Cutting his teeth on the whirlwind come-up of grime in the early part of the millennium as part of the notorious Mayhem Crew, the gritty determination and honesty in Slay’s music has cemented a spot for him in the Northern halls of fame. Get familiar with this VIPER Presents interview…

What five words define your sound?

Manchester, Authentic, Unpredictable, Honest, Timeless

Tell me something unique about your creative process. 

Most songs I write stem from the feeling the instrumental gives me, then I create a hook and the rest writes itself pretty much. Obviously, you have hype tunes but more time they are just ignorant bars I’m not sure if that’s a unique creative process but that’s the way I do it. 

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?

That’s a good question if its drum n bass I think id have to say ‘Vibing on my own’ a song I made with my boy Sl8r

What inspired you to make that song?

It gives a small glimpse into my mind at the time of making the song, so I’d have to say just life and reflection my latest single ‘Kenny’ is a lot like that too.

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?

I’ve never done an album and I’ve always thought that would the time I touch on my most personal subjects although I wrote a tune about my son called lil Souljah that one is just raw emotion I’m sure every dad will be able to relate.

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage? 

There has been so many different moments and chapters to my career that’s it hard to say I think my best times are yet to come and I had to pick a worst moment I tripped and stumbled during a performance once but I shrugged it off and killed it anyway 

What is your favourite song to perform?

That depends on the crowd, but honestly I like performing new songs getting the reaction and seeing what works obviously every artist likes to perform there biggest hit cause it a guaranteed winner

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?

I’d have to say the wave of the grime scene is what made me think to myself yeah this is some I relate to and can do myself. People like Wiley, Dizzee, roll deep, nasty crew etc.

What’s the meaning behind your name?

I want to give you a really cool story but truth is it started as ‘slayer boy” like a play on words “Slay a boy” when I was really young then was just “slayer” but as I got older I shorted it to just “slay” now girls are using it as a term of endearment 

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?

Being the second-best version of me whatever that maybe.

What’s success to you?

Success is being able to look after those you care for while being able to enjoy life and look after myself in the process all through doing something you genuinely love. 

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction? 

I have always been doing this there was never really I direction change 

Where can people keep in touch with you?

Insta : @manlikeslay

TikTok : @manlikeslaymcr