My Attempt At Comedy Failed - MI

 Africa's number one rapper, MI, was in Abuja recently for activities regarding human trafficking. Nominated last year as a UN goodwill ambassador to fight the course, the MTV awardee and BET nominee spoke on his selection and music.

Why do you think you were chosen as UN Ambassador?
I don't think it has anything to do with me. A lady, Saadatu Yahaya, contacted me and told me about the idea. She guided me through the process. The UN is a very serious organisation. So for a young boy like me to be recognized by them, I consider it a very rare priviledge.
You had different experiences growing up. Which has had the most impact on you?
I don't know if there is one specific thing, but probably just seeing my parents... my dad was a pastor, my mum was a housewife for most of her life but then went to school and acquired more degrees up to a masters in Special Education. Seeing my parents make so much out of their life had the most impression on me. They did their best and we were well catered for, but it wasn't easy for them and we saw it clearly.
Considering where you are coming from and where you are now, how would you like to be defined?
Hmmm, I'm blessed. I'm a hustler. I work very hard. Also, one has to be a good person so that when you start getting to some level of success, you can sleep well at night. I've never cheated anyone or stolen anybody's opportunity. What comes to me comes to me. If you take these three and make a soup of them, that's what I'd like to see reflect me.
Many like you started as gospel singers/artistes. Why didn't you stay in that line?
I was doing gospel music at a very amateur level. The opportunities at the time in Jos were only in churches. As a Christian, I still write songs about my belief and my faith and every album has that. Even as a Christian I feel it is my responsibility to sing about everything, about love, politics, succeeding, clubbing and all that makes up a human being. An artiste is completely different from a worship leader. When most people say gospel artiste I think it is more than what they mean. If you make such music commercially, you are artiste singing gospel songs. A worship leader is one who makes music for Christian to worship with. And this is more of a calling and ministry as opposed to a profession.
Which of your songs was the most difficult to make?
My last album, I think it was very easy for people to pick out, 'Africa rapper number one'. There is also 'One naira', 'Action film' which people sort of see as Mr. Incredible'. 'Anoti' was pretty popular and another one, 'Short black boy' which everybody still calls me. 'Money' endeared me to a lot of people.
'African rapper number onen was released and became a great hi, but I can't say if it had more impact on me than 'Short black boy'. I've never been asked this question before but it's really got me thinking. 'One naira' is a very technical song. I had an idea of a young man struggling to make it and telling his girlfriend to be patient with him. Waje and Omawunmi were in the studio and we worked on it together. People don't know the Omawunmi link and I think she even came up with the 'whether na one naira' phrase. 'African rapper number one' took me nearly eight moths to write. The timing of the beat is so unlike hip-hop music. Flavour came and did his part. It was very daring along the way... but it's interesting. There are songs I've carried with me like 'Jehovah' my first album which I wrote when I was 16. I released it ten years after I wrote it.
What is music to you?
It's my life. It's an opportunity for me to share mine and others' experiences with people as well as to learn from them. I still relate with music as a fan, as someone who creates and enjoys it. I love music. It gives so much hope.
Who are you fans of?
I'm fan of everyone, internationally and nationally from reggae to hip-hop artistes, I've an endless list of those I love their works. Locally, I begin from Tuface, then D'Banj and P Square.
You had a fling with comedy. What has happened to that part of you?
It wasn't even good enough to be a fling. It was a failed one night stand. It was a proposed one night stand that failed. Comedy is so hard and I doff my hat to all those in it. I did the show and nobody was laughing. I came down with full blown malaria right after.
You were in the news last year about quitting Chocolate City and starting your own label. Could you talk about that?
I didn't quit Chocolate City. They always knew from when I met them that I was going to start my own. It's very great that they allowed me to do that. Since I started off the label, it's been a very interesting learning curve. I'm still not making money yet, but I'm not giving up. I've two very talented artistes signed on at the moment and in a very low key manner looking for a third to add. Chocolate City is my artistic home and they have been very kind to me. I've nothing negative to say about them.
You've been described as the future of African hip-hop. Against that backdrop, where do you see yourself in another two years?
That's a lofty statement and I appreciate it. After my second album, there was this part of me that wanted to put out music and be seen as the best rapper. I asked myself at some point, 'how did you get there?' I say, by just having fun and making music. I'm working on my third album now. We are having fun in the studio writing down the most outrageous ideas, scribbling them down on my phone or on a piece of paper. I know this album is going to be the best yet.
What motivates you to write your songs?
Inspiration is like making egusi (Nigerian traditional soup). Egusi soup becomes so with the combination of so many other ingredients. Inspiration is just the ingredient not what you record and this can come from anywhere. The beat is important and it doesn't always come from inspiration. It sometimes comes from the lyrics. The name, who you feature, and the lyrics all add up to determine the beat, sometimes. That ingredient does come from experiences.
Do you have alone times and how do you spend them?
I play a lot of Play Station. You have to find time to be alone to think. It's one of the dangers of being a celebrity. You are always around people. Every normal guy should find time to have alone moments, but as a celeb one might think it's hype always being around people and being catered to. Nevertheless, there are times you need to be by yourself and I try to create that.
Who's the special person in your life?
She is such a special person. Beautiful strong courageous, I couldn't have been born to a better woman...
I'm not asking about your mother...
(Laughter) If you tell me your own on record, I'll tell you mine.
Okay
Okay, let's not go there. I just believe that for relationships to work, they should be very private. Sometimes there is mutual benefit to be gained from a celebrity relationship but sometimes, there is benefit in carrying your partner along. For the most and for longevity, I think it's best kept private.
Who is Jude Abaga with the MI influence?
I don't know if there is a difference. I think MI appears when I'm about to go on stage. For the rest of the time I think I'm just Jude. People around me may think different and say I changed with fame, but I don't think so. I try as much as I can to be Jude.
How difficult or easy is it living up to the expectations of fans?
I'd say, when you understand it, then it isn't so difficult. A poem I read has a line that goes: '... if you can meet with success and failure and treat both impostors the same... ' It struck me that he referred to them as impostors. When you look at fan love and hate as such, it's easier to deal with. When I got a new car, someone put it up on Facebook that instead of me to go and take care of my family I'm spending money on car... it hurt a lot. I said this person doesn't know me or my relationship with my family. I was so offended. But again, treat such as an impostor. The person probably didn't think about how I'd react and imagined I got the car a certain way. Make good music and work hard at it so that it can create commercial benefit for you.
What was the one thing you really desired to achieve as a child?
I really wanted to do music and until I was 23, I never thought it would happen. I was such a fan of Panam Percy Paul. I would sit mesmerized by him and say to myself, if I could do this, I would be so happy. Here I am doing just that.
What would you like to be remembered for?
In my view, the most important commodity in Nigeria isn't oil. It is hope. Hope is what will make everybody come to work and strive for better lives. I want to do all I can through my music, my brand and all that I have to create hope for people so that they can persevere a while longer and not go into despair. With the sort of assertiveness and focus we have, Nigeria in despair will be ...
In recent times there's been a lot of collaboration with Nigerian and Hollywood artistes. Asides fame and commerce, what other ways do you see these benefitting the local entertainment industry?
Nigerian entertainment is giving a new face to Nigeria. It's quite simple. We've seen it with Hollywood and their presentation of the perfect America. It's the same happening with Nigeria. Many have never felt or thought about Nigeria in this light. They never imagine Nigerians just wanting to have fun and bringing as many along to share in it. Our music is changing that. In any sort of collaboration, it is important for us to tell our story ourselves. There are things they also have to learn from us. In the US you can use swear words in songs and the songs are hit; but not here. I can't think about it. America needs to learn that from us. You cannot talk about your women that way. Even the most promiscuous and disrespectful artiste in Nigeria would sing a love song, 'O baby, you are the one I love... you are my only one' even if he doesn't care about women.
How efficiently would you say your work has helped simmer crisis in Jos and around northern Nigeria?
This is a tough one. To understand how to help, you need to understand the problem. I still visit Jos and the people I interact with, Muslim or Christian, there's no problem between them and I don't imagine there will be. It's difficult to lay your hand on the problem because you don't know where it's coming from. We both represent both sides of the problem but may not necessarily be the ones in crisis. Up to the point of weapons and individuals being imported... the people you are in touch with don't have these weapons and are not the ones fighting. It's sad to say it's all deliberate, politically motivated and funded. The people you sing to about peace want and will go all out to get it, but some other 'unknown' person ignites the fire. But we don't give hope. So be it supporting young artistes from Jos or giving relief, any how we can, we do our bit and make it count. The most important and powerful thing is to pray.
Who have you enjoyed working with the most and is there anyone you look forward to working with?
That has to be my brothers Jesse Jags and Ice Prince. I won't call names about looking forward to working with. You'll know from the album, 'The Chairman' when it is released.
What's the album about?
Basically, everywhere I go, I'm being referred to as 'Chairman'. So I got thinking how this young man who came to Lagos by night bus, arrived at this point. The album basically is my story of rising to the top.