Sona
Hailing from Cameroon, Sona the Voice is ready to educate as well as entertain Hip-Hop lovers from one side of the world to the other. His sophomore album Afrikan Juju is slated for a June release and his single It’s All About Money is already making an impression on DJs and fans.
Infused with tales of life in Africa and explanations of just how life really is in the Motherland, Sona his lyrics depict a unique and intimate visual . As he states himself in this candid interview Afrikan JuJu ‘allows the listener an opportunity to visit the country without even boarding a plane.” Can’t get much better than that right?
Has music always been your life?
Well music hasn't always been my life in fact when I was growing up I never aspired to be a recording artist it all was just something that started building up as the years grew. Even though I never aspired to be a recording artist, I had noticed from the get go that I had an ear. I remember clearly being able to sing all the words of one of my favourite Cameroonian artist "Lapiro" when I was like 4-5years old. Music really crept on me you know. It started getting interesting when I was in like class 6 in Primary school. I remember vibing to the lyrics of M.C. Solaar.
Hailing from Cameroon, how influential is Hip-Hop over there?
Though Hip Hop had crossed over to Cameroon and many parts in Africa, it's still growing strong. Hip-hop has influenced the way the youth dress; I remember personally for me it did just that. In the city I went to secondary school, my brother and I was among the first to big up on the clothes and the whole hip hop thing. People used to look at us with admiration you know, I used to have this big chain that belonged to my Grandma [laughs]. I took it from her jewellery box. Damn I had that chain everywhere with me. But Hip Hop is very much influential in Cameroon the way it is in many parts if the world today.
What was your first experience with Hip-Hop and how did it make you feel?
Some of my first experiences with hip-hop were when I was about 9 years old. We had like a little posse we used to walk with to school every morning. So in our posse, we thought you was cool if you could rap all of M.C. Solaars rap verses. I mean I was just rapping other peoples, but never got to writing my own. You know the first time I memorized a verse, I felt sort of accomplished. Like I could do it and I’m sure this opened the way to grow as an artist.
When you moved to the US what was the biggest shock for you?
My biggest shock when I moved to the U.S. was that not all black people rap lol. U know me and my brother used to sit down and talk about what the U.S. will look like and also talking about rap in the U.S. we also fantasized about other things like I remember arguing with my brother because he said the atmosphere in the U.S. smells like perfume lol don't ask me what type. Yea I thought everybody here could rap, and was shocked that not everybody could. Matter of Fact I asked my little bro who was born here if he could and he said no... That gave me a confidence boost lol.
How influential has your upbringing and your travels been in your penmanship?
In everyway I will see. You know my mind and whom I am I composed of what I lived and experienced in Africa. From hunger, to struggles to witnessing a human being beaten and burnt alive. All of this has twisted the way I see the world and when I am writing I see the world through this eyeglass. I feel the pain of those who are going through it because I witnessed it first hand I know how it feels, tastes, smells and sounds. I put a lot of emotions into my writing and I know my records can move mountains people just gotta listen to it, hear a story like never ever.
You have a new album slated for release in June, can you give us some insight into that album?
This album will cause some jaws to drop and I mean it when I say that. This album will take you to the motherland without you actually boarding a plane. It will take you to my streets, give you a view of how we live. In this album I say things straight, but I try to hide things too for the wise. There is a skit which is in Reverse. You can only understand what I’m saying in it if you play the song in Reverse. I think it's track 4 on the album. Also as a person who has never given up or let myself be taken off the path I did a song called Take My Time which was inspired by believe me or not "Depeche Mode". You know it's a push of what not taking time might lead to. I know we lack opportunities, but still we don't want to end up like the whole piracy thing going on in Somalia.
Wisconsin is not necessarily known for its Hip-Ho scene, can you give us some insight as to what its like there for an up and coming artist to get exposure?
Getting exposure in Wisconsin is hell at the same time it's depends on the fire that the person has in their veins. You know it was kind of easy but hard for me because someone like me I’ve got fire rather than blood in my veins. Chi-Town is right next-door you know. I have looked at Wisconsin as just a place, but the place I have set my eyes on is a place without boundaries.
What do you see in your future when it comes to Hip-Hop?
Well I see myself getting married to Hip Hop and having two kids with her, a boy and a girl lol Nah just Joking. Well my future with hip-hop is surely the future if hip-hop takes my word on that one. There's a lot of stuff going right now and a lot in the future, but I’m pretty sure Hip hop is not going to be the last word I’m going to say before I die.
You have your own label, was this just established to create a path for you as an artist to travel down or do you have others signed to Intercession Records?
Intercessions is to create opportunities for other artists. Right now I’m scouting and talking to what I will call weapons of mass destruction in the rap game. I've got a huge family call the Coalition Forces made up of some of the most gifted MCs. People should just keep their eyes open and follow me through.
One album you couldn’t live without and why?
I'll probably say there is none, but a great album I really like would be Survival by Bob-Marley
Melanie Cornish
Hailing from Cameroon, Sona the Voice is ready to educate as well as entertain Hip-Hop lovers from one side of the world to the other. His sophomore album Afrikan Juju is slated for a June release and his single It’s All About Money is already making an impression on DJs and fans.
Infused with tales of life in Africa and explanations of just how life really is in the Motherland, Sona his lyrics depict a unique and intimate visual . As he states himself in this candid interview Afrikan JuJu ‘allows the listener an opportunity to visit the country without even boarding a plane.” Can’t get much better than that right?
Has music always been your life?
Well music hasn't always been my life in fact when I was growing up I never aspired to be a recording artist it all was just something that started building up as the years grew. Even though I never aspired to be a recording artist, I had noticed from the get go that I had an ear. I remember clearly being able to sing all the words of one of my favourite Cameroonian artist "Lapiro" when I was like 4-5years old. Music really crept on me you know. It started getting interesting when I was in like class 6 in Primary school. I remember vibing to the lyrics of M.C. Solaar.
Hailing from Cameroon, how influential is Hip-Hop over there?
Though Hip Hop had crossed over to Cameroon and many parts in Africa, it's still growing strong. Hip-hop has influenced the way the youth dress; I remember personally for me it did just that. In the city I went to secondary school, my brother and I was among the first to big up on the clothes and the whole hip hop thing. People used to look at us with admiration you know, I used to have this big chain that belonged to my Grandma [laughs]. I took it from her jewellery box. Damn I had that chain everywhere with me. But Hip Hop is very much influential in Cameroon the way it is in many parts if the world today.
What was your first experience with Hip-Hop and how did it make you feel?
Some of my first experiences with hip-hop were when I was about 9 years old. We had like a little posse we used to walk with to school every morning. So in our posse, we thought you was cool if you could rap all of M.C. Solaars rap verses. I mean I was just rapping other peoples, but never got to writing my own. You know the first time I memorized a verse, I felt sort of accomplished. Like I could do it and I’m sure this opened the way to grow as an artist.
When you moved to the US what was the biggest shock for you?
My biggest shock when I moved to the U.S. was that not all black people rap lol. U know me and my brother used to sit down and talk about what the U.S. will look like and also talking about rap in the U.S. we also fantasized about other things like I remember arguing with my brother because he said the atmosphere in the U.S. smells like perfume lol don't ask me what type. Yea I thought everybody here could rap, and was shocked that not everybody could. Matter of Fact I asked my little bro who was born here if he could and he said no... That gave me a confidence boost lol.
How influential has your upbringing and your travels been in your penmanship?
In everyway I will see. You know my mind and whom I am I composed of what I lived and experienced in Africa. From hunger, to struggles to witnessing a human being beaten and burnt alive. All of this has twisted the way I see the world and when I am writing I see the world through this eyeglass. I feel the pain of those who are going through it because I witnessed it first hand I know how it feels, tastes, smells and sounds. I put a lot of emotions into my writing and I know my records can move mountains people just gotta listen to it, hear a story like never ever.
You have a new album slated for release in June, can you give us some insight into that album?
This album will cause some jaws to drop and I mean it when I say that. This album will take you to the motherland without you actually boarding a plane. It will take you to my streets, give you a view of how we live. In this album I say things straight, but I try to hide things too for the wise. There is a skit which is in Reverse. You can only understand what I’m saying in it if you play the song in Reverse. I think it's track 4 on the album. Also as a person who has never given up or let myself be taken off the path I did a song called Take My Time which was inspired by believe me or not "Depeche Mode". You know it's a push of what not taking time might lead to. I know we lack opportunities, but still we don't want to end up like the whole piracy thing going on in Somalia.
Wisconsin is not necessarily known for its Hip-Ho scene, can you give us some insight as to what its like there for an up and coming artist to get exposure?
Getting exposure in Wisconsin is hell at the same time it's depends on the fire that the person has in their veins. You know it was kind of easy but hard for me because someone like me I’ve got fire rather than blood in my veins. Chi-Town is right next-door you know. I have looked at Wisconsin as just a place, but the place I have set my eyes on is a place without boundaries.