NaijaBrains: Celebrating Music On The Web

If a discussion about Nigerian DJ comes up, the name on the lips of most Nigerians and NaijaMusic lovers is that of Naija’s legendary Jimmy Jattz, but if you are a regular visitor to the Music/Radio Thread on Nairaland, then you’d probably have heard of Deemoney. He recently rocked the thread with his popular Naija greatest hits. Such is his dexterity that i just couldn’t resist my fingers typing an interview request in an email format to him. Not for once did i think that i have never done an interview before, that i fret when i got a reply from him stating his willingness. I must confess that I was totally unprepared for the interview as i had to rush in to keep up my appointment. Despite my lateness, he simply shrugged when i tendered my apologies.
So here is the interview below, Undiluted. I must warn you……..its a very very long one………Take your time, as we explore the life of a Nigerian DJ living in the town of Chicago…..

gbengaijotan: Can we meet you please?
dpanaki2004: Yes sir
gbengaijotan: Can we know more about you please…..
dpanaki2004: My name is DJ Dee Money. I reside in Chicago. I have been Djing for out here for about 7yrs. I pretty much specialize in all kinds of music, ranging from hip hop, R&B, Reggae, Naija Gbedu and many more
gbengaijotan: 7 Years?, thats a pretty long time, so what made you go into DJing
dpanaki2004: My love for music brought me behind the turntables.
gbengaijotan: And what has the experience been like?……
dpanaki2004: The experience has been very great. I have met alot of big names in the Nigerian music industry.
gbengaijotan: I believe as a Dj, you definitely hit the stage…..so what is the feeling like, and also Which popular artiste have you worked with?…….

dpanaki2004: The feeling is unexplainable. I love the reaction when I play songs that they love. The songs could either be old (songs they heard while growing up or new songs)
gbengaijotan: And which artiste have you worked with…..(
dpanaki2004: I have worked with artists such as eLDee, Del, Amplifyd Crew, Banky W, Rukus, Ash Thomas, Outta Town Entertainment, Seven, Zara, Soulbrotha, Pa J ,Sauce kid
dpanaki2004: and many more
gbengaijotan: Thats a whole lot of list
gbengaijotan: What have you been working on recently?
gbengaijotan: ??
dpanaki2004: Right now I’m kinda focused on the hottest thing smoking right now in the Nigerian Community. We formed a coalition of the hottest Nigerian DJs (www.myspace.com/naijadjs) and our mission is to increase the awareness of Nigerian music. We do this throught different Channels, such as Mixtapes, interview and our mixshow which is held on truspot radio (www.truspotradio.com) every friday and saturday.
gbengaijotan: Yeah, i was gonna come to that, but i guess this is the time………I have been to the NaijaDJ’s Page on Myspace, and it has pretty so much information. I am really impressed
dpanaki2004: Yes sir. It’s a movement that we are pushing right now. So please tell your friends about it
gbengaijotan: i sure will, even with the course of this interview….
dpanaki2004: cool

gbengaijotan: If you ask any average Nigerian if they know any DJ, the name on their lips is alway DJ Jimmy Jattz
gbengaijotan: Would you consider him to be the best to have come out of Nigerian Music in years……..
gbengaijotan: …
dpanaki2004: Jimmy Jatt definitely holds it down for Naija DJs in Nigeria.
gbengaijotan: I personally like the Idea of the coalition of Naija DJ’s. So did u actually came up with the idea?………,
dpanaki2004: I would not say I came up with the idea. I only came up with the Myspace account to collect data.
gbengaijotan: So it was even a coaliton of Ideas…….
dpanaki2004: Correct
gbengaijotan: Apart from DJing, do you do any other thing………..
dpanaki2004: I got a regular 9-5 out here in chicago..
gbengaijotan: so DJing is much more of a Hobby
gbengaijotan: in your 7 years career as a DJ, I am sure you will have played over 10000 tracks( Wild guesses though), which songs/tracks really appeal to you
dpanaki2004: Alot of tracks definitely appeals to me. I could go on and on.
gbengaijotan: i dare you to list 5….lol
dpanaki2004: 1.Mark Morrison- Return of the mack 2. Montell Jordan - This is how we do it 3. Jayz - Give it me (I just wanna love you) - Dbanj - Why me 5. Eldee - Champion
gbengaijotan: cool……

gbengaijotan: The Nigerian Music Industry is now flooded with so many young hopefuls looking to becoming artiste. In the same vein, we do have people interested in becoming DJ’s, Do you have any tips on how to?…..
dpanaki2004: Thank God for the internet. People can do their research online.
gbengaijotan: While you are right with that, do you have any words of encouragement?…….
dpanaki2004: Practice… Practice.. Practice
gbengaijotan: So who would you consider to be your best Nigerian Artiste
dpanaki2004: There are alots of talented artist out there right now that I feel it’s kinda different to name the best. But as far as more recognition, I will say Tuface
gbengaijotan: Tuface even have his album out recently, which of his track happens to be your favourite
gbengaijotan: or to rephrase, which one do you feel the groove more( av got 3 more questions and that will be it)
dpanaki2004: I like the whole album. I feel I could groove to ” No shaking”
gbengaijotan: Wud u believe if i say thats what i am listening to right now?
gbengaijotan: lol
dpanaki2004: lol
gbengaijotan: How do your fans respond to you when they see you on the road
dpanaki2004: Just like they would when they see Michael Jackson
gbengaijotan: LOL……..screaming…..DJ DeeMoney…………..I love youuuuuuuu
gbengaijotan: lol
dpanaki2004: Exactly

gbengaijotan: Where do you see your career as a DJ 5 years down the line
dpanaki2004: Disclaimer: DJing is not a career. It’s a hobby that bring $$$
dpanaki2004: brings**
gbengaijotan: lol
gbengaijotan:So, DJing is not a career, but rather a Hobby.
gbengaijotan: Where do you see yourself, 5 years down the line as a DJ
dpanaki2004: Whereever I land..
gbengaijotan: even if na for Jand?….
gbengaijotan: lol
dpanaki2004: It’s all for good
gbengaijotan: Any final wisdoms to all your fans?
gbengaijotan: wisdom*
gbengaijotan: any shout out?
dpanaki2004: Shout out to my Naija DJs family and to the peeps that support that worlds famous and super fresh DJ from Apapa.. DJ Dee Money
gbengaijotan: Thank you DJ DeeMoney for talking to us
dpanaki2004: No doubt. Thanks for having me. one love

So thats it undiluted from DJ D Money, One of Naija’s Best DJ. I simply dont need to tell you much more as his mixtape definitely speaks for itself. I guess its time we need to start appreciating NaijaDJs, and if you are a DJ, want to learn more about DJing or willing to shout out to the Numerous Nigerian DJs all over……….then NaijaDjs Homepage is the place to visit.
You can also catch up with NaijaDJs on Truspot Radio as they drop the mixhitson the Web.

Audio of the Day:
Ok, I love Jazzman Olofin. I recently copied jazzman_olofin_-_shake_sumtin.mp3 on my MP3 player and i am feeling the grooves here. So here is a copy of it. Feel the grooves.

So i stayed off NB for as bit. I have been flooded with loads of emails and calls to update.
For a long time, i never did envisage how much people return to this blog as i have always thought only a few do visit. I successfully infuse some google analytic code into the main homepage and days later, i could see the traffic analysis flooding in. Thanks to you all for coming back, the traffic is enough to invigourate me into blogging more and more.

RUGGEDDY BABA:
There are so many times that i seriously wish i am in Nigeria, and the 3rd of March won’t be an exception.
Since controversial rapper, Ruggedman burst on to the entertainment scene with his “Ehen” Track, dissing the showbiz big boys in the industry with his “Big Bros” track as well as wowing us all with his “Baraje” dance track, he has gone a mile ahead by dropping a new album which is scheduled for launch come 3rd March 2006 at the Vault Night Club on 21a Idowu martins Road in V. Island. Its sure going to be exciting and entertaining as participants will get a 3-in-1 treat; Ruggedman album, Ruggedmans 2007 calendar and a Ruggedman poster. The show which has a gate fee of N2000 is schedduled to start at 10PM and will feature popular Nigerian artiste such as P.Square, Paul Play, Weird MC, Neydo, Original Stereo man, Klint d Drunk, Freestyle, Lord of Ajasa, OJB Jezrel and many more.
The launch is been sponsored by Glo, AIT, Encomium, Raypower and many other top guns.
So if you’ve got N2000 to spare, the show is a sure one……its gonna be crazy.

ABOUT NIGERIAN PRODUCERS ON NAIRALAND:
I have just noticed a thread on Nairaland about the best Nigerian Producers. I am sure excited as to forumites debatable arguments will be. I look forward to posting the sequel to part 1 of the “Nigerian Producers” in my next post. Do you really wanna know who i think is the best?, then i think you should watch out for my next post.

GT THE GUITARMAN:
If you don’t know GT the guitar man, then you’ve probably not seen Jazzman Olofin and STORM Records “all Stars” loaded “Eko Ile”. The young looking 23 year old effected on the track and stood out among the likes of Nkiru, Dare Art Alade, Sasha as well as Jazzman himself.

Storm Records is set to launch his debut album called “The Truth” in April 2007. Gbemi( his real name) was born in 1984 and is a positive force in the Nigerian Music Industry and definitely will rock it till the end. While i have’nt got much information about the new album( Thats the wahala we in the diaspora face), you can still visit Nairaland on updates from other fans.

MUSICAL THROWBACK:
Ok, i know we’ve all heard Olu and Tolu’s Collab with JJC and the 419 Squad titled “I am looking for a wifey..Remix”, but i remember always miming “i catch cold” during my teenage years as i went down memory lane yesterday. so here is a copy of it for you to enjoy.

Thats all for now, you all should have a blessed week.

Each time you listen to a hit single or a head-shaking track like SOULE “Naija is blessed”, Tuface “African Queen”, PaulPlay’s “Forever” , Tony Tetuila’s “My Car” as well as Dbanj’s “Tongolo”, we all tend to attribute all the professionalism and finesse to the artiste, forgetting the producers who are behind the scenes who makes things happen. While some of them like OJB jezrel and the duo of sunky and Mekoyo of styl-plus are popular due to self media hype, some others are not well known. For those of you who love NaijaMusic, please find attached, the list of Nigerian Producers:

OJB JEZREEL:
Each time you listen to the famous hit track “African Queen” which won many award, including the most coveted MTV awards, Tuface, is what comes to mind. Unknown to so many, OJB Jezrel actually cooked the beat and produced the song. It all began in 1986 through the inspiration of music made by producers like Terry Lewis, R.Kelly and Jimmy Jam. He later teamed up with the trio of Henry, Banji and the famous Paul Play who are all sons of the legendary African Music Maestro I K Dairo to form a production crew called playground which has now metamorphorsed into Playground Entertainment which is the main label for PaulPlay.

OJB as he is fondly called, have in time past focused on making beats for talented and determined groups like X-Appeal, where jazzman olofin was formerly a member as well as the defunct Plantashun Boiz.

He has since been a creative beatsmith for the likes of Ruggedman, nomoreloss, Abounce, Raskie, 2face idibia as well as Jazzman Olofin. Recently, he has take his music to the next level by signing a record pact with the duo of Kenny Ogungbe and Dayo Adeneye to recreate the 80’s classic “ace” album of Sir Shina peters and give it a urban makeover. He recently in 2005 released an album titled “Jah’s My Lite”, and with all this achievement, OJB still look forward beyond the end of the tunnel…….He hope to influence Nigerian Music more positively.

OMOLOLU:
Ask Tetuila what he thinks about Omololu and he is going to repeat his name again and again. Immediately after Tetuila’s break from Remedies. He shot to fame with his Hit track “My car”. The song enjoyed massive play for more than six months after the release. its no big news that the great beat maker was Omololu, hence it commercial success. For a long time, he’s been a in-House producer for Kennis Music and has produced other popular tracks like Eddy Remedies “Arrival” as well as Crazykulture “Jupa Jupa”.
Omololu who grew up with Music by shunning an admission to the university of Ife and opting for Music, attended the Christ Music School in Ondo and later obtain a diploma in the year 1993.
He currently as well have a video out titled Na Me & you.

I particularly like Omololu, as he is a real producer and he sure knows his onions. OJB Jezrel as well is a hit producer. you just cant have enough of his beats and songs. They are simply da bomb. The best of Nigerian Producers part II will feature the likes of Jeremiah Nyang, the “Na Ba Ka” sensation, The Duo of Sunky and Mekoyo of Styl-plus,DonJazzy of Mohit’s Records as well as JJC of the 419 Squad.

SOUND SULTAN: Motherlan’
And after a long search of “Motherland” by SoundSultan, a friend finally send me a copy of the track. So here is the acoustic version…..Enjoy it while it last. You all have a blessed week….