This Scouse rapper whose music is reaching as far as Texas is releasing a new track this June

Liverpool musician KOJ will perform at his flagship live event TRiBE on 25th June at 24 Kitchen Street, as a celebration of the release of his new single ‘Punk Panther’.

KOJ, who played the ‘Introducing Stage’ at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend last summer, said in an interview with The Guide:

“The expectation of me has gone up (since Radio 1’s Big Weekend) both from my listener base and from my internal team. I’ve been making a lot of music. I’ve been defining my sound more, really focusing on the art itself and how I’m going to package the art as well.

“It’s just one foot in front of the other, my single is coming out on 25th June, and that’s gonna be the sign post for the future.

“I’ve taken music that’s inspired me from when I was a kid, stuff that my dad put me on to. I think the content is very anti-establishment, you know what I mean? very defiant.

“What’s been great about TRiBE recently is that there’s been more and more new faces and I love the idea of new people coming and linking up with the core group that we’ve had coming to every single one of them. 

“The great thing about Liverpool and its listener base, as well as the talent in Liverpool because people have got good taste and they know good music and they know a star when they see one and I think what we do really well with TRiBE is we showcase talent in its purest forms, but we package it in a way where it’s palatable and cohesive for listeners of an eclectic variety of genres.”

TRiBE is designed to celebrate community, collaboration and contemporary Black creativity across the North West.

As part of Liverpool Music Month, TRiBE sits inside a wider city-wide celebration of sound and culture.

This edition of TRiBE will also feature Manchester’s ONEDA and Liverpool’s Finite Experience. 

Speaking on the upcoming release of his new single ‘Punk Panther’ KOJ said:

“I started to work on a body of work that would capture sort of where I’m at and my frustrations with what I’m seeing around me.

“People aren’t speaking about what we’re seeing and the things we’re living through.

“I wanted to redefine my sound and speak on some of these things and ultimately tell people where I’m at now.

“So this track that’s coming out is going to be a representation of how I’ve grown and changed and what to expect going forward really.”

KOJ from South Liverpool, also visited Austin, Texas to play the South by Southwest festival in March.

Telling us about that experience, KOJ said:

“It was a beast to be able to see the Americans be able to take it past the language barrier, it was a nice experience.

“What was surprising for me was that people weren’t really surprised at all (by my accent) . It was more so just a direct appreciation for what we’d come to do. I was shocked by the lack of shock really.

“It was a really nice moment of validation because it’s one thing pegging away and having compliments from people in and around you, but to have that worldwide recognition in a way, that was a big eye-opener.

“There aren’t many wins when you’re an underground artist. There’s a lot of grinding and graft, and enjoying your craft and being grateful to have the privilege to be able to express yourself and perform and have people listen to you.

“To go to the States and perform in the hip-hop capital of the world, that was massive for me.”

Tickets for TRiBE on 25th June can be purchased here.

Get the latest music news across Liverpool here.

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