After sell out shows around the UK and sharing the stage with the likes of Nas and MF Doom, there is no doubt Benjamin Coyle-Larner (aka Loyle Carner) is leading the way in UK hip-hop. Staying away from the gangster posture hip-hop has become known for, Loyle Carner’s songs are an honest poetic insight into the relatable life of the London rapper. Instead of harsh aggressive beats, his mellow music takes heavy influences from a jazz inspinspired east-coast hip-hop scene. Together, the relationship between his creative lyrics and expressive beats has created one of the best debut album we have seen in the recently release Yesterday’s Gone. We spoke to the rapper to find out more about him, his music and the GOMA Collective project he has helped set up.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in West Norwood in South London.

Did you get involved in the music scene there growing up?
I tried to stay away from it really as I was much more up for doing my own thing. I have since linked up with Tom Misch quite a lot, who is South London’s king.

What kind of music were you brought up on?
First and foremost, I grew up on a lot of rap music from both sides of the river – listening to loads of Getz, Jehest, Skinnyman and Roots Manuva, then on the other side, listening to stuff like Mos Def, Talib Kweli and anyone else of that elk. In my house there is a lot of Bob Dylan, David Bowie and Leonard Cohen also.

Can you remember the first album you owned?
It was either The Red Light District by Ludacris, which is pretty big but quite embarrassing at the same time, or it was Be by Common. I would like to think it was the Common album as it’s 100% in my favourite top five records and he is undoubtedly my favourite rapper ever.

Are there particular rappers you were specifically influenced by?
I’m into a lot of grime as well as hip-hop so there are a lot of influences from both. I have picked up little bits from both too and kind of merged them together. There are a few rappers that I hold in the highest regard; Jehest is the best rapper from the UK ever and I am very fortunate to have him feature on Yesterday’s Gone, Skinnyman, Roots Manuva, Mos Def, Common and Nas of course.

Is there a Loyle Carner grime album hidden out there?
There is but you don’t need to worry about it. I was a big fan of it but I never really got my hands on those kind of beats. All my friends were making hip-hop, so that’s what I started making.

When did you start rapping as Loyal Carner?
I went by the name Mowgli for a little while, as I used to run round the house naked when I was younger, but there is already another rapper under that name so I had to switch it up pretty quick. I didn’t have a name for a while and was just called Benjamin, but everyone who is mixed race and cool seems to be called Benjamin, so that fell off as well. My mum came up with it one day – I had done this video when I was about sixteen and I needed a name so people knew who I was. She said, “Just call yourself Loyle Carner.” I used to call myself Loyle Carner when I was younger by accident because I was dyslexic and would get my surname round the wrong way.

Your music is very introspective and the album as a whole is a window into the life of Loyle Carner. Is that something that comes easy to you and what makes you write a song?
It’s usually something personal – anything that is connected to me that needs figuring out. It’s never anything too complicated or too ambitious, if something hits me I will write about it. If nothing hits me for a couple of weeks, I don’t mind, it means nothing is going wrong.

Tell us a bit about Yesterday’s Gone?
It wasn’t an album where there is “this, this and this” or “this is going to happen and that is going to happen”. I did have little bits I knew I wanted to include, like my dad’s record and a couple of skits that I had recorded over the years, but for a long time I didn’t have anything. It felt like I just couldn’t write because nothing was really happening to me, which could be seen as a good thing. After a little while and as the studio time was coming up, I was gathering up the tunes I had written, piecing them together and thinking “shit, I have an album here!”.

Have you been thinking about the next album?
I’m not trying to think about it too soon but I am always writing tunes. Hopefully this album will open up more people to make songs with, and get my hands on some beats by other producers that I respect.

The cooking project with the GOMA COLLECTIVE looks like it has been a fantastic success, what gave you this idea?
I grew up with ADHD myself and would always have a bit of peace when I would be cooking. I figured if it would work for me, then it could work for kids in similar situations. So we went about getting a cooking school up and running, and hopefully it can continue to grow so we don’t have to turn any kids away. We have been building on it for quite a while now and it took a long time to get it into the position it is now. It’s incredible.

What has been a musical eye-opener?
It was when I listened to my dad’s album. He made an album that no one new about and my mum found it after he had passed. It was like chatting to him again and listening to his inner most thoughts. It made me realise that I wanted to get to his level in a sense; if I’m not about then at least anyone who loves me can have my music. It added pressure to the recording but also an added beauty, that people can find it and enjoy it again.

Who would be in your ultimate supergroup?
Off the top of my head, David Bowie, Common, Tom Misch, Jorden Rakai and me.

What would be your perfect line-up for a concert you are putting on and where would it be?
Notorious BIG as I never got to see him live and I think it would have been insane. I would loved to have seen David Bowie and Bob Dylan when he was younger. Sampha would have to be on that list too. It would be at Somerset House in the summer – it’s open yet intimate.

If you could meet up with any artist, who would it be?
I really want to link up with Romesh Ranganathan. I would have loved to meet Shakespeare also and just chat.

If you could give out a musical award, what would it be for and for whom?
I would give an award to my mum for the best taste in music. I would get Patti Smith to give it to her.

What music are you listening to at the moment?
I’m listening to a lot of Anderson .Paak, the new J Cole album and a friend of mine called MANIK who’s coming with me.

What are your future plans?
To keep busy, keep touring, stay creative, stay happy and perhaps go to South America.

Website: http://loylecarner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoyleCarner
Twitter: https://twitter.com/loylecarner