Tamfu Terry Ngala, who is professionally known as Taigenz, is just one of the many rappers who include "Rap God" rapper Eminem in their list of rappers they look up to. Recently, Taigenz talked about how his passion for rap music.
In an interview with The Link newspaper, Taigenz said Eminem's performance of "Forgot About Dre" with Dr. Dre was the first rap performance he really sat down to watch. Released on Jan. 29, 2000 from Dr. Dre's second studio album titled "2001," the collaboration song won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
"From then on, I was just on it," Taigenz said of watching Eminem and Dr. Dre's "Forgot About Dre" performance when he was a kid. "Ask any of my friends, when I was eight, nine years old, I was just memorizing all of his lyrics."
The Montreal rapper told the newspaper that5 he started writing when he was 11 years old. He was 13 years when he had his first performance with an original track he performed in a variety show in school.
Taigenz was born in Côte-des-Neiges in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Cameroonian immigrants, who were a government employee and a banker. He discovered Eminem's music when he way eight years old.
Aside from the "Rap God" rapper, Taigenz is also a fan of hip-hop pioneers Tupac, Nas, Biggie, Jay Z and the Eminem's protégé 50 Cent. Among his current inspirations are J. Cole, Nipsey Hussle and Kevin Gates as well as Eminem's previous collaborators Kendrick Lamar and Drake, according to his official website.
In addition, Taigenz credits his mentor Yassin Alsalman, who is also known as The Narcicyst, as a huge encouragement for his music. The Montreal rapper said the class he had with the professor it engaged him in a way that creatively got him better.
According to The Narcicyst, Taigenz's project "resonated as genuine" and it was "definitely him" while many artists tend to emulate their influences when they start off. On the other hand, the professor was described as "an amazing artist" by his protégé.
Watch Taigenz's "Worthy" music video here: