[Interview] MANNYKIEF from Seoul to Toronto

Page 1: 
Introduction

Page 2:
1- Who is MANNYKIEF? 
2- His art & future collaborations

Page 3:
3- The album: Everyday is 420
4- Message to his fans and to the French audience 

First of all, as writers for K.Owls’ K-Hip hop column, we want to sincerely thank you for this opportunity to interview you. We have listened to your different projects and we were pleased by how good it was. It made us even more curious about you and your art. 

1 – Who is MANNYKIEF? (background & experience)

Can you tell us more about your background? How did you begin?

I first met music when I was 6 years old, I started to learn piano and my major was Classical Saxophone. 

I loved to listen to hip-hop music when I was young and when I was bored, I was writing some lyrics but didn’t really record tracks back then. But when I moved to Toronto when I was 18 years old and met my crew members FPL (Dbo, DZ and Briel), we freestyled every Saturday at the Finch parking lot back in the days. I think it was Briel or Dbo who said we should start a crew together.

Where did you get the inspiration to pursue a music career? Especially as a rapper?

I think inspiration comes from everywhere in my life. But for me, when I am making music, I mostly just feel the vibe from the beat and think about the topic that matches with freestyle. Then I try to listen to all new tracks from other major artists that I like. Because trend changes really quick.

Why did you choose to start your career in Korea?

All of my crew had to go back to Seoul back then. I decided to go with them because we have the same dream and I wanted to challenge myself. I lived in Korea for 18 years so I kinda wanted to do something big in Korea first, but the life there was too stressful and intense so I chose to go back to Canada.

Why did you change your name from Kigga to a longer name kiggafromthe6? What’s the meaning behind it?

Now you can call me MANNYKIEF but yeah, Kigga is from my high school friends who used to call me like that when I first arrived in Toronto.

I changed to kiggafromthe6 when I was in Seoul because I wanted to make my name more meaningful so I decided to put « fromthe6 » which represents Toronto (6 is the city code for Toronto). But now you can call me MANNYKIEF because since I came back to Toronto, I am starting a new era and I feel like I changed a lot.

You also changed your style from a sharper rap to a more melodic one. Did that come with the change of name?

I think it is because the environment changed from Seoul to Toronto. Seoul is a great city but I feel more comfortable in Toronto. I think that is why I made more melodic tracks these days, I feel more peaceful. I love all genres by the way.

You were in the FPL Crew. Is the crew still alive?

YES!

We are still together and strong. Recently we dropped keep it G. Dbo, Briel and DZ are doing great work in Seoul. Even if we are not physically reunited, we are still very close. FPL is my family homies. 

FPL FOR LIFE!

2 – His art/ future collaborations

How would you describe your music? Your art?

Stoner life, story about me.

Is it difficult to build an album like Midnight in Toronto with three artists?

No, not at all. I already knew Jas when I met FPL and when I came back to Toronto, he reached out to me. We went to his studio and we made 3 tracks in a day.

I think it only took a month to finish it.  

What is your process to make a song? Beats first or lyrics first?

For me, beats first. If I have a good topic or hook, I write a line and find beats with freestyle. Done.

What makes you want to work with a certain producer or artist?

Someone who makes good music.

Who is your dream collaboration? Is there any artist, Korean or not, who you want to work with?

Drake, The Weeknd, Ty Dollar Sign, Young Thug… So many!

What is your goal by making music?

Buy a big ass house!

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