Interview: Fangol, The Lyrical Champion

Fangol’s determination to succeed is how he has established himself as one of the most promising MCs of his time and a true force to be reckoned with. After enduring a rough upbringing surrounded by drugs and gangs, music became his solace. Although he would find it difficult to escape from his surroundings, his musical focus remained constant. Born and bred in Nottingham, UK, the socially conscious MC is assuming command of his own destiny. But that’s just a tiny part of a much bigger agenda. First, he’s releasing Wake Up, a cathartic mixtape filled with a level-eyed insight into his life. Here, he offers an outline of the project, his thoughts on the apocalypse and why he wants his music to empower others.

How do you categorize yourself genre-wise?

My genre is Fangol. It’s my own genre of my musical influences from my past and grime is a small part of it.

So, what’s the story behind your name?

Fangol – it’s a family nickname that I was given by my cousins.

You’re preparing to release your mixtape Wake Up. The title itself conjures a sense of an oncoming apocalypse. What is the backstory on this?

Life seemed a bit like that at the time. I was expecting my daughter and starting a label and had some big transitions that happened in a short space of time.

Is the apocalypse or the doom of the imminent future something you think about?

Not at all.

Say you were told you only had an hour left on Earth after this interview. What would you do? How would you spend your time?

Make sure I see my family and friends.

What’s your last meal?

Full English in Amsterdam.

Will you go to heaven or hell?

Definitely heaven. I’m a good boy.

Now that we’re all about to die, any last minute confessions?

No, I’ve already confessed so I’m keeping quiet.

What was the motivation to having a youth empowerment element to Wake Up?

I didn’t know that it was [about] youth empowerment when I was recording it. I just want to help and to see youths make it out of poverty, so if my words empower them, that’s all good.

On the opening track, “Art Strings,” you talk about the difficulty in having to let go of someone you love. This narrative style runs through a few of the other tracks. What do you feel is the mirroring that led you to that more passive storytelling?

I wrote it when I was 18, but changed the verses over the years. I had to let go of someone I shouldn’t have been with. It’s a play based around the heart, like a modern-day Shakespeare.

“Things Have Changed” seems to address an emotion so many people experience, which is that roller-coaster journey we all encounter through life.

Yes, it comes from that shift in perception.

If you had to choose one, what’s the song you’re most proud of?

To tell the truth – all my songs are very much like my children and I have a very strong bond with all these songs so I couldn’t really pick one. I love them all the same.

There is a quote in the press release for you in which it says that you were “heavily exposed to gang and crime culture” growing up. How did you manage to avoid that path?

Don’t get me wrong, it took a long time for me to realize that I had to do something to change who I am and to get away from all of that negativity. It was a massive wake up call and I sought out people to help steer me in a more positive direction. The music was a way to express this and a positive thing for me to keep focus on. And I just kept focusing on the good in life and staying positive.

So you felt with this mixtape you pretty much had a ticket to make something that reflected your actual surroundings?

Yes. It was a milestone in my life so I remember how I was living my life at that time, and when the new stuff comes out then that will be something to remind me of that milestone.

How did that experience influence you in the songwriting and recording process?

I just stick to the formula I’ve always had in the studio – practice makes perfect so just becoming more excellent every time.

Wake Up is out on iTunes now.