Charles Babalola

Name, where are you from?
Charles Babalola – Canning Town, East London.

Describe your style in three words?
London. Loose. Lively.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Giggs at Hammersmith Apollo, 2017. It was so lit!!! You needed to have energy because he was playing banger after banger. I just remember walking in and thinking "Ok this going to be a good night". I can still picture that first image in my head. It had a real London energy. People were there to catch a serious vibe. Nothing else.

If you could collaborate with any actor in history?
Denzel Washington. Every time I watch him in a character, I feel that I learn something new. He’s an actor that builds an inner life and finds heart in every role he takes on. I love the intensity he brings to his roles. You can tell that there is deep thought that goes into the development of his characters. If I could collaborate with him I’m sure I could learn a lot.

If you could put any three bands in history on a lineup?
Tribe Called Quest. Sade. Revenge of the Dreamers.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
Grime. Grime was born in East London and I was a young teenager during its inception. It was a movement that felt very raw, but honest at the time. It influenced the freedom of expression we could have through our lyrics. It influenced our style and London’s style. It was a moment. Now it's worldwide.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Fela Kuti. I’d love to pick his brain on his activism through his music. What Africa was like in the '70s and talk about how we could change the world. I look up to him as a true African cultural hero, and a unique one at that. You listen to his lyrics and a lot of what he was saying is coming to fruition 30-40 years later. He was ahead of his time. A true visionary. I’m super proud he was a Nigerian.

Of all the music venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Festhalle Arena, Frankfurt. I saw Kendrick Lamar at this venue a few years ago. It was a really cool and incredibly beautiful venue for a big space. I was with a big group of my homies and it was a classic night. James Blake opened for him and then Kendrick came and did his thing. Having the experience of seeing him in a foreign setting, with people from a different country was so dope. Music is universal so we just shared the same energy.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Andre 3000. I feel this selection is even disrespectful because people who know their hip-hop will always put him in their top five spitters. However, sometimes I feel he doesn't get the recognition he deserves as a true innovator. His artistry was unique and he paved the way for a lot of new artists to be themselves.

Charles Babalola is set to star in a pivotal role alongside Christopher Walken and Eleanor Tomlinson in writer/director Stephen Merchant’s upcoming drama 'The Outlaws'.

The series is set to air on 25th October 2021 on BBC1/iPlayer in the UK and on Amazon Prime in the US.

For more information visit www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/theoutlaws.