I met an African dream waiting to come true

The video features innovative use of greenscreen technology, mixing in flashes of Lil Wayne and Kanye West rapping alongside XDOGGinit. A reoccurring motif in the chorus is a fish-eye lens shot of a saucy little girl in a hijab saying, “Ina da baki”/”I’ve got a mouth.”  Going to XDOGGinit’s YouTube page, I discovered another video […]

The video features innovative use of greenscreen technology, mixing in flashes of Lil Wayne and Kanye West rapping alongside XDOGGinit. A reoccurring motif in the chorus is a fish-eye lens shot of a saucy little girl in a hijab saying, “Ina da baki”/”I’ve got a mouth.”  Going to XDOGGinit’s YouTube page, I discovered another video “Soyaiya,” which had apparently been made years ago, but which, despite its nonstandard use of Hausa, is one of the most creative Hausa-language music videos I have seen.

 

The song is complemented by a strong visual story, of a young man in love with a Sarki’s daughter, critiquing like many Hausa films, the criteria by which parents and girls use to judge the worth of a suitor. The video features Kannywood stars Jamila Nagudu and others and has creative cinematography, edited to the catchy beat of the songs. I asked XDOGGinit if he would be willing to respond to some interview questions by e-mail. Herewith, is the interview, which, mixed as it was in playful Pidgin English, made me feel like I’d actually met him in person.

What is the story behind your stage name XDOGGinit?

My stage name originally was XDOGG, an acronym for “Xtremely Dependant On GOD’s Gift”, but my DJ friend (Mannie of 96.9 CoolFM Lagos) started calling me XDOGGinit, whenever I do very well on a song. The name just stuck and spread among friends and colleagues, so I decided to go by it on my new project.

I’m from Kogi State, but I didn’t really grow up there. I was born in Zaria in 1986. When my parents returned to Kogi State, I went with them and did my primary 1-3. Then I returned to the north (Katsina state), where my elder sister worked as an Immigrations officer, to complete my primary education.  From there I was sent to Kaduna State to start my secondary education. From there, I went to Abuja, to Kano, back to Zaria, then to Lagos.

I started music professionally in 2002. That was the first time I recorded my first single titled “X world” produced by Sunny Steve of the Gospel group “Infinity.” But I started music production and sound engineering in 2004.

Tell me about your video “Soyaiya.” You made it in 2006 with Kannywood stars but posted it to YouTube just this year. What is the story there?

“Soyaiya” was my first song to be officially released. It was released in 2005, and we shot the video in 2006 in Kano state. It was directed by Dozie Director Dee and co-directed by Murtala Isah Turaki. I came up with the concept and told the director about it and where I intended to have it shot with famous northern faces. After debating on it, we agreed and I travelled from Lagos to Kano for the first time. That’s when I met Murtala who is a movie director in Kano State, and he provided the people we needed. The director flew in from Lagos to meet us in Kano. He checked out the location and confirmed all the cast members were OK after interviewing them. The shooting date got fixed, and the rest is history.

“Soyaiya” received good airplay on MTV Base, Channel O, Soundcity, Nigezie, Musicafrica etc and it made it to number four on the top ten count down in Zambia. “Soyaiya” got on YouTube this year because of management issues. The promotion was put on hold because I sacked my manager. So I had to take my time before continuing on the spread since I had to do it myself without a manager and a record label. I’m still unsigned.

What are you working on now? Tell me about your new video “Mouthed (Ina da Baki)” and the album that you are working on.

I just released a new single off my forthcoming album titled, which I’m gradually promoting. It is on YouTube already. As soon as it hits its peak, the album “I’m Mouthed” will be released. The album is Afrocentric hip-hop album, basically, and consists of twelve tracks, recorded and ready.

When did you move to Lagos and what are you doing in Lagos these days?

I’ve been here since 1999, the same time the Nigeria ‘99 world cup was being held. I’ve been here for twelve years. I’m hustling hard to make my music career successful even without a record deal. I am looking forward to being signed onto a record label that can help my dream of being an internationally recognised African hip-hop artiste come true.

Why did you choose to rap in Hausa?  How receptive are Lagosians to Hausa rap?

I make my music for Africans and the whole world, not just Hausa people alone. I’m not rapping in Hausa because of the Hausa market alone, but for Africans and the world. I’m a hip-hop artiste like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Kanye West etc. The reason I mix my rap with Hausa is to make it African and to let the world and my fans know that a big part of me remains African. With the large number of African countries that speak Hausa, when my song picks and becomes a hit, I’ll be all over Africa by God’s grace.

You were recently in Kenya. What’s the story with the Pan-African festival you were a part of?

It was great. The appreciation for my style of music was very encouraging. A whole lot of them are waiting for my album release. The Pan African festival was held in Ghana. It was beautiful. I’m glad my dream of being recognised as an African rap star is gradually coming true.

Sometimes I feel scared about my style of music because it isn’t mainstream, but I keep pushing hard, having faith that something good will happen. I also produce my music myself as a producer and a sound engineer. All I pray and hope for right now is for a record deal or management deal or marketing deal that can help my African dream come true.