Anamachi kwanu is a serious record. Lately music has been sounding
recycled and redundant, so I went back to the essence of illbliss which is
Rebellious music. It's a chant in igbo dialect meaning "Do you really
think I'm joking here?" I love the new generation of artists coming out
but some of them lack a true calling to the art of music so I had to jolt the
phoney
I support rebellious music.
People are too cautious these days. Speaking of the new generation of artists,
do you think most of them still respect those that were here before them?
Well I know they show me a lot of outward respect. However, I can't
see their hearts but I truly believe the current structure of the business was
built from sweat and sacrifices made by older artists. We came from the scratch
with very little technology to
support the growth. Today it's different; the kids have a lot more resources.
Credit must also be accorded to newer acts that hustle hard to keep dropping
hits and raising the bar. No credit accorded to the percentage trying to jack
existing formulaes
Indeed veteran rappers like you
made sacrifices for the industry. I remember watching Thorobreds perform on
Galaxy TV back in the day. Y'all made me believe that there was actually a hip
hop movement in this country. Are y'all still cool? Will there be any group project
in the future?
None for now. I'm in touch with my thoro fam though
Nice! So I was at your video
shoot for Anamachi kwanu the other
day. And I was like 'yo, when this video
drops...Illy's gonna be nominated this year' to say the least...
You already know the politics bro.
Word! So when's the new video
dropping?
First week of July
'Oga Boss' is the title of your
forthcoming album? What should Dat Ibo Boy fans look forward to?
Oga boss is my sophomore LP. It's a rap album, period no gimmicks.
Honest, daring, reflective, triumphant, aspirational, every track was molded to
mirror one or more of these attributes. I have been an entrepreneur from day
one so I have always made music on my own terms. I am my own oga, so Ogaboss is
today’s illBliss.
Which artists and producers did
you work with on the album?
I featured Naeto C, Timaya, Ice Prince, Suspect, Chidinma,
Silvastone, Blak Twang, WizBoyy. On production I worked with Suspect, Phyno,
Silvastone, Wizboyy and XYZ of Str8 Buttah.
I see Black Twang on your track
list. Good to know you're also collaborating across borders.
Yeah, you know Black Twang right?
No doubt, homie's been holding it
down in the UK.
That's right!
By the way I also noticed your
style cuts across both the young and old. So when's your sophomore LP dropping?
I'm 34 fecko. May not be very old, but not a kid anymore. My album is
not underground texture wise. It's rap. It's illbliss. 'Oga Boss' drops in a
month!
You're on the right path bro, and
I believe originality is key. It makes one stand the test time of time
Yes bro. You know I want to do this because a lot of people have
little regards for you when you're not hot, they drift!
True that!
Till you look like a contender again. When I had 'aiye po gan' dudes
were hanging onto me. So much groupie attitude. And I can see through it.
I can imagine.
And I know with my new tunes they gon start famzing
Yeah right (laughs). There are a lot of Famzinoes
in the game right now. Would u say 'Aiye
Pa Gan' was a commercial song?
Nah. Aiye po gan has a message and a philosophy behind it. The beat
was commercial. I can't write dumb music
Whenever I hear an Illbliss
verse, there's something different about the rhyming pattern. Is that your
trademark rap style?
Well. Not really. I write how it comes to me so long as I don't fall
off the beat. I just go in but the flow at best is staccatoish
So besides the rap grind, I know
you run the Goretti Company. What's the company all about and what else do you
do?
The goretti Company is involved in grooming fresh talent. And I also
consult for Project Fame. I manage their winners.
Interesting. So how do you juggle
both jobs? Being a rapper and an artiste manager?
I try. I understand the boundaries and somehow they don't clash. I
make a lot of sacrifices as a talent manager to ensure my clients get full
attention and sometimes it slows illbliss a bit but altogether I'm having fun
doing both
I see! I would have asked 'Any final words to your fans?'. But
that's kind of cliché
It's ok:
(smiles), Clichés work sometimes. I love my fans. They stay loyal and
mad supportive. I thank them for being dedicated through the years from
dat iboboy to
u go wound to
aiyepo gan
to now
Thanks for your time
You're welcome. Thanks bro. I totally endorse This Is Fecko, it's a
fresh angle to blogging and e-mags. Your brand represents Originality, it's
thought provoking, artistic and informative
Thanks boss (smiles)
You're welcome bro. Anytime
