We caught up with the ‘Top Memba’ Kida Kudz [@kidakudzgram] during his recent trip back to the UK

Kida Kudz continues to show he’s a force to be reckoned with ahead of the release of his new project.

If you don’t know Kida Kudz you’ve probably been living under a rock as his run from around 2018-2019 gave him not only some of his biggest hits but saw him working with some of the biggest artists globally. He’s worked with Afrobeats stars like Wizkid and Burna Boy but also UK mainstays like Chip, Ms Banks, and Jaykae to name a few. He’s an artist that has spent his time between the UK and Nigeria and he brings those cultural influences into his music in a way that’s unique to him. Ahead of the release of his new project, Top Memba, we caught up with the Jiggy Boy himself to talk about his new music, fashion, fatherhood and more.

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What song of yours do you think defines you the best and why that song?

I would say ‘Animalistic’ and the title is the reason why!

How has fatherhood changed you or the way you think?

I wouldn’t say it changed anything, but it added value and purpose to my life, my drive is stronger than it’s ever been. It isn’t just about myself now but also the future of my family. 

You collabed with Daily Paper, where did your interest in fashion come from?

My fashion interest came from growing up in Nigeria, watching artists like Lil Wayne on BET. At the time, I think he was wearing pink Bape, I loved the colours and the brand and at the time wanted to look like that. It inspired my interest in brands and different opportunities to collaborate. The 90s and early 2000s really inspired the way I dress.

How did the Jiggy Boyz start?

A few years ago my friend was dressing up in some mad way, really trying some interesting looks, and at the time I had a freestyle coming with Tim Westwood. I mentioned him and my boys in the freestyle and Jiggy is a word we’ve always used. Suddenly my fans started picking it up and even A$AP posted “Jiggy” on my page. From there Jiggy Boys just became our thing, it was just me and my friends, super organic.

How did you get into music?

I entered a talent show in Nigeria called Sprites Triple Slam when I was 14, then I entered another one called Peak Talent show and I won it! I remember everyone one else was in their 20s and I was obviously super young and wasn’t taking it too seriously. I ended up getting the highest votes each week and from there decided maybe I should be taking this seriously, and did!

You’ve got a new project on the way, what was the inspiration behind that?

Real life, mental health, sitting at home all 2020, and my family .

The project got announced with the Bella Shmurda supported track ‘Ball Till We Fall’ tell me more about that track.

It’s a powerful song, with almost a bully kind of feeling. When I was thinking about the title it reminded me of Cash Money and Lil Wayne in the 90s, that was the energy we were channelling. Then I remembered the 1997 unreleased Cash Money documentary, which was set to be titled ‘Ball Till We Fall’ if it had come out. So yeah that’s the story behind that one.

You dropped the video to ‘Makaveli’ – the video is a tribute to 2pac, what did 2pac represent to you/why was he so important to you?

Growing up in Nigeria, 2pac was a big inspiration to all off us, almost not a choice. The inspiration behind Makaveli is me taking an opportunity to pay homage and my respects to the big dog. 

You recorded this project a little differently due to the pandemic and you becoming a father, tell us a bit about the process for making this one?

I can’t lie, I made all the records in my living room with my first born knocking around for the majority of the time. So really it was just made in an apartment with me, my friends and a mic, hanging at the table. The project was produced by JMK and Jenio.

If you weren’t doing music what would you be doing right now?

To be honest I think I would’ve become a vet! I love dogs and animals in general. When I was a kid that was my dream, until I started doing music and realised I wanted to focus on that.

What is ‘Afro Jiggy’ in your words?

That’s me, that’s Kida Kudz.

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