Those who have heard the voice and delivery of Bassey Okon a.k.a Basi, an artiste signed to Iyanya’s Made Men Music Group will agree that he is a musical time bomb ready to explode.
Basi who who attended a film school in Jos and was seriously dreaming of making it big as a movie producer before settling finally for music which he claims had been his first love, is Iyanya’s cousin. Morakinyo Olugbiji recently had a chat with him.
Can we meet you?
Basi is that afrocentric musician under the record label of Triple MG.I’m quite a very funny guy. I ventured into RnB, and Pop but, you know you must sell, so you have to do what people like, you know people like the High life, Makosa, Fuji,and most recently the the Afropop style and I’m also bringing back the old school South-South kind of music.
What is your own style of music?
I would say my own real style of music is RnB and Pop Reggae,you know,but I’m beginning to be strong in the genre of high life and Makosa with the help of my other record label mates. But,my real strength lies in RnB and element of Reggae.
One would expect that you would have given your fans something major despite all the buzz which sorounded your signing and your debut in the MMMG All-Star Album, what’s happening?
First of all I want to apologize to my fans,I’m not sleeping,Bassey is not sleeping,Bassey is working.I initially took a two months working break. I have been recording with producers outside the MMMG camp,so I can spread my wings and make sure the production moves but very soon,I can’t give an exact date,but I will be shooting my video,I believe that soon something will come out in terms of videos. We have a couple of songs, but it takes time and it is very technical and tasking,so am just waiting patiently am not sleeping,am working.
How did you know how to play the lead guitar?
I grew up in a music family, my dad played the guitar,he use to play in bands with his brothers in Jos where they were born,and my mom is still in the choir. Also, my stepmother is in the choir,I always had something to do with music, particularly gospel music,where you get to sing in church and play drums so I started from the church basically.
How has jos influenced you personally, what is your own jos story?
I only went to the university in Jos and I was there for only five years I met a lot of people when I was In Jos and I remember I use to visit Loopy records had been owned by M.I way before he joined Chocolate City. You know, hang around Jesse Jagz, Ice Prince with some other guys and then my cousin too was a producer and we had a studio in the house. I always wanted to be in the studio for him to make music for me and since I wentt to the film school, music is related to me so much in many positive ways because I had opportunity to do video and seeing myself in the terms of music and entertainment. I hung around all these people and all that made me, and five years of my life in jos gave me so much of music experience.
You are in music now, what is going to happen to all the knowledge from film school?
Well, I’m not sleeping over the intention for my movie or film practice, but music is my first love and that’s why you have not seen me do anything about film making but I believe that am not sleeping over my film or movie intellect, it will be In practice. It’s a profession where you learn how to be your own boss and work for yourself.
How do you feel having to wait for this long, before mmmg starts releasing your works?
You see waiting is a virtue and in that you learn a lot,and for waiting for my time to come,I’m also learning from Boss, Iyanya, Sele bobo, and I meet so many other musicians from outside our camp and in the studio. This is all a learning process. For example I had the opportunity to record some of my songs in trriple MG, and It’s also an experience for me working in the studio with Ice Prince who has already made a huge mark in the industry, I feel like the time will come,and I believe it has already come.
What has been your music career expectation?
I plan to be big and my expectation is that my music makes people happy and also touch them.I expect that I will make it big in the music industry,touch lives with my music and help people as much as I can.
If you are not into music or movie what would you have been doing?
I still would be in the entertainment industry somehow. I believe with the experiences I’m gathering or have gathered in triple MG,I believe that if I change music and I have an artist of my own ,I should have been able to start up a label of my own from the knowledge I’m gaining from other people. I would love to go into automobile. I’m someone who’s so freaky about cars whether to sell them, open a celebrity PIMP-My-Car kind of busnies or open my own car shop or something,although somehow I still want to be in the entertainment industry. I could be a vehicle provider but still be in the entertainment industry, and it’s possible that I might be acting or making movies.
What is your dream car?
My dream car..wow…it’s a car that freaks me but I can’t drive it in Nigeria,because our roads are nt too good,its called the Chronisec.
How much does a Chronisec cost?
It’s in millions. its over 50 million. It’s a dream car for me,so I might just be there still dreaming.
What do you do at your leisure time?
I love to watch movies and football, these are my element of relaxation. I also love to play basketball, it’s a passion for me because I use it as a way to keep fit.
How do you guys at MMMG live together without having issues?
Its true oh! Because it’s hard for us to live together without having issues,but you see that’s what makes us stronger,we don’t see ourselves as just musicians,we see ourselves as brothers and sister,the sister I mean is Emma Nyra, and no matter what we sometimes have issues. But we don’t keep grudges and it’s a discipline way we live here. If you mess up you will be chastised,if you’re meant to be punished you will be. When you’re going against the house or business rule in triple MG, you are being told straight,it’s either we hold a meeting to clear it and put you to the right path.
Your words to musicians out there?
I will like to say that you should be true to yourself,know your calling,and what you know how to do best keep doing it and don’t give up on your dreams no matter how long it takes. And do not forget to put God first in all your doings.