Exclusive Interview: Meet Koder, South London’s Favourite Rapper

Nico Jouavel, better known as Koder, is one of south London’s brightest rising rappers. He possesses this intensity, this superiority, that gives him a striking aura of credibility; few are born that way. Dizzee Rascal had to adjust to several different styles to end up where he is today; Lady Sovereign was first defined as “marmite” until people eventually respected her. But Koder is, as they say, no ordinary emcee. In fact, his debut mixtape, The Calm, is already pricking the ears of many and is providing him with a real introduction to the wider world. The rivalry among rappers has always been fierce and with so manyemcees wanting to make their mark, Koder has set himself high goals. It can’t be overemphasized what he means to south London, Lewisham. Not to make him out to be some superhuman, but his hometown needed a success story. And Koder is their champion, a new face of UK grime and rap. RESPECT. caught up with the rising rhyme-spitter and asked him to weigh in on superheroes, his new single “Avenger”, the inspiration behind his music and why he’d like to be in the mind of Jay-Z.

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RESPECT:. You grew up in south London, Lewisham. Is that correct?

Koder: Yes. I grew up in South London in a place called Brockley.

Now tell me about Lewisham. What’s it like? And could you please tell me why it has been named the ‘least peaceful’ place in the UK?

Has it really been named the least peaceful place in the UK? I think a lot of things have been taken away, in particular a lot of youth clubs have disappeared, so now no one has a way to express themselves. I feel like when I was growing up there were negative things going on but we still had a way to express ourselves. Youth clubs would put us is a minivan and take us to the studio and we would get stuff off our chest, and because those things are no longer there people are expressing themselves through violence and other ways.

How was school? Was it good? Or was it a bit of a trial?

It was a bit of a trial. I’m from an area called Brockley and I went to school in Forest Hill, which was in a different area. I was always more comfortable in Brockley with the people that surrounded me. I literally knew everyone, so when I had to actually go into a another area it was like a whole new experience for me. In the end, I went school there and I made my mark. I had a voice and I stood up for myself. I got through it and that’s where it all started for me.

So how, then, did you get discovered?

Well, from school, I worked with a guy called O Boy and Change; bless his soul, he is not with us anymore. He brought me forward to an artist called Knox, who I went to school with as well. He was the hottest producer in Lewisham. Back then, if you were on a Knox production then everyone will be talking about you. I remember after that all of a sudden everyone wanted to know more about me. My whole life changed just going on a Knox production. That’s where I would say things started.

What was the progression? What did you do after that?

After that I just maintained it. I got my own studio because I realised I couldn’t always rely on Knox. He was very helpful in providing me with studio time when I needed it, but I couldn’t rely on him, so I built my own studio. I learnt how to mix, engineer and record vocals how I wanted them. After that I started making my own songs, even making my own beats to some extent.

It seems you are a big comic fan. What did you think of the merge of superheroes for one big story in the recent Marvel Avengers Assemble film?

I loved it. I liked how The Incredible Hulk was just being himself. There’s a bit where he just smashes Thor’s brother around, and I just love how everyone might not have liked each other but for the greater good they came together and defeated the villains.

What’s your single “Avenger” about?

It’s like an open letter telling MC’s I’m here, I exist and I’m going to be a problem. I’m here to take the rug from under your feet and replace it with spikes. I’m here to keep you on your toes. People will now have to work harder now that I have arrived. I know people are going to be like, ‘Koder‘s giving us that level, why aren’t others giving us that, too?’

That sounds quite intimidating. Are your mum and dad aware of your plans?

Yeah. My mum and dad support anything I do. If they didn’t I’d be worried, they’ve always supported me. Sometimes I go to them with ideas, and they will be like, ‘Son, we’ve seen you grow from someone people used to call a troublemaker to someone who is now reserved and inspiring.’ As they have seen me make that transformation, they look at it as if anything is possible. I think my mum is on Google right now looking at what colour she wants her first Bentley to be.

How did the concept come about for “Avenger”? Do you remember how it all came together?

Fonix sent me the beat about a year ago and I literally had it sitting here. I couldn’t do anything with it at the time, but I just knew that one day I would end up using it. I didn’t want to rush into it as I felt the beat was bigger than me. When I started getting lyrically fitter, I attacked the beat and “Avenger” happened.

The video is quite intense in some places. How does the imagery fit with the lyrics?

I wanted to be a bit psychopathic in the video. I didn’t just want to be standing still and spitting. I wanted the visuals to match the lyrics and the beat. I see a lot of people making sick songs, but they cannot portray the same energy in their videos, and that’s when people tend to lose interest. I don’t want to lose my connection with people. I want to be consistent.

What does it mean to turn into a superhero?

To turn into a Superhero is the greatest feeling ever because you realise you’re not actually human.

Do you ever feel like you’re in the wrong body?

No, not at all. I feel like I’m in the right body, but all my powers are within this body. Everything I need I can do with this body.

Do you think rap has become a more hospitable place since you started out?

I think we’ve allowed people to get away with not putting in the right amount of work. Nobody wants to name any names because there’s this whole stigma in London that if you say an emcee’s name, he’s going to come looking for you. I think MC’s need to forget that fear of thinking somebody’s going to come for you if you say their name and just do it.

Is there anything you’d like to say to anybody who didn’t believe you’d amount to anything?

The area I come from is a community where everyone has been supportive. When they realised I was taking music seriously, they cheered me. It became more of a thing of, ‘Let’s try and help him.’ That’s why I feel growing up in Brockley was a gift and a curse. It’s all been positive, but I won’t lie, there might have been a few bitter girls, you know.

Why did you choose The Calm as the name of your debut mixtape?

Everybody perceives me as somebody who is calm but river runs deep and there is more to me. You can be the calm before the storm or vice versa. I started with the first track as the intro because right away it’s contradictory. I look at The Calm, which is kind of like an oxymoron for the calm that’s not so calm.

The mixtape has a great deal of live energy. Were you thinking of how this will translate on stage?

I am looking forward to performing a lot of the tracks. I want to take songs like “Swords of Damocles,” which has vocals that are fast and energetic and show people I can also perform it live. If I can do it in the studio then I can do it live. I’m not a robot. I’m a musician.

If you had to live inside the mind of another artist, who would you choose?

I’d say Jay-Z because I feel like he knows a great deal. You get the impression he wants to say a lot, but he’s in a position where he has to be careful. So I’d actually want to know what he honestly thinks about certain things in life.

So where would being in Jay Z’s mind rank on the list of being in the mind of Kanye West?

It would be at the top. I don’t think I’d get much from being in the mind of Kanye West, as he already lets you know what he’s thinking. But with Jay-Z you don’t exactly know his religious views, his views on Beyonce, or other artists.

In exactly 10 years’ time, what would you like to be doing?

I would like to be working with other artists and helping develop new talent.

Download Koder’s mixtape “The Calm” here.