Reflecting on his rise through the London music scene alongside other defining genre pioneers, the artist noted his close, lifelong connection to his neighborhood peers. When asked if he grew up seeing Dizzee Rascal or only knew him because of music, Stryder clarified their history. “Nah, nah. We grew up, like, we chilled together. We grew up. He was just a couple years older than me, so before I started doing music with him,” he explained.
As his distinct style began to gain traction across the capital, industry peers quickly recognized his potential. “People keep telling you, ‘But you know what? You’ve got something that stands out, man.’ I’m thinking, ‘Is it because, is it just my height? Is this why you care about me?’ They said, ‘Nah, man. Your delivery, your deliverance, your voice.’ I thought, ‘Yeah, man. I just like I’m MCing, and it’s fun. It’s fun, it’s fun.’”
This undeniable passion led him to perform in youth clubs and travel to different areas in East London and beyond. However, one specific trip to a pirate radio station took a terrifying turn. “I love music so much, I went to this radio station before, and the dog that was looking after the place attacked me,” Stryder revealed, identifying the animal as “a staff” to a shocked studio audience.
Despite the sudden danger, the broadcaster’s reaction was captured entirely on the airwaves. “People at home thinking, ‘What?’ You can hear me kind of shouting. And after that, I went back on the mic and MC’d,” Stryder recalled. Reflecting on his resilience, the musician laughingly concluded, “Don’t tell me I don’t like MCing!”
