Newham Rapper Zino Vinci Talks ‘Baby Blue’ EP, Influences, Fashion & More
We caught up with East London emcee Zino Vinci as he breaks down his new EP—set to be one of 2021’s hottest new releases.
You’d struggle if you tried to sum up Zino Vinci in a sentence. Part rapper, part graphic designer and conceptual artist, Zino Vinci lives up to his Renaissance-inspired stage name. Born Jefferson Okoro, the 21-year-old German-born East London rapper has been slowly fine-tuning his skills over the past few years.
While only four tracks long, the Baby Blue EP packs a lot in its brief runtime. The production on the project was handled by MaybeAnton while Zino himself did the mixing on the EP. Despite being only 21, Zino comes across as a seasoned veteran.
The first song on the EP called “Baby Blue” opens with a production and tone not too dissimilar to that of Blu and Exile or Madlib on the Stones Throw label. While the UK rap scene is dominated by drill, trap and Afrobeat, Zino finds his niche by subverting what’s expected of an atypical UK rapper.
In the song, Zino raps with effortless delivery. His flow is only rivalled by the likes of a Ghostface Killah or Black Thought.
Towards the end of “Baby Blue”, the track is assisted by some soulful R&B chops and a vocal sample of AZ from Nas’ “Life’s a Bitch”. The incorporation of elements from Nas' seminal illmatic album sets a high bar of quality—this is the Zino Vinci State of Mind.
Baby Blue’s lead single is track two, entitled “Real Thicc”. “Real Thicc” is a love letter to Zino’s passions, namely television shows and pop culture. Notably, homage is paid to rap monolith MF DOOM throughout the song, reflected in the rhyming schemes. You get a real sense of who Zino is after listening like you understand what makes him tick. Throughout “Real Thicc” you’ll catch witty one-liners, bravado and unorthodox rhyming straight from the planet Jupiter.
Fans were also treated to a music video for “Real Thicc”, featuring homages to; Adventure Time, The Boondocks, Game of Thrones, Chappelle Show and DOOM’s Mm.. Food among others. Zino Vinci produced and animated the video himself, adding to his already stacked list of creative outlets.
Zino’s visceral storytelling continues onto the EPs third track “Studley Road”. “Studley Road” touches upon Zino’s background growing up in London as well as racial profiling. These themes are set to a jazz-infused instrumental similar to a J Dilla or 9th Wonder. Zino also emulates and builds upon the formula set out by contemporary rappers like Ghetts or Skinnyman on “Studley Road”. His bar-heavy and commanding delivery is nothing short of impressive.
The Culture Crypt: What can you tell us about “Knock Knock”?
Zino Vinci: “To the naked ear, this is just a love song, but I wanted something more than that. This song is way more conceptual than others. It follows a man about to pick up his love interest for a date. On his way, he reminisces on a few intimate moments that they shared together.”
“As the song goes on, I took a break from rapping and just let the beat speak for itself. At the end of the song, a lot has changed. Skip a year later, and the man has revealed himself to be a homicidal maniac obsessed with the love interest. He is now knocking on her door in an attempt to break into her home.”
Favourite song on Baby Blue?
“Probably “Studley Road”, but I love them all.”
Who are your musical and non-musical inspirations?
“For music, it is Kendrick Lamar easy. He was the first-ever artist to make me want to rap. Outside of music, it’s my mother, she is a hard-working Nigerian mother of three who works most days of the week as a nurse.”
What separates you from other UK artists?
“I would say my beat selection. Most of the producers I work with tend to be from outside of the UK. If I am working with a UK-based producer, they just do not sound like what the rest of the UK rappers rap over. Also, being born in Germany and growing up on lots of American media, lots of people say I give off an American sound. I find that both interesting and kinda funny.”
The inspiration behind the Real Thicc video?
“I feel like “Real Thicc” was a playful song with an upbeat vibe whilst still maintaining my lyrical prowess. I looked toward the Madvillain “All Caps” video as inspiration and just went from there. I also thought it would be cool to reference all the shows and cartoons I watched growing up.”
Plans for the future?
“Right now, I have about three mixtapes I am working on. One of those tapes is for my collective ‘Village in the East’. I will also work on more visuals and just establish myself as a musical artist. I would say the end goal is to be heard and appreciated on a larger scale. For me, that could be independent or signed. I’m also working on my brand Bawne London right now too. At the moment, we are producing graphic tees, but I would love to venture into other fields such as magazines, YouTube, podcasts etc.”
Stream Baby Blue below:
