Legendary UK broadcaster has followed the rise of from the very start – writing for CLASH, the Capital Xtra figure goes deep on the rapper’s rise, two people with a deep and abiding love for both the city of Manchester and the craft of UK rap music.

I was born in Manchester and I was raised on hip-hop thanks to my big brother. Manchester has a place within the history of music due to revered guitar bands such as Oasis, The Stone Roses, and The Smiths, etc. While the Hacienda was a legendary Manchester night club that is credited for launching rave and the Madchester scenes. I didn’t care about any of this. 

Hip-hop was my life. 

I started DJing in Abraham Moss Youth club. I hosted shows on pirate radio, dropped mixtapes, and promoted my own events. I put myself on, built my name as a DJ, and tried to contribute to some kind of Manc hip-hop scene. At the time it wasn’t working for a number of reasons. 

In the late 90s as an aspiring young DJ I was dependent on the student market which was seasonal and revolved around a couple of terms. There were only a handful of artists, but the bigger problem was how the city was divided between several gangs. Every time I tried to put on an event the doors would get rushed, someone would get hurt, or venue promoters would cancel my events for fear gang violence

I was never going to be able to pursue my calling as a DJ in Manchester. So, when I was offered a position at a record company in London I took the job, made the move, and London has been my home ever since.   

In 2026 and the world has changed. Technology has changed. Sound has changed. How we listen to, consume, and create music is a radically different experience. 

Hip-hop is bigger than ever. UK Rap has found its voice. The biggest rapper in the world is a Canadian, he’s an avid fan of UK Rap, and Drake has introduced our culture to a global audience.  

These are a series of incredible events that sets the scene for Manchester born rapper .  

It warms my soul to see new generations of lyricists emerge from my home city. I rate Nemzzz highly. At a tender 22 years of age Nemzzz is already a master of his craft, a highly successful entrepreneur, who is one of the biggest internationally known UK rappers. 

I was keen to interview him on again because of his nonstop momentum and his powerful new ‘Locked In’ tape. As always Nemzzz was on top form and keen to discuss his new music.

You have one of the biggest projects of 2026. It feels like you’ve been preparing us from the start of the year for the ‘Locked In’ tape. Was this intentional, or were you just having fun with it? 

You know what, to be honest a lot of my last projects it’s usually been just a quick process, so we’ll just record within a week. But for this, with this body of work, I just wanted to make sure I’m travelling and getting the most vibes as possible. 

When it comes to putting it back together, there’s a lot of different beats, just different topics. Last year, we went to LA, I think in May, did some recording there, did some in Miami as well, we had a writing camp there, and then obviously I made the sort of moody songs in the UK. 

When it came to putting it back together, it was easier, and my thought process throughout that time of just working on it was like, I want this tape to be an example for people to look at and be like, okay, ‘Nemzzz is really locked in’. ‘He’s really on his grind’. ‘He’s taking this serious.’ So, I just wanted that to reflect it when listening back, and I’m happy that people have received it the way they have. 

You are one of the most consistent artists. You are always dropping music. Do you feel like you had more to prove with this ‘Locked In’ tape? 

I feel like you can always do better, for one. And I feel like, two, there was just a lot of comments what I’d hear here and there. People would say, “Oh, he’s got the same flow” or “He has the same beat”. So, I just wanted to shut everyone up with this one and I feel like I’ve done that.

‘Prince of the Scene’ produced by Tay Keith is hard. Rest in Power Tay Keith. You’ve done a couple of bangers with him before. How did you hook up? 

When I did my writing camp in Miami, he pulled up and we just locked in there, made a few tunes. 

Why did you call that track ? 

That’s just how I was feeling when I made it, you know. I was feeling like I’m not… I will never give myself the title and be like “I’m the king of rap” because there are a lot of GOATs from the UK who have cemented their ground completely, but I feel like in terms of the runners-up, you’ve got to put me there.

I feel like you’ve got your own kingdom. 

I’d say I’m in my own lane. 

…totally, and I’m not just saying that. It’s not cap, I’m not saying it for gas or anything like that. Being that I’m from Manchester as well, I know you’ve worked harder than everybody else to get where you are. I know it’s a different kind of grind for you, but I feel like everything that you do musically, what you stand for, your approach and everything else, I just think you’re in a different lane. Maybe not Prince of the Scene, maybe king of your own kingdom? 

That’s my take on it. 

I appreciate that. 

What’s it like working with Lil Yachty? 

You know what? Funnily enough, yeah, we actually had a ‘2Ms’ remix back in 2022, but it never came out. It had a sick verse on it, you know. I was actually annoyed that it didn’t come out, there were some label complications. 

But working with Yachty has always been good. He’s easy to work with, and you know me, I value organic relationships, the music’s always gonna come out better. You know what I mean? I see a lot of people do either, I don’t know.. European collabs or international collabs in general, but it’s one-sided. It’s just the artist that wants it to do well, but when someone else sees the same vision as you, I feel like that outcome will always be better. 

I heard that ‘2Ms’ is Travis Scott’s favourite joint by you. How?

It’s random as well. Obviously, I’m cool with his DJ, Chase. So, last year I said to him, “You know what? Travis has not made no tune with a UK rapper before. Just kind of putting it out there“.

Two or three months later, he just hit me up and said, “Yo, send me some joints”. So I sent him some tunes, I’m there scrambling, just trying to find something that’ll be on his vibe. So I hit up my engineer, because his favourite artist is Travis. Shout out Vidorra, man. He must have just sent me a song on his beat over a different song. So he switched the beat out, but I didn’t tell him who the feature was yet, because I wanted it to be confirmed first. 

So, I’ve sent that to him, he’s messing with it straight away. And then I get a call like, must have been like 3am, 4am, and obviously it’s Travis and he’s just playing the song, and I heard his verse and I was like, okay, he’s really going in. 

Then we went to Malibu, linked up with him, reasoned with him for a bit. I played him some of my tunes, played him most of the tape, to be honest. He played me some music, and then we finished off the verse there. Then a couple months later, obviously when it was the World Cup, we just shot the video in New York. And that’s another organic relationship too, like no label put that together. 

Do you and Travis have plans to work together more? 

We’ll see. Obviously, I’m going to be working on my project, and me and him are just chatting about him overlooking it, and him kind of working on it as well, so we’ll see how that goes. 

What, another project? 

No, my next project.

Travis said he’s going to oversee your next project? 

Yeah. 

Really? 

Yeah, man. But you see like, I get a lot of inspiration especially from him as well when I linked him because he told me that every day, he gets up 6am till 6pm in the booth. And it just makes me think someone at that level, if you’re still going that hard, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be. So it stuck with me. 

Yo bro, I’m not going to lie, I’m gassed for you. That’s big because what Travis has done as an artist is incredible, but what he’s done as an exec as well..  When you look at the people that are signed to him and you look at what Don Toliver’s done, and other artists that he’s worked with, he’s got a different type of energy. It’s all inspiration from YE as well. It comes from that lineage. 

I heard that you’ve got a big US fan base. 

Yeah. It’s getting there.

Correct me if I’m wrong, I heard your biggest fan base or one of them is in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. How does a kid from Manchester do that? 

I feel like it’s just it’s the type of music I make, I feel like you can’t really pinpoint it to any target audience. Some people who are 30 will be listening to me, some people who are 18 and 14 and I feel like it just travels. And the beats as well. I feel like they travel well.

And you’re not trying to rap American, you’re not trying to pretend you’re something that you’re not. So when you get this criticism but you’re popping worldwide and people don’t see that. They only see what’s in front of them. That must be crazy.

It’s a good feeling. It lets me know I’m doing the right thing. 100%.

How do you maintain and cope with the pressure? 

I just don’t really see the pressure. I don’t let myself feed into it. That’s the main thing.

I’m from Manny so I don’t really see a lot of the…  shout out Manny, but I don’t really see a lot of the….  I’m not really in the mix too much to know what’s going on. 

This is why I’m saying you’re in your own lane. When I talk about you or when we talk about our scene. I can’t compare you to anyone else. Because I know where you’re from and what you’ve done and what you’ve achieved and what you’re achieving. Bro there’s no one else in your lane.

I appreciate that.. 

What’s been the biggest learning experience for you? Because you’re an artist, you’re moving in the music business, you’re working with other creators, you’re working with UK artists but then you’re working with someone like Travis who’s one of the biggest artists in the world who’s talking to you on a level about helping you elevate your art. You’re learning a lot right now. You’ve been exposed to more than most artists. 

I’d say more than anything just staying consistent. Staying consistent is the main thing because a lot of people plan to blow but they don’t know what they’re going to do when that happens. And that’s when they usually start declining. So, I feel like just being ready for any weather is the main thing.

You’ve not stopped. You’ve kept going.

And I also feel like being consistent means more than being talented because someone who’s super talented if they’re not consistent they might not get as far as the guy that’s not really that good but he’s dropping every week. 

How’s Tunde? 

Somewhere in the world, man. Somewhere in the world right now. 

Is he alright?

He’s good man. I chat to him a lot still. He’s like a big bro for me. He’s dropping me the advice. Just trying to make sure I’m staying in the right direction. He’s always looked out for me since I was young. I’ve got pictures from when I was doing my videos when I was like 14 and he’d come through, bring some cars for me. He’s always showed love.

Which new artists are you rating right now? Right now? 

There’s a few, you know. There’s this kid called Suggz. He’s from Manny. I think he’s cold. When I was listening to his music the other day, I was like, this guy is really thinking about what he’s saying. It’s not just a cadence thing. He’s cold, man. 

There’s this kid called Jay Baloo from London as well. There’s a kid called Zeddy East as well. He’s from Manny. There’s this guy called Deedot. There’s loads bro. Loads of man to watch out for.  

Who inspires you? 

I get inspiration from a lot of things, bro. I might just meet someone randomly and I see how they’re living or I see how they’re just happy with nothing. Or happy or content with something. Or they might just drop me some game. I just get inspiration off different people.

I wouldn’t narrow it down to a single person. Even like travelling as well. I go see how people are living in France, I go see how men are living in the US and it just inspires me and then when it comes to the music I can just flood that.

What’s your take on the state of UK rap at the moment? Because there are different conversations going on but you live it. You’ve experienced it. You’ve done it. You’ve turned nothing into something. What’s your take on the ecosystem of UK rap right now? 

I feel like it’s in a good place because things like TikTok have allowed more and more people to be more creative.

I feel like the biggest problem in the UK was just people not stepping outside the box because they’re afraid that someone’s just going to have an opinion. Everyone’s just going to be like what’s this guy doing? Especially with the underground scene as well I’m seeing that a lot more. People are more creative.

They’re staying in their lane. They’re making their own lane. I feel like it’s in a good place, bro.

It can only go up from here. 

How far do you want to take this? 

As far as possible. I just want to continue to set the example. That’s it.

As long as people look at me and be like, you know what? Nemzzz actually did it. He’s from Manny. He did what he needed to do. He’s done things that I didn’t even think was possible. That’s all I want to do. 

I see you’re about to go on tour as well, right? 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just announced UK and Europe.

You ready for that? 

I can’t wait. I feel like touring’s probably the best part of being an artist. Because you go through that whole process of making the music, putting it out, but when you actually see how people have taken it in, it’s a real good feeling. 

So what, UK, Europe, anywhere else? 

Obviously, I’ve got Europe in October, then I’m finishing off in the UK, and then next year, I’m doing Asia, you know, USA and Australia. 

I don’t know if I’ve heard anyone doing Asia UK Rap wise. What parts of Asia?

I was surprised myself when I heard I was doing that. I’m doing Taiwan, and Thailand.

I’ve done Rolling Loud Thailand, but I haven’t heard anyone from our scene doing that. 

I’m doing Taiwan as well. I’m keen to see how it goes, to be honest, bro. I’m keen to see how they react to the music. It’s always surprising, you know, when I go to somewhere where I don’t speak English and I hear them rapping the lyrics word for word. It’s crazy. 

Why do you think your bars resonate worldwide? Because you’re one of the few UK rappers who has that. So why do you think your vocabulary connects the way that it does worldwide? 

I feel like what I’m saying is clear. You can understand it. and I just think it’s relatable.

I feel like a lot of people relate to what I’m saying. That’s the main thing. 

Being from Manchester yourself and what you’ve experienced, what you’ve done, you’ve travelled a path and you’re still on that journey. What advice would you give to the next generation of artists that are trying to follow you and what you’ve done, following in your footsteps? 

I’d say for one, be original. Don’t follow no one. Because that means you have to wait for someone else to make a move before you can step. I also think that you should actually learn about what you’re getting into. Learn about the business. Learn a bit about how to actually form a song. I’d say don’t sign too early. Don’t give everything away until you know what you want. I feel like people just are in it for the bread and it really should just be the passion because when you’re doing it out of passion, the money will just come straight away.

If you’re going in the booth and you’re like, oh I need this 100k, or I need this 200k, it’ll never come to you. And if it does, you might not know how to handle it. 

Nemzzz new project ‘Locked In’ is out now. DJ Semtex is live on Capital Xtra, 9pm Fridays.