Jason Inidara Nkanga (born May 10, 1998), known professionally as Jason Nkanga, is a Nigerian rapper born in Lewisham, England. He developed an interest in music at a young age and participated in several talent shows before beginning his professional music career. In 2014, he released his debut single, “Go Dumb.”
In 2016, Jason released his debut EP, Beyond My Imagination, initially gaining recognition from the track “Remember You,” which helped introduce him to a wider audience. Two years later, his second project, The Calm Before the Storm, was followed by a joint project with Juls Delø titled The Art of Rap (TAOR), featuring the standout track “The Book of Legends” later given an animated video by Victor Enam. His fourth project, Redemption, released on November 20, 2019, featured notable artists including Mick Jenkins, Blaqbonez, and theMIND.
Most recently, Jason released the singles “T-House Basement” featuring PsychoYP (May 2023) and “Real Talk” (March 2024), both of which appeared on his five-track EP, One of One, released September 25, 2024. Now, with new single Live Good making waves, we sat down with the Leeds-based rapper to talk about identity, resilience, creative independence and what it actually looks like for him as well as his current mental phase career-wise and generally.
ROOTS AND IDENTITY
You were born in Lewisham, raised in Abuja, educated in Brighton. When someone asks where you’re from, what do you say? How much did these culturally distinct environments actually shape the artist you are today?
I usually say Abuja because I spent a large part of my life there. That’s where I identify most. But honestly, at this point, I probably identify more with Leeds, the city I’m currently in, than anywhere else. In terms of how those environments shaped me as an artist, I think they influenced me more subconsciously than directly. I’ve had people shocked when I tell them I’m Nigerian because of the way I rap. A lot of my sound comes from the music I grew up listening to and the environments around me. What’s funny is I listen to a lot of Afrobeats, but it doesn’t really show in my music. I hear “you sound American” more than anything else. Also, moving to these places did do a lot for my career as an artist in terms of confidence.
How much of your Nigerian identity shows up in your music consciously versus just naturally coming through?
My Nigerian identity probably shows up more in my mindset than in the actual sound of my music. Consciously, I don’t go into songs trying to sound Nigerian. A lot of people are actually surprised when I tell them I’m Nigerian because of the way I rap. I grew up listening to so much hip hop and that shaped my sound more than anything. Even though I listen to a lot of Afrobeats, it doesn’t really come through in my music.
THE CATALOGUE
You’ve been making music since 2014 — that’s over a decade. Which project in your catalogue do you feel people slept on or haven’t fully understood yet?
If we are being real, it has to be Redemption. There are some hidden gems on that project, and sometimes I go back and listen to it and think, “Damn, was I really spitting like that?” It was the project where I felt like I had something to prove to the world.
What would you now say to younger you and future you in regards to the growth so far since your debut single?
What I’d say to younger me is “Don’t ever stop. Keep going because it only gets better.” I remember when I thought I’d be happy with just 100 people listening to my music, but now over 100,000 people have heard it. So I’d tell myself to dream bigger, trust the process.
You’ve always stayed strictly hip-hop in a scene that heavily rewards Afropop and fusion. Was that ever a difficult choice to maintain, or has it always felt natural? Have you ever felt like you needed to pivot or just maintain the core of your art?
I love this question because it’s always been a difficult thing to do. But through it all, I’ve always stayed true to myself. Hip-hop has always been in me from time. I’ve been an active hip-hop listener since I was a kid, it was one of the first things that made me fall in love with music, so making hip-hop always felt natural to me and of course, there were moments where people told me I should pivot more into Afropop/fusion because that was what was “selling” in my country and what I was surrounded by, and honestly, there were moments where I thought about it too. But I’d rather people fall in love with the real version of me than a facade. At the same time, I’m still open to experimenting in the future because guess what? versatility is important if you want longevity and greatness as an artist.
Your influences are well documented. But who or what has been an unexpected influence on your art recently— someone not typically mentioned in rap conversations, or a feeling, a mental phase?
Other than the common names people already know I listen to, I’d say Samara Cyn has influenced me recently. There’s something about the way she raps plus she’s cool too! As for moments, I think being noticed by the MOBO Awards this year gave me extra motivation to work harder. It just made me feel like I’m either almost there or already closer than I think, and that definitely influenced my art now.
ON LIVE GOOD, YOUR LATEST RELEASE…
Live Good- where did that title come from, and what does it actually mean for you right now? Not as a phrase, but as a feeling.
Live Good is really a reminder to myself that if you want a bigger and better life, you have to put more into it. Whenever I hear this song, it actually motivates me to go harder and do more, because at the end of the day, I’m really just tryna live good, no pun intended.
The sonic feel of Live Good—How did you arrive at that? Take us through your artistic inspiration and headspace while making it. Is it a response to anything specific that happened in your life, or is it more of a direction you’re choosing to move toward?
I remember Buitumelo sent me the beat and while I was listening to it, I was just scrolling online seeing different things, and it made me reflect on my own life and realise I needed to push myself harder and put more work in. That feeling became the main focus of the song, because I mean, who doesn’t want to live good? It was the first thing that came to my mind while creating it, and hopefully it’s the same way when people listen to it.
MENTAL SPACE
Music keeps you going, you’ve said that. But is there ever a point where creating feels like too much to hold emotionally? How do you handle that?
There are definitely two sides to creating. Sometimes you make music and it just doesn’t sound like what you want it to sound like, and because music means so much to me emotionally, that can affect me mentally too. I’ve had moments where nothing is really clicking and I’m like argh! But I always remind myself that it’s okay, it happens, every artist goes through phases like that. Usually, I take a small break, step away from the music for a bit, and then come back with a clearer mind.
When you’re in a dark headspace, do you lean into it and make music from that place, or do you step away from the studio until you’re clearer?
When I’m in a dark headspace, I usually step away from the studio. I know people say the best music comes from pain, but for me, it’s harder to focus when I’m going through something in the moment. I need time to process things first. Then I come back and create from a clearer place.
How do you separate Jason the everyday person from Jason the artist who has to show up and create?
I try not to make music feel like something I have to do because that takes the fun out of creating. I make it feel like something I want to do, you feel me? Jason the everyday person is actually very different from Jason the artist. Most people probably wouldn’t even think I’m a rapper until I tell them. But when it’s time to create, I lock in completely. So there are definitely two versions of me.
INDEPENDENCE, BUSINESS, AND WHAT’S NEXT?
You’ve built everything independently — no major label, no machine behind you. Does the sentiment of being creatively free still hold, or do you hold a different view now?
Oh wow, now that you say this. Sometimes you’re so focused on working that you don’t even realise how impressive what you’re doing is. But yes, I still value freedom in my creativity heavily. I think every artist should be able to create freely because once you get limited, your art gets watered down. At one point, I really wanted to sign to a label. Now, I’m not so sure anymore. I’ve started appreciating independence a lot more.
What comes after Live Good? Are you building toward another body of work, or are you letting this one breathe first? And are there any collaborations you’re currently chasing?
There’s definitely a lot coming after Live Good. Live Good is just the beginning. I’m always working because I know this is game time right now, but at the same time, I want this record to really reach heights I haven’t touched before, before I move fully onto the next thing. In terms of collaborations, I’d love to work with Jack Harlow, Doja Cat, or Odeal because I think our sounds could work really well together. If we’re talking Afrobeats, definitely Rema or Tyla.
You’ve said you’re at the brink of takeoff. What does the actual takeoff look like in your head? What does the version of Jason Nkanga fully arrived look like?
Takeoff for me looks like standing in front of thousands of people performing my music. That’s always been the dream — touring, selling out shows, that’s real. That’s what the “Jason Nkanga takeoff” looks like to me, and I genuinely can’t wait for that moment.
OUTSIDE THE MUSIC
Outside of music, who is Jason Nkanga? What does he do when the laptop is closed and the session is done?
I’ve surrounded myself with music so much that it’s honestly so hard to think of things I do that aren’t music related. But I love movies. That’s probably one of my favourite things outside music. I spend a lot of time watching movies and playing football too. Outside of music, I’m also a two-time master’s graduate, and honestly, just a solid guy.
A random fun fact about yourself?
I’m so obsessed with metaphors and double entendres that I sometimes go on Genius just to break down and solve lyrics from other rappers. I know it’s probably a bit nerdy, but I genuinely love doing it.
Stream Live Good:
