Pozer sat down with NME backstage at Reading 2025 where he opened up about his ambitions in UK rap, winning a MOBO, and making Jersey club “trendy” in the UK. Watch our full video interview above, or check out the interview below.
The 22-year-old has already crammed a lifetime’s worth of milestones into his first year in the game. His debut single ‘Kitchen Stove’ came out last February, quickly went viral, and racked up over 43million Spotify streams and 6million YouTube views. Then after the release of his follow-up single ‘Malicious Intention’, he became the first ever UK rapper to have two singles chart simultaneously, making him one of the genre’s and the nation’s fastest-rising stars.
Since then, the Croydon star has released his debut EP ‘Against All Odds’ to much acclaim, won her first MOBO Award for Best Drill Act, and has worked with scene heavyweights AJ Tracey and Aitch.
Being on the Reading & Leeds bill was another first for Pozer. “This was a dream,” he told NME backstage. “I never thought within the first year I’d be doing that. Everything I’m doing is a learning experience, but I enjoy it a lot.”
Known for fusing Jersey drill with a distinctly UK swagger, Pozer insisted his sound was “too original” to be mistaken for an import: “I made it trendy, I’ll say that. But I feel like Jersey speaks volumes. People who don’t speak English can listen and still like it because you can still feel the music.”
That same self-belief also drove his bigger vision for the future. “I want to be the figurehead in the UK,” he said firmly. “When you think UK rap, you have to think of man – but on a grand scale, with no debate.”
Check out our full interview with Pozer below, where he opens up about his breakout track ‘Kitchen Stove’, his love for wave rap pioneer Max B and why winning a MOBO felt like the ultimate stamp of approval.
NME: Hello Pozer. Since dropping your debut single ‘Kitchen Stove’ last February, your career trajectory has been wild! How’s that been?
Pozer: “I compiled it. I never used to have time [to record because] I’m busy, so I just put bits and bits together. [Once I had] the time, I [sat] there and cultivated it. I actually sat with that song. It’s my baby. It’s my favourite ‘til now. Very, very, very [sentimental].”
Did you expect it to blow up?
“Not, not to the extent that it’s gone. I thought it would do well. That’d be receptive. Maybe like 100,000 views, if that. But for where it’s gone now, I’d never imagine that.
“This is my first time being at Reading, I didn’t know [I’d ever be here, let alone perform]. This was a dream still… When I won the MOBO, that was surreal. I didn’t believe it when they announced it and told me. I thought they were lying, but it put everything into like verification for me. It’s stamped. [I must] continue.”
How do you balance the party side of your music with the motivational side, like on ‘Follow Your Dreams’ from ‘Against All Odds’?
“Most definitely. Life is full up of more than one thing. So I try to involve it in the music. You want to chase your dreams, you want to be motivated and productive and that. I do like going out, having to kick back, let the hair down. So it’s both. It’s both sides of it all.”
You’ve already worked with AJ Tracey and Aitch. What was that like?
“At the time as well, I just dropped ‘Kitchen [Stove]’. So when I locked in with AJ, I was still very fresh in the scene. I used to listen to him, so it was like a fanboy moment. I’ll be honest, I had to contain myself. I’m working with you now, but I actually like your music. With Aitch, it’s pretty much the same thing. It’s all a learning experience more than anything because you better step up to the plate. You’re with the big boys, innit? But I’ve enjoyed doing that and shout them out every time [for] show them my love.”
Who are some of your influences?
“Max B, definitely. Also Nines, Skrapz, Young Adz and Dirtbike LB [of D-Block Europe]. For my sound specifically, I don’t really look outwards. But those guys – the way they convey their music, it’s inspiring. With Max B, especially, [I like] everything about him. I used to listen to him in secondary school with earphones up my sleeve… I think he’s an influencer before we put a name to it [because] he’s very influential. His music is original. It’s true to him. There is no guideline with [his] music, [and] he made his lane.”
Looking to the future, what are your goals with music?
“I want to be the figurehead in the UK. When you think UK rap, you have to think of man, but on a grand scale. There’s no debate in it. I want hits, I want a summertime vibe, you know what I mean? I want an anthem. I want to do everything, really. I’ll just reach the highest pinnacle I can do in music and then see what’s next. [I’m going to] trust the process, make good music, and do good business. Don’t [want to] be a side man.”
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