BANJI
cjr.

Diagnosed with autism in 2003 at three years old, I was non-verbal until around 5–6. As my speech developed I built a hybrid accent — London base with subtle American tonality — reflecting both my background and the way I process language.

Music became my outlet. Early influences: DMX, Nas, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West.

From 2016 to 2018 I studied A-level Music Technology at Woolwich Polytechnic Sixth Form. I loved lyricism, flow and production, but had never played or made music. As I remember it, Mr Smith did all my coursework and told me to focus on the exam — I credit him as the main reason I could study music at university. He has since passed away; I believe it was around 2019 or 2020, before or during COVID, but I don't remember the exact date.

I started at the University of Staffordshire in 2018, completing a BA Music Business and Production in 2021 before returning that September to start an MA Music Production. I completed the MA in 2022 — producing, mixing, mastering. In 2022 I stepped to the mic, inspired by artists who create and perform their own music. Since then: four EPs — ME (2023), Discovery (2024), REBORN (2025) and BEFORE REVEALING MYSELF (2026) — charting my growth as an artist and storyteller.

Returning to London in 2022 marked my transition from music producer to fully independent rap artist, writer and producer. Wired4Music and the Roundhouse played a huge part in my development — both go by age, and I was a Creative Member at the Roundhouse right up until my 26th birthday in April. I'm now an alumnus of both, but their impact stays with me.

From beats to bars. I spent years purely making beats — no mic, just production. Picking up the pen flipped it: multisyllabic schemes, double entendres, real storytelling. The pen game is now the sharpest tool I've got, and I still produce every record myself.