Today’s musicians don’t understand music — Idris Abdulkareem

Controversial musician, Idris Abdulkareem, may have been missing in music over the years but the rapper says he still remains a strong force, even as he took a swipe on today’s crop of musicians. In this interview with SEGUN ADEBAYO,  the Jagajaga crooner opens up on his career and grouse about Nigeria.

 

What has been happening to the music part of your life; you don’t seem to be pushing out songs anymore, are you done with music?

I am not done with music and I can never be tired of making music. I have been in the game for years and I have become a big force as far as the Nigerian music scene is concerned. The truth is that what you call music today is not what we used to do back then.  A lot of things have changed and I think only a few people are doing real songs, others are just there.

 

You have not made your voice heard in music for some time now, are you tired of speaking for the people as you are known for?

I am always on the side of the people. All my life, my music speaks about the ill in the society and that will never change about me or the music I churn out. The passion for speaking for the people has not waned. Over the years, I have used the music platform to add value to the lives of others. My voice has not cracked. I will speak for the people for the rest of my life because as things stand now, I don’t seem to understand where this country is headed. But I won’t use my passion to basically mislead music like some people are doing today.

 

What do you mean by you don’t want to mislead music?

I don’t want to abuse the platform by using music the wrong way. You really can’t do that if you don’t have God in your life. The fear of God, they say, is the beginning of wisdom. When you fear God, you will not fail. I give Allah the glory for bringing me to this level and I know I still have miles to cover in music. God has been there for me from day one and I know He will always be there as long as I remain on this path.

 

On what path are you?

I am on the path where I use my music to liberate the people; speak out for the masses, express my mind without fear or favour. When I notice something is not right, I call the attention of the people to it and I move on. That’s the path I have been treading for years and you will agree with me that I have been consistent.

 

Talking about using music to liberate the people, what do you make out of the songs today’s crop of musicians? Do you think they are using music to do the right thing?

No, I don’t think they are living up to expectations. What they are doing is what I can call pure water business in the music industry. That’s what I can say about that.

 

Could you shed more light on what you mean by pure water business?

It is simple. Everybody wants to make money and they do same thing to make sure the money comes. That’s what they do. They are basically running after money; they want their songs to be known and they want their names to be everywhere. They want to be heard everywhere. They are not paying attention to the music business, which is actually bigger than their focus.

 

The business of music is to make money; these guys are living large…

The business is about using what you have to add value to the lives of the people. The business, for me, is to do what the people will always talk about, even many years after you are no more. That’s the core value of music. Yes, people want to make money, but money will not take you to the evergreen state, where you will be respected for standing for the truth for the rest of your life. The message I get from music today that you just have to go online, dupe somebody, make money and go to the club to pop champagne. As far as I am concerned, that is a negative influence that their songs now have on the society. Today, you see young people blowing money on frivolities at clubs. That’s the result of the society we now live in because these people have been misled through music and other ways.

 

Are you saying there are no serious musicians in the industry today?

There are a few of them that are doing music the right way. I didn’t mean all the musicians are bad. No. You can still pick a few of them, who understand what music is all about and have remained a positive influence on the people for many years. I give kudos to them.

 

Will it be right to say there are no good songs out there?

There are no good songs out there because they are all sounding alike, what they do is to make noise. But at the same time, there are still a few of them with good music.

 

During you heydays in the industry, people also criticised your songs. Some people even said it encouraged acrimony, because you were always confrontational and controversial. Don’t you think your criticism of today’s artistes is unfair?

It is a free world. At least, you can say that I have been vindicated now that things have gone from bad to worse. But, have they been vindicated? So, go and ask them this question. I sang Nigeria Jagajaga back then, what has happened to the country after then? What are we seeing now that is different from ills I sang about back then? I speak the truth. I stand for the truth and I speak for the street.

 

That song was said to have caused you a lot and that it placed a restriction on your progress because you were said to have stepped on toes then. What do you think about this?

See, I am not looking for favour. Don’t get it twisted by trying to put words into my mouth. I understand what you are trying to do with these your questions.

 

I am not putting words into your mouth; I was only stating the obvious…

What I have been doing over the years is that I am doing music the way I feel it should be done. I am putting music to the people the way it should be done; it is as simple as that. I am not looking for favour from anybody. This is the way music should be done. You have to be selfless and truthful in your music. You want people to hear the truth through your music, then preach it to them through the platform that you have. That’s just the way I have been all my life. Please, say something else my brother.

 

Are you not tired of telling the truth. If nothing has changed over the years, despite your stance?

Let me also ask you how would you feel if it was your brother that jumped into the lagoon in Lagos? They said they discovered $45 million in somebody’s house. Up till now, they have not told us who owns the money. They promised us change, but we have seen no changes in the country. Where is the change? Tell us who owns the money. EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu is doing a good job, if they let him stay, he will expose everybody but the man is being careful. How can you tell me that you don’t know who the owner of that huge amount of money is in the government of change? Is there any change in that? If you want to convince us about the change mantra, tell us who owns all these monies, then maybe we can start to believe what you say again. See, people are angry and sad, that’s why a senator was stoned in Katsina State. That’s to tell you that Nigerians are angry. It doesn’t matter the tribe you belong to, people are suffering and anger does not recognise your tribe or religion. People are dying every day. I will appreciate if President Muhammadu Buhari can come out and start naming names of those who own the monies being discovered everywhere. We are tired of headlines. We want the real change.

 

If you see 50 Cent today, what would you do to him?

50 Cent is a past issue in my life and I have said it before that I have moved on.