Interview: Otis Mensah

Sheffield artist Otis Mensah is a rapper in the purest sense, as his dedication to the art of lyricism and poetry has earnt him a loyal and growing fan-base.

In 2018, the complexity and depth of his music caught the attention of Lord Mayor of Sheffield Magid Magid, who would go on to appoint Mensah as Sheffield’s first poet laureate.

We spoke to the MC and poet about his new EP ‘Rap Poetics’, his upcoming live dates, Sheffield’s musical heritage and his plans for the future.

Firstly – why was now the right time to drop new music?

I think now was the right time because I found my voice again creatively. I think with my previous EP (‘Mum’s House Philosopher’) it was much more about the contradictions in society and that as an ordinary person you can be the philosopher, you don’t have to be an old white man who studied five PHDs. Since being made poet laureate and releasing my first poetry book, I wanted to make a statement on the total form of poetry that exists within rap culture. Hip-hop taught me everything I need to know about politics, and it sparked my study of philosophy. There is too often a narrative that rap is not poetry, or is disposable. So for me, ‘Rap Poetics’ is about celebrating the poetry in rap music and the beauty in the culture.

How did you start getting into music and what were your first inspirations when you were getting into music?

I think my love for hip-hop came from artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Del The Funky Homosapien, and I think Nas is another obvious example. I think I then started to gravitate to and seek out artists that were being poetically vulnerable, this is the art I look for and that I try and create. Then I got into artists like Kid Cudi, who is open about his depression and anxiety. And then artists like Childish Gambino, Rhymesayers, Open Mike Eagle, P.O.S and Atmosphere. I think I’ve had a wide array of influences within hip-hop but it’s also opened me up to other genres. For example, if I’d never listened to A Tribe Called Quest, I probably never would have listened to Sun Ra.

How has being poet laureate effected the way you make music?

I don’t think it’s changed the way I make music but it’s made me consider how the writing within my music is stand alone poetry. Of course I knew that, when I listened to my favourite song from The Roots, that was poetry when you took the music away. With the release of my new book (Safe Metamorphosis), I sort of realised how much of a poetic art form it is. Just looking at that and analysing that more.

Who have you collaborated with on your new EP ‘Rap Poetics’?

It’s a combination of incredible producers. A couple of the tracks are produced by The Intern who worked on ‘Mum’s House Philosopher’, another was done by SlopFunkDust who is an amazing producer from the States, and one is by Jackie Moonbather, an incredible artist from Sheffield. One track was produced by Daryl Donald, a great producer I’ve worked with before and another by Bluestone the Minor. Yeah it’s a collaboration of different artists.

How do you think your style has progressed from your first EP to now?

I still see ‘Mum’s House Philosopher’ as a good representation of myself. I still see it as relevant to me, I see that EP and ‘Rap Poetics’ as hand-in-hand. The way that it has evolved is that I’m caring less about the construction of songwriting and I’m zoning in on my own expression. That’s the main focal point, as opposed to simply thinking ‘is this a good song?’. I just think I’ve got less walls with this EP.

You can clearly tell by listening to your music that you aren’t just influenced by rap and hip-hop, which other type of music have an influence on your style and this new project in particular?

I’ve become an avid follower of the new jazz wave, especially here in the UK, I think it’s incredible. I think it’s an intangible energy that can’t be commodified, and it’s had a huge impression on me. That’s definitely inspired the new EP, if not in sound then in it’s philosophy. I’m trying not to conform to a genre norm, I listen to the music I love but enjoy it in an impartial way and then create separate to that. Of course, we all have our influences and it’s impossible to say anything is completely original. But I’m trying to find my own voice and really talk in my own language.

Are there other hip-hop artists we should be looking out for in Sheffield?

Definitely – of course Franz Von, of course Matic Mouth. I think Yusuf Yellow is doing some incredible things at the moment. There is always bubbling new talent. I think the indie narrative in Sheffield is a bit misleading, of course we have a strong culture and heritage of indie music in the city, but at the same time I think the problem is a lot of the other creative music outside the indie music umbrella slips under the radar. I think it’s just about looking for it, the poetry scene is also incredible at the minute. I think in Sheffield we could do with more glue, more hubs for our music, but that is starting to happen.

Obviously the new EP is the big thing for you right now, do you have plans and ideas for your debut album?

I do, we actually started recording the debut album. It’ll hopefully be released next year and that’s totally being done with The Intern. ‘Rap Poetics’ will be the last EP before we fully focus on the album.  

Do you have plans for shows or a tour on the back of this EP?

We are going to be announcing a ‘Rap Poetics’ tour, hopefully I’ll be doing a London date, some German dates and then a headline show in Sheffield. I’ll be announcing that just after the release of the EP.

Are their any tracks on the EP you are especially looking forward to doing live?

I’m really looking to performing the last song on the EP, it’s called ‘Grand Finale Funeral Show’. To me, it would be a great closer to perform live. I performed it last night, it was really fun, just as a teaser for the people in the room. Yeah I’m really excited to perform ‘Mum’s House Philosopher’ and ‘Rap Poetics’ adjacent to each other and hear how the two EPs compliment each other.

Are you someone that has professional ambitions for yourself? Do you have a five year plan?

I’m trying to learn to take it as it comes although I do have an overarching dream, which would be to create a community of listeners who share a comradery and a solidarity. That’s how my favourite artists worked for me, they were open about things that I thought I was going through alone. I felt empowered by that. Realistically, my goal is to be able to tour internationally and share my music. For me, my music has to be doing something in the real world, helping or sparking a change within someone.

‘RAP POETICS’ is OUT NOW – STREAM (Spotify + Apple Music)

Mensah is also doing a free public lecture at Sheffield University on November 7th including a short performance, tickets are available now.

“Sheffield’s very own Poet Laureate and Hip Hop artist, Otis Mensah, presents a lecture on the intimate relationship between Hip Hop and Philosophy; arguing that the art form is an important and rich teaching tool that can help us make sense of ourselves and the world around us. Using his own experiences as an artist and public speaker, Otis explores how race and class inform universities’ lack of engagement with Hip Hop and ultimately creates barriers of access for both the art form itself and the people who closely identify with it.”