Introducing up and coming UK artist ITHINKTHATSRIO with his debut single ‘AFRO’! The melodic rap track comes six months after the London native burst onto the scene late last year with his ‘Prayer’ freestyle that caught the scene’s attention. ‘Afro’ sees IThinkThatsRio waxing lyrical about having the freedom to do what you want, whether that is with your hair or with your career. For the accompanying music video, IThinkThatsAfro has collaborated with burgeoning London-based visual director and photographer EazyVisuals (Ebenezer, B Young, Ryan De La Cruz, Michael Ward) to bring the infectious track further to life.

ITHINKTHATSRIO sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

For me, all my life I’ve been listening to music and I’ve always loved music no matter what I was doing or where I was. All throughout school I would listen to music and write lyrics but I wouldn’t show people as I was focusing on football at the time. As I grew up I started to find myself and realise that football wasn’t what I enjoyed doing the most and so I thought let me just give music and try and I remember being on the train going somewhere I put on my Snapchat a video of me rapping lyrics and the caption being ‘I wanna be a rapper so bad’ I was only joking at the time but then my brother replied to the snap and said ‘yeah may as well give it a try’. So it was from there where I would start to write my own lyrics and went to the studio for the first time. 

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

The artist that influenced me the most was Juice WRLD and he was actually the artist I posted on my snap at the time of me saying I wanted to be a rapper. I would say he was my main influence for me but unfortunately he isn’t here with us today so I wouldn’t be able to work with him but other people who are still here with us are: Trippie Redd, Kid Laroi, Post Malone and Young Thug. Lil Uzi Vert is one of my favourites as well but I do like a lot of different genres of music.

3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing the music during the coronavirus pandemic?

I wouldn’t say I faced any problem, they were more like issues and I can overcome issues. So some of the issues I faced through the Corona virus pandemic were thinking of lyrics and melodies and coming up with things in the studio as being locked in the house isn’t good for anybody’s mental health, but I feel like I did eventually overcome them, although I found it hard but you just have to think more. Once you get that first line, the song just flows.

4. How would you describe your sound?

I would describe my sound as being very universal and when you start to hear more of my music, you will hear that I jump on all types of beats, but I always come up with different melodies. I’m a melodic rapper and the beats I pick are more what I’m feeling at that moment, but the beats that I really like are more from the artists that I already mentioned like Juice WRLD and Lil Uzi Vert. If you hear those type of beats it’s 808 melody chords and guitars, so kind of like rock star hip hop and trap that’s my sound but I’m always looking for new sounds to work with and that’s why I would say I’m universal as I am for everybody and my voice fits on every beat.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

My proudest moment was when I discovered that my voice sounded good behind the mic because the first time I recorded I wasn’t too sure about this music thing but I just had to stay positive and keep going. I remember the first time I went to the studio in Wolverhampton for my first recording session and it wasn’t coming out good and it was because I didn’t know my voice so that definitely took some time to find. I remember one of my first songs I made in my home studio called ‘Prayer Freestyle’ that was one of the songs that made me have a positive feeling towards music and me wanting to progress within the industry.

Also another proud moment I would say was getting my first music video done for my song ‘Afro’.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Well obviously I’m new to this myself but what I’ve learnt so far is to keep going, be yourself and believe in yourself. I know it sounds cliche but that’s the truth.

7. Are there any artists on your radar at the moment that we should check out?

Well personally I've been in my own world working on myself and music but artists you should definitely check out are myself, IThinkThatsRio, and also another artist called Lost POV. I really mess with his music and his style and he is also from a similar area to me.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

The albums that are on rotation for me are:

‘Legends Never Die’ by Juice WRLD

‘Neon Shark vs Pegasus’ by Trippie Redd

‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ by Post Malone

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

When I’m not making music I love playing FIFA I’m also looking to make a twitch account so fans can maybe get to know me on a personal level and not just on a music level. I also like chilling with my family, friends and my girl.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Three things I can’t live without are:

A drink

A comfortable chair

A good set of headphones

Stream AFRO on all major platforms from tomorrow (11.06.21).