Grime, you know what I mean? So, to see that whole evolution, and to see what it’s become right now. It’s crazy, bro. It’s crazy.

Thanks for your time and I hope your show goes well.

I appreciate you taking the time for this, bro.

You can check out Murda’s music below: