United Kingdom-based rapper and record label owner Rhyme Assassin has recounted how his work with young kids in the UK reignited his passion for music after taking a sabbatical.
Speaking on the Natanya Experience, hosted by Natanya Watchtel, Rhyme Assassin said his work with kids helped him return to music.
"I started music in Zimbabwe, doing a few shows and freestyle battles in high school, but my career didn't really take off there. When I relocated to the United Kingdom, I took a break. Everything was different; the culture shock was huge. I didn't even know where to get beats," he said.
"My priorities shifted. I wanted to set my life up and put food on the table."
Rhyme Assassin's turning point came when he worked with young kids who were on the streets.
"I started working with a company called The Kids Company, which dealt with young kids in gangs and tried to get them off the streets. Part of our routine from Monday to Friday was to provide activities that would take them off the streets and bring them to the site," he said.
"We had a recording studio on the site with Deep Voice, a producer who would produce music for the kids.
"The kids would do music and freestyling, which reignited my passion for music. I thought I needed to go back to recording, and I started getting beats from him. He connected me to a few studios, and that's how I started again, did albums, and won a few awards in Zimbabwe from there. Since then, I never stopped."
Rhyme Assassin was recently in Brooklyn, New York, shooting a music video for his latest single, "Run Em Up (Told Ya)."
The track, featuring legendary hip-hop duo M.O.P. and Ruste Juxx, is the second single from his upcoming debut album, Dedicated to Self.
M.O.P., renowned for their aggressive style and hard-hitting beats, gained prominence in the underground scene before achieving mainstream success with their 2000 hit Ante Up.
The Brooklyn-based duo has collaborated extensively with DJ Premier and is affiliated with the Gang Starr Foundation. Lil' Fame, one half of M.O.P., is also a producer under the name Fizzy Womack.
Excited about the collaboration, Rhyme Assassin shared his enthusiasm: "We shot a video in Brooklyn, the home of both M.O.P. and Ruste Juxx. I am thrilled to have been here for this project and grateful for the opportunity to work with these legends."
Run Em Up has already garnered significant attention on charts and streaming platforms, and Rhyme Assassin anticipates the video will further elevate his profile.
The rapper's previous single, Rhyme Apostles, featuring Crooked I, Canibus, AFRO, and Keith Murray, showcased his talent and established him as a rising force in the hip-hop world.