NAPS PRESS: Hello…You look beautiful…Finally, we get to meet you, a female rapper in U.I…clearing the air…Please introduce yourself.
CHYNDU: Alright…My name is Chiwendu Vivian Mamumeha, popular called Chyndu, a female rapper. I basically schooled in Lagos. I attended Handmaid International and Payny College and I am here in the University of Ibadan studying Teacher Education.
NAPS PRESS: ok, so, did you choose Teacher Education or Teacher Education chose you?
CHYNDU: I guess Teacher Education chose me, though I chose Theatre Art. Anyways, I don’t regret not studying Theatre Art. I’ve been on stage even before I got into U.I. So I know what it takes to act, it’s in me and can’t be taken from me. Studying Teacher Education and being a minor in Communication and Language Arts has taught me that there’s still so much to be acquired and am having fun.
NAPS PRESS Ok, but let’s say I have an issue with you saying you have been on stage before U.I, we will get back to it. So, aside rap, what other thing(s) do you do?
CHYNDU: Ok, I started off as a dancer but then I decided to keep calm. I started freestyling in U.I and my first feature was when I was in 300level.
NAPS PRESS: So, have you stopped dancing temporary or permanently?
CHYNDU:*smiles* It is not that I stopped dancing. I’m actually planning to fuse in my dance steps into my music videos to add some flavour to it. So it’s not that I’ve rested dancing.
NAPS PRESS: That’s good to hear… So give us a rundown of how you started rapping?
CHYNDU: I started out in 2012 and my first feature was with Low Lynx, that is, ‘Go Down’ when I performed at a hotel in Lagos and also in U.I.
NAPS PRESS: So do you have any single yet?
CHYNDU: Yes, I have a single that dropped this year, 2015 and it’s titled ‘BADMAN’. It’s out for download.
NAPS PRESS: It’s still quite difficult to comprehend the fact that you have been on stage as a rapper in U.I… So, why don’t we see you perform on stage often?
CHYNDU: Like I said, I just did my first single. I don’t really do freestyle most times, I love to write my songs and it has limited me from performing too often, but I’ve performed in some big shows in U.I, like Gad the Screamer’s Show and even for some departments. Don’t worry, I’m going to make it big this semester.
NAPS PRESS: That sounds like fun… So tell us, are you the only female rapper in U.I.?
CHYNDU: I know only about myself. I don’t know about other female rappers. I don’t know if there are others here in UI.
NAPS PRESS: So, maybe because you are the only one, can we say you are shy or you don’t want to be intimidated?
CHYNDU:*Shouts* No ooo…Like I said, I go for shows and also freestyles. I have a single, which is BADMAN… I just hope to give my best this semester, so that Uites get to feel me before I leave. I’m still learning you know and I just don’t like to do things or freestyle anyhow.
NAPS PRESS: Do you know the kind of popularity you could have gotten for being the only recognised female rapper in U.I?
CHYNDU: Yes, I’ve thought about it.
NAPS PRESS: So why have you not been very effective or is there a problem somewhere?
CHYNDU: In U.I, academics is my major priority and I did not say that I am the only one, I just said I know of myself. The problem is we don’t have the right resources. I don’t get to know about most of the shows in Ibadan. Sometimes I get invites from Gad and some friends. Besides, I like to prepare for shows, so, I like getting information before hand and because of the course I study, I have two sides. I need to be a good girl for my studies and be crazy when am on stage. It takes time to switch you know, so that’s why I need to know about shows beforehand.
NAPS PRESS: Asking you to rate rap in U.I, how well do you feel U.I. will do over ten?
CHYNDU: Ok… I will give the rap society 8/10 and that’s for the rap style. Rappers are better encouraged when they get to perform.
NAPS PRESS: So far you said you have been on stage, how does it feel when you are performing on stage in U.I?
CHYNDU: Well, I have always gotten favourable feedbacks from the audience. My last performance was the BOMB because both guys and girls praised me, and you know it’s very hard for ladies to appreciate female rappers, so I think it was good. The accolades kept coming even days after the show.
NAPS PRESS: Now let’s set the shows aside. We don’t get to see you at Open Mic Contests and at Rap Battles, why is that?
CHYNDU: I don’t really go for competitions, though I have what it takes but I prefer to go for normal shows, do what I know how to do best and whatever they agree to give I collect. I’m quite sensitive and if things are not done the right way or if I don’t get the right things done, it could result into a little withdrawal from me and in one month, I may not write even one song! Most competitions in U.I are not genuine because they always don’t keep their words.
NAPS PRESS: Do you think Uites encourage Musicians?
CHYNDU: I think Uites are too engaged with academics but more encouragement will do.
NAPS PRESS: So, what kind of rap do you do?
CHYNDU: I’m not really that kind of Hip hop artist, I try to fuse in different rhythms. I can do Hip Hop, Reggae, Jazz , e.t.c all in one song.
NAPS PRESS: Tell us who your favourite rapper(s) in U.I are.
CHYNDU: Ghost Poet, Gad the Screamer. They are my favourite rappers because they are like my senior brothers.
NAPS PRESS: What about those rappers or artists who inspire you?
CHYNDU: I think Micheal Jackson even though he is not a rapper inspires me a lot and Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. In Nigeria, Cynthia Morgan, Eva, Asa, Seyi Shay and some others.
NAPS PRESS: Do you have any embarrassing moments? There should be at least one, right?
CHYNDU: I try as much as possible to avoid things that will bring me embarrassments. There are some, but they are not so important that I will not be able to forget about them.
NAPS PRESS: Alryt! How about happy moments then? You cannot say none!
CHYNDU:*Laughs*. I’m always happy, but when I get on stage, I’m extremely happy.
NAPS PRESS: Giving you bragging rights, let’s know about some big places where you have performed
CHYNDU: Hmmm. I performed in Lagos for Buchi, the comedian during his birthday at Ozone.
NAPS PRESS: Tell us one thing Uites don’t know about Chyndu?
CHYNDU: Ok… I guess I’ve got two sides, the first part is gentle and the second is very crrraaazzzyy!
NAPS PRESS: Tell us one thing you don’t like in U.I, or about U.I?
CHYNDU: The one and only thing I hate about U.I is the Social life. It is very poor.
NAPS PRESS: Being an artist, particularly a rapper, does smoking weed before performing on stage give you inspiration?
CHYNDU: Few weeks back, I went for a show and while I was waiting to be called, a guy came to me and asked if I’m a rapper. Immediately I said yes, he simply told me to go with him to take some weed to get high so that it will help me do well on stage. As I said no, the next thing he told me was that if I’d love to get far in the music industry, I need to get high always. I feel this is wrong because it doesn’t always exhibit the real artist in us as musicians. As an artist, we should be ready to do many crazy things on stage without having smoked or taken other stimulants. This goes to actors and actresses as well. And like I told you, I have two sides, when I’m on stage, I bring out my crazy side and people could think that I am high.
NAPS PRESS: You and your crazy side…*laughs. Is there anyone, a bobo, that is also crazy about your crazy side? This must not be ‘complicated’!. There are so many guys out here you know.
CHYNDU:*Laughs* Sorry to disappoint you guys, I’m in a relationship, not with someone in U.I though. And I don’t ‘double date’!
NAPS PRESS: So Chyndu, where do you see yourself in five years? You probably would be married in five years…
CHYNDU: I wish to be known world wide with my different style of music and I could be married to music you know…*laughs. It all depends on how understanding my husband choses to be.
NAPS PRESS: Finally, shoutouts to your loved ones.
CHYNDU: My shoutout goes to God, my family, to my producer, Boysean, my cousin Slim G, he introduced me to Low Lynx and Coming to Ibadan, also to my friends, Ghost Poet, Gad the Screamer, Rebel of Diamond F.M and…*thinking, and finally to Elias…. *laughs.
