M.I: I'm Thirsty For More Success

M.I

Jude Abaga, award-winning rapper, popularly known as M.I tells FUNSHO AROGUNDADE of P.M.NEWS about his new label, Loopy Music, mentoring and how he has managed to stay on top of his game

How far gone are you in the work on your next album?

It is almost ready and I am already excited about the new work, especially with the various ideas that I have managed to infuse into the album. We are releasing some singles very soon. I can assure my fans and music lovers generally that they will find the new work more interesting than my last two albums. The album will be released in a matter of months.

Do you have more collaboration on this new album?

I was able to work with some people on the new project because collaboration makes you better. In music especially, no man is an island. So, it is important to work with the best people to create the best music because without that, you might end up creating a sub-standard product.

What are you doing to make this new album surpass the success of your past works?

I believe in the saying that you can only do your best and leave the rest. My own style is to open my eyes and be attentive to information from my surroundings. For instance, I got the inspiration for that popular track on my second album, My Belle, My Head, while driving and observing hawkers on the streets of Lagos. We have gone through different experiences in this country and all these will make enough materials for my new album. Also, working with the best can help come up with great product. The experience I had working with great people on my last album really helped. Working with people like 2Face Idibia on my last album makes a great difference in the totality of the end product.

You floated a new label, Loopy Music. What informed this?

At a certain point, I realised that God has given me opportunities, resources and talent and I want to see how best I can put all these into use that will be helpful to others. So, I thought it will be proper for me to put a chunk of my investment into people. I know that it is more of a gamble when you invest in people. However, when the returns come, they could be phenomenal. That was why I decided to start this label and I am happy it is growing well.

But you are still a director in Chocolate City?

Yes.

Won’t there be a clash of interests?

There can’t be any clash. I always tell people that Chocolate City is my mother, while Loopy music is my daughter. Chocolate City is definitely where I am coming from and where I belong. But I honestly believe that in Nigeria, everyone has to multi-task. That is by the way. At Loopy music, I am not the Chief Executive Officer. I hired some professionals to run the label. I only dash in to oversee what goes on there. But I run the day-to-day activities of Chocolate City alongside my excellent team. I also have a great boss and my own personal managers that help me at  Chocolate City.

What is the vision of Loopy?

We have an international vision and we are working so hard to achieve it. But basically, Loopy music will focus on those arts that might not be getting proper props in the Nigerian music industry now. At Loopy Music, we want to focus on those arts that might be forgotten in our industry now. Everybody is concerned about party and dance music, but what about highlife artistes? What about the fuji artistes? What about the drummers, keyboardists and saxophonists? Who is going to ensure that those arts continue to remain? Left to our industry, maybe an artiste like Asa wouldn’t have emerged. If it was in this present day and age, maybe an artiste like King Sunny Ade would not have attained the status he is enjoying now. The truth of the matter is that we still have to focus on all these basic elements of our music, which is what Loopy music is all about.

Jude Abaga, a.k.a M.I

How many artistes have you signed on?

Right now, we have three artistes on the label. They are Ruby, a soul singer; Tread Stones, a rock band; and Loose Kenyon, a rapper.

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What is your take on those who see you more of a poet than a rapper?

First and foremost, I am a fan of poetry and I come from a background that really appreciates good education. But basically, Nigerians are a very deep people. Just listening to the way we talk will show that we are very poetic. So, when you are writing about deep topics, you have to take your time to research very well. And it is natural that when you are writing those songs that are expected to touch the very essence of the people, those words will come out like a poem. That applies to me. I always compose most of my songs as poems in my head. I will then write out those lines as lyrics. I write and re-write until I get to a satisfaction level with meaningful words before I record them. For example, for Beef on my last album, I wrote about ten verses and eventually chose three out of the ten. I kept trying and trying on those songs because I believe repetition makes perfection. This makes me work hard on each of my songs. But for the classification purpose, I will say I am both a poet and rapper.

Why have you chosen to use a female deejay during your performances at shows and concert?

That is a very interesting question. I just thought it would be very cool to be different. In Nigeria, we sort of look down on deejays, as we merely see them as CD players. But to be honest with you, to be a deejay is a very hard job and I was keen at encouraging them. However, I had this old friend whom I have lost contact with. Along the line, she has become a deejay and very good at her job. Her name is DJ Lamborghini. When we met recently, I said to her let sign a deal to work together and she agreed. Now she is not only a deejay to me, she has also signed as an artiste with Loopy Music. She has been an interesting person to work with.

Don’t you get the jitters when you see some of your prodigies rising rapidly in the industry?

On a lighter mood, I think it is very funny seeing all these young artistes coming to take the shine off their bosses. There is Wizkid and Banky W, Wande Coal and Don Jazzy, and Ice Prince and M.I. I think we need to put a stop to these. The truth is the best thing that can happen to anyone is to see someone you believed in, groomed and in whom you invested so much time, energy and money, becoming a success. At a point, I was beginning to be afraid that it could be disastrous if any of these boys cannot point to any form of success. I was really scared. But glory be to God, as every one that has been part of my journey is working on his own music and gradually coming out big. That has been my prayer. Right now, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince have released their albums. Brymo recently dropped his and my third album is also in the making. We will soon move to another guy. In fact, Ice Prince has become an independent artiste. He has become one of the biggest artistes in the country and I’m so proud of him. And I believe that is the same with Banky W, 2Face, Don Jazzy, D’Banj and other big artistes, who have taken one artiste or the other for mentoring.

To what would you attribute the success you have recorded?

I have just being saying to myself, I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe that I’m here. I am just grateful to God. I am grateful to my fans and to the media. Everybody has been part of this journey because without these people, you are nowhere and nobody. I always have it at the back of my mind that there are many people that have the same desire, dream and talent, maybe even greater talent and better looking than I am, but haven’t been able to do what I am doing. And I sincerely know that it is not by my power alone, though I have put in my best, the rest is by God and the people around me.

So, you are satisfied with where you are now?

No matter how big you get, you must always thirst for more. I am contented but not satisfied. I am contented and happy because if tomorrow I am told that I can’t sing anymore, I can easily look back at my career and say I am so proud of what I have achieved. I am grateful for the opportunity God has given me. Satisfied and ready to stop now? No.

Why?

Because I believe there are more boundaries to be crossed and walls to be broken. There are more shows and stages I need to conquer and I am just looking forward to the opportunity from God to continue to play that part in the Nigerian music industry.

If you are to change anything about your person, what would that be?

Maybe I should have started doing music earlier in my life. But honestly, I have been so blessed. But what can I change? Sometimes, I wish I was a little bit taller. But when you realise that you are a whole and perfect as God has imagined you when He created you, any other wish could best be regarded as almost a sin.

So, you are pleased with your height as it is now? 

I do. Honestly, I am pleased. People laugh at me whenever I tell them that I play basketball. You need to see me on the court; I play basketball better than some taller guys. I am even planning a basketball competition for my fans. So, despite my height, I still play basketball and it is another thing that I am very good at.

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