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Hello world! It’s so nice to see you.
Anyway, at the beginning of the year, I decided to interview
some people. Unfortunately, it did not happen due to unforeseen circumstances,
like this and that.
Anyway, I have been holding these interviews off, and it’s
time to stand on my feet, interview these wonderful personalities and publish
them like a real writer would do.
Ok, let’s get started.
This interview is in
two parts. The business talk and the fun randomness. We would begin with the
business talk. In order to avoid a lengthy post, the Fun Randomness would be
published tomorrow.
Rojayjay (Kwaku Boateng) was born in Accra to a family who
love and invest into music.
Marietta: Hello Rojayjay.
You are welcome to my blog.
Rojayjay:
Thanks, Marie for having
me here this evening
Marietta: Where are you
from?
Rojayjay:
I’m a full blooded
Ghanaian from three (3) parts of Ghana. My dad is from the Ashanti Region, my
mum is from Kwahu in the Eastern Region, and I am a Ga by birth. (Born, breed, buttered here)
Marietta: Which one was
your first love; MC or Rap?
Rojayjay:
It was Rap. It has always
been music……Rap to be precise.
Marietta: Nice. So tell
me how you fell in love with rap?
Rojayjay:
Well, I can’t fully
remember but I loved the way the Rap artistes back in the days dressed and
carry themselves. I listened to a wide range of music but I naturally fell for
the art rapping. I started to copy and eventually began doing my own thing.
Marietta: That’s nice.
Anyway, what inspired you to become an emcee?
Rojayjay:
Oh! Hosting events started
when my friends at church decided that I emcee a youth mutual. I was a teenager
then. I loved to talk, and could make people laugh. Perhaps I was trying to
also impress a girl I liked in our group.
Marietta: Eish.
Confession has come.
Rojayjay:
Oh yeah. It motivated me.
As time went on, I loved to watch KKD host the Miss Ghana/Embassy Pleasure
Dance Competitions.
Marietta: As an MC, which
one do you prefer, working alone, or doing it with someone?
Rojayjay:
Any is ok with me,
provided my co-MC is very good….. I get to learn too.
Marietta: Alright, so, do
you have any local MC you admire to work with?
Rojayjay:
Oh yeah…. KKD, Kwame Sefa
Kayi, Naa Ashorkor, Bola Ray. Not forgetting, Kabutey Ocansey, and a new guy I
met Ray Ray.
Marietta: Now, let’s talk
about rap. Who influenced your style of rap?
Rojayjay:
Wow! I would say Reggie
Rockstone, locally and Eminem, internationally. Many other good rappers do
though, but these two are my core favourites. People have said I sound like
like M.anifest and Sarkodie also.
Marietta: M.anifest and
Sarkodie??? That’s a funny combination at this time of our lives.
Rojayjay:
Haha. Yeah, a very funny
one.
Marietta: True. Who do
you want to work with in the future? In terms of rap.
Rojayjay:
Eeii…that will be a tall list. M.anifest,
Reggie Rockstone, EL, Gemini, Jayso, Cabum, Okyeame Kwame, Edem, Mensa
Marietta: Apart from
being an MC, and being in the studios rapping, what work do you do?
Rojayjay:
I also work as a hotel
reservations agent. Helping people find accommodation, and other things they
need to support their visit to Ghana, be it for business or pleasure
Marietta: Oh ok. That’s a
cool job
Rojayjay:
Yeah….it’s very
interesting meeting and dealing with different kinds of people and making them
happy.
Marietta: I can see that.
What’s a day in the life of Rojayjay? We want to know.
Rojayjay:
A day in the life, well,
will depend on my previous day and the plans I have for the week. But on a
normal day, I will lazy around, being on my phone, thus if I’m not working. If
I have work or I’m heading to town, I listen to music per my mood. I will watch
movies and TV shows if I’m staying home too. Lest I forget, I eat too.
Marietta: What challenges
have you faced in your MC and rap game?
Rojayjay:
With hosting events, some
clients don’t want to pay the right charges. Sometimes, failure to coordinate
the event makes my work harder. As a rapper, some challenges I face has to do
with promotion….where DJs of radio stations want something before my song is
played. What it is, I don’t know. Meanwhile, a DJ in Nigeria or South Africa is
just playing my music.
Marietta:
Do you think, it is money?
Rojayjay: I think it is money, and how big you
are in the game. I also think it’s because my kinda music isn’t commercial or
appealing to the masses. I have had situations where music managers would like
to help but they hear the songs and don’t get back to you because they can’t
sell it. I understand it’s business for them, but if you are a business man and
believe in a product or service, you find whatever way to make the people buy
it. Because of this challenge, many rappers aren’t making it big in Ghana.
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Marietta: Yeah. I see. What
things do you wish to accomplish in your life? Mention about three.
Rojayjay:
I hope to get to a level
in the entertainment industry where I can, one, influence people to make
positive changes in their lives to affect society. Two, to help upcoming
talents and three, share with others the truth I find from anywhere, as in my
church, and inspired people.
Marietta: Any upcoming
releases?
Rojayjay:
Yeah, I’m about to
release a new single titled History featuring
Kobby Prairie (a soul singer and keyboardist) and January, formerly of RnM
(Vodafone Icons Fame). It was inspired by a real life story.
Marietta: Great. Give
some shout outs.
Rojayjay:
Big shouts out to my mum
who believed I could do music, and tried to link me up, with others in the
music industry back in the days. My kid brother and sister. My kid brother and
sister. All Rojayjains, Pokua, Glory, Christie, Karl Blay, Don, Kem Jezzy,
Esko…..all of the Talk Is Cheap gropu, Enikay, Pynsche One, J. Blizz, Hype
Lyrix, Koo Ntakra, Grey, Derty, Flo-Eazy, DJ Maquin (the Resident President of
Raypower Radio, Abuja-Nigeria), my Fabulous Team members, and everybody who
loves what I do. God bless them all. And to you too, for great work you are
doing.
Marietta: Thank you!
Rojayjay:
My pleasure
Thank you so much for appearing on my blog and honouring
this interview. It’s nice to have superstars appearing on your blog. It makes
you feel like a celebrity’s friend.
Hahaha. Just kidding.
Stalk him on social media
Watch out for more interviews on the blog.
For more enquiries, send an email to degrantm@yahoo.com or just head over to my
contact page for more information.
Have a nice day and don’t forget to check in back tomorrow,
for the second part of the interview.
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