The Heart Of Local Hip-Hop: KoFlow Cuts No Corners In His Evolution

An ambassador of local hip-hop, KoFlow has been pushing the genre for nearly 20 years (Credit: Dju-lian Chng)

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: Hip-hop is a full-fledged culture, even in Singapore. The worldwide phenomenon has, over the decades, sunk its roots deep into the artistic soil of the Lion City, evolving into an identity of its own. A custodian of the culture, KoFlow is a name synonymous with its prevalence and growth, with a career that dates back to the early 2000s. He is very much a part of hip-hop’s blueprint in the city, with plenty of historical triumphs that’ve helped solidify his legacy and the urban genre.

Deft on the decks as a nimble turntablist, KoFlow (Wayne Liu) is an award-winning selector and Singapore DMC Champion; he even represented the nation to battle against other international DJs in the prestigious DMC World DJ Championships in London. Lauded as a hero in the local hip-hop scene that he would help advance, KoFlow drove the movement forward with his co-founded Solid Gold lifestyle brand, a series of hip-hop events that flourished in party playgrounds like Velvet Underground in the old Zouk. Today, Solid Gold Productions continues to be an institution of the local hip-hop scene, with KoFlow leading the way while grooming other up-and-comers.

Pushing the credibility of the genre further, KoFlow would go on to become one of the faces of local hip-hop, often booked as an ambassador to kick off brand events that celebrated the culture, and as a supporting act for hip-hop titans like Kanye West and Missy Elliott. Another huge conquest arose when KoFlow became the first Singaporean hip-hop act to headline a show at The Esplanade Concert Hall, where he told his story with the help of guest rappers and his breakdancing crew, Radikal Forze.

KoFlow was the first local hip-hop act to play a solo show at The Esplanade in 2017 (Credit: Colossal Photos)

To top things off, KoFlow is also a competent producer in the studio, and it shows irrefutably in his latest album released by Syndicate, Metem. The record is an outburst of belligerent beats and heavyweight synths, derived from genres that lurch in the low end like trap and future bass. A dystopian, gritty album that lands haymakers in every track – from the strings-led salvo of “Hear Me Coming” to the synth-sweeping slow-burner that is “I’m Gonna Miss You” – Metem shows a confidence that brandishes the veteran’s wisdom and depth. Even till this day, KoFlow is a master at what he does, and he’s not ready to be toppled off his throne just yet.

The kingpin shares the story of how he forged Metem in this interview, reminisces about his resounding growth, and how he’s felt about strengthening the heartbeat of hip-hop in Singapore.

KoFlow is fresher than ever with a new album in tow (Credit: Dju-lian Chng)

Hey Wayne. How have you been coping since life went into lockdown?

Hello Kevin, thank you for asking. I’ve been well. Can’t say the best, but I’m not struggling and that’s a blessing.

The restrictions haven’t stopped you from being productive with music. Was it daunting for you to put on the producer hat again?

The restrictions, in fact, gave me a lot of time and space to write music again. For the past few years, I have been travelling, focusing on DJ-ing and making routines so I barely finish most of the music projects that I start. It’s been three years since I last dropped a track so it really felt good to be back at it!

**Can you tell us the story behind your upcoming album, Metem? Has it been something you’ve been conceptualising for a while now?**

Metem, is a short handle of “Metempsychosis”, which means, at death, the soul transmigrates to a new body or a different species. That, to me, relates to what is happening around hip-hop. Boom-bap is what I used to listen to growing up, but as hip-hop evolved, boom-bap seemed dead to me, and even hip-hop seemed to change its form. It’s almost like while it has this new body, the message behind hip-hop lives. So in coming up with this album, most of the tracks are hybrids of hip-hop which include all forms of music that hip-hop has influenced.

KoFlow performed with classical musicians for his concert at The Esplanade (Credit: Colossal Photos)

Somewhere in 2017, I worked with classical musicians, throughout my solo concert at The Esplanade Concert Hall and the KoFlow-MFO Turntable-Orchestra project. And I was in awe when I heard so many strings played together in the Concert Hall. I just fell in love with the tension and storytelling of the string ensemble. Hence, Metem is sorta a continuation of that journey, with the hope that I can present the show ‘live’ with a 20- or 30-piece string ensemble.

How did you get into the headspace for the songs?

Usually, I start off by envisioning the purpose of the song. Will it be of club use, pure listening, or performance? Then I start writing the melody, and take it from there while imagining the space I’m in.

Is there a reason why you picked “Dreamers” as the album’s first single?

Partially, it was a continuation of the Esplanade solo concert, but also because of the current state of the situation we are in. I hope the song can help listeners continue dreaming and work hard towards their goals and brave these tough times.

The album features collaborators such as Mean and J.Joven. How did you select your partners in crime for this album?

I have always admired Mean’s ability as an artiste and what his representation as an artiste was. With everything stacked against him in a harsh industry, he managed to use that to his advantage and rose above it. For J.Joven, I had the blessing of meeting him during our classes in Dubspot. With his versatility and clever writing, I knew it would be a good complement to the already dramatic track.

KoFlow is also part of renowned local label, Syndicate (Credit: Kiat)

Metem was released by esteemed local label, Syndicate. How has it been being part of the Syndicate family these past few years?

The best thing about being part of it is that I’m always able to explore the real side of my musicality. With every crew member and especially Kiat’s positive support, I believe that it always bring out the best in everyone!

Without a doubt, this album is another feather in your cap as one of the hip-hop industry’s icons. How does it feel to be respected as a true blue ambassador of Singaporean hip- hop all these years?

Honestly, I haven’t thought too much about it. I guess I feel honoured to be respected in that way. But more importantly, being able to continue to do what I love doing, while paving the path for younger generations along the way is a plus. Much blessing.

“My legacy sounds a little too much for me to handle. I guess all along, I have been trying to represent the best version of myself.” (Credit: Dju-lian Chng)

How do you feel about the growth of hip-hop in Singapore? Do you feel that it’s still an imported phenomenon or that it has evolved into something that’s proudly Singaporean?

20 years ago, there were more underground groups that were trying their own thing. Right now, it seems like they have gotten a sort of formula in regards to the Singapore sound. The current crop definitely has raised the bar, and they sound unique individually. In my opinion, we are midway to being a proudly Singaporean thing!

Scenes from the Solid Gold parties at Velvet Underground, Zouk in 2016 (Credit: Solid Gold Productions)

You were instrumental in the spread of hip-hop in the city with your Radikal Forze crew and Solid Gold events. Do these continue to be pillars of your legacy? What do they mean to you today?

My legacy sounds a little too much for me to handle. I guess all along, I have been trying to represent the best version of myself. Just like Radikal Forze, we spread the movement of hip-hop through our passion for dance. As for Solid Gold, our main goal when we started was to bring back the good old days of hip-hop in the club. There was a time in 2008-2013 when EDM took over the whole scene and even ‘so-called hip-hop DJs’ turned to EDM just so they could pay their bills. No clubs wanted DJs to play hip-hop in their clubs. So that was our goal when we started in 2013, to bring hip-hop back into the clubs. After its success, many clubs started accepting hip-hop as one of their main nights, and a lot more collectives jumped on the bandwagon.

The Solid Gold nights would unite luminaries in the local hip-hop scene (Credit: Solid Gold Productions)

I’m happy that we have reached our goals, and in a way, helped our industry’s hip-hop DJs find themselves again. The goal right now for us is to introduce the authentic hip-hop sound to the younger masses, which is still whatever that had influenced hip-hop and anything with hip-hop influence. Unlike mainstream hip-hop nights where you only hear rap music or current top 40s, we still rock our disco, funk, soul, dancehall and dope beats altogether. If you ask me what Radikal Forze and Solid Gold mean to me and many of our peers, we are still the heart and soul of hip-hop in Singapore.

Your talent on the turntables is also extraordinary. How do you keep your skills fresh on the decks all these years?

I think it’s the passion that drives me on. Back then when I wasn’t producing that much, much of the time was dedicated to making new routines and mixes. The main idea is that every time you come to my set, it’s a ‘show’ rather then just a DJ playing music. That helps me to stay focused and make sure that I’m on the top of my game. I came from a #RealDJing background, which means with today’s technology, it can help me execute things that I used to wish I could do with just two records and a mixer; simple things like jumping from one part of the song to another in an instant. Keeping yourself fresh is really as easy as dedicating time for practice.

“If you ask me what Radikal Forze and Solid Gold mean to me and many of our peers, we are still the heart and soul of hip-hop in Singapore.” (Credit: Dju-lian Chng)

From The Esplanade gig to winning the DMC, what would you say is your greatest milestone over the years?

I would say winning the local DMC was really just a small step. The real milestone was the Flow show at The Esplanade Concert Hall; to be the first Singaporean DJ and hip-hop act to have a solo show there. Although I might not have the hottest selling record or tonnes of followers on social media, I must have done something right to solidify my position in the scene. And of course, playing with the 80-piece Metropolitian Festival Orchestra! It completed my childhood dream of playing with an orchestra in a concert hall. And also, I had always envisioned bringing the whole street culture into a high-art venue, to sort of bridge that gap. That bucket list has been ticked twice!

And lastly, do you think the music industry is going to be able to bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis?

It will most definitely. I wanna take this opportunity to ‘big up’ everyone in the music industry. It’s not gonna be the smoothest ride, but with everyone’s passion and effort, we will be right back up. Hang in there!

KoFlow’s newest album, Metem, is out now on Spotify and Bandcamp. Follow his Facebook and Instagram page for more updates of his activities.