Behind The Console
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Behind The Console
Hanad Bandz On The Global Rise Of Afro Music
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In this episode, we sit down with Hanad Bandz to discuss the global rise of African music, the story behind his biggest record, performing around the world, and whether there's a ceiling for African artists on the global stage.
What's up, everybody? I am Dot, and this is Derek. We have a very special guest today, Mr. Hanan Bans. Welcome to the show. Yes, thank you, thank you. I'm happy to be here, man. Yeah, I'm saying. Thanks for pulling up on the Somali time. Yeah, Somali timing, man.
SPEAKER_02African timing, man. It's part of me.
SPEAKER_01Hey man, so let's get to it. Just just introduce yourself. Just give him a little quick one, too about who you are.
SPEAKER_02Um, well, my name's Hunter Benz. I'm an artist. I'm a Somali Canadian recording artist. I make Afro beats and, you know, other Afro fusion type songs, and it's my own vibe. You know, I'm just my own vibe. For sure, for sure. So people who know me, that's what they would say. For sure.
SPEAKER_03So did you start off making this kind of music, this Afro kind of music? Or when you're when you first started as an artist, you were making a different genre and it transformed into this?
SPEAKER_02I feel like my first, like, when I first started out, I was just recording all kinds of music. And like, I was like good at m a lot of it too. So it was like, and I like all of it. So like I just didn't really know which way I really wanted to go. But um, I Afrobeast was one of like the types of music I was making, you know? Right. And um, but like over time I've noticed I just ended up leaning more into that bag, and then like that ended up growing to its own thing, you know?
SPEAKER_03Okay. So how did you get started in music? Just tell us about like, you know, your the beginning and like just a brief kind of summary of how you became.
SPEAKER_02I started with this guy, man. I started with this guy. Hold on, really? I was the first one? Bro, the first studio I've ever recorded in.
SPEAKER_01Oh, really? That's the first. Oh, that's that's why you got the emotional connection. That's what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_02I got a emotional connection to that studio, bro. I I drove by the other day, I made my homie stop the car just to look at it. Oh god. So that was the first time I came to the studio, my homie Prince, he brought me to you, and then that's when I was recording. I remember that day. I was recording in the booth and I was sweating.
SPEAKER_03I was like, oh my god. I recorded it on my microphone. It's still how it is right now, man.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, like I recorded it at my microphone, like back home, but on my microphone, like no one's there, no, there's no pressure. Like, I can just sit there, I can loaf. Yeah, you know? But then when they're in the booth, it's like, yo, come on, let me hear it another, let me hear it one more time. I was like, oh shit. I was doing it again. I'm like, how's that? I don't know. It's missing something. I'm like, oh, whoa, what is it missing? It was all new. But like, you know, that's what I started out here in Toronto with Dot, and you know, my homies uh tribal East was like all crew. So like it was really cool, man. Like uh starting out in Toronto especially, like it was really dope. And now coming back like years later, because I've been gone for like most of the last four years. Wow, that's crazy.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, just traveling the world. Traveling the world, literally. Yeah, that's crazy, bro. Yeah. So you spend a lot of time between Canada and other countries, but predominantly like Somalia, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, like I uh Somalia, um, Kenya, um, I'm in Ethiopia, I'm in Djibouti, I'm in Dubai. Right. London. London a lot. Like it's very, it's very split up, like to the point where it's so evenly split up that I don't even know.
SPEAKER_03That's crazy. So what would you call home still? Would you call Canada Toronto still home or what would you say?
SPEAKER_02Toronto's home in a way, like, I feel like I'm I have I've had multiple homes. So like sometimes when I come back, so when I come back to that home, it's just home for now, like, you know what I'm saying? So like somebody like when I go back, it's like, okay, that's home. But when I'm back in Toronto, I'm also home. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I come home and I instantly know where I want to go eat, where what I want to do. Right. You know what I'm saying? Like, some things change though, obviously. Yeah, for sure. You know what I'm saying? Right. But man. It's still home. Toronto's still home. Yeah, Toronto's still home.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So for someone who's never heard, so you make music in both English and Somali, right? Yeah. You mix the languages together. Yeah, you mix the languages. Okay. So do you think that's like why do you do that as opposed to only choosing one language over the other? Is it because you're you have both ties in Canada and Somalia?
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um, I feel like it's just more me. Because like I speak English and I speak Somali. Like, I don't spend my whole day speaking English or spend my whole day speaking Somali. So it's kind of like, and it's just like some like people, like more people, it'll bring more people in in a way where it's like I like making music in Somali and like, you know, representing my culture and like, you know, the language and like just music from my people, like, you know what I mean? I'm see kind of seen like as a hero, like, you know what I'm saying? It's cool, like, I like it. But at the same time, like the English, like, that's who I am. Like, that's my identity and like the Canadian side of things, and just like the worldwide reach that obviously that English gives you, obviously. Right, right, right. I'm already fluent at it. I might as well, you know, might as well just use it, you know. I should be singing it too, then yeah.
SPEAKER_03So mixing the languages gives you more exposure to a larger audience, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, exactly. And like, it's just I can play around with it more. I can just do random shit. Like, right, right.
SPEAKER_03It's just I don't know, it's just more fun.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_03Do most people, do a lot of people in Somalia know how to speak English? Is that common?
SPEAKER_02From what I've noticed, like of my travels, I've been to like a decent amount of countries, and there's been a lot of countries where like the people there speak English less than like the people in Somalia. Like, true. Yeah, true, true, true. So like they're I feel like they're decent, like, when it comes to English comprehension a little bit. Like, uh more so understanding you at least. Yeah. Especially on the internet, too. Like on the internet, they really not have taken that information. I don't know. I guess they haven't go translating all that stuff too, right? Yeah, exactly. So they're they're active with it, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I have a question right now, because you've been asking all the questions. Yeah, go fair, go. I think I have a very important question. So, how do you feel your move from Toronto to back to Somali? Not even Somali, just being wherever you can be influenced, or like how it affected who you are as a person is one thing, but how it affected your music career and how did you see a big improvement, you know, being in Toronto and then being in different countries, and all of a sudden people are booking you, people are like, you know, liking your persona, you know, and all that stuff. Like, explain that process and like how that, you know, came to life.
SPEAKER_02Well, okay, so like it was always like this thing of like, I didn't, I would mean like I wasn't born and raised in Toronto, you know? So like I've I've I've lived in other places, I've lived in the Middle East growing up, I've lived in Africa, like it just I've moved around. So it was like there was a point where I was like, yo, like, I've seen the vibes in other places, and like, I don't know, like I like Toronto, but I don't know if it's the place for me right now. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So, and especially with the music, I I made one of the first signs was literally when I started recording music with you, six months after that, like I my music was already like trending online and stuff, and the places that people were listening to it then was London. And like the first show I ever did was like in like Australia. Like you did the first show in the street. Yeah, I did my first show in Australia before I ever did a show at Toronto or anywhere, you know? Yeah, it's great, it's great. So it was like, okay, so this is more of a global thing, you know what I'm saying? Like, so like where is it mainly based? I can't point a finger at it specifically, but like there's like hot spots. Like, obviously, like I got a big listening in London and Kenya, and you know what I'm saying, like just in Europe in general. So it's like, why am I here? Like, my movement isn't here, like my emotion isn't here.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I gotta go where my motion is at, like, especially in Africa. Like, when I went back home and I was performing there, like they were just screaming the song, like the lyrics, how, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, just like on another level, I was like, oh my God. So I was like, yo, I gotta go tap into the motion.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02So I'm gonna spend time there and see what's up. And that I feel like it really like did affect my career in a way because it just I maybe, I don't know, maybe people just felt like that was more true to what I am. Yeah, yeah. I don't know. But it's just people like what's going on with that. Yeah, yeah, for sure. And it and it like it's nice because it changes your mindset. Over here, like I liked making music here. Like, even when I came back right now, yeah, I've been itching to just go to the studio because I like recording music here. But at the same time, I don't feel like this is where my music was meant to like flourish. Yeah, yeah. Because it just flourished in other places way more.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. Yeah, that all makes sense.
SPEAKER_03So even though you were recording in Toronto, like what do you think made your music, like, what's the difference between your music that made it so international sounding? Is it like the production? Is it just like who you are? Like what would you say attributes to that?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mean, maybe it's like I I feel like I lean more towards uh international or sound or whatever. Like just maybe it's just like just the Afrobee and the rhythms that like the those beats have. And maybe it's because I lean into that, because uh, you know, maybe because I'm African, I don't know, but I or maybe because like I there's also like other sounds I I I might dive into just because of spending so much time abroad. Right. So that's one thing, but it's like, I don't know, like Toronto, like I don't know. I can't say this sound or that sound like does well here because maybe I I I haven't even been as tapped in these days. Like I'm not even lying.
SPEAKER_01Like but from what I know, like I don't know like Afrobeat artists that like really got it popping out of Toronto, like I don't think Afro beat is uh I mean the crazy thing is that I feel like there's definitely a big African community in not only in Toronto, like in Canada, like you know what I mean? You got Nigerians, Ghanaians, you know, Somalis, like everybody's here, you know? Yeah. But for some reason, yeah, I just don't think the the actual Afro beat is popping as much as it's popping everywhere else. Like think about like uh UK, you know what I mean? It's like it like it didn't originate in UK, but it blew up right there. Exactly. You know what I mean? And I would say Canada and UK kind of are similar when it comes to uh the community. Yeah. You know, exactly. No, it's very similar.
SPEAKER_02So that's why I was always just like that's very random, but it's cool, like Europe and the UK and like Europe, it's just they're really into that type of sound. Yeah, yeah. Compared to like, you know, out here, and like so like they're more willing to like listen to like a more niche like sound within that genre and everything. So like it makes sense that they would just do well there. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Like, you know what I mean? For sure. And you did you did shows like in Sweden too, Norway, right? Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, and Germany, and Mr. International.
SPEAKER_03That's crazy. Yeah, just what would you say has been your favorite city to perform at so far?
SPEAKER_02Um, Sweden, Stockholm, that place, that city is so lit, and the people are just so turned. Um, another place I loved was Djibouti. Djibouti, I went there last year. And you're going back again. I'm going back right now, man. Djibouti is a lit place to perform at. The concerts are always amazing. And then the third place I'd say is also Kenya, Nairobi. Yeah. And I'm gonna probably be spending like a lot of my time there, like for this the rest of this year. It's just such a very like, bro, it's such a vibe. Yeah, yeah. That place is such a vibe.
SPEAKER_01When you uh when you do the shows, do you have like your DJ that you travel with, or is it just kind of like whoever is at the spot that's gonna DJ the show?
SPEAKER_02From what I noticed, like with my music operations, like like when I'm in Europe, I feel like I might have like my homie who's like a DJ or like that that like I work with or whatever. But like a lot of the times, like if I'm in like North America or I'm in like Africa, like he's like, yo, like, nigga, I got shit I'm doing, bro. Like, I'm not coming to Africa, bro. Yeah. So like, okay, cool, I got I'll get a guy for like, you know, East Africa, whatever.
SPEAKER_03Like, so not always, you know. How do you find um that is like working with different live engineers or different DJs like across the world? Do you find like it's hard for sometimes you them to like get your sound because they're like new to like working with you? It's like do you find that challenging sometimes?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, sometimes it is challenging. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie. Like, and a lot of times I've worked out, like a lot of times I've done events with like DJs that I I don't even know at all. Like, I don't even know your name, bro. Just like play this, play the song, I guess. Like, let me five out. You know what I'm saying? I just, it's sometimes maybe just sometimes they do too much too. Like, whoa. Right. You guys be dropping bombs, like, yo, there's a guy that he changed the beat. How did you do that? Changed the beat? Yeah, I'm like, are you that talented? What did you just do? He started adding things that wasn't in there and stuff. I was like, whoa, whoa, chill out, bro. Yeah. And like he made me perform at like a speed that that was different, like slightly sped up, like what? 1.1. Like, whoa, what's going on, bro? Yeah, that's it.
SPEAKER_01Doesn't it like doesn't it like mess you up when you perform? Does that mess with you? That's crazy.
SPEAKER_02I the thing is sometimes I don't even realize it until I tell us like 40 seconds, I'm like, something's wrong. Like at the same time, I'm vibing and like, oh shit, look at that guy. Like, why did he just throw that in the air? And then, oh, look at this girl, she's really into it. Like, I'm just so tripped up. And by the time I realize, I'm like, yo, this nigga, I've been something's off, but like.
SPEAKER_01So you're just going with the atmosphere of the room.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I just go like, yo, cut the, cut that shit. I cut it, and I just maybe make the crowd sing a little bit, and I'll just tell you, whatever the fuck, you just fucking that shit again. That's dumb shit you're doing, bro. Just you just trying shit. Like, it is the World Cup. We don't need you just doing it's not your tricks. It's not the time to try it right now, you know? Yeah, I just fun though, bro. I enjoy all of that shit.
SPEAKER_03For sure. What would you say are the most important things like you, like as someone who performs a lot, what would you say are some of the most important things that you need to be like ready for a show or like to do well at a show?
SPEAKER_02One thing I need to do well at a show, for sure, is like the people have to be into it. Like, even if they don't even like know everywhere of the song, like everybody just gotta be into the vibe of the show, what's going on, like interacting with people and everything. And then also like just making moments, like small moments for like individual fans and like just interacting with them like heavily. Like that's something I always like try to focus on doing. But like before I do a show, like there's always like a little ritual too that I have like I don't, like, I won't eat anything crazy. I'll never eat a full meal, I'll eat half a meal. Never a full meal. And like, I'll never step outside my house that day before the show. Oh, really? I don't do anything. Oh, really? Yeah, I'm one of those people. I don't step outside my house, like I like everything brought to me. Maybe I might stop like by a spot to eat, like for like quick, maybe it's very rare, but like I don't like it. Yeah. Yeah. I like to be straight fresh out of my house. Right. And or hotel or whatever, and then at the show. Like, you know what I'm saying? Just so nothing throws me off that day. I'm just vibing.
SPEAKER_01Right. Can you uh that story that you told me last week when we were chilling at Bobby's um in Kenya when you made the song, your biggest song. Can you can you tell that story? I think it's a cool story. So can you just can you just say that story?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, man. So, man, I mean, yo, that story was crazy because uh basically that song, Samin, right now it's at like 32 million views on YouTube and like hundreds of thousands of streams, and like just I don't know. That song's my biggest song right now. And the way it came about is that I was in Kenya and I was doing a show there, and one of my homies, like, yo, I got a producer that's out there, and like he's cold with it. His name's Paulo. So I said, yo, okay, bet I'll link up with Paulo. Um, and then he told me like the area it was at too. Like he was telling me to link up with him, and I was like, ah shit, yo, it's low-key the trenches, bro. It's cool. Like, you know, I'm saying it's Nairobi. Nairobi gets trenchy sometimes, but it's cool. So um, one of my homies that's from America, that's always like in Nairobi too, he said, yo, like I'd be out here, I'll go with you, it's cool, like, don't worry. So we went to the studio anyways. We get to a spot, and I'm like, damn, bro, ain't no elevator. We had to go up six flights of stairs. Damn. Just going up. And by the time we get up, bro, I'm like, bro, I'm out of breath, bro. I'm not recording shit, bro. I was like, yo, I was like, yo, I didn't, I didn't even realize, like, after these steps, I'm hungry now. Like, so we but the thing is like there was Matt welcoming and they said, yo, it's cool, man. Just chill out. Um, one of the homies that was there, like, like one of the producers' guys in Somalia, that was there, he ordered like some Somali food. We ate that. And I was just like, before I even ate, I went to into the booth or like the studio room, and I was just, the producer was there. He was just vibing out. I'm saying he's in his own zone. I don't know what's going on with him. He's in his own zone, he's lit. I was like, cool, I rock with this. He said, What kind of shit you want me to like? What kind of shit you want me to you want to hear? He's like, You want an example? He's like, Yeah, I want an example. I said, I played him some shit. And he's like, Okay, some shit like this. I'm like, yeah. And he's like, he's like, I'm gonna make you something just like this. And I did. So I leave the room and I go eat the food. While I'm in the food, he's just playing the beats, like I don't know, he's just vibing, doing different things. I keep hearing different sounds. And then at some point I kind of tone out and I'm just talking to homies, and I go back into the room. And when I go back to the room, bruh, like he's playing something like else. Like it doesn't sound anything like what I showed him at all. And I was like, bruh, where? Like, what's going on? And he's like, Nah, trust me. I'm like, man, this Kenya dude, bruh. Whatever, man. Just keep rocking with it, bro. This Africa, bruh. Like, so he just keeps vibing, he's just playing different styles and shit, and blah, blah, blah. And this whole the whole time, like, one of his homies is there, and like he's just posted up, he's just like sitting there. And then I was like, just recording whatever, uh-uh, uh. And while I'm recording, like I stepped in and I just started recording the first few lines, and the producer's like playing keys while I'm singing. I'm like, bro, what's going on, bro? Like, while I'm doing the take, you just wanna, I'm like, yo, what's going on, bro? Can I record now? Can I do the take? Like, and we did it in a small room and everything, and then every time I do a take, like his homie would be like, that shit was kind of ass, bro. I'm like, who the fuck's this? And I'm like, yo, who the fuck's this nigga, bro? But like at the same time, it's like, I didn't even wanna ate, I didn't even want to be like, yo, like, get out of here, bruh. But I could have, like, it's my session. But at the same time, I'm like, bruh, this Africa, bruh. Like, what if this nigga's like, just part of this, part of the thing? Like, yo, in Africa, they be telling you niggas be part of something, like, yo, yo, like, no, this nigga owns the building. Like, I'm like, oh shit, you just can't tell. Nigga don't look like a nigga that owned the building. You know what I'm saying? You don't want niggas to know. So, uh, and he just like, and he's like, no, no, no, trust me, like, you give it bro, like, telling you. And I'm like, okay, whatever, bro. And I'm just recording, recording, recording. And it's done. The song's done. I hear it, and I'm just like, eh. It's cool, whatever. And as it's just playing and everything, and I'm just about to get ready to leave, and I'm leaving, and then that his homie, the producers, the producers like, it's a hip, telling you, it's a hit. And I'm like, I'm cool, whatever. Like, I think it's ass. And I'm so mad that I even wasted my time here. I'm so mad I even recorded through this and like, no, this nigga that's just yapping the whole time, like, man, fuck all y'all niggas. You know what I'm saying? But like, y'all cool niggas though, y'all cool niggas, man. I fuck with y'all. So, uh, and then and then his homie goes like, what? Nah, bruh. Let me tell you something. I done seen some lit artists, right? Now that you ever, now that you made a song around me, like in front of me, it's gonna be your biggest song ever. And I was like, what? And he's like, trust me on that. And he just leaves, and he never even introduces himself to begin with. So I was like, who the fuck's that? Like, did you just make a deal with the devil? I'm like, who the fuck was that? Was that the devil nigga? That nigga was just posting up, just watching me. Like, you know what I'm saying? And yeah, I never seen that nigga again, but that song's my biggest song today. I'm like, whoa, that's fucking crazy.
SPEAKER_03That's pretty. So if you thought the song was whatever in the first place, why did you still put it out?
SPEAKER_02Okay, I'll tell you why I put it out. So the songs in my head is whatever. My two homies that was there with me, they're saying, wow, amazing song. The producer saying, Wow, amazing. I said, cool. I left. I sent it to my homie, I said, yo, listen to this garbage. You know what I'm saying? My homie messages me back. He's like, yo, I'm not gonna lie, I'm really vibing with this song. Like, I've listened to it like three times already. It's I like it. I'm like, oh, whatever. And then I just send it to my other homie, uh, Sherman Boy. He's like a big Somali artist. So I send it to him. Sherman Boy's like, yo, what the f what? Yo, empty out the verse right now. Like, I'm smoking this song right now. I'm like, what? And he's like, bro, this is your best song. Put this shit out right now, or I'm or send me an open right now. Like, no way. I just send it to my other artist's homie, he's like, please, yo, let me get on this song. Like what?
SPEAKER_01So you start you started to realize that there's something there when other people were saying it's fire.
SPEAKER_02I'm like other people saying it's fire, but in my head, I'm like, bro, this garbage is literally saved on my phone as like random garbage I made in Kango.
SPEAKER_00Random garbage I made in Kenya.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, like literally, like, I didn't want to even drop the song, bro. That's crazy. And then everyone's saying it's so good. I'm like, why do I not like the song then? And I was listening to it and I was just like, maybe it's just because it's just absolutely different.
SPEAKER_01Like from what you were doing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was forced to just go on this beat that I just didn't even want to like, you know what I mean? I wasn't really fucking with like that. And I just, I forced myself, you know what I'm saying, to like adapt to that situation. So it was just something new. So maybe. But now I obviously I liked it. Obviously, like now. Like even around the time I put it, I was putting it out, I liked it. Yeah, yeah. But it wasn't because it also wasn't mixed at all. You know what I'm saying? And the crazy thing is, the producer who produced the beat mixed the song. And it's actually like another engineer literally asked me, like, who mixed this song? I was like, yo, it's actually the guy who made the beat. And he's like, yo, like, he's cold. I told him, like, yo, you're cold with it. You know, people are saying, like, they like your mix. And he was like, yo, I was vibing heavy, bro. I don't know, ha, did that shit, nigga? That shit's too good. He's like, I haven't mixed like that still. I was like, yeah, man, that's some good shit. We caught a vibe, man. I don't know. But um, I didn't like it. And at the end, everyone liked it. And then I put it out, and everyone liked it. Like, it was just one of those moments. So I never thought I'd be a victim to one of the moments. You know what I'm saying? Like, I always thought, like, up until that point, all my songs that were that done well, I was like, I know this one's gonna go well. I used to always tell that, even like, this one's a hip, I'm telling you. Right. This one, not feeling about that one. Yeah. So like that's how I always was. And that one, I just wasn't like that. It was shocking.
SPEAKER_03That's crazy. It's literally one of those exact moments where people say it's always the ones you least expect that do the most successful. It's insane. Exactly. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And it wasn't even actually before I even put it out, I have after I showed all these people, I still needed more proof. I recorded a bullshit video of myself. I literally just played the song and I recorded a bullshit video of myself just vibing in my apartment in Kenya. Yeah. And I just posted it. And it didn't even do like that crazy. Like people just liked it. Like, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03Oh, like you put on like your Instagram? I put it on my TikTok. Oh, TikTok, okay.
SPEAKER_02And it was like 20k likes. Like, oh yeah, that's cool. Like, that's normal. Like, and then I I just made another TikTok tour. Like the day I was leaving Kenya, I was going to America. I just made another TikTok tour. It was like 20k, 30k likes, whatever. I see like 200 people maybe use the sound or something. So I was like, oh, it's cool. But I go to America and I'm just chilling for like a week. And then one of my homies was like, bro, let's make one more TikTok tour. Like it's nice, like, it's like, it's only like, there's only like five, 400 people, 500 people that use the sound. I'm like, yeah, you're right. I made one more TikTok to it. All of a sudden, I just see everyone in the entire nation of Somalia. Entire nation. Everyone in the entire nation of Somalia made a TikTok to that sound. All of a sudden, I am tripping out. I'm seeing hundred thousand people made a video to and like all my uh like influencer friends and TikTokers and this and and mothers and my aunts and and and and people that used to be my teachers back in the day. I'm seeing everyone just recording themselves to the song, posting on Snapchat, Facebook. I'm like, what is going on? Now I have to put the song out. And I was like, not ready for this at all. Like, it's crazy. You know what I'm saying? But I was like, okay, this is cool. I guess everyone likes this song.
SPEAKER_01You know what I'm saying? I think you're a perfect example too, because you know how everybody always thinks about the rollout and this and that, how they're gonna they plan everything in like a crazy way where you just like kind of vibe with it. You're like, you know what, it goes, it goes. Let's let's do it.
SPEAKER_02Yo, you know what's crazy? Every time I've done the whole rollout thing, I've never enjoyed like the drop, and it was just been like, uh, and then like I can tell you right now, three or four, like my top, three or four songs, my top four songs. I literally never did the whole thing. Wow. I literally just put on the internet, I put on TikTok, I put on Instagram, and people liked that. I said, I just threw it in the air, like, you know what I'm saying, like an oop, and everyone just dunks it. Oh, it just my big it just becomes one of my bigger songs. I'll do a whole rollout promoting some shit, uh, uh, and just like it'll be big sometimes, but sometimes it's just like eh. But those songs, like sometimes it's like when you have like something that's like you put on the internet and people already really rock with it, like you gotta just get it to them.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02A lot of people just hold it for so long.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, then people get lose interest in that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, like bro, like, yeah, it was a hard snippet. Like, okay. No, I hate to snippet. Yeah, you gotta drop it when it's hot. Yeah. You can't drop it to me when I've hate it. It comes across my page every day now. Like, you know what I'm saying? I need you to drop it. You know what I mean? So that's all that's something that like I feel like all artists struggle with that. Even with me, like sometimes it happens.
SPEAKER_03Just like not dropping music, you mean? Like overthinking the process?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, overthinking it. Like, there's definitely like songs I have right now on me that people would love, but I'm just like, oh, I just don't know. Like, I'll just be like, oh, that's some ass. Like I think all the songs are good, to be honest personally. Like, I I've never really thought any of my songs are ass, but it's just like there's certain songs where it's like, I didn't ex you just don't expect it. Yeah? Right. And there's certain songs you're like, with all your heart. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Right.
SPEAKER_02And everyone's like, ah, shut up, nigga.
SPEAKER_03Like. But do you think the the opposite happens sometimes where you'll really believe in a song that, oh, this is uh gonna be a huge hit, and then you put it out, but it doesn't perform how you expect it to, or that's happened too. Yeah. That happens all the time.
SPEAKER_02That happens to like happens to like big artists. You know what I'm saying? Like that is everybody. Like, it's just normal. So you can't really trip over it, you know. It's like you just gotta keep putting up shots, like, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. It's true. It's true. Yeah, so I feel like a lot of artists like they get in their own head. Yeah, definitely. You know what I'm saying? And I get in my head sometimes, but at the same time, I also know that like literally none of this matters. Like, what are you talking about? Just vibe, make some shit you vibe with, and put it out and let the people vibe with it. It's just that simple. It's not that deep.
SPEAKER_03It's true. Yeah. It's true. Some people delay albums, projects, but like three, four, five years. That's crazy.
SPEAKER_02Like, put anything out, man. Yeah, and nobody like, bruh, like even my favorite artist, I'd be like, bruh, nigga, I don't want to hear it. Hear your shit, nigga. You don't want to put shit out, bro. That's why like I still I I like someone like Drake, where it's like, always putting up shit putting out shit, always doing shit. And like, he literally just doesn't care what niggas say. Like, he'll just be like, oh, I'm I'm just making whatever I feel. That's what makes some EDM, I'll make this, I'll make that.
SPEAKER_01I like that. One thing with Drake is like he's the most consistent artist. I I don't want to say only in hip hop, because I think it was like in all the genres. Yeah. That he always drops.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, at least once every year. Always one project every year.
SPEAKER_01Then like some off-project here, some singles here. Like, there's always something going on. Like he never just like goes goes for three years, you know, waiting. He's just like always working. So I respect that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So uh so for this session, and just in general as well, so you said you came in, you didn't know what the B was gonna be, he made it on the spot. So is your usual style like freestyling to the B or you you're writing as he's like making the B you write before you start recording? Or you hop in the booth, you just go.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, so like what I would usually do is I'd hop in the booth. Um, like back in the day, like when especially when I used to first used to record, I used to come and the song was like already written. Right. And I had everything written and I had the song, like every line ready. You know what I mean? And then at some point, what happened is um I started recording with my homie Saturn, and he just was like, like we was just always recording at the crib, and we just like had we should have time. Like, I'm like, oh, we're not on a timecast street. I've never recorded outside of a studio. Right. And also sounded good, so I was like, okay, so this is something whatever. So that's when I started like just learning to freestyle and just like punch it in as I go, and that's why like I'm writing the song and recording the song at the same time. So like that's where I really toned that skill. And ever since then, I just literally have never written a song.
SPEAKER_03Oh, really? Yeah. Now you're just straight freestyling the booth. I can't, I just can't sit down and write a song now. I see. Yeah. I would say honestly, sometimes in certain situations, that's almost better because you're just taking exactly what you're feeling in that moment and you're just communicating and projecting that out instead of like overthinking a melody or a book.
SPEAKER_02Exactly. That's what I'm saying. I like to just get it. And then also, when I'm going like and recording it and like just going bit by bit and then just thinking about it as it comes, I'll I'll literally go a whole different direction than I would have gone when I if I was writing it. Right. I'll just try and hold new sound, like do some quick shit, and then it would be like, oh, that sounds cool. I'ma just do that. Fuck this whole flow hat going. I'ma just do this random thing now. Like you know what I'm saying? Like, it's just fun. So it feels more like painting. It feels like more like being in flow state. Yeah, flow state. Yeah, compared to like that shit, just feels like like taking some, it's like I always take a recipe and I'm just cooking a perfect dish that I had the recipe for. This one is like kind of like free balling the recipes, like whatever is in the kitchen. Like the chef's touch. You have to do with the chef's touch. You know how much salt to pull and how much this doing it by eye.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So would you say also, is it easier to become successful or blow up as an artist in Africa or in Toronto? What would you say the differences are? It really depends, to be honest.
SPEAKER_02I feel like it's decently easy. I don't know if it's easy to blow up. I don't know who blows up higher. I'd be so real. But drama is. Well, I don't know. Uh that's that's crazy to say, but I don't know who blows up higher. Like, ain't nobody blow up like that. And like these days is what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about like obviously the biggest artists in the world.
SPEAKER_01Like, they done blew. Like, they blew the whole world. So they blew shit up. But I don't even think uh when it comes to Drake, maybe the weekend, yes, but not even like I don't think Drake blew up in Toronto.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but like, even if we just give them the benefit of that too, like let's just say, okay, Drake and those guys count that. Like the younger guys, I feel like they just don't really blow up by you, and then they gotta just, they go elsewhere. Yeah. People go, people always gotta go elsewhere. Like, and that's kind of annoying to me sometimes. Because like, it's Toronto's really lit. Yeah. Like, it's a really lit city. So I feel like it's I don't know why, but sometimes I do see that it's kind of challenging for artists to blow up. But um, in in Africa, there's different places, like, there's so many different places. So like, I can't tell you how it is in certain countries, you know. I I know that in Somalia is like music is totally different. Like, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, and social media and everything, like, everything's totally different. Right. So, like, I don't even know if it's easy to blow up or not. And I can't even tell you, because I mean I've been making like contests since I was on Vine, like and I had like viral vines and shit. Like, I just been doing social media shit my whole life. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I don't even know. You know? Fair enough. Fair enough. Would you say there's a ceiling for Africa artists? Have you felt like there's a ceiling for African artists?
SPEAKER_02I mean, yes, technically, it depends on what field you're in. Um, and like how pop you are. So, like, certain artists like Wizkid and Bernabor and like those guys, like they're they're at like the top, top of the mountain. You know what I'm saying? For sure. But obviously with Afrobeats, it does come with like, you know, like obviously certain people just not understanding it. Like, America obviously hasn't fully grasped onto it yet. And, you know, let's say Canada as well, I guess, like grasped onto it the same way like they might have, like, you know, uh the regular tone songs, like, you know what I'm saying? Like the average white guy might just, you know, turn on some despacito on him. You know what I'm saying? Like, he might just be like, yo, play me bad bunny, nigga. They caught onto that wave, like, but the Africans, you know, they're a bit far away. So it's taking time to cross the ocean. And it's been and it's been happening at a good rate.
SPEAKER_03I think it's also because like Puerto Rico is technically part of America. So it's like they're already directly kind of exposed to reggaeton music as Americans, you know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So you're not lying. You're not lying, exactly. And when it comes to when it comes to Afrobeats, like Tyler's also huge. Yes, Tyler's huge, yes. But that's what I'm saying, like when that's what that's what I meant by like, it depends also how pop you are. Like, she also goes into a pop bag and like Thames, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, she can kind of get into like a little pop bag, like, so it can it try it's been translating over time. There was a time I remember not uh niggas was not listening to Afrobeats in America, Canada, like in the world like that.
SPEAKER_01That's true, but I feel like right, it was what was around COVID, maybe 2021, when like Afrobeats really, really took over.
SPEAKER_02There was time when like Yo, that's you know what's crazy? I remember, bruh, I remember it was like 2018. And what year did what year did Drake make one dance actually? 2016, huh? 2017. Yeah, that was like 2016, 17.
SPEAKER_03Okay, around that sentence.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, okay, so like a year after that, 2018, 19, I was like cooking, that's when I was like really getting to the Afrobeats. And I was like, like really getting into making it. I was always into it, but like focusing more on it, you know? And I remember telling producers and stuff like people, like, yo, like Afrobeats is the next thing. And then niggas would be like, I feel like niggas would always be like, ah man, like Drake just did it, but like, it's been a year already, people are over it, like, you know what I'm saying, it's gonna die down now. I'm like, nah, y'all niggas don't know, you know what I'm saying? And yo, to this day, I'm not gonna lie, I remember Chris told me about I'm a piano. I still remember that it was Chris and waves. And I was at 669, vibe, vibing, eating your poutine. And they were like, yo, hear about that South African shit. I'm like, what? No. It's like I'm a piano, that shit's fire. They told me about that in like 2020, I think. So they was right about that. And but like the Afro B wave came in harder than like everyone I was expecting, and like I was kind of expecting it though. You know what I mean? And then the piano wave I was not expecting, and uh that shit was even crazier, and I love it. It's amazing, bro. I saw like the Afro House. Yeah, yeah. What, bro, like the waves has just been it's just been endless vibes coming out of Africa for the last five years. I think more than five years. No, no, no. I'm talking about like Africa's been killing shit forever. But I'm talking about the last five years on a global stage, they've just been like really dominant.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. I agree, I agree. Uh, so we don't have much time, unfortunately. Do you have anything else you want to ask before we wrap it up?
SPEAKER_01Um, I mean, man, just just what is the next uh you know goal for you? What was your vision for like the next, you know, upcoming year?
SPEAKER_02Man, this upcoming year, man, uh I have a lot of things I want to do. Um There's a lot of like, obviously a lot of uh concerts and stuff that I'm gonna be doing. I'm gonna be traveling a lot too, going to new places I've never been. And I'm gonna be releasing a lot of music and probably releasing more. Like that's something that I even get on myself for. So not releasing enough, so I need to be releasing a lot of music. And I'm gonna be traveling more than I already have been, I think. And I'm gonna be doing a whole lot of other stuff too, like outside of music. Like, I'm when we started businesses, I've been doing I've been doing that. Like, that's what I'm saying. I I live a whole other life. So there's so much that I'm looking forward to. So like, inshallah, like, I'm just looking forward to the rest of this year, and I'm saying we keep we grind it, man. Say no more, let's make it happen. I'm taking I'm taking my talents back to the African beaches real quick. And also, I'm gonna be back and forth though. I think I I feel like I kind of missed Toronto a little bit now. So I'm gonna I'm gonna be spending a little bit more time out here, maybe. 100%.
SPEAKER_03Anyways, bro, thank you for joining us today, man. Appreciate you coming back. Appreciate you, 100 bands.
SPEAKER_01Next time you're back in the city, we gotta do it again. Come on, definitely. We're gonna we're gonna get a little bit more time in between, you know what I mean? Just in case. We're gonna have a buffer in between and afterwards.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you guys need to be ready for me to just be like, yo, I just woke up like nah, man, I was way out, bruh. So, you know what I'm saying? African timing. It's all good.
SPEAKER_01Somali time. It's all good. We appreciate you anyway that you pulled up. You know, I mean, I think we still got some great, great uh clips today. Not even clips, it's a great interview, you know. So we appreciate that. Yes, sir. For sure, man.
SPEAKER_03But thank you guys for watching. Stay tuned for the next episode. Thank you again, Hanal, for pulling up. Han's right here. Yes, sir. Check him out. Peace out.