music
‘I’ve rebranded as a stoic. It’s my ting now!’ The crime and punishment of Pozer, UK rap’s fastest, fiercest talent
In a chaotic London childhood, Isaiah Sampson got drawn into drug dealing and worse before hauling himself into the charts. He opens up about his psychological scars and trust issues
TL;DR
- Pozer, born Isaiah Sampson, experienced a nomadic and challenging childhood in South London, often moving with his single mother and dealing with his father's intermittent presence due to prison.
- His music is characterized by frank and violent lyrics documenting his experiences with street life, drug dealing, and crime, often set to the relentless rhythm of New Jersey club music.
- Pozer describes growing up feeling isolated and sad, witnessing significant violence that led to desensitization and trust issues, making it difficult for him to grieve or form close friendships.
- He left school at a young age to engage in criminal activities like dealing weed and stealing bikes, but eventually found an outlet and a path to success through rap music.
- Despite achieving chart success and collaborating with established artists, Pozer still feels a lack of guidance and views his music as a self-serving outlet for his inner voice.
- He has rebranded himself as a 'stoic,' working towards mental stability by managing his emotions and thoughts more effectively, partly due to the outlet music provides.