I met with Hip hop act Rumor at Magnom's studio a couple of weeks ago where we had a chat about his music , what he's up to , his upcoming mixtape ' Poetic License ' and other issues .
Q. You recently dropped a song from your mixtape ‘Poetic License’; what was the response like?
A. Broke and Famous has been pretty good, they’ve accepted it in their own way you know I mean that’s my reality yea so I don’t have a problem sharing that at all. I guess people are beginning to feel like they are really connected personally to Rumor. That’s a good thing so yeah they love it and I love it too.
Q. What makes you think they’ve accepted your music?
A. I’m not sure I know about that but it’s definitely got to do with the fact that its true and its real you know I’m selling them reality. I am not trying to be something I’m not, you know I’m not here talking about fly cars, money and things I don’t have so I guess the fact that they ve already put me on a certain pedestal like this guy has…. That guy has…. and you come out and say my life is really regular. I still take the trotro like you do I’m broke and still cant afford certain things blah blah it makes it really…. you know it resonates with them so they love it I guess.
Q. What inspired the mixtape and its name?
A. I was just in a cab and just felt like yo I want to put out a mixtape. Just impulsive like that so I tweeted about it and like this is what I think what do you think? Asking the fans of course and the response was great. So I decided to put it out for them this is just about …… a week before Broke and Famous came out.
… Really speaking my mind there’s a lot I need to talk about, there’s a lot people want to know… if you know what happened to me and the previous company there’s a lot people wanted to know so its like me having a space to say what I like, however I like it … poetic licence yea that’s it.
Q. How difficult is it doing music now considering the fact that you are not signed to any label at the moment?
A. Honestly I don’t see any difference. It’s still the same for me. It wasn’t like I was given some advance money or signed. Given some money here and there everything was pretty like it is now except of course you do need investors so hopefully I mean… I’ve been approached by a few people but you just don’t jump out of one relationship and get into another ….. you need to chill so I’m just chilling but if something good comes I’m definitely opened…
Q. So you guys didn’t have any signed agreement?
A. No ….. it was more like oh you’re good and I also have something going on we can join hands and see how this thing goes. And over the years it became what it became.
Q. The labels that have contacted you, are they ‘big names’?
A. I’m going to be very honest with you not labels but individuals. Investors let me put it that way yeah, people with money and for them that’s their catch they come at you with money like yo I have money I have a lot of money. Lets do this and they think you just fall for it because they have money. This has never really been about money even though it’s about money yeah but like I said I’m just relaxing I’m just going to try not to make any hasty decisions
Q. Does it mean you basically do everything on your own? Acting as the executive producer of your music?
A. I’m my own label, my own manager, my own PR; my own everything. I have friend DJ’s and presenters but I don’t have personal friends who have said yo im dedicating my life to your music career. I mean it’s why you contacted me personally; you didn’t have to go through anybody.
Q. Do you think Azonto has brought Ghana the recognition it needs on the international music scene, Fuse ODG is doing great yes but has it made such a huge impact?
A. It has, trust me. It has given us some recognition; it is yet to give us some more you know. Azonto has done a lot for Ghanaian music.
Q. Apart from your mixtape, are you working on anything new say music video, new album?
A. I’m working on the Try music video which features shaker and Edem . I’m supposed to put out an album it’s the reason why I decided to put out the mixtape first because I just wanted you to have something whilst we wait for the album. I don’t know what date yet; I’m not sure how things will go after the mixtape. I might change my mind I might not be that generous so lets just pray.
Q. Do you think you have a fan base base? If yes what makes you think that you do?
A. I definitely do. I have people who really support me; who hit up and say I love your music, you inspire me . It doesn’t matter how many or few they are, if its five dedicated fans I appreciate it that’s my fan base you know. With the internet and stuff like that, you really can’t monitor your fan base and say I think I have this number of fans but then I think I’m growing everyday. I’m still a budding artiste so yeah we are definitely growing and expanding the brand. I do have a fan base I guess.
Q. Any collaboration or features on your mixtape?
A. I’m not featuring any mainstream artiste on the mixtape yet, even with underground artiste I had no intentions of featuring anyone but as it seems I would have to feature about one or two people. Yeah but I’m not sure I really wanted to do this on my own. I have so much material to be featuring people.
Q. I guess you are done recording the mixtape?
A. Nah everything is written but not recorded. I like to be in the studio for like two days and just rock it out. Preferrably I like to sit in the studio for two days or a day and put everything together. Its what I did with the previous project. Its how I like to work. I like to stay. And just do my thing.
Q. You are not a mainstream act yet but I’m sure there are certain things you ‘ ve learnt over the period that you have been doing music. Are there any lessons or thoughts that you would like to share with guys who just started?
A. Just let people see you the way you want them to see you. Don’t sell yourself short, let me say it that way and go for what you believe in. Don’t let nobody invest in you and tell you what to do and what not to do. At least that is how I feel, sometimes you have to compromise its necessary but sometimes you have to take a stand and say this is what I stand for, this what I believe in I’m doing this so yeah. It’s all about fulfilment and happiness; if you are not happy chale change your environment make it happen for yourself.
Q. Last words to your fans?
A. Chale keep supporting me, tell a friend to tell a friend; that’s how we grow you know what I mean, so just keep supporting me.
Rumor’s Poetic License is out this Friday May 31.
Follow him on Twitter @rumortunes
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