Fast-rising Nigerian rapper, popularly known by his stage name MEL, has shared deep insights into his musical origins, artistic message and the experiences that continue to shape his evolving sound.

Speaking on how his journey into music began, MEL said his passion took root during his early years despite restrictions at home. According to him, “growing up I always loved rap music, even though rap as a genre was restricted in my household I always found a way to listen to it on my earpiece but couldn’t help rapping or singing along at certain occasions which somehow got me in trouble.”

He explained that simply listening to rap soon became insufficient, pushing him to create his own art. “After some years I realized listening wasn’t enough and I wanted more from music so I decided to start writing rap, which then evolved to making my own beats and rapping on them because I couldn’t afford to pay producers at the time,” he recounted.

For the young rapper, music serves as a vessel for emotions he struggles to express verbally. He said his art is driven by a desire to connect listeners to shared experiences. “My music carries messages, emotions or experiences that I’m unable to express in a conversation… I want to use my music to pull those strings in the hearts of my listeners, show them we’re not so different even though we are,” he stated.

Describing his style, MEL noted that though he didn’t grow up listening to hip-hop, major global artistes later influenced his musical identity. He cited Young Thug, Meek Mill, Drake, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Lil Durk and Lil Baby as key inspirations. These influences, he said, helped shape his melodies, flows and artistic direction over the years.

The rapper also revealed he has fresh projects in the pipeline. “I have a few covers coming up for the month and a capsule for January next year,” he disclosed, hinting at a burst of activity for his growing fan base.

On the people who have played significant roles in refining his craft, MEL credited his brother and close friends. He said their encouragement kept him grounded during moments of uncertainty. According to him, “my brother and my closest friends helped develop confidence in my craft… they were here to keep me on track and remind me why I started.”

Shedding light on his creative process, the rapper said inspiration could strike from almost anything a beat, a sample, a song, or even silence. “It could be from a song I’m listening to, a beat, a random sample loop, someone singing, or just sitting in silence,” he explained.

Beyond music, MEL enjoys video games, photography, travelling and exploring new experiences. Though he rarely has enough time for gaming, he said, “if I could I’d stream myself playing video games.” His love for capturing moments and discovering new places, he added, often feeds into his creativity.

As he prepares to roll out new projects, MEL continues to carve a space for himself in Nigeria’s evolving rap scene, driven by passion, introspection and the desire to connect with a diverse audience.