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Interview: Q&A

MTLien: Wasiu on Outkast’s influence & how MTL shaped his identity

Last month Montreal artist Wasiu released his origin anthem track “MTLien,” produced by Montreal super producers Tommy Kruise and Dear Lola.

The “MTLien” narrative is a nod to Outkast’s ATLiens album, and the duo’s mission to establish southern rap as geographical sub-genre. Similar to Andre and Big Boi, Wasiu has made it his mission to establish Montreal as its own sub-genre and geographical region. That’s where the “MTLien” idea comes into play. But it’s also a nod to the journey Wasiu has taken in order to establish his identity and to the embrace the feeling of being an “alien.”

Wasiu’s parents split up when Wasiu was six years old. His Nigerian-Muslim father moved to Toronto and Wasiu was raised by his Haitian-Protestant Christian mother in Montreal. Wasiu attended a predominantly white school where he struggled to come to grips with being black. He opted not to use his Nigerian middle name, “Wasiu,” and instead went by “Jimmy Salami” because he didn’t want to get made fun of. Plus he lives in Quebec… which is pretty much the outcast of Canada.

But the one part of himself Wasiu has always strongly identified with is being a Montrealian – an MTLien. And that’s a narrative he’s been pushing from jump. For this track, Wasiu digs even deeper into that narrative while delivering his first ever full-fledged sing-rap track. Check out our in-depth interview with Wasiu about being an MTLien below.


Q&A: Wasiu

HipHopCanada: What’s the significance of this song to you, and what’s the significance behind releasing this now?

Wasiu: This song is literally just me. The culmination of my experiences and feelings up until this very second of my life. It’s me letting the listeners in on my past, fears and ambitions… straight up. I’ve been pushing this MTLien narrative and image for a while with just glimpses. But this song just lays it all out. You can call it the origin story.

HipHopCanada: This is actually the first full-fledged sing-rap song you’ve ever released. What’s the story behind that, and what prompted you to switch up your delivery like that?

Wasiu: Interesting. I guess you’re right. Though I’ve always been into singing (trying to, at least). You can tell from most of my hooks and bridges in other songs. And the harmonies I try to incorporate (my favourite so far being “Daddy Issues”). I like to think most of my songs have melodic/singing elements in them. I love rapping but I also love melodies and harmonies, which I most likely get from my mother who is a gospel singer. But as for the song… that’s just how it came to me. I didn’t want to fight the creative instinct so I just went with it to the end.

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HipHopCanada: What I found very interesting about this song was that although it’s basically your own Wasiu anthem track… on a sonic level, it’s not actually an accurate portrayal of the music you typically make (you’re sing-rapping over jazzy production on here).

Wasiu: I’ve become the type of artist who can find my footing on a wide variety of beats. It took a while to get to this. I never want to be married to one style or sound. So whenever something different is presented I accept the challenge and do my thing on it.

HipHopCanada: When I first met you, you explained this dynamic to me about your upbringing and how you’ve never really fit into any one group – culturally, religiously, racially, geographically. But the one thing you do strongly identify as, is a MTLien. Talk to me about that and how Montreal has shaped your sense of self.

Wasiu: The most important thing Montreal has taught me is to be ok with being a little bit of everything. The common saying here is that “Montreal is a melting pot”. This phenomenon broadened my views which allows me to authentically write songs from different perspectives and mold onto any beat I come across. It gave me the ability to adapt to any situation. Being an MTLien started off as a curse when I thought I didn’t belong to any one thing. But it turned out to be a blessing when I figured out that it also meant that I can belong to anything.

HipHopCanada: Talk to me about the significance of Outkast and ATLiens to you. And tell me about the first time you ever listened to ATLiens.

Wasiu: I always liked Outkast. But when I learned a little more about their story I fell in love with them. I’ve mentioned it often in the past that they influenced me so much because I related and connected to their plight. I’m a ’90s baby so most of my experiences with the golden age of hip-hop came retroactively. Still, when I first heard ATLiens I was blown away. I was stuck on “Two Dope Boyz (In A Cadillac)” for days. Until I moved on to ATLiens, which I was stuck on for even longer. It’s the type of album I couldn’t listen to in one sitting because I kept wanting to replay damn near every song I came across.

HipHopCanada: Tell me the story behind how you and Tommy wound up working together on this one, and why this particular beat stood out to you.

Wasiu: I’ve seen Tommy at many functions because the scene here is pretty small. Eventually you will run into everybody. We shared our mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work and said “Yo! We gotta work on something soon”. He sent me a couple of beats while I was in Texas last year for SXSW. I chose the jazzy sounding one ’cause it got me in my feels. Got it over to Lola to add his co-production magical touches and the rest in history.

HipHopCanada: This may stir up some more Outkast conversation… but I think the idea of being an “outcast” is something that has a very negative connotation. But you’ve been able to use it to your advantage, artistically.

Wasiu: No one wants to follow a sheep. You gotta go against the grain sometimes and form your own path. The “outcast” angle has worked to a certain extent so far because it’s authentic and relatable. Everyone at some point in their lives has felt as though they didn’t belong. MTL represents this feeling and I’m the personification of the city.

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Interview conducted by Sarah Jay for HipHopCanada

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