The Tastemaker Behind UK Music Culture - Manny Norte

0:00Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad, and I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products, you have to go to Sephora. I'm obsessed with the One Size Liquid Blotting Paper Spray. It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden Plush Pear smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. like people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing which you know I love so if you want the makeup skincare hair and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with shop only at Sephora hey what's up people my name is Mo Gilligan and if you're listening right now you're tuned into my podcast beginning middle and end now what a guest I have for you this week people that's right he's become known as the name you can trust that's right he He is a tastemaker.

0:55He is a DJ, a presenter, a producer, an event organiser and an ANR with one of the most listened shows on Capital Extra. We talk about starting in dance battles to becoming a DJ for global superstar parties, including big brands like Nike and Adidas, even launching the Yeezy. He's become synonymous with black culture. So please welcome to the podcast. It's Manny Norte. First of all, I want to say thanks for doing this, bro. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because I know you don't do stuff like this. I don't. Even when I was driving on the way here, I was like, I've never seen you on anyone else's, like, pod in a sense of, like, you're right.

1:40Do you know what I mean? Being interviewed as such. Do you know what I mean? It's true. And second of all, I want to say thank you again because, you know, I don't know if you know this, but there's been two moments within my career that you've been there for. Yeah. that I like the first one. I'm not sure if you know the second one definitely. Oh wow. But you've played an iconic role in it and I don't think you know this. Oh, so like for example, the first one is where I go to the jump offs, right? Oh, wow. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I used to go to the jump offs and I used to go just as a fan as well.

2:15And, you know, sometimes I go by myself just to watch and it was a thing, you know, especially where is that I think it's a Scala. Yeah, that's right. Scarlet and King's Cross. And I know it had moved around, but that's the one I would just go to. And I literally just got on my ones and just watch. And one, it was like, one thing I noticed about you, I was like, Rob, where is this DJ? He ain't playing, Rob. Because for anyone who doesn't know and you're listening, Jump Off for anyone listening, it was basically, you had like dance battles, rap battles, and it would end with the booty shaking competition.

2:48Sign of the times. They had a comedy segment. That's right. And that's when I started going a lot more because I really wanted to do the comedy. And I remember you specifically, because I mean, one comic went on and you was like, boo, nah, man. You got to come, you got to come bed. I said, oh my God, this is so ruthless. That was crazy. But the reason why I say thank you because I remember I performed there and I think I might have, I think I performed and it went, it went really well. Yeah. It went really, really well. It was weird because I don't, because I always remember like, I was like, if Manny likes you, he will say it on the mic.

3:25That's true. That's very true. If he doesn't like it. That's very true. He'll be like, yeah, go try a bit harder, bro. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's true. And I remember you just being like, yeah, man. Yeah, give up for Manny Donny Singh. And I was like, oh, yeah. All right. Yeah, yeah. But that moment for me was at that time was one of my biggest moments. Yeah. And then I remember second of all. What year was that? What year was that? Oh, I don't even know what year this was, you know. That's crazy. because that was like a the Jump Off was a real big up the Jump Off team that was like a real hub for like so much talent diversity came through there Flawless Professor Green Flawless Maya Charlie there's so many people came out of there man Benny Scars yeah yeah loads of people man so yeah and you was there for that yes and then I remember when I started doing the videos and no one had invited me onto like a show that I can remember like I'd done a few shows before then you know I think I've done a twin show maybe, one extra.

4:20But I remember going on your show at a time, which was like, oh, like people know me for the, for like the skits and stuff. And then you was like, yeah, you know, and I don't think you even was planned. He's like, hey, Mo, like, so that's bits up, man. And then we, I done the geezer impression. Oh my God. I was even going to say this. Yeah. And it was over. Whose track was it? Steph London. Steph London. Hey, you know that El Buster song? Yeah. You know, we listen. So this was crazy. Yes. I champion that song. I was championing that song so strong. But then when you done the Geezer, that blew.

4:52Bro, that's why I say thank you because for me, it just happened. It was just like, I'm on radio. But people started playing it in clubs. So it was like, oh yeah, and I was like, this is just from a radio show. But it did. And I remember people coming up to me. Steph even was like, I just want to say thanks so much. And I was like, me, that was Manny. so yeah I just wanted to say thank you man big up big up there's a few thank yous in there and even in the show as well you looked up with your tour manager obviously you knew him before yeah yeah yeah because he's my producer yes that's it yeah man yeah and so yeah I just wanted to say thank you for that but speaking of jump off I didn't know you came from a dance background yes yes before DJ he's been doing his research come on man I was a dancer before I was a DJ I was a dancer when I was at college I went to acting college and then Hammersmith College and I was a dancer back then with a crew called Get With It and I think they're the people behind all the biggest dance crews now so it just started out as dancing and battling double colleges because there was a bit of rivalry between Hammersfield College and Westminster College back in the day and there was fashion shows and dance battles and that's what it was and then I used to do a few videos as well and I always loved music but then for me I just it was a natural transition to go into the DJing yeah man So into DJing.

6:13So then my older cousins that are already in the game and they were like mixing and I was learning as well. Do you know what I mean? My family, my cousins, my brother. So yeah, that's how I got into it. So how did the DJ coming into that? Because in terms of DJing, I know you had like your own events as well. Yeah. That you used to do as well. Yeah, 100%. But did you go through the route of Pirate Radio Station before you went on to mainstream radio? Yeah, I did Pirate Radio first. I did a Pirate Radio Station called Code 10, which is a station in Levert Grove which stunk of B.O. Do you know what I mean?

6:42so it was one of those stations and you had to pay subs to go on the station but it taught you it taught you everything yeah man because I did it because I loved music I didn't know I didn't even know about you can go on radio stations to get and get paid and do this and the other I just did it because I loved it and I was already active in the clubs I just wanted to just you know what I mean just broaden my horizon and just level up yeah man and so one of my guys big up class A he was like yeah I've got a station come on let's try and make this work because you're obviously I was known already on the club circuit.

7:14So yeah. And from there the rest is history really. When you're doing your own events what goes into starting those events? Because I feel like I've been to some of those events back in the day and I'm talking like when Reggie had was it Living Proof? Yeah. Reggie had no not Living Proof. His was Spartans. What's it? No Spartans. Trading Places. Trading Places. There you go. Yes. Yeah. How can I forget that? I went to just maybe one or two and that was only for an invite. So I wasn't really invited. I was just coming as a plus one. Do you know what I mean? But I do remember very vividly a lot of those events was at like, I'd almost say like a, it was almost like a heyday in a sense where you had people doing their own events, central London, like every, you know, especially where we film here in Piccadilly, like all the clubs was full.

8:07Do you know what I mean? Sound, Bar Rumba, Metro, Studio Val Bond, Penthouse. We're talking China White. What was that like for you at that time? Because I remember it for me as a consumer, it was a customer, where it was like, you know, especially as a group of young black boys from South London, you've got to find girls to get in the club. Do you know what I mean? Or you get promoted, hey, what's going on guys, you want to wear it? I can get you a funky Buddha. Just follow me. You say, yeah? You get there at 30 pounds you're like I don't know but what was it I'm really intrigued to know what was it like for you at that time because you're doing your own events and you are DJing in Centralware what was that time like it's funny it's interesting the way you said it because I was always like either invited I was always either going to these clubs to actually DJ or I could actually get in a guest list it's one of those things where this has been my world so to try and get into places wasn't hard for me yeah man because I worked hard to make a name for myself to either play there or get invited.

9:07I might know the DJs already playing or the promoters. So I was always good in trying to get in. Do you know what I mean? So either me playing at someone's event or just going or just doing my own events in the West End pre-internet, pre-quarter. Do you know what I mean? So I was definitely in the West End circuit heavy. Do you know what I mean? So yeah. So what was it like DJing though? Was it like, because I guess it was probably a transitional period where I feel like I'd never went out when vinyls were a thing. Oh, okay. But I do remember CDJs and a DJ having the booklet. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

9:40The booklet! With a booklet. Yeah, I would say, yeah. Hey, DJ, you got that? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Put Z. That's crazy. See, I'm a vinyl man. Yeah, I mean, let's not get fooled by the baby face here. So I used to play it all the time. I had like two big cases. I used to go up to the West End and buy records and spend... £100,£150 on a weekend on vinyl. Is it? Yeah, on vinyl. and if you was a top G you used to get two of the the way I used to DJ get two of the same 12 inches then you can bust a little instrumental into the vocal or just cut and scratch and mix them then that's what I used to do so I used to do that all the time but then and that turned into the CDJs which was like crazy do you know what I mean so I was there for both eras do you know what I mean so yeah yeah yeah yeah so like when you're DJing and then you make that transition to like also have your own events because your events love though right yeah no So, Lovedale was one of the...

10:35Was it a collective? Yeah, that was a collective of people that used to play do nights in Newcastle. So, Lovedale was me travelling up north to play in Newcastle but then the ones that I was involved in was like Subterranean Rotation. I did Iron Bar. I did Different Strokes at Cherry Jam, West London. That was an iconic night. People used to come from far and wide. It just got so ramped. Do you know what I mean? And then I used to play Hanover Grand, Fresh and Funky, Twice as Nice. and then I made a name for myself at the events I was doing, but then also where I was getting booked. Was it everything that I'm hoping it is, was it a sense of like, cause DJs, especially like West End time, were like superstars.

11:19Do you know what I mean? In the sense you can get in. Yeah. Like I remember seeing DJs and like the booth just looked like, just look at the booth. Yeah. Because I feel like now it's like, now you've got like where the events have changed but also like you've got like a table culture now so everyone's got a table so as much as the DJ is the star whoever's got the table might be the star because they want the intro do you know what I mean but I definitely remember like that time like within Central or just in the UK where like the DJ was like oh 110 % we're going for the DJ yeah we're going for the DJ because then times there it was about the DJ if it was like and you administer your sound and smooth as well Yeah, yeah, yeah.

12:00You had the hip-hop room, but then you had the house and garage room as well. The UK DJs were big. Yeah. And then you had the hip-hop DJs that were big. Do you know what I mean? So everyone had their own identity and the ones that were really doing it were on radio at the same time as well. So those things meant a lot to people. Yeah. Do you see what I'm saying? So people are like, there was people building up their fan base and there was a community towards the DJs because they had their own fan base of, you know what I mean? Like collectives that were following them around. Yeah. That's exactly what it was.

12:27Do you think like it's easier now to DJ than it was probably back then? 100%. Because 100%. Especially, no shade, but like even like the pretty girls that are just standing there and DJing and not doing much. Yeah, yeah. And obviously you've got USBs and they might have pre-recorded mixes on there and whatever. But back in the day, you get found out. Yeah. Before it was about DJing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was about that. Everyone's doing their thing now because the music is very obtainable. You can get it. You can download whatever you need to download. but before it was actually about going out to buy the records looking into the genre of music into the artists and stuff like that even though that does happen now but people can cut corners now yeah there's a lot of people nicking and living truth be told let's have it right there's a lot of memes online where CDJs aren't even plugged in they're not even turned on and they're on like doing the most but nothing's on so you're bluffing yeah so because I've always thought that sometimes when I'm like because I guess it's like if you're playing in front of hundreds of people you're like well I can kind of download a mix right exactly but that happens and if you can do it fair play to you and if you're getting bookings because of that and what happens now is hey it's Paige from Giggly Squad and I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products you have to go to Sephora I'm obsessed with the one size liquid blotting paper spray it's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours.

13:56It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden Plush Pear smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. Like people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing, which you know I love. So if you want the makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with, shop only at Sephora. This episode is presented by Depop. We all have pieces in our closet that deserve a second life. That jacket you loved for a season? Someone out there is literally searching for it. And that's why I love Depop.

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15:06People are getting booked because of who they are and who they know. Do you know what I mean? Which is fine if they've got a lot of followers, community, whatever, whatever, then they're getting booked. If you're a celebrity, whatever, then you might get booked because of that. So fair, fair. I'm lucky I'm grateful that I'm still here and I can still get booked because I didn't get booked because in speaking in terms of like getting booked like you also as well as DJing on radio and you know in clubs you also do events as well right yeah but also as well as events you're there for like launch parties and stuff like this and you work with brands as well yeah yeah yeah and I feel like from what I can remember like especially when you know I know you're into your trainers as well yes sir He was one of the first people to get the Yeezy.

15:52Is it the 350s, right? Oh, well, yeah, yeah. I've done the Yeezy launch. I've done the Yeezy launch. The one or two, or the Adidas one. The Adidas one. Yeah, yeah. Not the Nike ones, even though I've got the Nike ones as well. The Turtle Dubs, innit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I know what's going on in the sneaker community, Raph. I see that, Raph. Everyone is smiling like they've never smiled before. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But yeah, so when Kanye announced the Adidas launch, he came to London and I'd done the official Adidas Yeezy launch. That was the day he was doing Glastonbury. So he'd done the launch and I was the one DJing and hosting it.

16:27How did these things come about? I got the call. I was the only one to get that Yeezy call. And then after he'd done the launch in Adidas in the store, he jumped on a helicopter and done Glastonbury. And then I was the first one to do the Nike and Mags collaboration. Not collaboration, the auction. So I did the Nike Back to the Future Mags. So that was me DJing. so the pivotal moments was that here in the UK? that was here in the UK that was I think it was at the Nike store is it? so yeah so I've done the two main important pivotal moments for Nike and Adidas have you got the Air Mags? no I didn't get them I didn't get them I wore them on a day I wish I got them I can't lie I can't see them I never lie J2K the guy that founded Crep Protect and made Crep Protect famous he was the one that bought them okay yeah he got them but there was only a few auctions in the world and there was no more being made because everything was going to go to charity for Parkinson's because Marty J Fox Michael J Fox I said Marty J Fox he's called Marty in the film but he's called Michael J Fox because that's what he's got it's Parkinson's so everything was going towards that charity so they've done a charity in London New York and LA I think maybe one in China or Japan or whatever but the London one was me oh wow and I had Tiffany Bares who was the actual creator and one of the creators of the actual mag is it?

17:46so she co-signed me so like Like that, cause that's so unique. The fact that like you've put yourself in so many different places to get those calls. Do you know what I mean? Like, yes. It's a very good observation. Nike, Adidas. Very good observation. Cause you could also say, look, I just work with Nike. I just work with Adidas. Yeah. But yeah, but you know what? I'm actually into, I'm very heavy into music and fashion and you know me for, you know what I mean? Like you dress very well though. Thank you very much. I've seen some, I've always seen it. the odd like I'm like bro where you get this jacket from yeah yeah well I appreciate it thank you very much so yeah so that's important to me I try to like I'm into fashion I'm into music I'm into DJing I'm into but it's me I'm actually doing it because I love it and people probably they might see that and recognise that yeah of course and this has just been me for the last how many decades so it's like so my phone rings for things like this I've been booked to do fashion events but music events or if it's not DJing then I might like be asked to do a Q &A for an artist because I care I care and I'm from it I'm from it so that before anything else I'm from it yeah so yeah so when you immerse yourself in that fashion world as well as sneakers and stuff who are some of the people that call you at like a drop of a hat because I feel like you know when I look at your Instagram it could be Dave Chappelle one night Naomi Campbell yeah yeah Edwin the editor of Vogue the other night Edward, yeah, Edward.

19:14So like, when you're immersing yourself in these worlds, like who are some of those people that can just, you know, give me the pool? Because I always ask, because I'm like, hey, Manny, do you sleep? Yeah, yeah. Nine times out of ten. If Dave Chappelle is here, I know that he will do an after party and nine times out of ten, you'll be DJing. Yeah, well, do you know what? I call it a blessing. And I mean, I can drop some names if you want. Darn it. But yeah, I mean, yeah. yeah I've done Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief oh you were there oh yeah I was at that one yes and then I played at the after party yes Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief party that was at the British Museum right I'd never been to a fashion before oh wait I was prepared I was not prepared bruv so yeah that's right so yeah Naomi Campbell Jay Z numerous times Beyonce numerous times Rihanna numerous times Drake Kanye Dave he put me on his tour I did a whole arena tour Stormzy numerous times Giggs, Rita Ora, Jessie J, like pretty much anyone who's big in this country.

20:17Yeah. So I've been blessed to do that. And the brands as well, like even recently on the fashion side, I got a call up to actually play for the Tommy Hilfiger launch. So the dinner to celebrate Damson Idris for the F1 film. Yeah, man. And Tommy Hilfiger was standing right next to me in a picture at the money shop. And then he had GQ there as well. do you know what I mean they're like and I played Empire State of Mind Tommy Hilfiger's like hey play that again I was like oh Tommy Hilfiger's telling me to play Empire State of Mind that's a flex do you know what I mean so I've played for brands I've played for artists like my whole career so I call that a blessing do you know what I mean so yeah so yeah how do you still keep consistent though also with like playing on radio because I guess with like radio it's different because I guess there's different like layers to it as opposed to an event but you know like also breaking through new artists on your own show.

21:10Yeah, true. With me, my slogan is the name you can trust, as you know. But you can trust me because I'm actually immersed in myself. I'm deep in it. I care about the artists and the culture. And if people are dropping some new music, if I think it's good and if I like it, I'll champion it. I'll play it and I'll keep playing and keep playing it. I'm not one to just, no shade, but I'm not one to just play it because it's new. There's quality control on my show. Yeah, man. Do you know what I mean? If it's good, I'll tell you. If it's not good, it's not that. Like you said, when you was at Jump Off, if I don't like you, I'm going to say.

21:45It was that culture of, you know, be outspoken if something's not good, if it's shit. No, I think that needed it, though. You needed to have a thick skin. You need to, because you need thick skin if you're stepping into the music world or entertainment world or comedy world. You need thick skin, especially if you're doing stand-up. Oh, 100%. You could talk about that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You need the thick skin. You need thick skin. 100%, because when you go out there, especially as a stand-up comic, but on that show especially with Jump Off you've got rappers who are going to go back to back you've got dancers who are going to go back to back and give it and people go hey boo so as a comic you're just like boy if they like it they'll tell me if not then they'll also tell me exactly that exactly that so yeah so with the artists I'm still here because I keep my finger on the pulse you gotta keep going you gotta keep the energy up because it's a I'm playing the long game here do you know what I mean I learnt from the greats out before me, do you know what I mean?

22:37Of how to do it and, you know, how to stay in the game and you've got to look after yourself to be really honest and you've got to show that you care about it because I'm blessed every day and I mean every day I get inundated with emails, calls, texts, DMs about from managers, A &Rs, labels, artists, whoever to play the songs, to champion the songs, to interview the artists, to consult, like I give advice every day. Yeah. Every day because they know because they're coming to me because I'm part of it and I know and I care. I've been doing it so long so I'm going to have to know. Yeah, man. You've been doing it for so many years.

23:13I've been here longer than most. Do you know what I mean? I look better than you. I look better than most. How do you switch off though? Because if your phone's always on for that call at any time, any place. That's a very good question. How do you switch on? How do you switch off? How do you do that? Because you could be like, well, I'm having a week off but then it's like, hey, what's up, man? I'm here. It's Drake. need a DJ you can just yeah but you know before I never used to take holidays it was around the clock and I mean around the clock but then you get down time when you're home you chill and I make sure I try and eat well I try and look after myself I try and work out do you know what I mean but then every year I go to Ghana I tap out I'm gone gone for two three weeks yeah yeah minimum to just reflect recharge and come again so you know what I mean I never used to take no holidays for summer nothing I was always working throughout but now I can't do that as I'm getting older you just need to look off yourself otherwise you hit a crash you have to reset and you've got to take breaks where you can do you know what I mean but when I was on daytime radio no bank holidays I was working throughout everything no days off I was doing seven days a week oh my god every day throughout the whole year yeah so when you're taking these three weeks off you're going Ghana yeah are you going like Christmas time yeah yeah Christmas time is it called Dirty December Dirty December Dirty not Dirty Dirty you've been Ghana before I've never been oh you're gonna They're going to love you.

24:36You're going to love it and they're going to love you. So what? Is it? Because I see these videos of people that are still raving until like nine o 'clock. Brethren! People are not getting to the dance until gone one, two o 'clock because you're doing a round. You know what I mean? There's obviously there's a whole texting culture and texting community of what's going on and what's hot and everyone's doing a round but like you've just got energy and people are not starting to I'm leaving if you're going Polar Beach Club you're going whatever raves I'm leaving when it's sunrise 4, 5, 6 o 'clock I can't do this anymore when I'm leaving there's more people coming in that's insane because even Eddie's told me he's just like bro like he said that sometimes people start going at 3 a.m yes as standard as standard when you go UC you need to come yeah yeah yeah we'll look after you we'll host you like even when Crepton Conan came for the first time they're like nah because they're obviously West Indian but they're very much in tune with all cultures oh yeah yeah yeah I must say Steph London's very good at that as well She's Jamaican, but she knows she embraces all cultures.

25:36She's Dutch as well. So she used to live there, go to school there, whatever. But she knows about the UK culture, like the Dutch culture, the African culture, West Indian culture. So when people are going there, they embrace it. They know. Because obviously growing up in the South, you're not new. You probably had a lot of yard friends or Caribbean friends and African friends. I got back on there and Nigerian friends. Yes, 100%. So when you go there, it's going to be so many people that will know you. And some people, certain people that went out there with one-way tickets that were allowed to come back to the UK because they were naughty boys.

26:03Yeah, yeah, yeah. You probably know a lot of them as well. Yeah, trust me. You will see a lot of men that you know. Right, Mo, and because you're obviously your name brand now, you go there, everyone will want to just look after you and make sure you're good. That's what happened with Crepton Conan. They're loving it. Yeah. They're like, right, that corner's lit. They're going to all the races. So how long do you, like, let's say I'm going there for the first time. How long am I meant to be going there for? You can do, you can do. Can you do in a week? Yeah, you can do a week. But then have a plan.

26:28Okay. Have a plan. Know what you want to do. if you want to take in the culture and you want to go to the castle you want to check out or just like you want to go to the beach or you just want to check out the restaurant you want to check out the market there's so many things you can do do you know what I mean but it depends what you want to do but you've got to do it in moderation and have balance otherwise you'll burn yourself out don't just go there and just go club club club club you will burn yourself out yeah taking the food chill out would you say you feel like you've been quite pivotable in building that up 100 % before death in December but I definitely helped set pace for Dirty December.

27:02110%. Because what was it like? Even the club circuit and the DJ and me going as a UK DJ, I've been championing Ghana before Instagram was Instagram. This is a fact. I used to do parties out there with my sister, my sister Rima, big up Rima. We was like one of the early ones to do events and parties out there. Early. You can ask anyone who's anyone in Ghana. And at the same time, whilst going to Ghana, championing the artists, like screaming about Ghanaian independence, like backing the artists talking about on national radio in the UK here so that's been really important to me from before Instagram yeah yeah facts so that's that's what I can definitely say that's part of me so you've helped build up that scene and then you're so pivotable here in the UK scene yeah as a radio DJ yeah and you know you're a club DJ but you're you're not I don't see you as this one thing does that make sense yeah You're almost like a tastemaker in some ways.

27:59Yeah, yeah, yeah. I bet. Yeah. I am. Thanks for noticing that as well. But because of that as well, a few years back, Polydor approached me. The president at the time of Polydor Records approached me saying, what you're doing, you're a tastemaker, you're part of the culture, you're not just doing radio. We want you to be an A &R for Polydor Records. And so they signed me up and I was A &R, Polydor Records and helping with the A &R department and marketing as well. And that's where I was actually, I was championing Steph, but I was actually working in the label as well, that's science Steph. And then I built my relations with a lot of the artists there and a lot of the camps.

28:40That's where J. Cole was coming through. So I met up with J. Cole's team, Dreamville team. So I met up with Ibrahim, J. Cole's manager, we're good, we're cool. Do you know what I mean? I met up with the LVRN team, the Love Renaissance team, that's the home of Black, Summer Walker, all those guys, even Odile now, do you know what I mean? And that's where I built my relationships with them. And then with Black, he might jump to my song that I put out with Rema and Tion Wayne and Black, which was 4am. Yeah, yeah. And they picked that up as well. And that's done incredibly well. That put me into another stratosphere.

29:15Is that where you want to start? I say start, because you haven't started, but is that almost like the position that you want to start moving into now in some ways? Yeah, yeah. I've always been in music. and always been dabbled in my production as well, but I want to really focus on that now. Do you know what I mean? Because obviously I'm a DJ and I'm a radio personality, so sometimes those things take over. But this is very important to me as well. So I've always worked alongside fully fledged producers and musicians and I've always learnt from them. Do you know what I mean? So I really want to put more time into that, which is half the reason why I stopped daytime radio as well.

29:49Do you know what I mean? Just to focus on other things and other projects. I love radio. Radio loves me. I can do it for another 5, 10, 15, 20 years you know what I mean but I'm still doing radio on the weekends but not daytime I just need this space in my day in my week in my month in my year 100 % to breathe because I've heard breakfast radio is the hardest the hardest I call it when I'm doing and they still want me to do breakfast I'm still their official breakfast cover for the breakfast show so I do like 4 to 6 weeks in a year but then I call it the zombie hours the zombie week because the show starts at 6.30 I have to be there probably at 5.30 let alone what time I have to get up and get ready and wake up it's crazy full on zombie hours it's full on everyone I know who's worked in radio and I'm like so what time you have to because I heard that if you work in breakfast radio you know when it comes to events like let's say for example I don't know like a midweek event let's say the Mobos is on for example a lot of times you can't even go because you're like I've got my show in the morning so if I go I've got to leave at 8 o 'clock bed at 9 right literally this is insane I've done a Dave tour big shout out to Santan Dave shout out to the whole neighbourhood family they call me for the not this tour the one before the UK arena tour a few years back all the arenas all sold out it was a mazzaline and I asked radio listen I'm about to go and I'm about to Dave has just asked me to go and tour with him I need time off what we're saying here but time off like real time off like a couple of weeks a few weeks but they're like do you know what let's work together on this so what I was doing when I was going to all like Birmingham Manchester, Scotland they had studios and offices in every city so I was doing my show I was doing the Dave show the concert and then going to radio in the city the next morning there not coming back to London oh my god yeah that was real rock and roll you must have been burnt out I was burnt out oh my god burnt out but you know what if you're going to be a bear be a grizzly yeah so I was doing it so I was doing the Dave show and coming off stage like eating going to the hotel and doing a show in the morning and then there'll be another show or get on the coach or go over and go to the next city and just do it it was round the clock for at least two three weeks how much sleep do you think you was getting during that time not much yeah but you know what was you DJing at the after party then no but I was doing some of the after parties and we were going to some of the after parties because Meeks Manny was actually the support act so he was doing some after parties so I was DJing for him so some cities were doing after parties where I was playing as well.

32:21So, yeah, I was doing something. In fact, I was doing some of the after parties. It was mad. Do you know what? Thinking back now, I don't even know how I've done that. Do you know what I mean? People used to say to me, man, you're the hardest working person I know. You're 100%. Like, Kano said that to me. Yeah. We've got the same trainer. Big up Mark Finley, my trainer. And then Kano said, back in the day, you're the hardest working person I know. I was like, wow. And he works hard. Yeah. So I appreciate that. Do you know what I mean? Big up Kano. You know what's mad? because I know what touring is like when you do it.

32:49No, you know, you bust. No, but you know, when we done it when we was young, it was like, we're going to do the show. Yeah. We're going to go out and then we have a breakfast, get in the car. We're going to do the same thing again. And I remember getting my first burnout. I remember doing a show on Wednesday. I think Wednesday we was in maybe Oxford or Cambridge. Thursday we went somewhere else. So that weekend we're like, all right, here we go. I think Friday we did in Liverpool yeah went out in Liverpool there's one club we went to there's a this is the first time they said look you can have a table I was like a table what he's like yeah a big bottle of grey goose and it's mad because I never used to drink vodka until I started getting it for free right I said you know what I might have a little sip you know yeah and my god and then we done Birmingham which was the first time I'd done played to a thousand people Birmingham Academy right and I was like okay cool we go out and then we went out to this club and then they start doing you know when you go to a club and you're like oh listen I'm going to get you to go through the back go through the kitchen oh this is never felt this experience before then on a Sunday I think we done Bristol we were finished really throat was gone yeah of course and then they had this you know when they had the smoke machine yeah the smoke machine and I meant performing and the smoke I could feed at the back of my throat and I was like and I could just, I feel like people's looking at me like, yeah, bro, like we see the storyline.

34:19We know you're finished right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that was my first time compared to where I am now. Soon as the show's done, I'm in my car, I go straight home. Straight to the hotel. Okay, sure. But I have doors locked, but I have some people, I can still see them leaving venue. Of course, of course. I look on the story, I said, yeah, I'm in bed now. Crazy. Peppermint tea, little film, and I'm sleeping. Yeah. So, because I think now, you know where you're like, I know where I need to put my time. My time allows me to give the best I can give. Do you know what I mean? But I want to say kudos to you.

34:50I want to give you your flowers too. Because I remember, even the time when you came on my show, before Mo Gilligan was Mo Gilligan, before Mo the comedian was Mo the comedian, even though he was Mo the comedian. Because there was a transitional period. And you said it was peak. You're trying to work it all out. I had no clue, bro. Yeah. I had an idea. Of course, of course. But I didn't have a clue in the sense of... I'd jump on a radio show, I'd do a brand thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you get invited, like Stormzy, for example. Stormzy said, oh, I've got this Adidas thing. You, Michael, come.

35:19We're giving out trainers on the bus. Oh, that we were together. Yeah, bro. Oh, my God, yes. We went on London giving out trainers on the bus. Yes, that was us together. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's crazy. Insane. I've got that picture as well. Classic picture. Bro, that's what I mean. So a lot of that stuff for me, it just felt like, because remember, a few months before then, I was always doing stand-up, innit? I was always on the black comedy scene. No, no, but I was... Yeah, but where you've taken it... But I was working in retail, wasn't it? Yeah, yeah, cool, which is fine. I respect that.

35:45But where you've taken it, because I might not know how to level up. And you're just thinking, while you're working, while you're doing your retail, and you're doing those skits, which are all hilarious. Oh, thanks, man. You had the whole community in the palm of your hands. Yeah. And it was just getting bigger by the month. Do you know what it is, though? It's almost like when you... And I think you've probably felt this as well, where you know when you're like, I can see where this is going, I just need to figure out how to go there and yes I'll go to the events and the parties and get these contacts you had the kahunas though I might not do that to how to level up you see that where you are now where you are working with artists and especially because I think that's such a different space to occupy 100 % which is in the labels do you know what I mean yeah for me it's very important I really want to champion I'm always always about championing the next artist, the biggest artist and helping them go and blow.

36:40Do you know what I mean? But it's also important to me if it means consulting or A &Ring or managing, that's one of my lanes I would really want to get into. I've been doing that for a while but like properly, officially. Do you know what I mean? I've been A &Ring, I've been at labels, I've been consulting for many, many artists and whatever. Do you know what I mean? So like even now with labels like to bring them on a show or what do I think of this, what do I think of that? I get invited to listening parties like before it goes they go to cut records like what do you think of this who do you think we can get on it can you help us with this proper honest opinion yeah proper honest opinion because they trust my ear and the people that are asking me are people that are in the game yeah yeah yeah like proper musos hey it's Paige from Giggly Squad and I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products you have to go to Sephora I'm obsessed with the one size liquid blotting paper spray.

37:34It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden plush pair smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. Like people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing, which you know I love. So if you want the makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with. Shop only at Sephora. This episode is presented by Depop. We all have pieces in our closet that deserve a second life. That jacket you loved for a season?

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38:48Like, it could be Darkers. Darkers have called me on numerous of times. Darkers is, he's one of the top dogs in our country from our people do you know what I mean do you know what I mean people like Darkers or people like Twin I speak to them regularly about we work together on things do you know what I mean so it's important for me you know like to really really champion and stand next to the next artists that are blowing because I've been doing that but where's my own artists which is what I want to do whether it's me putting them on records whether it's me trying to help them or part of the management team or A &Ring this is what I'm doing I got like Rema on 4am before Rema was Rema and he never forgets that every time he sees me he always says Manny you're part of my career you're part of my journey you're part of everything you're like when you see Rema now look what he's doing he's like an absolute superstar taking over the world but then I had him I got him on my song when he was young and just fearless as well ready absolute superstar and I saw that is it about having that eye or I guess ear as well it's having the eye having the ear and also being a people's person and how to talk to people.

40:00How to work with different people, different teams, different cultures because the African culture is completely different. You need to know how to work with them. You need to like them and they need to like you more importantly. They might not want to work with you. Say for example, you're on A &R and it's very competitive in the record business because the A &Rs are all against each other. Maybe sometimes even on the same labels. But then where you get the win is where even though you have got passion, the artist and the management they need to like you. Why do we need to go with you? That's just it.

40:31Do you know what I mean? But yeah, so I said it to say it's very important to me. Like, early Stormzy, early Stormzy, early Dave, all was on my show. All of them. Every last one of them. Not every last one of them, but like, the majority of, Central Sea's first interview was on my show. Or when we done, in this very building, on the balcony. We did an old school versus new school clash. so I was doing the old school and Shane and Marie was doing the new school and then Deneo was handling the old school music and then Central C was the new school and Central C looked around and goes rah this is a set up he thought we were trying to trip him up and I said nah can't represent that was his first actual interview ask YB's yeah yeah yeah obviously I'm not saying we launched him or blew him up but that was a pivotal part of his career you've been there at like the stage where you know before people knew them as a household name 100%, 110%.

41:24I even saw YBs, I think he must have hit me in the gym. I was all training in the same gym at the time. He was telling me about Central Sea at the time. I was like, okay, cool. I never fropped him off. YBs, I'm sure I'd never fropped you off. No way. But then I thought, all right, cool. But sometimes you never know though. So I was like, all right, cool. I hope I said, yeah, I think I said, give me the email, boom, boom, boom. All good. Let me know what's the name, whatever, whatever. So we kept it cool and called you. But sometimes you never know. I'm so glad I didn't fropped him off because I didn't.

41:51But you never know. And this was before Dojo just blew. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, I remember seeing him in the gym in Lee Valley as well. Because it must be so hard then after. There's nothing worse when you throw someone off and they blow. Yeah. There's nothing worse. Is there anyone else that you've done that to? No, no, no. Because I'm a good guy. I'm a people's person. If it's good, I will support you and I'll back you. Yeah, yeah. Come on the show. If it's not a come on the show thing because I can't bring on everyone, I'll support it and I'll play it because I'm still on national radio.

42:15Yeah, yeah. My mixed show on Saturday and the Norte show on Sunday are the most listened to mixed shows, special shows in the UK. Facts, not fiction. Yeah, yeah. Because I think of the pressure though when, because you must get everyone, do you know what I mean? From the person from the label to the person down the road. Do people ever wait outside for you sometimes? Yeah. I've had that. I've had that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've had that. I've had that. I've had that. But not when I'm pre-recorded. If I'm pre-recorded then they can wait outside what they want. But when it's live sometimes, especially when there's guests and there's live I'll never forget when Capital X was Choice and I had on Jaden Smith Jaden Smith and this was when live radio was live radio and I was on Saturday morning live Joran was my producer ask him he was there and he was live and then we were doing phone-ins like live phone calls and then the more the longer he was on the show the longer people realised oh he's actually live yeah yeah bro by the time he got out the whole of Leicester Square was ram or half of Leicester Square was ram full of fans screaming we didn't even plan that oh yeah yeah yeah that doesn't really happen like that now yeah yeah yeah a lot of shows are pre-recorded yeah a lot of people might be pre-recorded or whatever but when it was live I've had a few like that when Jaden Smith came on my show outside was a roadblock oh wow screaming fans girls everywhere I was like yo this is crazy yeah yeah yeah yeah 100 % does that pressure get too much though sometimes when it feels like an artist is you know an artist wants you to put a track on or a manager or a label and they're like listen you're a tastemaker you know music you've got the eye you've got the ear no never pressure never pressure never pressure because it's what i do i've been doing it i'll tell you the truth sometimes people can't handle the truth but you've got to be prepared for it don't step in this game if you're not ready for it don't call me and ask me for my advice my advice or my my my what do i think and then if i tell you something or I don't like don't take offence don't ask me I'm not going to be here to say yes yes yes this is cold this is that or I won't play it don't get annoyed when you see me like whatever yeah bro you never play myself maybe I didn't like it how about that now what what are you going to tell me do you know what I mean I'll look at you in the face the same way you're looking at my face

44:35am I a dickhead is my name Douglas sorry to all the Douglas just listening it's true though people come with that energy sometimes Bretta I don't like your music what do you want me to do make better music and come at me properly don't come at me expecting things never come at me yeah yeah bro bro come here you come here who you talking to know how to talk to someone when you're asking and you want something that goes for all artists when you want something or you want to come on Mo's show yeah when you're when you want to come on my show, you want me to play your music or you're an up-and-coming comedian, you want to come on my show, his tour, know how to ask before.

45:17All right? Know how to ask because you're the one that wants something. Know how to message, know how to email, know how to text. Thank you. You know what's so interesting though is how to ask is some people, you know when you're just like, if you would have asked, I would have probably been like, of course. That's so important. But you know the way you said it. That's so important. Obviously, man, when I come to the show, I beg you like, bust me two tickets. Yeah, exactly. how dare you how dare you we can teach them do you know what I mean I've had man say yeah yeah fling up a retweet brother your mum retweet your mum how about that yeah yeah yeah like and comment and share these times if you ever like and comment on anything I'm doing move do you know what I mean before we wrap up I know you don't do a lot of these podcasts no so what kind of made you come and do this one for me today yeah I've got things to talk about.

46:08Do you know what I mean? I've got things to talk about. I've got a new single now. And it's turned out really nice. It's been received well. It's called Can We Make It Real? Featuring Ayana. One cold vocalist from Eastside London. Her tone is beautiful. Her tone is money. Please check it out. It's very, very nice. Do you know what I mean? Idris Elba's labels put it out. Bigger Idris Elba. Thank you, Idris. Seven Wallace. We've got the whole team at Seven Wallace. And it's a summer banger to be honest. It's been received well and people are really, really liking it. Do you know what I mean? and always said you know what next time I've got something out I've got something to talk about then I'll start coming on certain podcasts or shows do you know what I mean so for that for me please check it out when you can buy it stream it buy it first stream it talk about it share it let people know do you know what I mean it's called Come and Make It Will that I produced with my boy Marshall Music and then big up to Dayo she wrote the song and Ayana just put icing on the cake with the coldest vocal on the record it's just a it's a beautiful marriage because you're you're known as the name you can trust yes sir and you've been a massive figurehead within you know black music and culture yes you've seen them all come and you've all seen them go 100 % you've also seen them stay as well okay yes so I guess the last question is to you is what do you kind of want your legacy to be in some ways you know for your for yourself is it to put in another 10 years and say you know what I'm going to go gone and retire all you know what I want to start being behind the scenes of this music world I want people to to know me and remember me for the guy that really cared about the music really cared about the culture really championed there was quality of a quantity you know what I mean I spoke the truth you could trust me he stood by the right things he didn't lie he was always on time that's just me I want to be one of those guys a standout guy because there are very few and far between actual guys that you can trust or standout guys in this industry there's a lot of snakes do you know what I mean but I want to be one of those guys do you know what Manny a lot of people say Manny every time I speak to someone no one's got a bad word to say about you and if they have I think they've got their own problems I get them with everyone do you know what I mean so I'm one of those stand up guys that is really about the music whether it be playing music making music championing music doing events like if I'm doing parties or putting out music or in fashion you know there's going to be some kind of quality in what I'm doing that's what I'd say oh manny man it's been a real pleasure to have you on my pod bro it's been a pleasure I can I'm just getting warm it's a real pleasure to have you on I know you don't do a lot of this stuff I don't I really do mean what I say when I say thank you, because you've been there at like two major points of my career.

48:43And there are moments that I sometimes sit there and I go, oh, right, Manny Naughty was there. And I can't imagine what other artists as well, but also like, you know, fans of you, you know, listeners. I remember that time when Central Sea played or when I first heard Stormzy and I heard it through you or when you retweeted a tweet of an artist. Do you know what I mean? Like you have your own supporters that are like, yeah, Like I've never actually heard, you know, Manny speak about moments of his career in a way where he's supporting everyone else. When in actuality that the community, like we really support you and we really love what you do.

49:17And we really love you as DJ within our scene. So thank you so much for doing the pod. And this has been your beginning, middle and end. Thank you so much, bro. Thank you. Appreciate you, Thank you so much. Hey, what's up? Thank you so much for listening to the podcast today. Now, a lot goes in to making each episode. I know you hear my voice, but there's a team behind the scenes who helped make it. And if you did enjoy it, I'd really, really appreciate if you could show the love to them by giving us five stars. And if you also have the time, please leave us a review. It's always appreciated and we love reading the comments.

49:50And of course, we want to keep making it better. Thank you for listening and have a great day. Peace. Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. and I want to let you know that if you want the newest and hottest beauty products, you have to go to Sephora. I'm obsessed with the One Size Liquid Blotting Paper Spray. It's the first of its kind blotting spray that mattifies for up to eight hours. It's unreal. There's also the Summer Friday Shade Drops SPF 50, which basically lives in my bag at this point. Oh, and the Kayali Eden Plush Pear smells so good. It's sweet, warm, and addictive. Like, people literally stop me and ask what perfume I'm wearing, which you know I love.

50:29So if you want the makeup, skincare, hair, and fragrance products everyone's about to be obsessed with, shop only at Sephora.