Interview: Mist Talks Collaborations, Multiculturalism and Creating Music with Manchester United

Mist explains how he became Manchester United's chosen rapper.

mist adidas nemeziz
Adidas

Image via Will Cornelius

mist adidas nemeziz

Birmingham rapper Mist is currently riding a wave that has seen him grow from local legend to an established heavyweight within the UK rap scene in the space of two years. Crafting a consistent string of freestyles and street smashes on the come up, Mist crowned off the run with the release of his M I S to the T EP in 2016, taking him into the Champions League of British rappers. 

Working within a tight knit team of frequent collaborators to great effect, it’s no surprise the most successful British football club of all time also identify with these principles. Manchester United and adidas called on Mist and MoStack, with the pair dropping a Steel Banglez-produced official Manchester United anthem last month ahead of the new season.

We caught up with the 0121 rhymer as he stepped onto the stage at Reading Festival wearing the adidas Nemeziz Tango 17.1, to get the inside story on his meteoric rise and what it’s like to work with the biggest team in football.

mist adidas nemeziz
mist adidas nemeziz

A lot of the slang in your lyrics clearly comes from Birmingham and the people you grew up around. What was the early reaction to you using words like 'karla', 'goura', 'apnea'?

 

I grew up in a multicultural environment. People around me spoke different languages and my Asian friends spoke Punjabi and taught me a few words. If you asked me to speak a sentence, I most likely couldn't, but some of the lingo is just the words we’d speak to each other with. The reaction has been much bigger than I ever thought it would be. In the bigger picture, I’ve been told that me doing this has bridged a gap musically between cultures and I think that’s the most important thing.

 

What have been your favourite moments from touring around Europe and the UK this summer?

 

Going from country to country and people knowing every word of my songs. When Banglez mutes the music and you can hear the crowd rapping my lyrics, it’s a different feeling. Obviously lots of travelling does get to you but I just enjoyed going out and spreading the sound. 

 

What are the requests on your tour rider? Any travel habits or essentials?

 

Just the standard things, really: lots of water, a good few bottles of liquor, and always cranberry juice [laughs]. I don't ask for too much... Not yet anyway!

 

What are the main challenges of being a UK rap artist outside of London? Any other Birmingham rappers coming up that you believe can emulate you?

 

Because we have the internet, me being from Birmingham isn't a challenge anymore. Yeah, at first I heard a few things about the accent, but now people just relate to the words and that is what’s important.

Mist wears the adidas Nemeziz Tango 17.1. Find out more at adidas.com.

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