An addiction to fat animals of instagram, being a low-key anime aficionado and studio essentials.

Croydon rapper Verbz peaked people’s interest with his debut release ‘Lessons of Adolescence’ back in 2017. He’s taken his time to perfect his craft and he’s ready to grace the ears of the underground with his album ‘Pathways’ November 8.

Frequently utilising relatable content and a safe bet to drop gems, the spitter has developed a reputation as one of the most promising artists in the underground London rap scene.

Aged just 23, Verbz is taking a quality over quantity approach and his co-sign from UK hip-hop legend, ‘the man with the golden sound,’ Lewis Parker is testament to the trajectory of the young MC.

Ahead of his next project we asked some quick-fire questions to get to know the Croydon wordsmith.

You are fighting in the octagon, what song do you walk out to ?
Haha, if I was ever fighting in the octagon I’d have to come out to suttin cruddy, to gas myself up before I get smacked about. So I’d probs come out to Benny The Butcher ‘Broken Bottles’, anything Griselda Records would do tbh.

What fact about you would surprise people?
Behind all the rapping n instagram videos of a waved off verbzyy I am really a neek n spend most of my time watching anime and playing old games, recently been banging out one dumb yu-gi-oh game on gameboy advance, should probably lowe it n write some bars or suttin.

What does retirement look like for you in the future?
I mean, retirement for me is basically not having to work and just making music and living off that, doing shows, selling merch n shit. That would be ideal. Hopefully one day.

What is your morning ritual?
Haha, well most mornings its wake up about 8-10am, lie in bed till 12 and procrastinate with animal videos on instagram, get up eat a late ‘breakfast’ (something that ain’t breakfast at all), then get on with the day, it all depends on whether I acc have things to do or not really.

What movie / video game has the best soundtrack?
Ahhh this is a tough one, I can’t just pick one video game, but a few that come to mind are Buck Bumble (N64), Jet Set Radio (Dreamcast) and Earthbound (SNES). Try play em all if ya into all that.

Finish this sentence: You should never __________
You should never smoke spice. Facts.

What is essential to have with you in the studio?
A healthy amount of snacks, maybe a little bev, not too much as I wont end up getting anything done, teas are essential and the ciggies, which I rarely have. Shout out Mr Slipz for the copious amounts of tobacco he has provided me with over the years.

What is the last thing you watched on netflix/youtube/tv?
Gasworks on Boileroom TV.

What are you addicted to ?
Haaa, I’ve recently found these pages on instagram called ‘Chonky Animals’ and ‘Round Boys’, they are both dedicated to pictures and videos of fat animals, its become a bit of a problem. Besides that, I am a sucker for a wave, as we all know.

You have your own talk show, who is your first guest?
My first guest would have to be one of the mandem who make music tbh. Gotta support ya guys.

You are headlining Glastonbury, what are your most outrageous rider requests?
100 bottles of Courvoisier, keep the team lit. Straight 70CL’s. No mixers.

The first album you bought?
Uhh, not even gonna lie it was probably something moist. I had a large collection of CD’s when I was a kid. I used to ask my parents to buy me CD’s n shit n they always would, plus I’d steal some of their shit, they had a huge Hip Hop collection, as well as other genres. But on a real, I think the first album I copped with my own money at the age of nine/ten was Chris Browns first album hahahah, we all make mistakes. Was fire back then to a yung Verbz though.

You can choose one artist to head up the government and subsequently save the country, who is it?
It would have to be 2Late, I believe he has what it takes to save this country from the mess its become. Only the one who bears the power of the Dark Fruits can save us. 2Late 4 PM.

You can rock the stage with any act past or present, who are you choosing?
I’d have to pick someone like Guru, would be a madness. I listened to a lot of his music growing up. RIP Guru.

What is your pet hate?
Creasing fresh kicks, its gonna happen after a while and you know it. But its just so peak when it happens asap, I no longer rock AF1’s, I refuse to buy a pair of them shits again.

Photo Credit: @Drbombo