Controversies and scandals aside, Afro Hip Hop artiste, Eedris
Abdulkareem, is happy that he chose the path of music
Anytime his name is mentioned in a gathering, many incidents readily
come to mind. For some people it is his scuffle with American rapper,
50 Cents, during his visit to Nigeria, in 2004. Others may choose to
remember his numerous swipes at colleagues in his songs.
However, beyond the many controversies that have dogged his career
over the years, Eedris Abdulkareem, was once a professional table
tennis player and journalist.
At age 15, I represented Kano State as a table tennis player. I was
also part of the Nigerian Table Tennis contingent to the All Africa
Games in 1985, which took place in Kenya, with the likes of Funke
Oshinaike, Atunda Musa and the late Yomi Bankole.”
The Bayero University, Mass Communication graduate says, “God told
me emphatically that my calling was music because he wants me to
use it to speak for the voiceless.
He said, ‘Eedris, leave Kano, you are going to go to Lagos to do
music, you would go through a lot but you will make it nonetheless.
As soon as you have the opportunity to speak on the microphone, use
it to talk about the ills in the society like sexual harassment, politics,
embezzlement and illiteracy. Also, I was interested in music because
my mother raised 10 children and lost seven of them. It made me a
very conscious boy at a tender age because of that.”
“I would have made more money from music if I sing praises. But if
you are a public officer who is accountable, I will definitely praise you.
With music, I have met all my needs and gained international
recognition. I have the authority to walk up to any governor’s door
and get instant recognition. They will say, “Ah, Eedris Abdulkareem,
Obasanjo’s friend, Jaga jaga”. It has opened many doors for me and I
don’t have to sell my soul to the devil or become a member of
illuminati to be successful,” he says amid laughter.
When asked to comment on the high point of his career, his face
lights up in a smile
“The best to ever happen to me was former President Olusegun
Obasanjo talking back at me, calling me a mere street boy whose
father is not known. The president took me to the next level, I became
a super star, and now people know me, because Obasanjo put me in
his level.”
As if these achievements are not enough, the rapper, who has been
running an independent label, La Kreem Records, since 2004, is happy
because he has succeeded in keeping the home front intact in spite of
controversies.
“I love my family and wife so much that I don’t joke with them. I have
been married for 13 years, though they thought it would last three
months. I proved to them that it is possible to be a family man and
artiste at the same time. I am an inspiration to other married
celebrities,” he boasts.
Things can only get better, as far as Eedris is concerned. With a sixth
album due in November, the Osun State native, who says he has a few
friends in the industry, tries to clear a few issues off his chest.
“I don’t need endorsements, but I am cool with the shows that Mike
Adenuga has been giving me. Shows are enough for me. I will endorse
my own product which I am putting together. I need more shows
because they pay my bills. If I tell you I want endorsements you may
think that most of the things I sing about are for endorsement. I don’t
want it, but I do it for other Nigerian artistes so they can live big. But
if you must endorse, choose people that will add value to your life.
Endorsement is the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria. My
only grouse is that abroad, endorsed artistes add value to other
people’s lives. Here in Nigeria, it is the opposite,” he says.
Punchng
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