K.O (rapper)

"See, the way I feel about it is, for example, if Messi (touch wood) were to pass away, Cristiano Rolando would possibly feel a certain way… he’d probably stop playing soccer"

"You know, the people you actually compete with are the reason why you go a little bit harder because they keep raising the bar but in the same breath, you’re not aware that you’re positioning yourself to be great or elevated as an artist"

"Whenever AKA would drop something, I’d be like, ‘Man, how do I come up with something stronger?’ Kiernan [AKA’s birth name] would always keep you on your toes. So, when such starts diminishing, whether by an unfortunate passing of a rapper or rapper’s tenacity to keep going, it makes it hard for one to keep the bar high"

"I think it’s still fresh in our minds, just the fact that he’s gone and the way that he left. So Hip-Hop is not in its best state right now. But as far as us getting together and making music, I think it’s in a good place sonically"

"The word ‘Phara’ has long carried street weight, often linked to outcasts and survivors"

"But I’m here to flip that narrative. A Phara isn’t just someone who gets by; it’s someone who rises, builds, and dreams despite the odds"

"A Phara is anyone who refuses to fold, regardless of background or circumstance"

"What’s a Phara? It’s the genius of turning pain into power, hustle into legacy"

"Phara City is our reality, the scars we carry, the victories we earn, the hope we hold onto"

"That spirit lives in every street, in every story. That spirit lives in this album"

"This song is a hustler's prayer and is very close to my heart,” he said. “I'm basically pleading with God to spare me because I still have so much that I need to do. The year [2022] has been hard on the hip hop community, and it's hard not to be conscious of how heavy the energy is around all of us. 'Emoyeni' is also a reminder that, even in trying times, we should not be ruled by fear and take a moment to celebrate"