From locally-adored poet to a national cultural figure, Toronto-born musician and poet Mustafa has lived many lives. At 25 years old, the Dazed spring 2022 cover star has worked with artists such as Drake and The Weeknd, and is a member of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Youth Advisory Council. Released in 2021, his debut album When Smoke Rises explored themes of hope and mourning within his community, and gained him high-profile fans from Angelina Jolie to Giggs and supermodel Bella Hadid.

In an exclusive video with Dazed, Mustafa reflects on the early experiences that shaped who he is, from growing up in Regent Park – the predominantly Black, working-class neighbourhood in downtown Toronto – to his early aspirations of becoming a basketball player. “I think it’s a beautiful thing that I can continue to shatter all those walls of the potential of what I would have loved for myself when I was younger,” he says. But, he maintains the importance of “trying to move into a life and identity that is my own”.

A devout Muslim, Mustafa shares memories of overnight stays at the mosque during Ramadan, a practice that he still maintains to this day. “I do it so I can isolate myself from the world of desire, from chasing things constantly through the year. It’s a moment of stillness for me,” he explains. He also encourages us to seek things “less glamorous, less desirable, but more fulfilling”. He concludes: “True success is being able to experience time and be present as it's happening.”

Watch Mustafa’s life lessons above.