Purely Provocative: Montreal’s Taigenz Shares His Personal Philosophies

Although he hails from Montreal, you may identify Taigenz as more of an international artist. International in the sense that his music bridges gaps between cultures, lands, territories, eras, and genres. You can very much hear his Cameroonian heritage within his beats and his lyrical approach. While you may consider him a hip-hop artist, it would be shortchanging his international flair. Taigenz’s sound is versatile, incorporating Trap, R&B, and Afrobeats. He first began to receive attention with the release of his 2019 Life Ain’t Free album. He has followed that up with a number of singles and EPs, including 2022’s Life A Life EP and its 2023 deluxe edition.

It is one of Taigenz’s biggest desires to have a diverse fanbase. He views his fans as individuals more likely to appreciate nuance and musical diversity. In other words, more than just a fan of what we think of as hip-hop. One who has more of a global appreciation for Black music and how various cultures interpret it in their own way. Taigenz is all about bringing you a fresh perspective.

Today, Taigenz joins us for Purely Provocative, where we change the subject from music to a more personal conversation where we find out more about the individual rather than the musician.

Do you hate the person you fell the hardest for?

Taigenz: “I hate nobody I ever fell for. The real question people ask is if I’ve ever truly fell hard for somebody before.”

Which one of these is most like you: upholder, obliger, questioner, or rebel?

“When I was a kid, I tended to be a mix of upholder and obliger because of firstborn syndrome (those who can relate know what I’m talking about), but in my late teen and early adult years, I learned to become more of a rebel and question last. Actually, I probably don’t question at all, I just act and later figure things out. The saying, ‘Don’t ask permission, just ask forgiveness,’ is something I’ve internalized in recent years.”

What do you love most about yourself?

“What I love most about myself is my self-awareness and my ability to adapt to various situations and people.”

Taigenz in Playa del Carmen, November 2023

What do you hate most about yourself?

“What I hate most about myself is also my self-awareness and ability to adapt to various situations and people. Sometimes, I just don’t want to be aware and just act.”

If you had a time machine, would you rather have one that only goes back in time or only goes forward?

“If I had a time machine, I would go back to the years of when African Kingdoms were in full effect so I can have the real perspective on how my ancestors lived before slavery/colonization took over.”

What is something you’re terrible at but wish you could do well?

“Drawing. I am garbage at drawing. I want to be better but I’m also very lazy to try and practice.”

What’s something you’ve done that you wish you could do again for the first time?

“Re-watch Attack on Titan for the first time. The series is now over, and it’s my favourite Anime story overall. I envy those who have yet to discover it. I also wish I could go back to the beach again for the first time (I was there in November ’23 for the first time).”

Do you have a personal mantra? What is it?

“Whenever I am unsure about a decision, or I hesitate, I take a deep breath, go through all possible outcomes I can think of, and make peace with everything. Then I tell myself, at the end of the day: F*** these N****z.”

What single event do you think affected you the most?

“First grade, where the science teacher dismantled the pronunciation of my last name, which then became the running joke throughout the rest of my elementary school life. Through that single event, I somehow understood that people can decide to turn on you at any given moment, and people will try to get you out of your element. So, to combat that, I had to learn to never let it phase me or at least never let it show that I am being phased by something someone said or did. I literally became a young stoic.”

Circa 2009 – Taigenz and his niece

Most times, you’ve had sex in “one sitting?”

“Not much more I can add (laughs).”

Name someone you’d like to punch in their stupid face and why.

“Chance The Rapper, because he’s full of lies and deception about his come up as an indie artist, and I have always maintained the position that he was full of shit.”

Taigenz Circa 2009

Describe when and how you lost your virginity.

“I was 17, she was 16, I went over to her place when her parents weren’t home. There’s not much to describe because it was a very FORGETABLE experience (laughs). We had no clue what we were doing, and at the end of it, just kicked it on her couch until I had to go home.”

Does God exist – why yes/no/who the fuck cares?

“God exists, but our perception of he/she/it is what is flawed. There’s an energy beyond our understanding and 3D conception that is somewhere out there. We’ll just spend our existence trying to learn as much about ‘God’ as humanly possible, but we’ll never get there… which I think is fine.”