EQUATE Meets LADIPOE
"The alté scene is bigger than a sound or genre; it’s just people. How we dress, how we present and carry ourselves, how we talk – it's more of a lifestyle. In a way, I've been crafting a sound of my own – which I ‘ve called ‘lifelines'. It’s the way I describe how I rap and present my music."
Right now, across Nigeria, LADIPOE’s musical innovations are dominating the charts. Though, it wasn’t always this way. In fact, when I caught up with the larger-than-life rap artist via e-mail last week, he detailed how his genre defying fusions of nostalgic Nigerian rhythms, American hip-hop and R’n’B were - for a long time – being categorized by musical in-crowds on his home-turf as ‘too alternative’. As an artist who stands firmly amongst the pioneers of a globally-facing contemporary Nigerian sound, LADIPOE has had to harness an immense amount self-belief, perseverance and talent for his music to reach the stratospheric heights it floats above today. It’s our first interaction, so naturally there’s much to catch-up on, as we discuss the recent success of his hit-single “Feeling” featuring BUJU, and continue on traversing cultural understanding, for an enlightening discussion into his hopes for a future generation of creatively-free alté youth in Nigeria; who will surely follow in LADIPOE and his musical peers’ trail-blazing footsteps.
Read the full interview below…
Words by Tahirah Thomas
EQ: Hey POE! I really rate your new track “Feeling” featuring BUJU. I heard it’s going off in Nigeria right now and is No.1 in the charts. What are some of your thoughts on the response to the track so far?
L: To be honest, I feel a mixture of gratitude and validation. Gratitude, just because you never know the extent to which your song will reach people and connect. Validation because we put a lot of love and effort into it. This one really meant something personally. It reflects how I felt when I recorded it during 2020 – which was a tough year. It’s great that people have been able to find something in the track; to tap into the feelings I was channelling when I put it together. So yeah – it’s a huge amount of validation for me and the team!
EQ: You’re well established amongst the originators of that youthful, contemporary alté sound that’s coming out of Nigeria and going global at the moment. What are your thoughts on where the alté scene is right now and where it’s going in the future?
L: Woah! That’s a big conversation, but the alté scene is bigger than a sound or genre; it’s just people. How we dress, how we present and carry ourselves, how we talk – it’s more of a lifestyle. In a way, I’ve been crafting a sound of my own – which I ‘ve called ‘lifelines. It’s the way I describe how I rap and present my music. “No punchlines, just lifelines” - it’s almost a mantra of mine. I do this because at one point, earlier in my career, I was categorically told that my music had no place in the current Nigerian music landscape, but yet, here we are now having this conversation! So, I can appreciate why people will want to fit me in with the alté crowd, but in my mind, over the years I’ve always felt like I was creating a sound parallel to that scene; one that speaks to being an outlier, or alternative. I think recently that ‘lifelines’ sound has been coming to the forefront of public consciousness and that’s amazing to me! I hope my journey sends a signal to everyone, especially young emerging rappers. I want them to realise that there’s space for them too.
EQ: I think your versatility is something that sets you apart from other artists; you sing, but you can also rap really well. Tell us, how did you get your start in music and what pushed you to become as versatile an artist as you are today?
L: For me, I’d actually flip that around! I rap well, but I also know how to apply melody, so I’ll sing when I need to. I do see myself as a rap artist. I only state that so clearly because over here (in Nigeria), I feel like calling yourself a rapper is greatly misunderstood. When people hear the term rapper, they automatically think hip-hop and they shut the door. Primarily, rap is how I express myself, but I also want to make great songs that have a legacy; that’s why it’s important to attach the word ‘artist’ to what I do. How I got my start? Well. I’m an Ikeja boy, born and raised in Lagos. I’ve been quite privileged, given that I got the opportunity to go and study abroad in America - which is where I picked up the skill of making music. When I came home, I started telling stories in my music that reflected everything I had seen around me growing up. I think that’s the point when my music started to have an impact and I started to rap. I think my versatility is a product of being Nigerian. Saying that, being inundated with the sounds I grew up around, then discovering new sounds when I was studying in America and down to the music I listen to now – it’d be impossible not to fuse all those sounds together into my own music. I feel like there are so many directions I can take things musically, so that’s the impetus for my ‘no punchlines, just lifelines’ ethos for rapping; it can be applied to so many different sounds and that’s why I stand by it.
EQ: Towards the end of 2020, the world had its eyes on Nigeria as a result of the visibility the #ENDSARS movement created. One of the things Nigerian youth are still protesting for is their right to freedom of expression. On this, I have two questions for you. The first being, has what’s going on in Nigeria affected the way you approach making music?
L: Honestly – it hasn’t really affected the way we make music; it’s simply validated the way in which we do it. The phrase “speak up” was heavily popularised during the protests that made international news and I feel like many of my peers and I have been doing just that in our music. We’ve continued to put those specific words into our lyrics, often incorporating them in a way that’s under the nose, satirical and almost humorous sometimes. I vow to keep doing that, for the simple fact that I want our youth and the future generations to continue to speak up for themselves. So, I like the idea that when they sing my songs, they’ll be saying it anyway!
EQ: We love that! I guess, you’ve perfectly segued into our second question on the matter. What are some of your hopes for the future generations of alté youth in Nigeria who come through in music after you?
L: I think we’re living in a society right now where people are shook to have the wrong opinion, or go against the status quo. I also think we still need to allow people the space to do their own research, to learn and grow before contributing to the wider conversation. Ultimately, I think encouraging diversity will be the answer to young people’s struggles for freedom of creative expression. I think right now, every iteration of alternative music that comes out of Africa is considered Afrobeats. I hope in the future, there’ll be more nuance and variation between sounds, rather than everything being lumped under one umbrella term. That’s my hope – if we can achieve that, it’d be brilliant!
“I think we’re living in a society right now where people are shook to have the wrong opinion, or go against the status quo. I also think we still need to allow people the space to do their own research, to learn and grow before contributing to the wider conversation. . “
EQ: We hope so too! Lastly, what’s coming up next for LADIPOE? Can we expect more music from you this summer? Clue us in on what you’ve got going on.
L: Ah, my favourite question! Definitely more music; I’m working on a project right now which I think will enable people to get to know me a bit better. I also have plans to come over to the UK. I know I have some LADIPOE fans over there that want to see me and I’m excited to meet them. I might even be cooking up some collaborations that you wouldn’t expect…the future is bright. I’m looking forwards to building that momentum going on around us right now. I’m hungry, and I also know that nothing done for love is worth giving up!
EQ: That’s very true. We can wait to meet you over here. Thanks POE!
Watch the visuals for ‘Feeling’ ft. Buju below!