Meet Kano’s twin rappers

Weekend Magazine: What kind of music do you do? Latifat: As an artist I do R&B and hip-pop. I am a level two student of biochemistry at BUK. We are a group of two comprising my twin brother and I. However, we also do our solo things in terms of music. Interestingly, I am also […]

Weekend Magazine: What kind of music do you do?

Latifat: As an artist I do R&B and hip-pop. I am a level two student of biochemistry at BUK. We are a group of two comprising my twin brother and I. However, we also do our solo things in terms of music. Interestingly, I am also into arts, painting and fashion designing. 

WM: It is believed that hip-hop is a genre for gangsters. What is your take on that?

Latifat: You see the kind of music we do in the present Hausa modern music industry is quite refined and void of the entire gangster thing. We compose our lyrics in such a way that the messages preach peace not violence.

WM: What do you have in common with your brother?

Latifat: Our passion for music and studies. We are both students studying sciences and at the same time we grew up virtually with extraordinary understanding and perhaps that’s what made us to discover our common interest in music. 

WM: Who writes your songs?

Latifat: I do write most of our songs and my brother also does write songs for either personal use or for the group use. I find it very conducive to write songs in the night when everywhere is relatively quiete.

There is the general conception that to make it big in the entertainent industry, one has to be in Lagos. Do you thing you can make it here in Kano?

I am optimistic that we can. You see in everything; there is someone who started it. I don’t believe that Lagos is the only ‘Promised Land’ for entertainment artistes to hit gold. We will be in Kano and we will make it big in Kano and then the sky will then be our limit. If we make our breakthrough in Kano then we can go anywhere in the world 

WM: What language are you using in your songs?

Latifat: We do songs in English, Hausa and Yoruba, because we can fluently speak in all the three languages I have mentioned.

WM: How do you feel being a female rapper in the modern Hausa music industry?

Latifat: People tell me that I am probably the first female rapper in the industry which is a male-dominated sector. But I don’t look at it that way. To me it is a matter of what you can do and not your gender even though there are limitations as to what a female rap artiste does. Similarly, there are also things to consider especially being a female artiste from the North; that is why one has to be very careful in protecting your culture, norms and values as an artiste.

WM: After your Bsc what next? 

Latifat: As I have said earlier I am into a lot of arts dealings aside my music career. I can’t say precisely what I will be doing after my successful graduation. For now, my major concern is to see that I have successfully graduated from school in flying colours.

Weekend Magazine: Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Abdullatif Abdulrahman: My name is Abdullatif Abdulrahman, I was born 17 years ago and I did my secondary and primary schools in Kano. I am a twin and presently an undergraduate of Bayero University Kano studying Physics. I am in level 200 now. I am also a musical artiste in what is called the Hausa modern music industry.

WM: How did you get into music?

Abdullatif: Well, I can say music is something that is inherent in me, it started by just liking it and listening to it, then I graduated to making attempt to make my own music as in my own lines and rhythm.

WM: Why did you choose hip-hop?

Abdullatif: Hip-hop is an inspirational kind of music and moreover, Hausa hip-hop is a refined version of what the traditional hip-hop is all about. As a young man, I believe I can preach to my mates, to my elders and to everyone through music. That is why I decided to go for what I think I can do correctly. Moreover, I also do some R&B and a little of pop also.

However, the greater part of the zeal and confidence comes from my twin sister, who really helped me in bringing out of my nest in terms of my hidden talent.

WM: How did your parents react when you made your intention known that you are venturing into music?

Abdullatif: Our parent’s priority is to see us get education to the maximum level. But also as individuals, they feel and believe that we do have our own passions in life. For them, in as much as we do not neglect our studies we can go on our separate career pursuit. The understanding we have with our parent and the confidence they have in us made them give us their blessing without much stress. They love us as their children who love doing some things different.

WM: How difficult is it combining music with school?

Abdullatif: It has not been easy honestly. But we are aware that others have done it before and that has made us determined to see that we have do it successfully. With the help and assistance from our manager Mr. Bila, we are able to schedule ourselves and we only do music during our holidays. Remember, we both are in the sciences which demand a lot of studies to succeed. That is why we have to do a lot of things separately to make our dreams achievable.

WM: Do you have an album?

Abdullatif: No, because I am presently working on my first album. But I do have singles such as ‘Feeling the boy,’ among others. Our videos also will soon be out too.