Interview: A Conversation with Dock City’s DC

DC is one of those paradoxes that we too often encounter in Rap. If this was a tick box exercise, no box would be left unfilled. Lyrically, he is able to piece together punchlines which require a second listen to catch. There is clarity in his diction. He is versatile, and has the ability to rap over a diverse range of instrumentals, with an effortless flow accompanied by a nonchalant delivery. His content isn’t restricted – he has songs about having fun, catching feelings for a girl, the negative aspects of being involved in gangs, plus more.

Despite all the above, DC, still seems to be a diamond in the rough, that hasn’t been discovered by the wider masses. That is sure to change shortly. Having signed a record deal with Virgin EMI, he has taken the necessary time to craft a project that showcases all of his aforementioned attributes. ‘Under The Influence’ is a snapshot of a period of his life, tackling various issues with an introspective seriousness, yet balanced with bouncier tracks apt for a club setting. The development since his Soundcloud days is clear to see, even in terms of his visuals, most evidently portrayed in his video for ‘Dock City’. With a major record label behind him, DC is finally poised to gain the credit he deserves as a musician. I had the opportunity to sit down with DC and talk about a range of topics including his upbringing in Greenwich, relationship with producers, ‘Under The Influence’, Nipsey Hussle’s passing, and more:

 

How’s the ‘Moon Gang’ merchandise going?

Yeah it’s good but we’re not trying to sell it at the moment, we’re just making clothes for the mandem. Any ideas that we got, we’ll see how it looks, and wear it. At the moment we’re not focused on selling we’re just trying to perfect the brand. Even if we were to sell, we’d only sell a limited amount. It’s not about making ps, it’s about trying to build a brand.

 

What does Moon Gang represent?

Us! Literally… like it’s nothing too extravagant, but we want to expand into fashion properly. At the moment it’s just hoodies, tracksuits, t-shirts… soon enough we’re going to try and expand in to other types of merch.

 

That’s sick, do you design it yourself?

All of us do, the mandem throw our ideas about, and if we see something we like, we add our own spin to it, throw it in the group chat, and if we all agree on an idea, we try and pattern it.

 

 

What was it like for you growing up in Greenwich?

Greenwich was like any other area, it’s got its good sides, it’s got its bad sides. I experienced a bit of both. I live with my mum. We were calm financially, but the area we lived in… was rough. Typical council estate, so I had a taste of getting involved in the bad sides and the good sides. The bad side… getting involved in gang culture, and the good side… just living a normal life! Going to work, et cetera- that’s not the good side! Having a nine to five is dead, but that’s the positive path…

 

What would you say is your fondest memory growing up, and your most difficult?

The hardest part of growing up… between year ten and eleven, I was in a lot of trouble growing up and in year eleven I got kicked out of school. That was difficult, because I know how hard it was to even get to school, because of its distance. So when I got kicked out, I was like “boy!” (laughs). So yeah that was hard… the nicest memory I’d say… would be music. I don’t have a specific memory, but generally I’ve only had good experiences.

 

 

What’s your background?

I’m Nigerian

 

Ah ok, because I’m just thinking… I’m Indian, and education is vital in both our respective cultures, so getting kicked out of school… what was your mum’s reaction?

(Laughs) she’s known that I’ve never liked school. I was good at it, so I knew I could do it, and she knew I could do it. It started off with great reports, but from year eight, it all went downhill. I kept getting the grades, so that’s why the school kept putting faith in me. Even college… I went to one college, got kicked out. Went to another college, and got kicked out. Finally I went to another college, and got into university but I almost got kicked out. So my mum wanted me to pursue education but she always knew that it wasn’t for me.

 

That’s good to have someone so supportive, because most parents view school as being the only way of being successful… when did you actually start music?

I started going studio in college, making music here and there, sending it to people and getting their opinion. I put a few tracks out on Soundcloud, but I’ve deleted them now. But when I went to uni, I recorded the first ‘Gleamin” freestyle, and that’s when things started to pick up for me.

 

I heard ‘I Know’, which is one of your first tracks on Soundcloud, and straight away I could hear that your content is deep. It’s not surface level stuff. One of the bars you had was, “gangbanging on the block, but you’re broke”. When did you realise that, that kind of lifestyle wouldn’t bring you financial reward?

I wouldn’t even say I was “gangbanging on the block”, because I wasn’t ever committed to that life. For me it was more like “this is fun, I know these man, they’re my friends, but it’s just a bit of fun.” I knew I wasn’t going to dedicate my life to the streets. You get me? I’m not stupid… so it wasn’t that difficult… actually it was difficult to be honest, because at the same time they’re your friends, so it felt like I was distancing myself from them. But at the same time, it wasn’t that difficult because I always knew that I wasn’t trying to do this. At that time, I was playing football, so I thought “this is getting in the way of football”. After that, I wanted to focus on school, and still, it was getting in the way of studying. And then when music came along… they were just different paths. It wasn’t that difficult to be honest.

 

 

Do you feel some kids see where music is at the moment, in terms of the financial rewards it’s bringing, with artists talking about a certain lifestyle, and so move towards that lifestyle so they can talk about it in their music?

Some people… younger people are more impressionable, so there are some cases of people doing stuff on roads to say it in their bars. But then again, most people will use their common sense, and know what to stay away from. I think if you’ve got your head screwed on, you won’t be influenced. You can still listen to the music, and not have to go out and act out what is being said in the music.

 

Yeah man… media push that narrative though, blaming the music for violence…

Yeah but I think that’s stupid because that’s like saying ‘Call of Duty’ is to blame. It’s just dumb… it doesn’t make sense to me personally.

 

‘No Manners’, ‘Top Boy’ and ‘Playboy’ are all produced by Nastylgia… he made one of my favourite beats last year, ‘Tracksuit Love’ (by Kenny Allstar & Headie One)… how did you create and develop that relationship?

I first met Nastylgia at a show in 2016, called Future SNDS. He was working with an artist called Bree Runway. I heard one of the beats she was performing to, and thought it was sick, and so I asked her who produced it. I asked her to send me the beat, and she told me Nastylgia made it, so I went up to him, and asked him to send it. He sent me a few, and then we just went to the studio. And from there, we’ve just been working.

 

Are there any producers you’ve met with and not connected with?

Ah yeah, loads.

 

What makes a good connection with a producer?

I don’t know, I think you just have to get it… I don’t know how you plan to get it, but yeah… some people just get what you’re trying to do, others take a bit of time, some just don’t.

 

You’re signed to Virgin EMI Records… I’m assuming that before you got signed, you would have had other labels looking into you. Why did you choose Virgin?

At the time, I just believed that we were on the same page. They just understood everything I’m trying to do. They always ask me, “what do you want to do?” or “do you like this?” I always get the final say and decision. I don’t think I’ve mentioned anything that I want to do, and they’ve turned around and told me I can’t do it.

 

You’ve had time out from the last EP to the current mixtape, was that difficult for you to step away from releasing music?

Yeah, it was, because at the time, I was going to uni, I was working, and there were other things. It was difficult to put music out, because it costs money, and you need work to get money, and then that means you got no time to go studio.

 

‘Under The Influence’ is a great tape… you said you called it that, because you said many things influenced you… what is your main influence?

Probably where I’m from, Greenwich. I mention it a lot, reference it a lot, every experience I talk about is from there. Everything I talk about, whether it’s drugs, girls, alcohol, it’s all from there, it all falls under the Greenwich umbrella.

 

The opening track you reference going to university… do you feel like it was a good decision going?

Yeah hundred percent! Uni was a sick experience for me. It was fun! I met close friends that I chat with now. The education aspect was not for me, but the life experience was sick.

 

On ‘Overdraft’ – you had a lyric, “if I had a heart, I swear I’d open up my heart and share” and straight after you say “always been a pussy n****”, what do you mean by those two lines?

In the lyric before, I said, “blowing on the loud, I hope you hear this loud and clear”, so I was referring to a zoot. But then the next lyric, I’m saying it’s fine to be that! Why is that a bad thing? Not everyone is out here on madness (laughs), if you’re just about girls, then that’s calm. I’m not saying I’m a “pussy n****”, but I’m just saying I am in a different type of way. If that’s what you’re about, that’s what you’re about, I can’t tell you, you’re doing it wrong. If you’re on just going out and getting girls that’s all good. “Pussy n****” is just a type of person, like when girls are around, they just change, they don’t listen, they get themselves into situations because of girls. I was that person, at several stages. That song was just me looking back in time when I was much younger and thinking “oh shit, I was that person here” or “I was that person there”.

 

‘Dock City’ is a great track and has a great video… there are shots of women lifting up their tops and revealing scars, why did you choose to have that imagery in there?

I was just trying to be real as possible. Dock City, is by a place called Woolwich Dockyard and growing up there, I was surrounded by black people- actually not just black people, by minorities. I was just trying to be realistic as possible, and show what I saw growing up.

 

On that song, you’re saying you’re proud of Greenwich, but you say “F the ends”, what did you mean exactly?

I’m saying “fuck the ends”, in terms of the standards that young black boys are expected to live by. There are certain codes, for example, if you’re young and black, people expect you to not snitch. If you’re a young, black male and you’re not involved in any gang culture, but you might get involved in a situation or see something happen, why shouldn’t you? For that kid, that’s not involved in anything, he shouldn’t have to live by those codes. So by saying “fuck the ends” I meant in terms of creating things people expect you to do, just because you live in a certain area.

 

Tracks like ‘Holla’ and ‘Hustla’ are a lot more upbeat – what do you enjoy making more? Tracks like ‘Overdraft’ which are more introspective or more upbeat songs?

I enjoy all of them, but tracks like ‘Overdraft’ means I can be real as possible. I love the bouncy stuff, but also stuff where I can be real as possible, is what I prefer.

 

‘M2U’ I feel is in an important song for guys. I’ve got a girl as well, and you know how girls want you to be a bit cute with them and that, I’m not really on that-

(Laughs) why not?

 

(Laughs) I mean to an extent I get it, but I feel songs like that are important, because I can send that, and it’s got that kind of vibe and message

(Laughs)

 

But it’s not mushy, and it’s got the same message that I’m trying to get across… so was that a personal song?

Nah, it was more a collection of experiences. So different bars are about different people. And also I tried to write it in a headspace of… just a guy trying to write about his girl in a nice way.

 

 

Do you feel rappers now are trying to record more of that stuff now rather than songs that are degrading to women?

I don’t really hear rappers talking about girls in a nice, nice way. But I don’t really listen to much music anyway, so maybe I’m missing out on it…

 

How come you don’t listen to much music?

I’ve just got the same songs on repeat, I’m not really out here searching for new tracks like I was back in the day. If I come across something sick, then I’ll get in to it, but I don’t go out my way to find new music.

 

Do you just not have time to listen to new music?

I just  can’t be arsed! (laughs)

 

(Laughs)

I’d rather just do something else than search for new music, but if I come across someone sick like Koffee! As soon as I heard her… I was just randomly on YouTube, and I saw a song called ‘Throne’ and thought “raa this is sick”. I then saw ‘Toast’, which is a hit fam. So yeah, stuff like that, but I won’t be out here searching.

 

I don’t get artists like Koffee. Normally it takes a while for an artist to release the quality of music she has, but everything she’s put out so far has been out of this world-

Yeah, it’s been solid. I think she’s signed to Chronixx’s label, so she’s in the right hands…

 

If you could have one artist, that you’d like to mentor you in terms of your journey in music, who would that be?

I’ve got three. One is Nipsey Hussle, R.I.P. I’ve been a fan since secondary school, and I feel that he did everything the right way. The second is J Cole, and third is Meek Mill. I feel they all did it the right way.

 

How did Nipsey Hussle’s death affect you?

I was sad man, it proper hurt me. It’s different because with an artist like Nipsey, when I was first introduced to him, I felt I could relate so much to what he was saying. And just watching him grow musically, watching him investing outside of music, the shop, the clothing line, the documentaries, you’re just invested in his life. And finally, you wait years for Victory Lap, he’s been talking about it in his music for years! Get there, it’s a sick album, and nominated for a Grammy. And then he’s just taken away from us. And being a fan for so long, it’s like a sad movie.

 

Yeah man… I feel also, because he has so much material on being an entrepreneur, he’s slept on as a rapper. Like if you look at his development-

It’s mad! I keep telling people, I’ve been screaming that for years anyway. Nipsey Hussle yeah, it’s him and Meek Mill, that are the realest rappers in music right now. And they have been for years to be honest, but they’re only getting their recognition now.

 

Even Nipsey’s latest single (‘Racks in the Middle’) before he passed, it’s a club record with Roddy Ricch, he’s talking about serious stuff on there

Real shit man! Real shit…

 

 

On the final track, ‘OG’, it reminds me of your song ‘Cheerleader’, where it’s got an upbeat vibe but you’re talking about real stuff… you had a lyric “mummy’s gonna kill me if she found out the person I’ve become” – what’s that about?

We all know our parents, we know what they think, but stuff we do that is wild for them has become the norm to us. So I’m saying she’d go crazy if she finds out what I’ve been up to.

 

You also said, “I got stabbed, and figured out I wasn’t bulletproof”, when was that?

I think in 2015

 

So quite recently?!

Yeah, it was about a month after I dropped ‘Gleamin’’. It happened at a party in London

 

How do you feel your life has changed since that moment?

I don’t think it changed my life, but it made more careful… I don’t put myself in situations where I could face those problems. It made me a lot more careful…

 

How do you envision a perfect 2019 going for you?

A perfect 2019… that’s a good question (laughs). Number one, win the lottery (laughs). Nah, I think a perfect 2019 would be to have a sold out tour.

 

Do you have any shows coming up?

Nah not yet, but for me, it’s all about timing. It has to be perfect timing, and I just don’t feel it has to be the time right now.

 

Why do you feel it’s not the time right now?

I can’t even explain it to you, but as an artist, I guess you just know whether it’s the time, and you need to have that feeling.

 

You seem to go off gut feeling a lot…

I try to, as much as possible, because most times I go with my gut, things turn out how I envisioned them to go. So sometimes, I just to listen to people, because it’s always good to listen to people around you but I feel at the same time, you should trust your gut instinct.

 

What’s your advice for upcoming artists?

Take your time

 

I interviewed DJ Spinall, and asked him the same question, and the first thing he also said was “take your time”… so it must ring true…

Great minds think alike (laughs)

 

(Laughs) but yeah man, thanks for your time, it’s been a pleasure

Thank you man, appreciate it.

 

 
Follow DC, @dcworldmg to hear more.