A viral freestyle phenom, rapper Fariz Jabba blew up with 2018’s ‘Ape Sia’, racking up millions of views before locking in with M03 Records and Def Jam SEA. He switches fluidly between English and Malay, infusing softness and swagger into bangers that feel unmistakably local. Whether he’s remixing National Day classics like ‘Dari Sini’, headlining Levi’s Road to FAM, or popping up at block parties and fashion drops, Jabba exudes an effortless sense of cool that makes him a standout in Singapore’s music scene.
For Jabba, home represents safety and comfort. “Home is a place where I feel secure enough to express how I really feel without fear of judgement,” he reflects. “Feeling at home means being surrounded by your close ones and sharing laughs or spending quality time.”
The musician is a passionate champion for the local creative landscape, and is excited to witness a network of artists spread out across the globe, proudly representing the country he calls home. “The future of our local creative scene is in great hands. From Yao to Syaz Smooth, Singaporean creatives are secretly making waves all over the world. I hope the country uplifts them more in echo channels as much as we can. To me, with their immense performing skills and insane work ethic, their breakthrough is an eventuality.”
Here, the rapper shares favourite third spaces in Singapore—from the local eatery he’d rather gatekeep to under-the-radar stores, bars and neighbourhoods he keeps going back to.
1 / 6
The local restaurant you tend to gatekeep:
Mr Mamak at Joo Chiat. The Kothu Prata and Maggi Goreng comes piping hot and extra spicy (in a good way). The sweats are worth it.
2 / 6
The third space where you feel the most you:
Any sort of private space where I can blast my music and jam out alone. I find the best ideas and organisation grooves through those moments and spaces.
3 / 6
The ultimate destination for a good night out:
We love having private parties where we work with local venues and have our own friends to DJ. We just threw a party themed ‘Bass Down Low’ at Enclave on Neil Road.
4 / 6
A hidden gem shopping address:
I love going to old malls like Golden Landmark or Queensway Shopping Centre to visit local tailors and local shops that need more support. I know the old malls next to Bugis+ have some pretty cool vintage watches for great prices too.
5 / 6
Your best date-night spot:
Ann Siang Hill, Dempsey Hill and Club Street have a lot of cool spots. A great find is Oud, a halal-certified fusion fine-dining restaurant at Kandahar St. My fiancé and I celebrated her birthday there.
6 / 6
Where you get your daily coffee:
I often go for the classic Kopi Peng at a coffee shop, but I also love to cycle down Joo Chiat Road for a coffee run. If you were to walk by Common Man Roasters, any of the Vietnamese restaurants along that stretch will have amazing coffee.
Vogue Singapore’s July/August ‘Home’ issue is out on newsstands and available online.
