80purppp’s Creative Breakthrough on ‘SUITE 96 SIDE A’

80purppp offers the most accurate representation of himself on this project.

Photography by Ty Ferguson

With a sound that blends hip-hop, R&B, and alternative influences, 80purppp continues to blur the lines between genres. His most recent album, SUITE 96 SIDE A, presents him as one of the most compelling voices in the music scene.

Hailing from Harrow, England, the Ghanaian native broke into the scene with the single “Hex,” earning him RIAA Gold certifications in both the U.S. and Canada after racking up over 400 million streams and nearing Platinum status. That success catapulted his rise, gaining him over six million monthly listeners on Spotify as well as placements on major editorial playlists like Mood Ring and Tear Drop, to name a few—solidifying his place as a key player in the future of hip-hop and alternative music. 80purppp has since gone on to work with Grammy-winning producer Nascent featured on Miloe’s single “Make Ur Way” and captivated audiences with his ever-growing electrifying stage presence such as his headlining performance at SXSW 2023. 

Now, with SUITE 96 SIDE A, 80purppp offers the most accurate representation of himself navigating personal losses and embracing creative breakthroughs. The seven-track album is an immersive production fueled by his genre-fusion and set against the backdrop of the ‘Neverland Hotel’ – a symbolic space within the record, through which he takes listeners on a journey of reflection in the ‘96th suite’ with tracks that cleverly play into the lingo such as “HOTEL LOBBY,” “ROOM SERVICE,” “ELEVATOR FREESTYLE” and the standout single “VALENTINE.” 

80purppp chatted with 1202 MAGAZINE about the inspiration behind SUITE 96 SIDE A and his love for telling personal life stories in his music.

Your music seamlessly blends genres like hip-hop, R&B, and neo-soul. How do you approach genre fusion in your work? 

I feel like the genre fusion happens naturally. I was brought up listening to so many different kinds of music, and as I got older, I started to dive into projects where the genre was nuanced or ambiguous, which definitely had an effect.

Starting with piano lessons in your childhood and transitioning to rap in high school, how has your musical background influenced your artistry? 

Learning classical piano shaped the way that I write and see music, subconsciously exposing me to music theory at a young age. Writing music in any way has something in common with learning how to play and compose music on the piano, so that translation helps me to this day.

What was the creative process and vision behind ‘SUITE 96 SIDE A,’ and what do you want listeners to take away from it? 

The process was definitely more conscious than I think it’s been for me before. We were actively thinking about how the story was going to flow as we were making the music. One of the bigger themes I wanted to capture in the project was that of heterotopias. These transitionary, almost supernatural places and the effects that they have on people, more specifically me, and how my experiences and perspectives are important, and how your experiences and perspectives are important. That was the mantra of this project.

Was there a particular track on the album that challenged you creatively or emotionally while making it? 

‘HOTEL LOBBY’ was definitely hard to write about in the sense that I didn’t want to expose how I felt to the world, as well as my experiences that made me more vulnerable. ‘REAL’ on Side B of the tape was by far the hardest song to write in the sense that I was actually confronting myself as I wrote it. Every line was a meditation.  

‘VALENTINE’ is one of the standout singles from the album. What inspired the song, and how did you bring its emotions to life in the studio? 

I wanted to experiment with perspectives and characters. I wanted to give another character my own thoughts and feelings and place them in a setting. I decided to write not from my own perspective but from hers.  

You have Ghanaian and London roots. Being raised in Edmonton, how have these diverse cultural backgrounds influenced your music and identity as an artist? 

It’s given me the ability to draw identity from different places and identify with other artists from these places.  

You’ve been dropping music for a while now. How do you think your artistry has evolved since your early releases? 

I’ve just gotten sharper and trimmed the fat quite a bit. I’m also more inclined to be original and figure out who I really am. I think being real in that sense will help people the way my favorite artists help me. 

Are there any artists or producers you're eager to work with in the future? If so, how do you decide who to collaborate with on projects?  

I would love to work more with Grant Lapointe. He’s an insane talent who understands music on a very intimate level. I respect that and would jump on any more opportunities to lock in with him. 

What’s next for 80purppp? Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited about? 

I’d love to do some shows and expand more on this new sense of meaning I have as an artist through collaboration. We’ll see what God has planned, though.