Exclusive: Interview: No... I don't rap like Phyno - Rap Dibia, fast rising Rapper on scene.

Something happened last year. In my final year, one Saturday morning, my second year roommate then, went to the university's stadium for a morning jog. She came back and was ecstatic with a news- a student performed and almost rapped like Phyno to the large audience of the sporty students. I took her news with a pinch of salt- the salt being the rapper's name. Rap Dibia. The name sounded strange but it felt unique at same time.

Fast forward some weeks, i attended some couple of campus night events, one name was constant in the acts of those events. Rap Dibia. At the last one i attended, i pitched my ear to the voice on the mic ringing through the hall. It was Igbo rap but the rapper had punch lines. Okay, lemme give credit, the rapper's proverbs wooowed me. I made up my mind to get the rapper on the blog. So through constant tracking, chatting and meeting with him, we finally did something that looks like an interview. So Enjoy!!

NAB: Welcome to the blog. Your name, Rap Dibia is quite creative, what does it mean and how did you arrive at the name?

RD: Rap Dibia means "Rap doctor". The name came as a result of creativity... A producer made a beat in the studio and told us to jump on it, i did my normal thing and everybody was like woow! you cured the sick beat..that word "cured the sick
beat" inspired me.

NAB: So who is Rap Dibia?

RD: my fullname is Ezema Levi Chukwuebuka. I am the last in the family of 7. My parents are teachers. I hail from Echara, Nsukka, in Enugu state. I am an easy going guy that believes in hard work and hustling. I see my self as an instrument of motivation to the less privileged in the street grinding to make out something out of nothing.

NAB: There is this upsurge in Igbo rap, it seems rap in African languages, with Igbo being one of them, has completely taken over the scene within the continent, what will you say to this?

RD: Yes.. Indigenous Rap has come to stay in Africa.. and Igbo Rap is topping this move in the game. Igbo Rap is a gift, it is not learnt, that's why you will see some good rappers turning wack because they want to rap in Igbo. Igbo Rap goes with a lot of creativity because you're passing a message with a language a Yoruba or other tribes may not understand, but if rendered with sweet delivery and deep meaning, he/she will seek for the meanings and relate with your music and be a diehard fan.

NAB: What makes your rap different from any artiste involved in the same genre?

RD: Naturally i am a being that loves standing out of the crowd. I am somebody that believes if something is done in one way to achieve success, there is another way it can still be done to achieve greater success. So i fuse in my own style and pattern in the Igbo Rap Scene.

NAB: Your ONYE ISI track blew the whole of your university campus, UNN. I mean you were everywhere thanks to it, i heard it and began researching about you, tell us more about that track and your new work, "Legacy", currently on popular music sites and airwaves.

RD: Being creative, ONYE ISI gave them a reason to doubt. Like "can he still do something creative like this one?" But LEGACY came and cleared their doubts. More songs gonna be dropping soonest. And my fans should except nothing but dopeness.

NAB: You are an undergraduate, 200l, in one of the stress-ridden universities within the country, and an active artiste on the scene, how do you balance the pressures from both sides?

RD: Even the bible said there is time for everything in life. I put in my best and see what i can achieve. So i balance the time God gave me academically and lyrically. Music is the life i live. I see it as my destiny so i hold on it and move on.

NAB: While growing up, what inspired you into music and currently, do you have new models in your genre of rap music?

RD: I grew up in a music family. The whole of us were choristers. I joined choir from my primary school days. The likes of Tupac, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Akon, Sisqo, Shaggy, Snoop dogg etc motivated me so much from my JSS class i started writing my own songs. I joined a crew and after,
we went solo and i moved on.  Dagrin, 2face, Rugged man, Mode 9, Vector, Ill Bliss and a lot of Nigerian rappers motivate me too.

NAB: In your rap, there is mixture of deep Igbo proverbs, street slangs and sprinkles of English language, is there any ritual with words you do before you creatively synchronize them into one work?

RD: I don't find it so difficult to think out a concept for songs i do. I see it as something that is part of me, the street inspires me a lot. So i get inspired with things i see around me, and experiences,  and once i focus on a beat, the words just flow.

NAB: The first thing i heard about you from a fan of yours is that you rap exactly like Phyno, what do you say to this?

RD: hehehe...  i don't rap like Phyno, but we use the same language to deliver our message, which is "Igbo". Like i said earlier, i got my own style I am bringing in. Every real person in the Igbo rap game have got his/her own pattern, which goes with delivery; and how deep his lines go too. Remember, i said Real ones, not all.

NAB: When it comes to fashion, what is your style?

RD: i wear things i feel comfortable in.  Whether gentle or not, if it is good on me, i put it on; and i love big shoes too. Lol. 

NAB: What is up with you and Ill Bliss? I remember i heard a gist of you being signed to his record label.

RD: Illbliss is one of my mentors. I was so lucky to meet him when he came for SWAG+Minds which took place in Ekpo Ref UNN. After i performed,  he called me and i sat beside him. We performed Anamachikwanu together. He is so close to me now. Like they say life is one step at a time. I believe so much in myself, and to attain greatness, one need to keep the faith alive and move on. I am not signed on his label for now, I am signed on Monniiccoop music ENT.

NAB: Is there any unique way you treat your fans and your last word to them?

RD: My fans are the reason i am Rap Dibia. They made me believe so much in this. The love i get in the streets is so undying. They will see me and be like, bros, you're good, keep it up. They enjoy what i am bringing and it inspires me to work hard and motivate them more. To my fans, you guys are the best; keep the fire flamming, more hits are dropping soon. Bless!

NAB: This is a bonus question, and a bit political, if you are Buhari, what will you do in your first 1 month in office?

RD: Create work for the youths and make things affordable to that poor man in the street. Make sure we live in peace and harmony.

NAB: Thanks for granting this exclusive to the blog.

RD: You're always welcome.

Connect with him via:

Twitter: follow @pledgeDrapdibia
Facebook: RapDibia Onye Isi
Instagram: @am_rapdibia

Listen to Legacy:
www.naijaloaded.com.ng/2015/02/23/­music-rap-dibia-legacy/

Listen to Onye- Isi:
http://septin911.com/fresh-talent-rap-dibia-pledgedrapdibia-onye-isi/