22nd of January 2018

5 Minutes with… Chiedu Oraka

Chiedu Oraka is a 26 year-old rapper and pioneer of the alternative urban scene in Hull. His music defies easy categorisation, taking in Hip-Hop, Grime, and UK Garage. He has supported some of the UK’s leading Hip-Hop and Grime MCs including Akala, Wretch 32, Lunar C, Mikill Pane, Mo Stack, and Stormzy.

How would you describe your sound?

I would describe my sound as the sound of northern working class England.

When did you know that you wanted to be a performer?

From a very young age as soon as I saw the Michael Jackson film Moonwalker.

What was the first album you bought?

My first ever album was All Eyez On Me by Tupac but that was a hand me down CD from my big sister. The first album I bought was Eminem’s Marshal Mathers EP.

When was your first public performance?

North Bransholme Community centre or the Adelphi, I cant remember it was so long ago now, I was probably about 16/17.

Who or what inspires you?

I am very inspired by mum and sister. I have seen the way they struggled to bring me up on a pretty tough council estate, so my main motivation is to be able to help them both become financially stable so they can enjoy the finer things in life.

What has been the proudest moment(s) of your career to date?

Probably playing the Radio 1 Big Weekend and seeing the smile on my mother’s face.

If you weren’t making music, what might you be doing instead?

I would probably be a PE teacher or a football coach.