Interview:
Joe Flizzow
We chat with the rapper about
his latest single, switching back
to English and more
Three years after releasing
his first fully Malay album, Joe
Flizzow is back with a brand
new single. This time gunning
for international success, Joe
returns to rapping in English for
‘Drop’.
Your last release was about
three years ago. How long has
this single been in the works?
Actually this single came out
really quick. I wrote this song
two and a half months ago, and
within three weeks we shot the
video. We kind of fast forwarded
this track for it to come out at
the end of the year.
You mentioned that you have
other singles coming up too.
Why did you choose to release
‘Drop’ first?
Actually the single that’s
coming out after this one was
supposed to come out first.
But I requested to put the
handbrakes on that particular
track because I wanted ‘Drop’
to come out first. I just felt like
there was something telling me
‘No, Joe, you got to release this
27
one first. You got to release this
one now’. For a song to be a hit
you have to look at what’s out
there as well. ‘Drop’ has an old
school vibe, the island vibe. If
the track were to be played in
the States for example, the
song wouldn’t be like anything
out there at the moment. I don’t
know if I can write another
‘Drop’, so the timing now is
perfect. You said that the song
is personal to you. How come?
The subject matter is personal.
Although it’s not too specific, I
say certain things like ‘Same
day ones with a different curfew,
but everybody paid their dues
don’t get it confused’. I can look
at my team and I can show you
the guys who have been with
me for 20 years, and I’ve never
rapped about my day ones
before.