I WAS ONLY PROTECTING MY CAMP - SERIKI OMOOWO

One reason why we might not miss Dagrin is because the heavens has provided us with several talented young chaps who have not only taken music to the next level even when BarakOgrin also know as Dagrin was alive, but has also won our admiration. And now, Seriki is her who stood on his own as a Yoruba lyricist and battle ready to take on any wannabe. He is a descendant of the Coded tunes Clique of Cabassa, 9ice et al and an official signee of 9ice's Alapomeji Records. He has done a lot of collaborations with top cats in the industry and has also pushed several singles but he caught our attention when he took on Ruggedman with the track "Talk" with 9ice. In this encounter with CelebrityWorld, he spoke about his life, beef and career. Excerpts...

A whole lot of people know you as the guy that took on Ruggedman on the controversial song "Talk I am listening". Where you are featured by 9ice. You killed that song with the few lines you dropped on the album and it was another eye opener. But really who is Seriki?

My real names are Seriki Ibiyemi Sulaimon. I am from Lagos State, Ikosi Ejirin local government. I am from the family of three, two boys and a girl. I attended Ayetoro Grammar School in Ebute Metta, Oyingbo. I finished in 2004 and in 2004, I got admitted into Petroleum training institute in Warri were I studied Industrial safety. I finished my Ordinary National Diploma in 2006 and I currently run a part time program in Lagos State University, LASU. I currently study business administration.

From Industrial safety to business administration, what is the relationship and why did you switched and then now music?

I started music actually when I was in secondary school. I grew up with music and comedy in secondary school. I wasn't taking music serious when I was in secondary school but after I finished, I started taking music serious. So in 2004 when I went to Warri for my OND, I still couldn't see music as what I wanted to do not until 2007 when I came back and I took it seriously. That was when I said to myself, music is what I wanted to do, and I took it professionally. Then, I have known Dehide Fajana that is 9ices manager since I was in secondary school back in those days. He actually introduced me to 2phate and ID Cabassa. And Cabassa later introduced me to 9ice and that was it.

You started rapping while you are in school or how did you started?

I started rap music while I was in school. I was just doing the Afro hip hop thing then raping in pigeon that was back in 2002. Then I use to do peoples songs like Eedris Abdulkareem, Buster Rhymes and all that. It got to ma stage in 2004 that, then I use to free style in Yoruba a lot. But I never take it serious; I was concentrating more on the Afro hip hop thing. But one day, a friend of mine told me to drop the Afro hip hop thing that people feel me more when I do the Yoruba rap thing. He convinces me to do a rap song in Yoruba and let's see how it goes. I went into the studio to do "Aye loja" which is my first solo rap single in my career and that was in 2007. Right from the studio, people where like who is this again. So it was people that really chose this Yoruba thing for me because it was really working and they were feeling me more as a Yoruba rapper than the Afro hip hop thing I was previously doing and I stuck to it.

But still, combining the three together, what mathematical relationship is there?

For me, it is not easy I tell you. Even the music thing is greatly affecting my school. Because it is like choosing three big dreams together at the same time. But everybody is looking for a better life for himself. Both the man that is on the street and the man in class studying. They are all looking for a better life, a way of improving the standard of living. I believe business is very important and there is no way you can manage the business well without going to school. So I felt if I can study business management, I will be able to manage my music career very well.

But really how do you write your songs because it seems the lyrics attracts attention easily?

God is my inspiration; he is every thing that I build my career around. But then again, my environment has a big influence of it. Where I grew up, where I come from has a lot of influence on my writing. I have lived in the roughest places in Lagos. I have lived in Ebutte Metta, Oyinbo, Isale Eko, I have lived in Surulere, and so my environment has a lot of influence on my music. I also listened international acts, the rappers. The likes of 50cent, Ludacris, lil Wayne and others and I think hip hop is universal, the only difference is the language which we apply differently, and the rules are the same. So I just use my language and apply the rules and it works with the influence of were I come from.

What normally goes on in your mind when you deliver that line?

For me, music is always an expression. If they tell me to define music, that is what I will say. It is just an expression. It is easy for me to express the state of my mind with music which is what I do all the time. When I feel anything about an issue, I drop the lines in my music. So it is an expression which is what is working for me now. And that is it.

And that was the state of mind that you were when you were dropping the lines on "Talk I am listening"?

Like I said it is just an expression. People said I killed the other mans career with the song, I didn't, I was just doing my thing. I was feeling a particular way then and I had to express the way I was feeling on that track.

What are the challenges now but God is giving us the much courage to over come them. You know the challenges we up coming acts face is the regular challenge of acceptance. But as for me, it is reducing; people are beginning to accept my music. But you know for music fans to accept you are not always easy trust me. You might be actually good but they will still be rating someone that is not even closer to you over you. Such things affect an artiste emotionally, musically and lyrically. I think it is acceptance and I thank God that people are beginning to accept my music.

From Cabassa to 9ice who seem to have parted ways. What is your relationship with him right now?

Cabassa is a friend mentor, big brother, someone I really respect in and out of music. And till date, I respect him the more. We still maintain a good relationship and it will grow more than this. I am sure of that because we still work together.

Talking about competition, don't you see any like Olamide who is the kid to watch out for now?

I have known him long time ago, He use to work with Cabassa before he started his hands on music and now fast becoming the rave of the moment. For me there is no competition, Olamide is like a kid brother so there is no competition.

What other African rappers has influenced our music?

Like I said, I listen to the foreign rappers, garner one or two things, write my song and apply the rules. But I have a lot of respect for Nigerian rapper. I would live to work with them, I have lot more of respect for them, and they have done lot for the Nigerian music.

You should be working on your album by now. Tell us about the album?

Yes I am, working on my album that will hit the shelves later this year. It is a thirteen tracker album that is titled "First Impression". On the album, I work with producers like Pastor Child, Chipo, ID Cabassa. On the album I have 9ice, my C.E.O form Alapomeji, all Alapomeji crew, then I have Cleva J and I am also working on putting Wizkid and Vector on the song.

But really why did you taken on Ruggedman to that extent on the 9ices track?

Well people call it beef bit I don't see it as beef. Even though it depends on how individual sees it. Am only protecting my people. For the fact that we are human, I believe we all have our bad sides too and that is what I am just trying to do. He is my brother in the game and I just have to do what I have to do as it reflect to me. It is just how I have perceived the issue at hand. I am like a soldier protecting his territory. I am just protecting my camp, I belong, were I come from.

Most of the time, you call yourself a gentlemen and also a gangster. What are the relationship and the cord?

I am a gentleman. Am a gangster. I describe myself as the two in the talk am listening track. Its is just to reflect the two sides I talked about earlier. I know we all are not saint, saints are dead. And for the fact that we are human, we have two sides and that is the best way I can describe my sides.

When is it dropping actually?

If not soon, it should be second quarter of this year.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Well for me, my dream is big and even bigger than me. Yoruba rap is what I love and I am not doing it to really make money or for what is in vogue. I started even when the acceptance was like this so I probably want to be the greatest Yoruba rapper alive. And that is were I am working to.

What dose music means to you. And what would you love to correct in the industry with your music?

Music means a lot to me and I don't see myself doing anything aside music. And like I said, music is life my bride. When I am happy, I am doing music and when I am not, I still do it. All my pain, all y joy, I put it into my music. So music is my life and I really thank God for the entire artiste that have paved that way in the Nigerian music industry and for people like us. I don't want to mention names because I know those acts knew themselves. They have paved the way and sacrifice a lot for us to enjoy. There is some thing that we acts of today do and walk away with it easily. And those first set of acts that paved they way have done times three of those things before they could get to were they are right now. And people like us just have to walk on that path easily and walk to fame. But if I have the power to change anything, it will be piracy. Because it is really killing Nigeria music. You get to hear a particular song every where thinking this guy must have made millions. Not knowing that the pirates has taken all the money and the guy is just flying bike every where. Which is not supposed to be? If I should change anything that will be piracy.

Now applications should be coming in from girls, how many have you approved.

Well I have a lot of female friends and fans. I appreciate them and they do too.