Trill Tega is an Irish-born Nigerian rapper making music in the hip-hop and Afrobeat style.
Growing up in Lagos, Tega was exposed to Afrobeat at its source, where its rhythmic foundation would later become central to his approach, reflecting the continuing influence of African music on hip-hop today.
He has collaborated with artists including Wale, A$AP Ferg, and Central Cee. Known for his electric live performances, Trill Tega has built an international audience while remaining independent.
Full segment featured in Issue 13 of Living Proof Magazine
You’re so well connected. How do you find yourself in these positions?
I gave myself an excuse for even having an answer to that, and I gave myself an excuse early on. It’s in my name. TRILL equals Too Real In Living Life, which is the most authentic way of living. Imagine if there was a portal, if there were a billion versions of myself. This version of myself is the most authentic. If a portal opened and the billion versions of me came through, they wouldn’t jump me because I’m the most me. It’s crazy for me now where I feel like something has definitely happened. I don’t know what else could have happened. I could have been a criminal or something.
You grew up in Nigeria and Canada? Wild mix.
Yeah, born in Dublin, Ireland too. Nigeria for 14 years and then moved to Calgary, Canada with my aunt. It was during the height of Ebola and I couldn’t go back to Nigeria. I stayed for a year in her basement, then joined school over there. Long story short, something happened with my school around the time I started making music. They almost expelled me for making music.
They tried to expel you for making music?
Yeah. The whole school rioted for weeks. I had everything documented. They ended up only suspending me because it got too crazy and made the news. After that, I blasted the school on Snapchat and it went viral. The school was high ranking, but after everything it dropped massively.
That’s why I had to leave Canada. There were alumni looking at me angry. London changed everything though. A lot of my friends from Nigeria were here, all trying to live authentically and build something real. It gave me fuel. I realized this is not a playground.
Was that how you linked with Slawn and the Motherlan boys?
I’ve known everyone in Motherlan since we were kids, like seven years old. Lagos is very intertwined. We grew up together, so when we got to London, it was like we already knew what time it was. We knew the stakes.
We came together because the odds are stacked against us. It’s an underdog mentality. Everyone just wanted an authentic way to make it and really live it. When we came through, people were confused like, what do you mean you can make money your own way? We made it cool.
London, I will forever thank. I’ve been here for nine years.
How do you feel like London’s rap heritage has affected your sound? You sampled early Skepta on ‘9’.
I remember making that song in class in Cambridge and thinking I sounded too American. I love the American sound, but I was like, I’m in the UK, let me tap into something grimey.
I have real relationships with Skepta. Shoutout Uncle Skep. When we first came to London, he was already supporting us from Lagos. A lot of artists visit Nigeria, but Skepta really showed up. He helped bring a lot of us here and looked after us. If I was going to tap into a UK sound, it had to come through him.
You were hungry enough to force your way into rooms.
I thank God every situation worked out. I used to sneak backstage at shows in Nigeria and try to convince people to let me perform. I always found a way.
Even recently at Homecoming 2023 with Odunsi, he gave me a moment to play my track during his set. I came out and the crowd screamed. That was one of my craziest moments.
Do you find it frustrating having to prove yourself more?
Absolutely, but I love it. I would never trade it. That pressure is what made everything work. All I care about is evoking emotion and seeing it come back from the audience.
There were so many times things did not work out. I once waited backstage for hours trying to meet Future at Eko Hotel in Lagos. Security blocked me right when he came off stage. Moments like that hurt, but they shape everything.
Read the full interview in Living Proof Magazine Issue 13, available on the Living Proof Patreon and Online Shop.
Photography by: Sam McKenna
