Arabian RAP-sody

We pinned down Somalian musician, FREEK, for a quick Q&A about his music and what inspires him

Tell us about your music, what inspired you and when did you start?
I’ve been a fan of music since I was youAs I grew up, I felt that my generation needed its own sound, something we can call our own. That was how I started experimenting with Arabic rap.

What do you consider to be your greatest personal and professional achievements?
Touring the world of course! Travelling to the States to perform in a festival, particularly performing in Arabic, blew my mind.

What do you think are the keys to success?
I think you have to remain consistently authentic but continue to evolve.

What were your biggest business challenges? How did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge, to be honest, is always going to be my passport. Travelling around with a third-world country passport is not easy, especially when I need to be able to travel for tours. I still haven’t overcome that.

What advice would you give to the younger generation that might want to follow in your footsteps?
Stay consistent and believe in the art you are making.

If you look back over your life and career if you were given the opportunity to do anything different, would you?
No, to be honest. Everything happened for a reason some things took more time not because I was doing something wrong, but because it just wasn’t the right time for that business.

What inspires you?
My day-to-day life and my family.

Do you prioritise your mental health, and how?
When life got hectic, I started to not go out a lot. I made time for myself, my family, and my pets. I play a lot of video games and I think that’s helping to keep me sane.

Clothing by Versace

This article appeared in Issue 002 – the Men’s Edition