I have made more progress in the last two years since I started my career, says rapper
Blaqbonez paid a recent visit to the Pulse office, where in an
exclusive interview, he selects 'Consent' as his favourite song off the
''Bad Boy Blaq'' album.
Blaqbonez speaks to Pulse on his new album 'Bad Boy Blaq' (AnagoBolaji)
Ever
since the project dropped, the young rapper have been enjoying a warm
response from music lovers online with the album working its way up to
getting him the recognition he deserves.
Blaqbonez recently paid a visit to the Pulse office, where he discussed the new album, meeting
MI Abaga and the situation with
Adekunle Gold.
He shared the process of putting together the album Blaqbonez (Instagram/Blaqbonez)
''I started
recording in February, I had the idea for what I wanted to do since last
year, the earliest songs that made the album were recorded in
February...
I recorded a lot of songs, so
eventually when I was putting out the album, there were 20 tracks left,
it is not like the other ten that didn't make the album were not good.
I
felt like I had done a lot as regards rapping in the past, 'Bad Boy
Blaq' is my seventh project, I have done a lot of rapping on the past
projects, I just felt it is time to put rapping as not the most
important thing, but making music, that is something that is sonically
pleasing that people will enjoy.''
He says this decision is based on maturity and present trend, ''As much as possible, I want revenue, and for you to get revenue, you need to make music that cuts across a larger audience.''
On how he met MI Abaga
Loose Kaynon, Blaqbonez, AQ and MI at the Lamb August listening session (TheNerve)
''I met MI at a Vector
show, Lafiaji concert, we met backstage and he called my name, it was
surreal for me, I was a fan who had never met him and the first time
meeting him, he already knew my name.
I think our relationship became a bit stronger during the time he dropped 'Fix Up Your Lives.''
Blaqbonez was one of the artists who recorded a response to MI's controversial single, 'Fix Up Your Lives' and he says his reply didn't affect their relationship.
''No, that was what he wanted when he released the song, he did not want to release it and everybody will sit down and be quiet.
Is
the message actually true? Is South Africa killing us rap-wise, yes?
Are our rappers doing enough? No, maybe it is the fault of the fans,
fault of media or anyone else, but still, it is just the facts and I
focused on the message, while others who recorded replies attacked the
messenger.
I reminded him that I have
held my own, I had dropped six projects, MI has been around 10 years he
dropped eight projects, for me that I have been underground to drop
seven projects [including Bad Boy Blaq], you know that I have put in a
lot of work, that was the whole idea of my response.
I
have been in the industry since 2011 when I dropped my first project, I
have dropped a project every year since then.'' he stated.
He refuses to compare himself with any rapper out there, ''I
don't see myself as better than the next guy when I listen to any
rapper, I try to understand what the person has and what I can learn
from that person.
Overtime after dropping
all those numerous projects that people say 'you are the best rapper', I
thought to myself, after dropping all these projects, I didn't blow,
but these other rappers blow, so I had to talk to myself and in the last
two years, I have made more progress than I ever made in my career,
that old mentality has changed.''
He speaks on the album, ''Bad Boy Blaq''
On his favourite track, He chooses 'Consent', ''Because it [Consent] was new ground for me, it was the first song I sang 80%, it has this hold on me,'' he says.
