Photography © Yonatan Griffon
Photography © Yonatan Griffon
"We did a lot of things with MMZ, but I wanted
to share what was important to me personally."
"We did a lot of things with MMZ,
but I wanted to share what
was important to me personally."
Sweet, kind, and sincere are some of the adjectives that could describe Moha, one of the much-loved members of the QLF Family. Although he has always been known alongside Lazer in their group MMZ, Moha has now taken off on his own, and we must say that he's doing well.
The 23-year-old artist created his own universe without changing the person he has always been and who has always charmed his fans. Under his real name, Mohamed, he never fails to pay tribute to the neighbourhood where he grew up and where he took his first steps as a solo artist: one of the most famous neighbourhoods of French Rap: Tarterêt in Corbeil-Essonne in the Parisian suburbs.
In this interview with A Rap & A Cup Of Tea, Moha reveals everything he wanted to share with Euphoria and his passion for this first solo album. Euphoria is, without a doubt, a complete and polished work worthy of Moha's talent. We can't wait to see what the future holds for him.
What made you want to go solo?
It was a new challenge. We already had 3 albums plus a re-release, and this idea came naturally. I've been rapping for a long time and started solo, so it's a bit like returning to my roots. Starting a solo project has always been a challenge but also a dream. Even if I did many things with MMZ, I wanted to share what was important to me personally in a project.
In "Mon Bébé", you say, "I've always had a lot of inspiration." Did having complete artistic freedom while being solo help you develop your creativity even more?
Yeah, big time! When you're solo, it's all about what you want; everything I wanted to do, I did. Whether it's the choice of the album title, the cover, the tracks, the collaborations with beatmakers, the videos... it's all me. When you're two, it's two different choices, not necessarily the same desires. But there are also some drawbacks, such as that it's easier when two of you deal with things, whether it's success or hardship. And most importantly, it's always better to enjoy it together. (laughs)
Have you already considered what you want to do as a solo artist, or did you go by instinct?
To be honest, it all came naturally. I wasn't afraid though. I was confident in what I was going to do. I knew it was going to be good, and I knew it was going to be brilliant. When you're confident, things seem more manageable.
How were you feeling before the release of your album?
Frankly, I wasn't stressed... Well, maybe I'm a liar. Maybe I was a little stressed. (laughs) The truth is, I wasn't afraid of it coming out; I was like, "This is it, it's out, I did my best, I can't have regrets". I really gave the best of myself on the tape, the merchandising, the choice of the sound engineer, the promo, the cover, etc. I have no regrets, and that's what I wanted.
Being listed on Time Square's Billboard, isn't that great as an artist?
Absolutely, especially since we're independent! Only two of us are on my label: my manager and I. We created this on our own, by ourselves, for ourselves. (laughs) It's symbolic; it's a way to achieve a "big" thing because it's my first solo album, and I wanted to do something unique and thank the people who supported me. It doesn't matter how many are there; it was a gift to say, "Look, it doesn't matter how many we are, we're up there too; not just the big guys can make it". Just like for the "Paranoïack" music video, since it was my first solo video, I wanted to do something big.
Why did you choose to film the "Paranoiack" music video in Arizona?
I wanted to create a western! The studio was either in the States or in Spain. And it was vital for me to go to the United States. Actually, it was amazing; we worked with a big production company. The extras were real actors and stuff. You know, a bit of American delirium? (laughs) It was wild!
I think you tried a lot of different melodic and flow genres on the album, for example, on "Mode" or "Omertà", where the tracks are totally different. Was it challenging to show that you could handle all kinds of flows?
Not really! In fact, it came naturally. Your mood changes daily, and I find it quite complicated to do the same thing again... Actually, I see a lot of artists doing the same thing, and I always say to myself: "How do they do it?" (laughs) My mood today is not the same as it was yesterday. Sometimes, I go through moments of nostalgia, sadness, and joy... Many things happen in your life, and since I'm a guy who follows his instincts a lot, it has led to this result. (laughs)
"Tarterêts is 100% part of my history.
The hood holds a significant place in my heart."
"Tarterêts is 100% part of
my history. The hood holds a
significant place in my heart."
Also, the album has only two features: DTF and Zed from 13 Block. Was this your intention to really emancipate yourself and show what you do as a solo artist?
With MMZ, we didn't have any features or very few, so if I had done a lot of features, I would have been cancelled by my fanbase. I like to do things step by step. It's easy to do featuring to get significant artists on your project, but you become a "featuring artist", and I don't want that. You no longer exist as an artist. In fact, I was offered feats on my album, and I told them, "No, it's my first album. Leave me alone" (laughs). The day we will do a feature, I want to bring you as much as you bring to the project.
You and Zed have a lot in common...
Totally! Zed was always the melodious one in his group, and so was I with MMZ; I did a lot of the choruses. I came from Tarterêts in 91, and he came from Sevran in 93. [Two districts in Parisian suburbs] We are part of the two most prominent districts in our respective departments, so we already understand each other on that point. It was a natural thing to do. I think that for a first collaboration outside of QLF members like DTF, he was the one that best suited me, I couldn't ask for anything better. If I do a feat with someone, it's because there is a part of him that is QLF, too. [ed. Refers to "que la famille". A movement launched by PNL, one of the leading groups of French Rap also originating from Tarterêts].
Throughout the album, we can feel the tribute to Tarterêts. How important is it to pay tribute to your neighbourhood?
It's very important. Tarterêts is 100% part of my history. The neighbourhood holds a big place in my heart. It's where I spend my whole life; for me, it's not even an option; it's natural, obvious, and just the way it is.
Is there a song that stands out for you on this album? One where you feel like you gave everything you had to offer.
All of my songs reflect the person I am. Some are a bit more introspective, like "Bagatelle," the last song of the album, where I talk a bit more about my feelings, so it's a bit more melancholic and sad. When you tackle topics like that, it's a bit more personal.
Can you tell me more about the symbolism behind the name of your album?
Euphoria refers to the feeling I had when I was 17. I started making music, and it was taking off: I was euphoric. Since that day, this euphoria has never stopped. Euphoria is excitement, joy, etc., but it's only temporary. That's why I didn't want my album to have a name that only means joy. That's not the truth. When it works, you're euphoric; when it falls down, you're nostalgic and sometimes sad, but in the end, it's all temporary. And that's exactly what I wanted to convey.
Is it extra pressure to be part of the QLF family?
Yes and no. Of course, as it's a robust community, I don't want to disappoint them, but I originally made music to enjoy the process of making it. I don't look for people to approve or disapprove of my actions. I make music for myself first because I like it.
What was the hardest thing to achieve in this album?
Putting everything together in a meaningful way. It's not easy to find the direction to make it all fit together. The cover has to fit the title, the titles have to fit the sounds, etc... That's how you create a universe. You can do feats with everybody; you will always be considered the little one if you do it wrong. I think every aspect is important: the choice of the gimmicks, the titles, the cover of the album, the intro, and the sequence of the tracks. Naturally, it was a bit tough, but towards the end, I said to myself: "That's it, I've done it". Having a consistent universe for my first solo album was necessary.
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