PEOPLE ADORE AND RESPECT THE DUMB ARTISTES – CYRUS THA VIRUS

Joseph Damon Momoh, who is popularly known as CYRUS THA VIRUS got mainstream attention when he was nominated in the next rated category at the Hip-Hop World Awards, (The Headies) in 2008. He later participated in the Airtel Advanced Warning show alongside other Nigerian artistes. Today, he’s probably not buzzing as he used to, but he is up to

something and he shares it with JAMES SILAS in this interview We've not been hearing much from you musically; what's going on?

Yeah, musically, I took a step back to re-orientate my sound/brand. We all agree that the sound of hip-hop has changed tremendously. What used to be the reigning sound, slang, culture has evolved because of influences of the time. The tenets have changed a bit, the paradigm has shifted, so I took a step back to re-orientate my sound to suit the new age hip-hop fan base, while retaining the original Cyrus energy imprint. I focused more on my image and how I am perceived, tried my hands on new sounds as a way of reaching out to new fans and demographics, but through it all, I'm still the hardest working Hip-hop artiste out of the South-South. I've been putting out online download-only mixtape ‘Rebellion’, ‘Infiltration’, and I'm presently working on my next body of work ‘Virology’ with videos and shows line up and being planned. In this music game, you have to adapt or die. You have to think like everyone else, but do you own thing. Adaptation is why dinosaurs died and cockroaches survived. Being an indie act, it’s a bit harder to pull together. But the zeal to keep going on has been one of my strongest points. As much as your music is important, your image and brand is also very important. It is like a vehicle for how the sound is carried across. The whole Rap game is saturated, everybody look/dress/sound the same, I want to stand out, I want to be different. That's why my image and brand will always bear the Logo and Tenets of Black Gorilla Army imprint, because that is what I Identify with.

You were also outspoken on social media especially on issues concerning music, politics and Hip-Hop in Nigeria, but you've been quiet on that as well; what's up?

Yes, I was. I chose to go mellow on a lot of things because I've come to realize people and humanity at large hate you for saying the truth. I've noticed shockingly, with regards to music, people adore and respect the dumb artistes. Dumb in the sense that those who can shape and protect the music culture, but chose to keep mum on issues, stacking the money and forming ‘I-dont-care’, are more respected than those, who speak out on the ills concerned with this business. I wake up every day to meet insults on my social media accounts, mostly from the same people I fight for. Sometimes, it takes its toll, sometimes, you ignore. A good warrior knows how to fight, but a better warrior knows when to lay his sword down. A lot of nonsense has been going on in Hip-hop, and when I spoke out, I was called a “hater”. I've also expressed my misgivings politically and most times the unwise try to hush me, but I be son of Benin na, e dey my blood, I will not be silenced or cowered, but sometimes, I'll take a step back so the harm or shards I protect these ones from should hit them and let them suffer the pain. Because when you protect people or raise your brow over issues, the people you protect may think you're just ranting.

Though it's been a while, but what do you think about the concept of Reminisces "Local Rappers" featuring Olamide and Phyno?

At first listen, I thought: "wow!! Are they insulting punch line MCs?” But I've never been swayed by the way the world thinks. So, I got the ‘Baba Hafusa’ album and listened to the full body of work to ascertain the direction Reminisce, Olamide and Phyno were coming from, and I chuck it down to expressivity. I think they're right to say whatever they said on the "Local Rappers" song. Every MC has done it in at one point or the other. It’s like saying "I'm the best MC alive, every other style is trash...” every MC has done it. It’s what makes hip-hop so beautiful. At least, it got people to download the song and it became a topic of discuss! That's what hip-hop should be all about. They spoke their minds on things, which to a large extent, if you look at the music and industry, and hip-hop genre in Nigeria, is true. The purest forms of hip-hop metaphors, punch-lines and similes aren’t really respected anymore. So the more dumbed-down version of lyrical presentation is actually more lucrative and the three MCs on "Local Rappers" have the bank account details, presence and success to show for it. Would the paradigm shift again? Maybe. Will it evolve to another shape? Yes.

I'll ask this question like this - Who's the ‘Hip-Hop King of the South’ right now?

The south has no king. Everybody who claims to "rule" the ‘South’ isn't about the ‘South’. They all rush down to Lagos to do ‘tungba music’. It’s like Jamaicans dropping Reggae to do Rock and still claim they're all about Jamaica. I dare say apart from me, there's no other ‘South-South MC’ who typifies the South. Most want the title, but don't represent the mindset, culture, sound and delivery of the south. The south has No king, for now. It’s like ‘Game of Thrones series’ with up to seven despots holding down their block, but this year, dem go know (laughs).

Is it me or you have not really produced any mainstream album since the inception of your music career?

Oh well, I may sort of agree with you, but my very first album ‘Infection’, released under Hex Records was a mainstream project. It got me my nomination for the Hiphopworld Awards ‘08, in the Next Rated category alongside M.I, Banky W, GT Guitarman and Wande Coal (who won it). It is still one of the most respected albums out of the South-South. We sold a lot of copies. It was a street classic. It also got me recognition internationally and even MTVbase/Airtel Advance warning saw me as one of the top 20 music acts to look forward to. So, to be honest, I walk that fine line: mainstream acceptance, yet, a god in the underground. So, what are you working on at the moment? Thanks for asking! I'm working on my next body of work: ‘Virology’. I'm still deciding if it’s going to be labeled an EP, a Mixtape, or an album, but I am 30 songs deep right now. It’s an eclectic mix of Hip-hop with African influence. It’s a fresh burst of Hip-hop and a very energetic colourful presentation. My experiences, joys, triumphs, failures, life stories are all in it. Delivered with the same energy my fans have come to know me for. I'm working on it and to a large extent, completed the singles I want to drop very soon. First out the block will be, "Leg Over (Okocha)" - it is me trying my hands at ‘Trap Beats’, slowing down my raspy flow.

Where do you see Hip-Hop/Rap music in Nigeria today?

Nigerian Hip-hop is comatose. Nigerian Hiphop is that raped, defiled and spat-on-art-form/genre. Nigerian hip-hop is dying. When we get to a point where Rappers hustled and blow up major, through the real form of Hip-hop, they turn around to insult and deny it, and then you know there is a lot wrong. When we don't even have one DJ putting out a hip-hop mixtape so we can at least, know what the sound of Nigerian Hip-hop collective is like, you know a lot is wrong. When we don't even have one hip-hop platform in this country, where MCs can gather and nurture the culture, you know a lot is wrong. We used to have Wax Lyrical, hosted by Loose Kaynon - scrapped! We used to have M.I Abaga. com ‘Fight Night’ - scrapped! So you can see, nobody supports the culture in its vibrant form.

The new rappers are very clueless on what to do. We have multinational companies using Kanye West's "Black Skinhead" song as their advert theme, yet we have over a thousand Nigerian MCs, who can do same. Everybody loves the rebellious hip-hop form, yet no one supports it. People ‘ooh’ and ‘ahhhh’ over Kendrick, Drake and the likes, but in Nigerian they will ignore those, who have this same sort of presentation. Apart from Maybe M.I, Ice Prince, Phyno, Olamide, Reminisce, I do not think anybody is really eating off Nigerian Hip-hop right now. That's how precarious it is. One day, maybe one day, we'd be like South African Hip-hop: Vibrant, revenue-generating art form. Apart from Boogey, AQ, PayBac and a few others, who are putting up brilliant work, Nigerian Hip-hop is comatose.

With the influx of Pop and countless upcoming artistes, won't it be safe to say Rap music or Hip-Hop is still going to 'die' in Nigeria?

Nah! Even from the onset, Rap Music has always been thought to go through suffocation, but the truth is, Rap Music will never die, why? Because there are still people who do it for the love of it! No money? They still do it! No revenue? They still do it! No recognition? They still do it! Hip-hop/ Rap Is exciting! People do it for the hell of it. So, while Pop may come and influence the sound of a nation to an extent, Hip-hop is that stubborn grass that will never die. It will always fight for its place in the forest. It will always thrive in the jungle. Hip-hop is a parasite. It will adapt to survive, but survive, it will.

You've spent some time in Lagos now, how much impact has that made in your music career?

Yeah, True. I love the hustle and bustle and grind and mind of Lagos! It keeps you on your toes! It keeps me in the loop of what's reigning right now. I'm working on aligning with some powerhouses out here, so expect something of earthquake proportion soonest (laughs). The street life in ‘Gidi’ is helping me fashion my craft easier to adapt to what the mainstream wants. Its influences in my sounds, beats, and lingo will be seen in ‘Virology’ when it drops. Lagos is a potpourri of rich sounds, but you have to be very careful not to let it suffocate your true nature. You have to retain your artistic control at all costs.

What new thing are you bringing to the table on this new project?

Energy - always energy. I'm bringing the soul of the South-south as usual. I'm bringing street stories; hard thumping kicks and riotous hooks. I'm also dabbling into the sultry soft Rap/Love songs. There will always be conscious songs in it; songs about my life and upbringing. Beazy is going to be on it - amazing guy; he also produced a song on it. I have Bosalin, AT, Tany Jiggs, Fecko and McSkill The preacher. I wanted to try my hands with new alliances and it’s been spiritual, but the sounds are going to be more Nigerian-esque or more "commercial" as they put it. I worked with Tony Ross, Nas-T, Ballzee, in-house producer for Black Gorilla. I also worked with DJ Klem. The album is going to be a beautiful listen.

What would you have done differently, if you had to go back to where you started music from?

If I had the chance to go back in time, I'd leave Benin City for Lagos earlier; especially after my very first single blew up. I felt I was doing the Rap game in Benin a favour by sticking with them longer, but I found out I was doing myself a disservice. Not everyone will share your vision; some people will tire you out. So yeah, if I had a chance to change anything about my musical journey, I'd leave Benin for Lagos earlier.

What is your main philosophy of life?

Never underrate anybody - slaves become gods. Never underrate anybody and also, never mock a pain you have not borne. Until you're in someone else's shoes, do not laugh at the state they're in, or what they do.