Rhyme Assassin - Interview

Rhyme Assassin was born and raised in Zimbabwe but is currently based in the United Kingdom. Rhyme Assassin loves battle-rapping and is a conscious rapper with a knack for blazing tracks with his amazing lyrical content. He is the kind of emcee who can light up any beat. The name Rhyme Assassin came from combining the word 'rhyme' which has to do with the poetic expression of his lyrics while 'assassin' is indicative of the creative talent with which he executes the art; a lyricist who is versatile in style, from punchlines to smooth flowing lyrics with a mature flow.

Rhyme Assassin worked on a number of creative initiatives including rap battles and live performances from 2000 to 2002. Both his solo and collaborative performances have mesmerised the audiences. However, he stopped making music when he left for the UK in 2002. In 2012 Rhyme Assassin met with a UK producer named Deep Voice who gave him blazing beats that reignited his passion for music. He was inspired and started writing and recording his music. His creative talent has endeared him with hundreds of young urban fans. The talent is unquestionable. Rhyme Assassin is always looking for new creative and innovative ways of expressing his musical talent.

Rhyme Assassin sat down with Wordplay Magazine to talk about all things music:

How did it all begin, what sparked your love for music?

I grew up in Zimbabwe, so way back my friend was able to visit other countries like America, South Africa. They’d get a chance to buy CDs from other countries. It was very limited in Zimbabwe – there was no hip-hop exposure on the TV or radio. The first CDs he bought were Wu-Tang CDs, Doggystyle – so when he brought the CDs back he shared them, it was a prized asset so he couldn’t give them to me but I could listen to them at his house. I wasn’t sure what hip hop was back then but I loved the vibes, I loved the music and the CD covers, and he recorded them onto tapes for me. The more I listened, I got more involved and fast forward a few years later we started recording our own music. Before I left Zimbabwe I hadn’t recorded any official tracks. I came to the UK in 2002 and my first official track was actually in 2012 and I was very active from then to 2015/2016, I had my number one track called Party People in Zimbabwe and was in the national top 100 on New Years Day and it reached no. 54. Just being in the top 100 worldwide was exciting, and all those things were great motivation. Around 2016 I went a bit quiet, in 2017  I had one more single, so it was in the last few years I needed to get more focused, and do this properly. In 2023 I started working on an album but I was all over the place, sometimes life gets in the way and the balance was crazy. I did my first single for the album dropping this year called Dedicated to Self, so the single got a lot of traction - Rhyme Apostles, it actually features twelve MCs. Jadakiss did the intro to the song, there was Canibus, Crooked I, AFRO, Ruste Juxx – many of them. The song is actually dope, I’m crazy about that track. I named it Rhyme Apostles – initially I had four MCs in mind, then I worked on it and had the realisation – biblically, Rhyme Apostles should have twelve MCs – so I kept pushing until I got to twelve. The song’s actually twelve minutes, which was coincidental. It got a lot of traction. Now, ‘Run Em Up’, the single, actually came out eight months ago. Ruste Juxx was on the track, as well as me and M.O.P. We thought the track was fire and really needed a video, so I spoke to the manager again who agreed. I flew to New York to shoot the video, which was shot by Denny from Entity Productions.

Are there any artists that influenced you and you’d want to work with in the future?

Yeah, man. I’m a proper hip hop head, the list is endless. My favourite rapper is KRS One, I’d have to have him. Scarface – his voice, he’s something special. Kano as well, he’s dope. Some of them I already have featured on tracks already.

It must have been incredible to work with M.O.P, how did it feel to get to work with a group of that calibre?

It was an amazing experience, as soon as I got on the set, to start with they were super professional from start to finish. They also tried to make me feel like we were peers, rather than make me seem like a fan, for example. I’d forgotten something so I had to go back, so I was a bit late to the set – as soon as I arrived Billy Danze joked about it. Never be late to your own shit. From then we started kicking it, it made sense – it was M.O.P, I should have been there first. Even their whole vibe, it was so much fun, the whole set was amazing. The whole experience was incredible. They’re so humble, with every single person. With the track, I wasn’t sure how to handle the it – it’s M.O.P, you know – because of their calibre it adds a bit of pressure. I put the headphones on and just went with whatever came to mind. M.O.P asked who else would be on the track, I’d worked with Ruste Juxx before – we’ve also got an album on the way – so the first person that came to mind was Ruste Juxx, I know he has the energy that compliments M.O.P.

Can you tell us anything about the album coming up with Ruste Juxx?

This year I’m doing my own solo album, Dedicated to Self, I just need to drop one more single with a video before the album drops. I haven’t made the final cuts to say which songs will be on the album yet. I’ve got production from Crew Master and Buckwild, King Flo, DJ Voice from the UK, I’ve got a song with Master Ace, I’ve got a song with Saigon, there’s a lot of people. So that’s my solo album. After that I’ve got another album I’m dropping with Craig G, from Juice Crew, then after that I’ll be dropping the one with Ruste Juxx, end of 2026.

What is your proudest moment to date as an artist?

That’s a hard one. I get quite involved in hip hop, so I have different experiences. Working with M.O.P was an amazing experience. To manage to do that Rhyme Apostles tracks with so many legendary MCs. Getting to meet Ghostface Killah last year, that was dope.

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

For me, I think it’s forever a learning game. You have to keep learning. With each day comes different challenges. You really need to love music to do it, you have to love the art. You might think I’ve put out this dope track, but might not get the reception you want. That might put you off, might make you think you’re not good enough. You just need to be able to accept any adverse results, try to learn from it, see what you can do to improve. If you’re starting it’s also good to read about setting yourself up to be a proper artist. When I started in 2012, I was doing music but I wasn’t registered with any management to collect royalties, I would just do music on YouTube. But everything you do, you can get paid for, even when distributing music, even if you’re independent. Also, consistency – you need to stay consistent. If you go quiet for too long you have to start over again. Even now, after I release this album – I can’t slow down, I have to keep the momentum going.

What are 3 albums you have on heavy rotation at the moment?

Muddy Waters 2, Redman – that’s one of them. Wu-Tang Forever is on heavy rotation for me this week. M.O.P Warriorz, too.

What do you like to do when you’re not making music?

When I’m not making music, I’m listening to music. If I’m not driving, I’m always wearing my headphones. Being by the beach, I always find it so refreshing. Spending time with my daughter – she’s super active and she’s my number one fan. She’s only seven.

Give me three things you can’t live without when you’re in the studio?

I have to have some alcohol, to keep me balanced and at ease. Good headphones, definitely. And smoke.