Zeddy the One

As an emerging artist, can you tell me a bit about yourself, who are you and what is your background?

I go by the name of Zeddy the One, I’m a rapper hailing from Woolwich, South London. I come from a very musical family, surrounded by gospel singers which created me deep love for music. 

What inspired your stage name? 

I started off with the name ‘Zeddy’ but it didn’t feel very unique as I started to find other artists with the same name, so I changed it the ‘Zeddy The One’ to separate myself from the crowd and show people that I truly am the one to change the game.  

Music is clearly a passion of yours but what made you want to pursue this as a full-time career? 

Music has always been involved in my life, I used to write out my favourite rappers' lyrics perform them to family and friends as if they were my own. I actually started off singing as that was what was around me but once I was introduced to rap, I never looked back. I wrote my first song at the age of 12 but only released my first official song - ‘Act Like That’ - in 2021. The response I received from this showed me that this is definitely something I need to pursue.  

On the topic of your first official release, what made you decide that this was going to be your first track to put out? Would you say this is when you found your sound or is this an area that you’re are still exploring? 

I was in the studio with some friends when I recorded this and had no plans of releasing anything at that point. Honestly, it was the reaction I got from my friends and the engineers whilst recording and I instantly knew this had to come out. I wouldn’t say this is when I found my sound, but it shaped how I write lyrics. I quickly saw that people love relatability and vulnerability in music and since then I try to involve this in all my music.  

How would you describe your genre of music? Would you say your sound is comparable to anyone else in the industry right now? 

I like to believe I have a very unique style of music. I am definitely more of a hip-hop rapper but I tend to mix this with R&B and Soul instrumentals to bring a different vibe to the traditional UK rap style. If I had to compare my style to anyone, I would have to say Potter Payper, particularly when I'm straight rapping and just trying to bring that raw energy back to the track. 

Do you write your own music? If so, what inspires you? 

Yes, I write my own music and always have. My day-to-day life inspires my writing, particularly when times are hard, as I find it to be the best way to vent and address things I wouldn’t normally speak on. 

Out of all the music that you have put out, which piece would you say is your favourite? 

That’s a tough one but I would have to say ‘The One’ as I catch myself listening to that more than anything else. It was so fun to record and even better to perform, definitely one to hear live! 

Do you have any specific ways of working? 

When I am writing music, I prefer to be by myself in the dark. I feel like this helps me to stay focused on what I'm doing and block out the outside world.  

Who are your biggest influences? 

My biggest influences would have to be Giggs, Potter Payper, and Chip. Although, the first rappers I really listened to were gospel rappers. 

If you could collaborate with any artist outside of your genre, who would it be and why? 

I would love to collab with Brent Faiyaz, I think our styles would blend perfectly.  

Who are some of your favourite artists right now? 

Right now, I would have to say Potter Payper, Youngs Teflon, Westside Boogie, Kojey Radical and Strandz. 

What is your long-term goal in music? 

I want people to feel like I'm helping them through my music and I believe I can bring a much-needed change to the UK music scene.  

Do you have any upcoming releases or events? 

I have a Hip-Hop/R&B song coming soon called ‘Come See Me’. This song is going to show my versatility across different genres and show everyone that I’m definitely someone to keep an eye on in the future. In terms of events, you can always catch me at different open mic nights and intimate shows around London, but it’s best to keep up with my social media to see where I’ll be at.   

Where can we find your music and social media platforms? 

My music is on all streaming platforms; Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, etc.) and YouTube. You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok under the name ‘zeddytheone’. 

Interview – Freja Bell 

Photo Credit - visualsbyagenius