The Parent Playbook with Princess Nyah
There is no manual.
Nobody handed you an instruction guide when you became a parent. No one warned you about the invisible weight you'd carry — the mental load that never switches off, the identity you'd quietly grieve, the guilt that sits with you at 2am even when you did everything right. The ambition you're still fighting for. The version of yourself you're trying not to lose.
The Parent Playbook by Trybe is where modern parents finally get to tell the truth.
Hosted by Princess Nyah — founder, mum, and the kind of person who makes you feel safe enough to say the real thing — every episode is a deep, unfiltered conversation with parents who are living it: founders, creatives, educators, tech leaders, musicians, and community builders. All of them parents. All of them carrying something the world rarely asks about.
Each conversation is guided by what Nyah calls the Purple Print — the shared emotional patterns, invisible pressures, and survival systems that connect every parent, even when they feel completely alone.
No advice you didn't ask for. No polished parenting expertise. No perfect answers.
Just honest storytelling, lived experience, and the permission to feel fully human.
Every episode ends with the same question:
"What's one part of parenting you were never told would take up so much space in your head?"
And every now and then — Nyah's daughter Kizzy reaches into a jar and asks her own.
The Purple Print
The real patterns parents are living inside — the emotional truths, invisible pressures, and shared experiences that rarely get spoken about honestly. This is the space where they do.
Princess Nyah — founder of Trybe, mother, and host.
She approaches every guest as a person first.
The Parent Playbook with Princess Nyah
Reks: From Kitchen Jam to Movement — Fatherhood, Community & Content Over Clout
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On this episode of Trybe Talks, Nyah sits down with Reks — rapper, songwriter, event organiser and founder of Reks and the Mandem — to unpack how a spontaneous kitchen session snowballed into a polished live platform championing both emerging and established artists. Reks shares why he builds stages that prioritise artist experience and takeaways (“content is king”), and how collaboration, craft and high standards turned a grassroots idea into a growing ecosystem.
They dive into the real juggle: raising a six-year-old and a two-year-old while running a creative brand. Reks keeps it honest about sacrifice, missing the mark sometimes, and course-correcting with presence and routine — reading time, shows, football in the park. His “parent superpower”? Communication: staying genuinely connected so kids feel seen and involved, from set-ups to studio days.
It’s a conversation about backing yourself, building your village, and remembering why you started — even when bills, deadlines and late nights stack up. If you’re a creative parent trying to balance nappies with new releases, this one’s for you.
If this conversation sat with you — that's the Purple Print doing its thing.
Share this episode with a parent who needs to hear it. Not the one who has it all together. The one who's in it, just like us.
Come find us on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube — we're @trybeuk — and if you want these conversations delivered straight to you, get on the newsletter. The link is in the show notes. No noise. Just the real stuff, when it matters.
I'm Nyah. This is The Parent Playbook by Trybe. And I'll see you next Wednesday.
trybeuk.com/newsletter →
Intro — NYAH:
Welcome to Trybe Talks, the podcast for parents who are trying to do it all and stay sane in the process. I’m Princess Nyah, your host and founder of Trybe, your personal parenting assistant. Each week we dive into real conversations, parent hacks, and stories that remind you that you’re not doing this alone. Now, let’s get into it.
NYAH:
We’re back with another episode of Trybe Talks. I’m your host, Nyah — aka Princess Nyah, aka Kizzy’s mum — and I like to call myself the “real housewife of Trybe.” I’ll explain that in another episode. Today I’m joined by somebody I met last year, who I connected with on so many levels. Before we get into it, we’re going to act like there’s a big studio audience — make some noise for Reks!
REKS:
[Cheers] Yes! Love that.
NYAH:
Tell the people who you are and what you do. And I’m really excited to have you — I know you’re not really a podcast person.
REKS:
It’s my first ever one, you know.
NYAH:
Big up! I’m very excited you’re here.
REKS:
I’m Reks — rapper, songwriter, event organiser, platform owner… innovator, visionary, very hard-working, and a dad on top of everything else.
NYAH:
A dad too — I didn’t realise at first. When I found out, I was like, “Yo… you’re in the trenches!”
REKS:
Fully. Two feet in.
NYAH:
So, I released a single a little while ago — “My Power” — and Reks is actually on the BVs (backing vocals). Make sure you stream “My Power.” Please, please! Or buy it outright — the streams are paying pennies.
I had a little break from music, then went to record some stuff and stumbled into your studio one random evening. I played you the music, and the reception you gave me felt like divine intervention — a reminder of who I am, what I can do, and what I love. Thank you for that. You gave me a studio home.
REKS:
One hundred percent — it’s your home. You just haven’t been back in a while!
NYAH:
[Laughs] I’ve been on tour… a real tour! But the vibe is a real family vibe, and you helped me stand back in my power in so many ways. The first time I ever performed “My Power” was at Reks and the Mandem — shut down! When I watched the recent video you sent, I’d almost forgotten that moment.
What you’re doing with Reks and the Mandem — let’s start there. It takes guts to build something new. It’s easy to latch onto what’s already there. Back in the day, I was desperate to perform at I Luv Live — I wanted in so badly. Your platform gives me those vibes: a space for new and established artists. Why Reks and the Mandem?
REKS:
Honestly, at the time I was releasing music once a month. I got to March and thought: let me switch it up and create a different kind of content. I was at my brother DJ Rochy’s house — big up — recording a mix. He filmed me on his phone and said, “Let’s do this again but bring the cameras.”
So the next time I brought cameras… and we shot the first one in his kitchen. We had like 20 people in there. It was a sick night. Then we did another at KSX Studio. By Season 3 we went more public — big up T.D.N.S. headlining, big up you for coming down.
NYAH:
When you invited me, my artist brain went, “Cool — what’s the budget?” You said, “It’s family — it’s about the new stuff.” I wasn’t prepared for the environment I walked into. I didn’t know what to expect — kitchen vibe, studio vibe… then Stratford! I’m from West — it was giving “golly.”
But I was overwhelmed by the professionalism — the attention to detail: cupcakes, multiple artists, the DJ amping everyone, and a crowd that came to actually listen and support. There was a moment I walked backwards into the audience, girls all around me, and I thought, “This is what music is about.” Sometimes we get lost trying to make money and pay bills, and the fun gets sucked out. Your events remind us why we do this.
REKS:
I appreciate that. We’re on Season 6 now. It’s been over a year, which isn’t easy — we’ve kept it free so far, but the next one will be ticketed. It costs to put on something at this level.
NYAH:
And the way you do it is big — I saw a camera in the ceiling. It was giving “indoor drone.” For artists listening: sometimes there’s no direct fee, but content is king. The content I walked away with was worth more than a fee.
REKS:
I’m an artist too, so I’m thinking about the experience and the takeaways from all angles. We want to scale and be the best. Before Season 7, we’re running No. 5: The Auditions — two days of filming, 30 contestants, three judges (you’re involved!), and the winner gets a Reks and the Mandem performance, free studio time, a music video, and more. It’s all about helping artists push forward and believe in themselves.
NYAH:
I’m here for it. Any time you need me. Now, how do you juggle all of that and being a dad?
REKS:
It’s mad. I’ve got two kids — my daughter is 6 and my son just turned 2. He keeps me on my toes — full energy, breaking things, testing laptops! Parenting isn’t easy; it’s about balance, and sometimes you fall short. From the outside, people say, “You’re doing so much,” but as a dad I know I can do better. You sacrifice — something always gives.
NYAH:
Facts. Sometimes Kizzy comes downstairs and I’m already on the computer. Do I ignore her and finish? Or stop and fully engage? Someone gets let down, and you don’t want it to be your child — but many of us are spinning plates. How do you handle that?
REKS:
Balance. With my daughter, we have reading and writing time. Sometimes I’m editing and I’ll say, “Crack on by yourself today,” and I hate that — I like to follow through. I try to be present at her things — she’s already done two films, she attends an arts club, performs in little shows. For sports, I’m always there. You always feel you can do more.
NYAH:
[Aside] Excuse me everyone — Kizzy is here.
KIZZY:
Hi podcast people! I have a free course for kids like me — it’s called Money Jars. It teaches us how to save, spend, and even invest. I’m basically a mini-millionaire in training. Parents, you can get it for free — just click the link in the description. Thanks for listening to my very important announcement. Okay, Mum — you can have your podcast back now!
NYAH:
Thanks, Kizzy. Where were we… Oh yes — the nature of the beast. As entrepreneurs, there’s always something else. Even when you hit a big milestone, you’re onto the next. The pace is mad. I try to include my daughter in whatever I’m doing. If this is today’s priority, she’s beside me. I’ll give her something to read or help with, and she feels involved.
REKS:
Same. If I’m shooting an appropriate music video, she can pull up. She knows about Reks and the Mandem, asks when the next one is. I like her to come for set-up, though the shows run late and her bedtime is 7:30–8. Balance is also about my missus — she’s amazing. Day-to-day planning with the kids, she leads a lot of that. I organise some things too — like holidays — but she’s key. I don’t have the key to the city — I just try to do what I say I’ll do: reading, outings, football, park — weekly rhythms.
Seeing you with Kizzy inspires me. Everyone inspires everyone — when you see someone giving blood, sweat and tears for family and craft, it drives you. Our wider circle is on job — Black Marshall, Diamond, the whole team — real hustle.
NYAH:
That’s what I see with Reks and the Mandem — everyone’s doing bits inside and outside the show. It’s an ecosystem: Black Marshall, Martha, Steph, Shakes, the kids — the whole village. Having the right people around you matters. The wrong people slow you down, or they don’t have the vision and scare you into being “normal.” Not risking it is the real failure.
On the train this morning, I told Kizzy I’m podcasting today and she gave me a question for all guests: What is your superpower as a parent?
REKS:
Oof! Superpower… connection. I really talk to my daughter. Yesterday she told me about falling out with a friend — and I’m fully in the conversation. Growing up, I wasn’t that close to my dad — different DNA, different times — so I want real, everyday connection. Not surface-level “I’m here,” but “What’s really going on?”
NYAH:
That’s a superpower. Communication with your kids. Some people struggle to have those chats. Boyfriend talk will come later — you’ve got time!
REKS:
[Laughs] She’s 6 — we’re good for now.
NYAH:
As we wrap, what’s your advice to young artists who’ve just become parents — sometimes unexpectedly — and feel torn between a day job and their creative dreams, but nappies and formula are calling?
REKS:
Balance your priorities. Being a parent doesn’t erase the artist in you. People fear they’ll “lose themselves,” but you’re still a priority. The order shifts, but don’t disappear yourself. Keep your promises — to your kids and to you. With kids, time gets tighter and days go faster. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Parenthood can actually give you structure.
NYAH:
I could talk to you for another hour. Tell people where they can find you.
REKS:
Follow @reksandthemandem on Instagram. My personal page is @reks_87. That’s me across platforms.
NYAH:
Thank you for coming — we appreciate you!
Outro — NYAH:
Wow, you’re still here listening! Thank you for tuning in to Trybe Talks. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with another parent who needs their village. Check us out on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube — and get involved in the conversation. Until next time, remember: parenting takes a village — and now you’ve got one.
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