0
0
This is my debut album released on September 23rd, 2008 of my record label, Ghetto Breed Entertainment and distributed by Soulkiss Entertainment/dep/Universal Music Canada. The album was produced by JUNO Award winner Eddie Bullen and Stephan Stadelmann in Toronto, Canada. Its featured artwork was designed by G. L. Paterson. Guest appearances include Reggae singer Winnie Culture, Rock and Roll singer David Butler, R&B singer Jay NY, JUNO award winners Diane Seaton & Liberty Silver, New Jersey rappers Filthy Rich, Quality, Chris Cruz, R&B singer S. Davis and Nigel Woods. This is where my discography starts.
Concept
The concept of “While I’m Still Young… The Talking Drums” is about succeeding while young enough to enjoy it. Talking drums echo encrypted messages. Civil wars ensured a slim chance of success. By escaping two genocides in addition to my short stint on the streets of New Jersey and Philadelphia, the lyrics were ultimately inspired, recorded and released as this album.
Recording and releasing it in itself was not an easy task. Many artists spend a lifetime hoping to publish their work. As an independent, releasing a professionally produced album is a dream come true.
The album also represents the starting point of my music career. In some of its lyrics, I referenced some milestones that I initially deemed impossible to reach. The cover displays an African death mask, an ancient African tribal ritual where revered warriors who passed away, had their faces covered with this mask during the burial ceremony as a sign of respect.
The mask symbolizes the end of one era of my life and the beginning of another. “While I’m Still Young… The Talking Drums” features several crossover songs with a wide range of influences from Reggae, Rock N Roll, Soul, Dance to Jazz. I also sang some of my raps which at the time was different from my usual flow. The album contains 21 tracks.
Background
I started writing this album while going through the most terrible periods of my life. I had narrowly escaped death when the rebel war ensued in Liberia, West Africa. That experience influenced my gritty lyrics about romance, violence and the street loyalty that is depicted in the music. It is arguably my most explicit, adding to the fact that much of its content came from my ‘Stay True’ mixtape.
I have continuously stated that the lifestyle it portrays is in my past. Those days were unfortunate times which I have immortalized on this record. It began as poetry. My frustrations in Bo, Sierra Leone while enrolled at Christ the King College when I skipped classes to avoid getting flogged by the teachers. I was 13/14 years old, I had to hide in the cemetery, sitting on graves, walking around reading headstones.
It was then I began writing poems. A few years later, I turned those poems to raps which found their way to this album. I continued to write poetry even after relocating to Freetown where I attended the Methodist Boys High School and Ansarul Muslim Secondary School. Back then I also lip-synced to favorite Hip Hop songs.
A few years later, I was relocated as a refugee in Latrikunda German, The Gambia (another West African state). By this time I was a 17-year-old escapee from Sierra Leone’s genocide. I continued to write lyrics about my experiences on the streets (being homeless times) and began to rap them to instrumentals. In the Gambia, I wrote a large volume of lyrics, poems, and screenplays.
Once I relocated to the United States, I archived them into various albums and books. Upon settling in Franklin, New Jersey I worked at several places including the general hospitals and the Jewish Nursing Home and saved a lot of money. I did so while attending local colleges like Raritan Valley Community College and Edison Job Corps Academy.
I traveled to Toronto, Canada where I reunited with longtime friend Qing Que, hoping to record my debut album under his Qryptonic Records. Recording sessions lagged with numerous setbacks. Initial recordings were released on a 2006 mixtape entitled “Stay True,” but subsequent miscommunication led the mixtape to be pulled from circulation after its release.
I formed my record label, Ghetto Breed Entertainment after that and set off to record the album on my own. I worked with a self-proclaimed independent movie producer by the name of Duke Panache who promised to record and release the album as a soundtrack to his martial arts movie. Duke faltered on his promise after many delays. I was left to shop for yet another studio to record the album. I formed an alliance with students at the CBC studios in Toronto, but their amateur recordings were not up to par.
Under new management with attorneys, I discovered the art of record contracts and recorded the vocals at Slamm Productions (in Toronto). The other bulk of my remaining vocals were recorded by Stephan Stadelmann at his home studio. Stadelmann is also a guitarist for Toronto Rock band, Street 66.
He produced six tracks for this album, including the lead singles “City Boy” and “Strangers.” Ultimately, the album production was transferred to Thunder Dome Sounds where the already recorded vocals were consolidated and co-produced by JUNO award winner Eddie Bullen. He also produced some new songs for the album.
I employed Soulkiss Entertainment to market, promote and distribute the album in Canada since their CEO, Brian LaRoche claimed to have exclusive physical in-store and digital distribution with Dep and Universal Music Canada. Upon the release, Brian LaRoche, proved fraudulent when it was uncovered that his alleged ties to Universal Music Canada and dep had been exaggerated.
LaRoche and his co-conspirator Spencer, (a rep at dep at the time) were both incapable of fulfilling their obligations to Badson Publishing (Ghetto Breed Entertainment). This led me to recall the album from their possession after three months of running around and email war. The album was re-released under Ghetto Breed Entertainment, and Double K Records the following year, with my first book.
Reception
“While I’m Still Young… The Talking Drums” debuted at number one on several College radios in Canada and sold thousands of physical copies worldwide as well as thousands of downloads. The album received favorable reviews and media coverage with music critics praising the production and musical versatility. It produced 7 singles and opened the door for my writing career.
Singles
City Boy – the first official single from the album released on June 15th, 2008. It was produced by Stephen Staddelmann, and Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada. This song received a substantial amount of downloads throughout the internet with massive radio play in the Caribbean, East Africa and parts of Canada, Europe, and the USA.
Strangers – is the second official single from the album released on August 11th, 2008. It was produced by Stephan Stadelmann, and Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada. This song received substantial amounts of downloads throughout the internet with radio play in the Caribbean, East Africa and parts of Canada, Europe, and the USA.
How Would I Know featuring. Jay NY – is the third official single off the album released on December 5th, 2008. It was produced by Jay NY, and Eddie Bullen at Thunder Dome Sounds in Toronto, Canada. This song received a substantial amount of downloads throughout the internet with airplay in the Caribbean, East Africa and parts of Canada, Europe, and the USA. *
