UP Music: Interview with Gospel’s Rising New Kid, Scooby

When veteran Gospel producer, Othole asked us to check him out, we thought with a stage name like Scooby- this would be a joke. Then we came across his Scooby Doo track and fell in love with this star.

2015 will definitely be listed as Scooby The Lazy Rapper’s breakout year! His impact and popularity notwithstanding, pundits were skeptical as to whether he was a fad or here to stay. But with each passing day, and each track released, he is proving even more why he is in this game to stay.

Scooby is our artist spotlight this week! Not only has the artiste been able to maintain his presence, he has already amassed certified hits and he is our spotlight this week.

 

1. Scooby? Why that name?

The name Scooby….came from this track I did called Scooby Doo…Funny enough my fans started calling me after the song. After a while the ‘doo’ faded and I was left with Scooby. Later some friends of mine from abroad thought my voice was pleasing, my style of rapping was slow and so the added ‘the lazy rapper’…So now I have sentence for a name. Scooby The Lazy Rapper.

 

2. Tell us about your musical journey.

I started my music back in high school in the C.U and after high school I recorded my first single Scooby Doo with my producer Othole of NYNP. I have worked with also other producers like Teddy B, Joel, Ianoh, Kennon, Lumi and also Graham from Chicago. I thank God for all these producers because I didn’t use a single penny for studio time - not because I was special but because I was good in what I do. I also came from a poor background - I was raised in Mathare - so I couldn’t afford to pay. I grew up with my good friends Willy Paul and Vincy, and we formed a group called Veterans. We later parted after Willy Paul’s song Sitolia went viral, we were not on the same level anymore.

 

3. You have been working with Othole. Share some insights on that.

Othole has played a big role in my life. Working with him is fun, he makes me and my music feel at home, and apart from him being my producer, he is a good friend and awesome mentor. I thank God for him because he has never charged me for studio time and has fully embraced my art with warmth, which is very hard to find in Kenya especially in the genre of gospel.

 

4. How is it as an urban Gospel singer in Nairobi? What are the challenges?

There so many challenges I have faced and still facing as an artist. Me having locs has been one of the toughest, because people assume that I am not born again cause of my hair. There are those churches that don’t allow this kind of hairstyle, so you can imagine when I go to perform with this crazy hype that I have, people will think that I’m crazy. The same with high schools - we are not allowed to go minister there all because of dreadlocks. The other challenge is to get air play, most of this gospel deejays have cliques, so for you to get airplay you have to join one of these cliques because they’re rivals. If you join one, then the other will never play your music, making it hard for me as artist to operate and even push my music. Also event organizers have a tendency to run away with artist’s money just after the event which is very discouraging.

 

5. You have a charity organization. Tell us about that.

I have a charity organization called Smile Tag. It’s an organisation that helps the less fortunate kids - those that are homeless, orphans and also street kids. The idea was born last year but we started operations 3 months ago, and the organization has recently gone international. What we do as Smile Tag is we collect food stuff, clothes, and whatever that you feel will be of help. I believe we don’t need money to make a child smile, what we need is to show them love, and this is by visiting them, playing with them and actually talking to them - this will definitely make them comfortable. I created this movement to help this kids after I lost my nephew whom my late sister left me to take care of. A month ago I got locked up trying to fight against the grabbing of land allocated to a Mathare Children’s Home, but after I was released I came across supportive videos of people of different races from all over the world. One of the videos was by Emmanuel Jal, the Canadian based peace ambassador from Southern Sudan who I really look up to. This really encouraged me and to me it was a confirmation that God called me to do this ministry.

Video:

6. What project are you currently working on?

I have a new song out called Piga Picha…I love the jam cause it shows how you can move from a bad situation to a better one only if you allow Jesus to come first in your life. My next project is called Shibaba - it’s a song for the kids, and the video will be out soon.

 

7. What are your thoughts on the future of the Kenyan music industry?

The Kenyan music industry needs to change and quit corruption, otherwise the Uganda and Tanzania industry will take over here, just like the Nigerians did. Deejays and radio presenters should stop looking at the cash they are given as bribes and start focusing on supporting the real talent.

 

8. Kindly taunt some new names that you think will blow up in the Gospel music industry in 2016.

In 2016, it would say Thomas, that Coco Bata singer is very good….And also someone you should watch out for is Scooby The Lazy Rapper. I am the next big thing in Jesus name. Amen.