I want to use music to liberate people from hatred —Engo

Fast rising Hip/Hop artiste, Clement Oluwasegun Ezekiel, popularly known as ENGO speaks about life and career in this interview with SEYI SOKOYA. Excerpts:

How did you venture into music?

Music for me is like oxygen, because I was born into it. My dad is a shepherd of a Celestial Church, while my mom is a choir mistress and all my sisters are into music. So, I was raised in it.

What kind of music are you comfortable with?

My kind of music is hip hop/rap, blended with any other genre of interest in the Afro spirit, but I call my style Okisiyayi, meaning quality and royal. I was greatly influenced by various artistes of different genres and thanks to my dad, who allowed us to listen to any kind of music, including Fuji, apala, bolojo, soul, rap, e.t.c. He is a music lover, but he can’t sing.  Instead, he prays a lot and mom pushes us to create and compose songs, using various styles. I found rap in 2010 and that same year, I had my first studio recording and everything changed for good. But, I will love to certify 2018 as a more professional start for me, despite my ground-breaking and award-winning achievements over the years.

How do you draw inspiration?

My inspiration is within me. God has given me abundant creative potential. So, I just look inward for it,  taking into consideration my environment and experiences.

Apart from music, what other things do you do?

I am a video jockey personality; I am into red carpet in hosting and TV presenting, as well as tutor students majorly on mathematics and sciences, music and VJ goes easily, because they are both entertainment-related, but I do the tutor based on my deep passion for impacting young people positively and I think it also reflects in the way I deliver my lyrics. Though it is challenging, I have been able to master and marry them all.

How many songs have you produced?

At present, my body of work is a mixtape of 15 tracks released on my birthday in 2016, entitled Egocentric Mixtape. But my official single, entitled Omo Cele Reloaded, is making waves and we are coming out strong on it. I want to appreciate my fans for their support so far.

Omo Cele Reloaded is a song targeted at encouraging people against discrimination of any kind, especially among religious denomination. I’m a member of the Celestial church and I have been directly affected by interdenominational discrimination, likewise many others.

We are in the world where hatred is on the increase. Hatred for other people’s ideas is biogotry; hatred for people of different skin colour, racism; hatred for foreigners is Xenophobia, tribal issues, political party crises, religious hatred, interdenominational hatred and even hatred for human nature is misanthropy.

All this kind of hatred and dislike makes the world a hell. I know people that could get a job, school admission, promotion, wedded to the love of their life, but all because of the fact that they belong to a particular church, religion, party, tribe, race and the like they could not achieve their aims or dreams.

So, the song is about my celestial pride. It speaks for the silent ones and get people to rise above the terrible system in this world of dislike and hatred. I am confident that it will liberate a lot of souls. The song is available on all platforms online.

What is your greatest challenge?

Basically, my challenge at present is just the difficulty of getting to properly reach out to the world musically as regards finance, because the industry is just growing; nevertheless, we’ll keep pushing through till the world catches the virus.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself dominating both home and abroad, I mean becoming influential to the world and becoming a positive influence with the very best entertainment means.

Who are your role models in the industry?

I really don’t have role models, but I have been influenced by five artistes’ in Nigeria: Olamide, Phyno, Ruggedman, Vector and MI, while Jay Z, Kanye West, Eminen, Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar, are the foreign artistes that have inspired me.

How did you come about your stage name,?

This is part of my effort to be unique; the full meaning of ENGO is Entertainment Gospellar. It also represents star cross. ENGO is a creative act, who presents the truth on any subject of interest in an entertaining way for the purpose of being a positive influence to the world at large.

What is your growing up like?

I grew up in an environment where one was expected to have an idea of almost everything in life, be it spiritual/religion, financial, education, sports, entertainment, including street orientations.

How do you relax?

By staying alone in my dark room; though it is weird, but it helps me ease stress and aids my creativity and imagination. I also relax by being around a happy crowd and just observing.