From the very beginning of Zoka The Author’s career in 2017, his uncommon lyrical precision has set him apart from his contemporaries. In these first few years, not only did he successfully tour a collaborative Hip-Hop/poetry album around the UK, but he also achieved international recognition in news outlets across the world for creating a rap album for his dissertation – and getting a First for it!
After graduating in 2019, he brought the skills he had learnt back to his hometown of London, selling out his first headline gig at the O2 Academy Islington, which was described by the promoters as “one of the best performances (they’d) seen.” He also released his debut single, The Mindset, which, as well as being played by BBC Radio London and Norfolk, was made Rellik Tha Don’s track of the week on Reprezent radio.
Then, as we all know, COVID19 hit. But Zoka was determined not to stop, even when the rest of the world did. Whilst releasing ‘Penned In’, a series of freestyles demonstrating his lyrical dexterity on Instagram, he applied the finishing touches to his debut EP, Reflections, which BBC Introducing Norfolk described as “on another level”. He released this EP track by track over the course of a few months, culminating in his achievement of national radio play by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2!
Having managed to grow in 2020 despite its massive challenges, it is clear that Zoka is determined to surpass expectations, and push the sound of UK Hip Hop to new territories.
