K Koke

After a string of highly acclaimed mixtapes, a powerful online presence and a large underground following, K Koke (real name Kevin Georgiou) has already had a taste of success. The British rapper from north-west London's notorious Stonebridge estate has racked up millions of YouTube views with his 'Fire in the Booth' plus his latest track 'Lay Down Your Weapons' featuring Rita Ora secured a Top 20 spot in the charts.

Roc Nation's K Koke meets Music News at the Indig02 to fill us in on everything from street life, music and even his favourite homemade Greek dish...

Tell me about USG, what does it stand for?

USG stands for 'Unfortunate Souls Grieve', basically it's something that I built together with Squingy, off the back off Suspect Entertainment... yeah it was just a little label that we've built now and we've been building ever since and and we're signing artists, we got Ghekko, we got A-Star and producers and all that kind of thing and that's what we're working on right now.

What was it like growing up on a north-west London estate?

It was alright, it had its ups and downs, ya get me, obviously it was a poverty-driven area, people had to do what they had to do to do to get by, and yeah I went through a lot of stuff in Stonebridge but obviously I'm here now and telling everyone the story, ya get it?

In the past whilst launching yourself as an artist you were charged for attempted murder, it must have been really tough for you?

Yeah it was really tough because I signed my deal three months before that and then obviously I've just been nicked on remand stuck in jail. I didn't know if I was gonna come out to a record deal, my daughter had just been born while I was in there so I missed her birth, yeah it was hard and it was heartbreaking as well because I didn't do it, ya get me, I was innocent and I was in there for no reason. I could have lost everything but you dunno God willing I'm here and everything is alright so what don't kill you makes you stronger

You signed a record deal with Roc Nation, what was that like and how did it come about?

Yeah, Roc Nation and Sony RCA. I signed my deal almost three years ago now, obviously through the jail thing everything got pushed back and I had to rebuild and start again but obviously I dunno I've just been taking every step as it comes and I am thankful for my situation. I am just trying to make the most out of it.

What was it like meeting Jay Z, he's a superstar, did he offer you any words of wisdom?

It was was calm like I haven't seen him a lot, we met briefly once when he was over here obviously because I deal with Ty Ty (Roc Nation Executive Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith) a lot he was the one that initially signed me to Roc Nation but yeah I met Jay he told me well done, congratulations and that I've got my chance so make the most of it which is what I I intend to do.

Have you seen Beyonce by any chance, while she has been touring in the UK?

Nah not yet... I'm a big fan but I'm not gonna go out of my way, ya get it, when the time's right hopefully if I'm in the right circle I'll meet her init.

Your track, 'Lay Down Your Weapons' featuring Rita Ora, has raked in over three million views on YouTube. It's a thought-provoking track and close to your heart, can you tell us a little bit about that?

Basically with Lay Down for me because of the genre of music and the background that I came from people like to go at me a lot, not even just people, like the police, the industry itself like I'm glamourising a certain thing so with Lay Down I just wanted to make it look, not even make it look, but just show them that it's not that.

Also if you listen to the mixtapes from before I got a song on 'Pure Koke Volume 1' called 'Little Man' and Lay Down was like a relay to that, ya get it, just to let people know that I have been doing this for years and that I am still doing it now and it's just letting the youth know that the road thing is not the way. I have been there done it, bought the t-shirt, threw it away, got another one, it doesn't work, ya get me, and I am trying to do the right thing and I suggest they do the same and that's what I was getting at with Lay Down.

You have worked with a few young kids from impoverished areas, do you think it's important for rappers who get to your level to give something back?

Of course, 100 million per cent, obviously I came from that init so it's always good because I know what its like init so I can go here and I"ll know how to chat to theses youths. I know what they respect and what they don't and what they are willing to do and what they are not willing to do cos I was the same and I think that for someone who came from there it's only right that someone has to go back especially if you came from it.

Another thing, who is Spider? I keep hearing 'F*** Spider' but don't quite know what that's all about?

Spider's real name is Darren Mathurin, Google him, he's a supergrass snitch.

BBC 1xtra's Charlie Sloth's 'Fire in the Booth' got you over four million views, how was that experience for you?

That was fun, it wasn't pre-meditated, I never thought about it, I had a drink before I went in there I was liquored up, I just went in there and had fun and it showed on the video what I was doing.

Now I'm on to the fire questions, which you have to answer snappily!

What does music mean to you?

Everything.

In order of importance; money, health, love, family and success?

Family, health, love, success and money together.

Who is your hero?

My mum.

Favourite Greek dish?

Meze.

What's that?

Meze is like a four-course meal, they bring the breads, the dips and the salads and then fish and then the meat and everything else.

Can you cook it?

Nah, nah I can't cook it!

What colour socks have you got on?

White, nah black, black!

Spiders or snakes?

None, I hate both of them, I'll crush both of them, will stomp out both of them, I don't like none of them.

If you had to pick one...

No, I wouldn't pick none I'd rather die.

Favourite place to be alone?

On the toilet.

Favourite type of woman?

I don't really have a favourite type I just... I dunno, a good heart, caring, that kind of thing, I don't really have a specific type.

Thanks Koke! It was great meeting you again for Music News, we wish you plenty more success for the future!