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Nigerian hip hop artiste Olanrewaju Ogunmefun David, popularly known as Vector the Viper, has shared his perspective on musical creativity and his journey to redefining rap music within African contexts.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Sunday, the rapper emphasised the importance of artistic freedom, cultural roots, and innovation in shaping the evolving music landscape.
“Every artiste has the right to affiliate with music how they wish. Let’s not box anything in,” Vector stated, emphasising the significance of flexibility in artistic expression.
He also shared insights into his upbringing and musical influences, blending his Yoruba heritage with his early exposure to music in a white garment church.
“I have been honest with my music and as a Yoruba boy, I was raised with words and proverbs and wise sayings. Those things form like the core background of what you do. But then, I was also exposed to music properly in the white garment church. So how do I box myself? Which is why I say I am just within the confines of music,” he noted.
Vector spoke about “Rap-frobeat,” a fusion of rap and Afrobeat, as a genre that aligns with his philosophy of unbounded creativity. According to him, Afrobeat’s adaptability to incorporate different sounds while maintaining its core identity inspired this creation.
” With Rap-frobeat, I realised that majority of the things that we claim will always lead to foreign intelligence to define and also even with Afrobeat, I have done a little bit of academic inquiry into it, but musically speaking. But Afrobeats as a music genre is probably in the recent past, the only genre of music that can embody different genres of music and still maintain its original identity.”
He highlighted how contemporary artistes have fused various elements into Afrobeat, honouring the legacy of Fela Kuti while pushing boundaries.
“So, yes, there is Afrobeat like the one Fela has done which is legendary but the way that the contemporary artistes have been able to fuse things together. So, I then made Rap-frobeat because I feel like, especially those of us that came into the rap game, there is this misrepresentation that says because you are a rapper, you can’t sing, whereas in my head, as Africans, we are blessed with words,” Vector said.
He also addressed the challenges faced by African rappers, who often contend with the misconception that rap must adhere to Western styles.
“Averagely, an African rapper should be able to rap on African beats,” he asserted.
Rap-frobeat, he explained, provides a platform for artistes to balance African rhythms with rap without being “too Americanised.”
Vector delved into the inspiration behind his album, Teslim: A Loverboy PTSD, which reflects deeply on love and emotional struggles.
Vector described how initial experiences of love can be intoxicating but are often followed by emotional trauma that shapes men’s expression of emotions. The album, he said, explores the idea that love is essential but also acknowledges how life experiences mold individuals.
He said “Loverboy PTSD addresses that side of every man that I know. At first, that first girlfriend go shack you. But then, tabling an array of different reasons, we get PTSD and as a man, we have to deal with that. With that PTSD, you find out that a lot of men learn to caution themselves in expression of emotions. So, in my head, it just sums up to, yes, love is important, but let’s not forget that the experiences while going through love also shapes us.”
For Vector, the key to longevity in the music industry lies in staying true to one’s craft. “With respect to music, if you are focused on it, every other thing will stay, and longevity will not be a problem,” he concluded.
Chioma Kalu
The post Vector: Afrobeats Embodies Diverse Genres While Preserving Its Original Identity appeared first on Arise News.
