At first listen one might imagine that Red Sea, the 6-tracker debut cementing Moezi’s legacy in Nigerian rapdom, was a gospel record. Shortly, you start to discover the sermons of survival that the young lyricist, born Anyanwu Moses Chukwuemeka, swarms deep into the secular, sprinkling stories that reflect on the human experience.
Moezi (pronounced Moe-zi) is blooming into the dreams of his childhood where he honed his talent under a teenage trio SMJ Gang. Signed to Cruize Central Entertainment, the Imo indigene paints vivid images in his EP, bouncing bubbly on Drill beats and harmonic chords.

After feeling stuck in a ‘red sea’ with his career, Moezi decided to let his feelings out in the studio booth. The music becomes a memoir; and the artist doubles as a muse, with rich storytelling that sets him apart in the convoy of newcomers in Nigerian Hip Hop.

The young maverick catches up with Guardian, exploring his come-up, especially the role of his father in finding his path, his creative process, as well as his vision to create music that inspires a generation of daring youths.

When did you start recording this project?
The initial idea for the project kicked off in the middle of this year basically, because this is my official first year of being active basically in the music base. You know how we all have this childhood dream of us doing music from a very long time, basically growing up as teenagers but life happens. The entire idea for just creating a project was since I started music professionally. Let’s say I got into the space, and I’m trying to become active so, it’s only right for me to just have a project out, to show that I’m committed and ready to do this stuff. The idea was born around July, after we had dropped a few singles before then.

What’s up with the title?
My name is Moses. So, rap, to me, is storytelling, sharing messages and currently in my music career I feel like I’m at a point where I either go forward or I don’t go at all. That was the whole concept behind creating the Red Sea EP and that was even the concept also in choosing the name. Because I thought to myself, okay let’s create a story, where exactly metaphorically if you were Moses in the bible, where exactly do you think you are currently in your career. And it just stuck with me, you are at the red sea; because it’s like there is no way to go ahead, and what are you going to do now? Are you going to stop your dream, or are you going to path the red sea so, that was basically the thought process behind that.

What’s your most memorable recording in this project?
I will have to give it to “Hood Saviour” and “Daylight”. The day I recorded “Hood Saviour” I wasn’t feeling at the best of myself, when I got into the studio and heard the beat I was like I’m not sure I can actually do this. That was a pivotal point because at that point I actually felt like stopping, like quitting for real but when we started recording the words. Because basically I had written the song and rehearsed it, when I started dishing out the song, when we were done I just told myself bro this is one of the reasons why you do this thing. You don’t need any other person’s validation, you know that this is meant for you. So, I would give it to Hood savior because the feeling after recording Hood savior was insane, the energy was off the roof, so yeah Hood savior definitely.

When did you start picking up influences in music?
I will say from a very young age because my father has only been the one with music, and I remember the ride to school. He was always humming, I would say while most of his mates were probably putting on news for their kids to listen to while taking them to school, he was always banging the breast. And it was the sweetest sound basically for me so stunningly I was introduced to music from a very young age. I could say he bought me my first album and he was really into sounds. From my mum’s side most of my uncles were also into music, the gospel music on that side. I would say growing up was just me getting accustomed to various types of sound. From a very young age I already picked up interest in music, I was just out there grounding it out and dropping my rhymes out there.

What album did you say your dad first bought you?
One of the first major albums I remembered him buying was a 50 cent album. He got me a 50 cent album, I think it was get rich or die trying.

Wow, that’s so gangster.
Yeah trust me man, it was really gangster. He loves hip-hop so he just introduced it to me.

Does your dad still listen to his music now?
I can’t say, I really can’t say if he still listens to them but I knew he was a hardcore fan then.

Do you play your records for him to see how he feels?
Most definitely I do that. I think what he loves about my music is the type of sounds I try to create with hip-hop. Because he wouldn’t lie, most of the hip-hop tracks he introduced to me were mostly like gangster rap. So, he feels proud saying okay he introduced this to me, and somehow I am doing it in my own way, it gives him joy.

What was your first rap epiphany?
I think 2014. I came across J.Cole in 2014, I have listened to a whole lot of rap albums and I have listened to a whole lot of rap songs before then. But coming in contact with somebody that delivers such a powerful message with undeniable rhyming was something that kept me on my feet. I think I feel the picture they try to paint basically, the hip-hop I was accustomed to back then was a whole lot of gangster. No, hip-hop can actually be beautiful, it could actually say meaningful stuff and I would put it like that. Yeah 2015, Forest Hills Drive, that album changed my entire perspective on rap, that album changed my life literally.

What do you want people to experience when they come across Moezi’s music?
The message I try to pass across is strictly is you could be anything you want to be, but please be yourself. I think that’s what I try to put out basically when I try to vibe or even create songs, I want my music to be a place where you can come and be yourself and know that it’s not wrong to be yourself. Literally you are you for a reason so don’t let anybody make you second guess, it’s more of a confidence angle that is what I try to push out with my music.
It’s a brand that I want my fans to feel confident to click on in this life, and I know life is not easy man so, that’s basically what my music is.

Can you list your top five Nigerian music artistes of all time?
Okay in no particular order, I need to go with Ice prince first. MI, most definitely, MI Abaga big shout out to MI. Mode 9ine played a pivotal role in my rhyming, Blaqbonez and Odumodublvck.

What’s next for Moezi?
2024 is going to be a whole lot of sounds. I don’t plan on resting. I have been writing verses since God knows when and I don’t plan on stopping. So, it’s going to be a whole lot of songs. I’m dropping a project in January, two new songs included, basically I’m just going out. Collaborations, I’m planning on doing a whole lot of collaborations next year. I’m gunning for the top. I’m not relenting anytime soon.