If you haven’t heard already, Krept and Konan are to host a new television show this summer called The Rap Up UK where, along with BBC 1Xtra’s DJ Target and other guest mentors, are on the lookout for a new artist to sign to Play Dirty Records.
We had an opportunity to sit with one of the contestants, who is a grime artist from Aberdeen, Scotland. He’s built a strong following back home and has a distinctive sound that, he believes, is ready to be taken in by the entire UK and dreams of pushing Scottish grime and rap.
Let us introduce you to manlike Ransom FA!
Ransom FA, pleasure to meet you brother and congratulations for earning a place on The Rap Game UK! What’s the meaning behind the name Ransom FA?
Bro, it’s quite a long one to be honest! I used to be called FA because my name is Efe, but people local to me couldn’t pronounce it right. Obviously being up in Scotland, everyone would be like “alrightttt EFFF AYYY” so FA became my name!
Obviously, after a while, I realised I was competing with The FA and The FA Cup on YouTube and Google searches.
At the time, me and my bredrin were running a YouTube channel called Ransom Fee Media, we were just in secondary school at the time. Then we had a crew called Ransom Fee and from there I became Ransom FA. When we stopped Ransom Fee Media, I evolved our crew into the Ransom Crew!
What does it mean to be competing for a deal on Krept & Konan’s record label?
I’m excited bro! I feel like I am the right person to elevate Scottish grime and rap, and hopefully I’m able to not only shine the light on my own talent to a wider audience, but also other Scottish artists like me.
I have been making music since 2010 and over that time I have developed my writing and refined my sound, so I have learnt a lot over time, and it’s led to this great opportunity.
We’re (other Scottish grime artists) ready to smash up the scene but it’s difficult because people don’t look up here for grime or rap, so I want to break down those barriers.
What would you say are some of those barriers?
I think the accent is the main one, oh and people taking in our lifestyle. But I honestly believe people are more inclined to listen now.
Look at Bugzy Malone and Mist. Two of the biggest artists in the scene and they’re from Manchester and Birmingham. There was a time when people were only listening to artists from London, but people are embracing different accents and lifestyles.
It’s Scotland’s time to be taken in now!
You mentioned earlier that you have developed your sound; how has it changed and are there any defining milestones in your development?
Grafting is the sole reason I’ve grown. I’m always finding ways on how to improve and develop.
In terms of milestones, the first one would be my track “Granite City” which is about where I’m from, Aberdeen aka the Granite City! The local newspaper picked it up and the local people related to what I was rapping about. To be honest, it’s probably not my best track as the tekkers weren’t quite there but it was significant in helping me define my sound.
I was also rapping in a dubstep clique at one point and we got to number two in the dubstep charts with one track.
That’s incredible – in what ways did experimenting with an entirely different genre help you develop?
Dabbling in different genres helped me develop my song-writing ability and appreciation of melodies etc. But it wasn’t grime so the love wasn’t there.
Then what happened?
Took a bit of time out after that to work on my sound and it was at this stage, I learned more about how to rap, write, produce, record and master.
Then in 2016 I dropped my EP, Sounds of the North. Because of what I had learnt, I was much more professional in my approach. From this project I was able to get so many more bookings in the North and one of the first I got was with Big Narstie.
I’ve been fortunate enough to support some of the sickest acts, the likes of Giggs, M Huncho, Skepta, Mist, Sneakbo, oh and Ghostface Killah!
Mad! That’s an incredible roster – what sticks out from performing with those artists?
I remember speaking with M Huncho in his dressing room and he gave me great advice. He’s a very humble, chilled and a bless guy. He wants to see other people win and it’s inspiring to see how far he has come in such little time.
Was sick performing with Wiley as well. He did his set and he said to me and the other Scottish lads, “come jump on stage now”, and we were shelllllling it back to back with him!
Let’s take it back to the very start – where does your love of music stem from?
Bro, I have ALWAYS had a love of music. It’s just inside me man.
Being from an African background, music is prominent in our culture whether I’m at church or at home, our music from the motherland is always playing.
My dad used to listen to Ladysmith Black Mambazo who are a South African choral group. Very powerful music.
Can’t forget my brother either, in fact he’s probably had the biggest influence on me.
Interesting, in what way has your brother had an influence?
Obviously growing up in Aberdeen, there were only a few black people in the area at the time, but I had cousins in London. My brother would get music from them on things like Limewire and Bearshare – this is back in 2003! I was listening to the likes of Sway and Bearman back then.
I then became that guy in school who was known as the man who loved rap and grime. Just feels like I have always wanted to spit. Always wanted to write.
I then started to make music in secondary school. One of my earliest memories is of a girl in school telling me I can see you being a big musician. We were so young, but I always believed back in those times I could do it.
You’ve mentioned throughout about finding ways of improving and developing your sound. What inspires you to channel so much energy into progressing as a musician?
My musical journey has been slightly tougher because I don’t have any role models musically as nobody else has done this from Scotland.
Previous artists didn’t connect with the modern generation as they were either rapping in an American accent or in a 90s rap style. I want to be THAT GUY for the next generation in Scotland.
I wanna be a role model – whether I’m able to go worldwide or not, I know I am opening doors for the youth in Scotland who love rap and grime.
As you’ve not had many music idols to look up to from Scotland, what have you drawn inspiration from?
Lots of inspiration from my friends, people I am around and other creatives.
Also get a lot of inspiration from the things I watch like music videos; I also watch a lot of Game of Thrones, Viking themed shows and Anime. All these things have different meanings and different thoughts.
Of course, the greatest inspiration for me is God.
And what do you want people to get from your music?
I want it to be relatable to people from all walks of life. Inspiration is a word I love and something I want people to feel when they take me in.
I want people, anywhere around the world, to be able to look at me and recognise where I am coming from and respect the journey and respect what we’re rapping about
I am trying to be relatable; I keep it authentic whilst bringing a sound other people will not have heard before.
After the show is over, irrespective of whether you win or not, what is your next move? What do you have planned?
I’m going to start a label where I push a lot of Scottish artists who I know will bang in the scene. I want to bring people through. I don’t wanna sign them completely; it’ll be more of a single deal – like a platform for those on the come up.
My plan is to move harder than I have ever worked before. I’ve worked hard but I want to work 10000% harder. I wanna work on the label, develop the studio that I have built up in Aberdeen for other artists to use and want to expand myself into the scene.
Who would you most like to collaborate with, and why?
Dream collaboration would be Mist – I rate his thing and rate how he is unapologetically Brummy in his style. Similar thing for Bugzy Malone and his style.
Old school wise, I would love to bring back Griminal, he’s so hard bro but I’m not sure that could happen. Even Krept and Konan, the show aside, they’re legends and have been doing this for almost a decade. AJ Tracey is cold and rate his movement. Big Zuu as well.
If I had to pick someone away from our scene, it would be Lewis Capaldi – he’s a funny lad, got a beautiful voice and he’s Scottish!
And finally…If you were to win and you had an unlimited budget to celebrate, what are you doing to celebrate?
Jheeeeeeez! Hmmmmm…I would give myself a little holiday – not a complete holiday but somewhere I can still make music! I have some guys out in Sweden who I make music with. I did a gig out there and connected with people out there. Same with Denmark as well.
BBC Three’s The Rap Game UK is coming to iPlayer on Friday 23rd August.