MODENINE: THE MAN, THE MUSIC, THE LEGEND

Its early 2005, Stv just started broadcasting, music Africa one its most watched program at that time. Same video played almost everyday, you see the guy, in baggy jeans, tee shirts, timbs and head band. Its mode9, elbow room is the song, d flow grabs your attention,the attitude,reminiscent of those new York G's but the guy is Nigerian,location is Las gidi. That was the beginning of what has turned out to be a curvy bittersweet career of Africa's foremost MC.
Born in the Uk, grew up in Lagos, this man has a razor sharp memory, can mimic just about anybody, remembers names, dates and places, loves dogs, arsenal, caps and books. He holds the record of the highest recipient of Nigeria's most coveted award ( Headies). In 2007, he had 6 nominations with the song 'cry', the year before, he won 3 hiphop world award, 3 channel o award (biggest win for any artiste)...modenine isn't about awards, commercial reception or financial braggado...
Having listened to him for so long, he is a man filled with passion, passion for Hiphop, to use music as a tool, to share knowledge, to promote the importance of perseverance. He has performed alongside the best, Guru(R.I.P), Wyclef, Akon, Junior Reid, Kanye west, T pain, LL Cool J, Nas, Talk kweli. He shared the stage with Nas, in hiphop, that is a mighty feat. Alot of people think success is synonymous with money, but mode9 dosent share that sentiment. Mode9 is respected in the continent and with 7 albums, 5 mixtapes(all free), he's got nothing to prove. He has worked with producers from Uk(Mills), south Africa (Alias), just to mention a few, featured artistes from different countries in Africa. Hmmm, I remember a song in his second mixtape,a song critics say is the greatest rap collabo,'spazmodic' which he featured terry d rapman, the video had cameos of a young M.I, Jesse jags, Ice prince and Kel. I wonder how these artistes would feel if they watch that video today...the first time I heard d name 'jesse jags', it was a mode9 song,also heard the name M.I and Ruby,mode9 was a legend at that time yet he gave props to an upcoming M.I who hadn't released an album..Caninus, an American rapper known as the 'battle rap' king was featured on AGL, mode9's last album, most rap enthusiasts were waiting to see how mode9 would cope with such high profiled rapper on a song, guess wat, he came out unscarred...many would argue, he is broke, blah blah, at least he doesn't pay to rap( he owns his own studio), he has a British passport, opens for killah priest in Germany every fortnight.  With songs like,'Hip hop is me','tales of the pots','tears of pain','random thoughts',Mirage',Goodbye','Where Una dey','my skin is black','outside'you', amongst others,mode9 has shown rap dexterity like no other.with a line like,"you cant comprehend d cyphers we say cos we stay away from everyday cliché",makes one understand how this man thinks. He commands respect, enjoys legendary status and has cemented his legacy in an industry that is known to chew artistes to pieces. Do you know that he used four foolscap sheet while writing 'Deathblow', recorded two parts,no one ever heard the second part,no even kraft who was the first person to hear the part one,even the part one was cut because it was too 'gully', according to modo, the part 2 was destroyed accidently after he and ruggedman squashed the beef. His latest single gives hope to us as Nigerians and how we should look beyond the quest for material wealth, all in all, Olusegun Babatunde aka Modenine is a god of African hiphop.
Happy birthday boss, God bless you for your continual belief in 9ja hiphop.