Wednesday, February 15th, 2006
Mode9, Nigeria’s bravest lyricist
You know that feeling you get when you discover something special, something rare or extraordinary? It’s the feeling of finding a sealed 1985 Dele Abiodun album in a dusty San Francisco record store. And it’s the feeling I got early last year when I first heard the music of Mode 9. His unique sound and fresh attitude immediately sets him apart from the often cliche naija hiphop acts and rappers, but we wanted to know more… so we decided to sit down and allow Mode 9 the opportunity to share a few words on himself, his music and the state of hip-hop in Nigeria.
bobo (naijajams.com): Mode 9 is a rapper, or better yet, an MC… and the music you produce is pretty distinct from much of the other Hip-hop coming out of Nigeria. How did this come about & how do you see yourself in the Nigerian music scene?
Mode9: I’m more of a poet, some sort of a lyricist like William Wordsworth. I read alot and take my music seriously, even though people in the Nigerian Music Industry do not understand what im doing they have no choice but to respect me. Most times they refuse to put me on major shows cos they think I’m not commercial enough, but people in Nigeria are not as dumb as they think. they feel my music… I see myself as the bravest lyricist in Nigeria i am not a gangster Rapper.
Abuja! Abuja!
Eugene
