It’s a red hot day in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Homerton-raised UK rapper Unknown T and Hypebeast take to a much-needed corner of shade to discuss T’s involvement in Nando’s latest amapiano EP, Mix it Up, Vol. 3.
“This is a trip I’ll never forget,” Unknown T says. “It’s not a holiday, but I call it a holiday as it’s a place where I’ve been able to have a little bit of breathing space.” It’s a much needed moment of self-reflection, as T’s life has been a non-stop whirlwind since he emerged into the buzzing UK drill scene in 2017 with his now-viral Westwood Crib Session.
Unknown T emerged when UK drill was in its most exciting period. Competition was fierce and the scene was filled with face-covered rappers hungry for success, shielding their identities to disassociate themselves from the street tales they poetically rhymed about. It was a tough time to stand out, a time when labels and industry execs circled above eagle-eyeing the scene for emerging talent with the potential to become the next big thing.
However, for Unknown T, it was apparent from the jump that his sharp ear for experimental sounds, together with his baritone voice and intricate delivery, was a recipe bound for success. In 2018, T – real name Daniel Lena – self-released his breakthrough single, “Homerton B”, which instantly broke beyond the core UK drill audience and peaked at number 48 in the UK charts, leading to a record deal with Universal Music Group.
As Unknown T’s life changed overnight, so did the perception of British drill music in the press. In 2018, the Metropolitan Police announced a need to censor the genre in fear that the music was encouraging an increase in violent crimes across the country. This speed bump was quickly followed by T being arrested for murder, before being found not guilty in 2020.
Now, with two mixtapes, a studio album, brand collaborations and a Paris Fashion Week runway walk to his name, Unknown T’s journey has brought him to South Africa, where he continues to experiment with his music more than ever. T’s rhymes on the Mix It Up, Vol.3 EP complement the infectious rhythms of amapiano, supported by the raw US rap of A$AP NAST and the mesmerizing vocals of Nigerian artist Teni. The EP is streaming worldwide now.
Hypebeast caught up with Unknown T to discuss his career so far, his relationship with fashion, and how his fans around the world are drawn to his natural energy.
Hey T! How are you?
I’m sick, man. Right now, I feel like I am in a good mental space because sometimes, you need to take a break from music and just concentrate on yourself, and explore life a little bit. I’ve been traveling a lot, connecting with my family a lot more, and just understanding myself behind this whole profession – and I feel like that is resonating in the music right now.
Throughout your career, when was the turning point for you where you began to treat your music as a business, as opposed to a hobby?
The turning point was when I saw the reactions on social media. At first, I started in say, 2017/2018 with my Tim Westwood Crib Session, me and my boys, KO, the mandem, it wasn’t anything to do with financial gain at first. It was about my talent reflecting the respect and the love and energy in the community. But, when I started seeing the reactions and the love online, it was a turning point where I realized that I could do this as a career. I made music videos, continued pushing, and worked on the responses that I began to get.
And now we’re here in South Africa, and locals are asking for pictures. If you could pinpoint something in your music that resonates with so many people on a global scale, what would it be?
What I didn’t think of at first, was the natural fun that I’ve been having while creating music. It’s all about natural energies. I have been trying to be my natural self when creating music, and I think that I have connected with anyone around the world who can relate to a fun lifestyle. I feel that songs like “Homerton B” from the beginning, lead to and made everyone relate to that.
From the outside looking in, it seems like you’re a musician who loves to experiment and is inspired by various music. Growing up in the environment you grew up in, how did you manage to break away from the mold and take in music that nobody else listened to?
If I’m honest, every single person, regardless of how they present themselves to the outside world, has goodness and softness to them – we have emotions, we’re human beings. But yeah, on the outside, a certain lifestyle can be glorified, but when I’m indoors, my mum was listening to Lionel Richie and Amy Winehouse, so for me, I had a balance in my family home. I was always musically inspired from every angle. In fact, this trip has made me realize that drill wasn’t even the beginning of me! I was jumping on anything before; Biggie rap, R&B rap… and now, this is the first time I’ve touched amapiano, but it’s made me realize again that I enjoy touching different genres because that’s just me.
"I put a lot of love into drill, but I feel like the system tried to make it a reflection of my character."
Do you feel like you need to express yourself with different sounds of music as a form of therapy?
I’ll be honest: I put a lot of love into drill, but I feel like the system tried to make it a reflection of my character. So, from there, it was the case of deciding to show people that there’s more of me. I had to put a different dynamic and perception out there of me. It’s worked in my favor.
We’re out here in Johannesburg, South Africa, working on the Nando’s Mix It Up EP. How have you found the experience so far?
This is a trip I’ll never forget. It’s not a holiday, but I call it a holiday as it’s a place where I’ve been able to have a little bit of breathing space. I’ve been able to explore life in a different country and explore the culture and the history; checking out Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, and visiting the Nando’s headquarters, it’s made me realize that it’s put a new level of confidence in me, musically. There are so many different angles that you can go in this music lane, and it’s just inspired me to try and push to a whole different community of listeners.
Working with some of the biggest UK streetwear brands, and walking runways at Paris Fashion Week, you’ve brought a new level of style to the UK drill scene. Have you always had a strong relationship with fashion?
At first, I never thought my mind was tapped into the fashion game – It used to just be black, black, black, black with everything that I was wearing. But, rest in peace Virgil Abloh, he was the first person who made me look at my physique and understand the kind of clothes I can be wearing while stepping out of my comfort zone. Away from music, fashion has been a part of my growth, so I’ve started tapping into brands and people that people connect to when they see them. I don’t do the expensive labels too much anymore, I’ve noticed that with the Hypebeast lens, people can connect to you and what you’re wearing. But also, I want people to see my mood and where my head is at when I’m wearing certain things.
"Every single person, regardless of how they present themselves to the outside world, has goodness and softness to them."
Throughout your career, you’ve always been seen in the blacked-out Places+Faces shades. How did that relationship start?
Ciesay has been a real one – I want to shout his name loud and proud. He’s been one of the only ones that have stuck with me throughout my whole journey. The shades are one of the key descriptions of me. Anyone around the world who knows me will know me because of my sunglasses. Places+Faces itself represents a community that I represent with my music as well. It’s a togetherness kind of thing.
Are there any other brands in the UK that you’re loving right now?
Good question. At the moment, I’m seeing a lot of the youth doing their thing – there’s a lot of brands coming out of the woodwork. Big up Unknown UK, I’m seeing them really grow out and push internationally now. I’ve gone to the north of the UK, I see Clints and Drama also pushing and doing their thing. Also, big up the relationships I have with the brands I’m close to like Corteiz and Places+Faces, how they’ve also inspired a lot of the other brands on the underground, and how they’ve also inspired me. I want to release my own clothing in due time. Big up Slawn Club as well – they’re doing their thing for the community.
What’s next for you?
As you know, my latest album was dedicated to the people who aren’t as connected to me. That was for the lawyers, the lecturers, the Dom, Dick, and Harry’s that may have never heard of me. But, I’m feeling the fans again. I’m feeling the gyaldem, the brothers, the cool girls, cool guys, the ones that loved me for me in the beginning – I want to bring that nostalgia back. Not only that, I’ve been on the fitness journey, and a lot of good people supporting my growth, so I want to get into vlogging, show the behind-the-scenes, behind the T because I didn’t realize that behind the whole mysterious T, people want to get to know me. But other than that, documenting my lifestyle, new mixtape, and more fashion stuff – I did an Off-White walk, but right now I’m trying to be more delicate and see where else I can branch out. I want to do a film as well, man. I want to do what Tupac did.
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