Artist: Weird MC
Weird MC is an Artiste, Lyricist, Producer and Composer whose sound is a Hybrid of HipHop/Afrocentricity/Club Essence plus anything undefined. Her main influences are Fela Kuti, Missy Elliott, Jimi Hendrix,Lauryn hill, Tina Turner, Dr Dre, The Neptunes and Lagbaja. Her material borders on the political as well as “Party till u drop” Anthems. One minute she taps into ur consciousness with her thought provoking lyrics the next she has u bouncing to her joints in the clubs. She’s got a distinctive sound which is credible and commercially acceptable. This is one Artiste who can’t be put in a box, try doing that and you’d have to break the seal over and over again, Weird MC's style also embraces the use of live instruments against the backdrop of cutting edge sounds and Traditional Grooves. She delivers her material in English and Yoruba [A Popular Nigerian Language] This reflects her multicultural background she cuts across universally. Nigeria’s HipHop icon started out taking part in Talent contests such as the reputable club 291 contest U.K. s equivalent to America’s Apollo. In 1992 she took part placing 3rd this did not phase her,she got really motivated and placed an ad in the U.K.s HipHop Connection magazine seeking for a producer. A young producer named Kevin Best came through and within two months of recording with him Weird MC released a double sided single titled “Wanna make u jack”/”Let’s Get Wet” . This single went straight to NO 1 on the Choice fm Promo charts and NO1 on the Blues and Soul UK Swing charts. The release also got good reviews in the print media [Voice, Pride, Soul Trade, HipHop Connection] . Da Rappatainer immediately got busy on the live performance circuit securing a support slot opening up for MC Lyte along the way the late Aaliyah even came to see one of her performances. Determined to take her career to another level Weird MC went back into the studio and recorded a few more songs she decided to go to Nigeria on vacation whilst there she had a chance meeting with a couple of music consultants and got her material shopped to a few labels: Disc Entertainment offered her a PPD Deal. Sola put out her debut album titled “Simply Weird” which produced an instant smash hit “Allen Avenue” this was the first attempt to fuse Afrobeat and HipHop elements, Fela Kuti loved it so much. Sola became a major favourite on the Nigerian Live circuit performing at the biggest concerts such as the Benson and Hedges golden tones Series she was the only MC with a deal in the country. The success of her debut album spurred her on to record another but this recording was never released for an unknown reason till date this was really demoralsing for the artiste and she decided to take a break. That was then this is now weird MC has since made up for her long absence with a painstakingly prepared album After Da Storm (released by 0907 entertainment HER LABEL IMPRINT ; marketed by Ahbu Ventures) on which she reinvents her style and re-establishes herself as an artiste to reckon with. The first single off the album, Ijo Ya (produced by award-winning producers Mr Skillz and Don Jazzy) topped all audio and video charts for eight straight weeks and was No 1 on MTV BASE. The album moved a record 100,000 units in its first week of release eventually the Album sold 10 million copies a first for any African Female Artiste.
AWARDS
1997 Weird MC won proper recognition for HipHop Music in Nigeria by picking up the very first HipHop Music Award in the country. She was named the Best HipHop/Pop Act of the year.[AMEN:AWARDS FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE IN NIGERIA]
1998 Best Rap Act [University of Lagos Nigeria]
1998 Special recognition award for contributing towards the development of HipHop music in Nigeria. [Presented by the Music students Association of university of Ife]
2005 Best Special Effect [Channel 0 African Music Video Awards]
2005 Best Artiste from Ogun state. [PURPLE AWARDS]
2005 Outstanding African Pride Artiste [Outstanding Achievers Award]
2005 Best Nigerian Female Act Abuja Awards
2005 HipHop Artiste of the year
2007 MOST POPULAR FEMALE MUSICIAN [WOMEN ACHIEVERS AWARDS]
2007 BEST POP ALBUM [HIPHOP WORLD AWARDS]
2007 FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE DECADE [NIGERIAN MUSIC AWARDS]
2008 RIRANWO BEST CHART SINGLE
2009 GREEN BALL HONOURARY AWARDS FOR WOMEN: FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR
2009 HONOURARY AWARDS BY ONDO STATE UNIVERSITY
2009 IJEBU LEGENDARY AWARDS: MOST OUTSTANDING ARTISTE FROM IJEBU LAND
2009 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PRESENTED BY ANABEL ENTERTAINMENT
APPOINTMENTS
2007:
Ogun State has identified with her success, making her ambassador of the state’s tourism/golf resort, and supporting her upcoming music academy project.
2009:
RECENTLY WEIRD MC WAS APPOINTED AS A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR TO PROJECT ALERT A PROGRAM WHICH PROTECTS WOMEN FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE.
2009:
THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY ORGANISATION HAS JUST APPOINTED HER AS A CELEBRITY ROAD SAFETY CORP.
COLLABS: Nigeria’s 1st Lady of HipHop is an open minded music creator who transcends so called music boundaries this has lead her to collaborate with Acts as versatile as her influences. She has recorded and performed with the likes of Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, Afrocelts, JJC and the 419 Squad, Tony Allen, Rhythmic Altered State, The Shrine sound System, Ashley Beedle, King Sunny Ade, KWAM1, Kween, 2face Psquare, Yinka Davies and Switch.
PERFORMANCES
This Dynamic Artiste is one of the most Daring and Energetic Acts 2 emerge in recent times she has an impressive live record, her ability to engage an audience is simply amazing. She has graced stages with the likes of Akon, jay-Z, LL cool J, Beyonce, Snoop, Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Missy, Donell Jones, Kanye West,
Nas, T-Pain and MIMS.. Her personal and collaborative performances have taken her to the Four corners of the Universe.
NIGERIA: MTN MUSIC FESTIVAL, STAR MEGAJAM CONCERTS GLO TOURS, CELTEL,CALABAR FESTIVAL,BIG BROTHER NIGERIA, BIG BROTHER AFRICA, BAYELSA FESTIVAL,HIPHOP AWARDS, CITY PPLE AWARDS,CHANNEL 0 ROADSHOWS, CALABAR FESTIVAL UNVEILING, RHYTHM UNPLUGGED SERIES,THIS DAY FESTIVAL, SOUNDCITY MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS to name a few
U.K. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Astoria, Blackheath Halls, Essential Festival, Millenium Dome, Greenwich Anti-Racist Festival, Bracknell Festival, Barbican, Cargo, African Centre, Modal,Ocean
Ukraine [ British council Afrobeat Nite]
Russia [ International Womens Festival Moscow,]
Bulgaria, [ Bulgaria World music Festival, ]
Finland [Helsinki Festival]
Ghana [Panafest Festival]
Berlin [Berlin Jazz Festival , Pop D’Europe Festival ]
Belgium [Folk Festival Dranouter, Sphinx Festival]
France [Festival La Noche,Tribu Festival]
Amsterdam [ Amsterdam Roots Festival]
Ireland [Irish music festival]
Norway [ Oslo Kongsberg Jazz Festival]
Spain [Womex Showcase, festival Territorios]
America [Riviera Club Chicago
Finland Helsinki Festival
DISCOGRAPHY
1991-WANNA MAKE U JACK/LET'S GET WET SINGLE
1994- IN FULL SWING [COMPILATION ALBUM] RUMOUR RECORDS U.K.
1997 – SIMPLY WEIRD ALBUM [DISC ENETERTAINMENT NIGERIA]
1999- ORIGINAL AFROBEAT [COMPILATION ALBUM] U.K.
2002- HOME COOKING WITH TONY ALLEN
2002- PETTY ASS CROOK FEATURING RHYTHMIC ALTERED STATE
2003- MIGRATING SOUNDS [COMPILATION ALBUM] EMI RECORDS UK.
2003 POP D’EUROPE [COMPILATION ALBUM] GERMANY
2005- IJOYA SINGLE [0907 ENTERTAINMENT NIGERIA]
2006- AFTER DA STORM ALBUM [0907 ENTERTAINMENT]
2006 - READY 2 PARTY SINGLE [0907 ENTERTAINMENT]
2006- LAGOS STORI PLENTI [COMPILATION ALBUM] OUTTHERE RECORDS GERMANY
2006 – BIZZYBODY 2 WITH PSQUARE [SQUARE RECORDS NIGERIA]
2007 RIRANWO SINGLE [0907 ENTERTAINMENT]
2008 RIRANWO/STEP UP [DOUBLE SIDED SINGLE]
2009 GELEGOGORO/HAPPY DAY
2010 BROKEN SILENCE [0907 ENTERTAINMENT]
VIDEOGRAPHY
1997 – ALLEN AVENUE
1998 - YAWA GO GAS (Alongside Alariwo)
2005 – IJO YA (animated)
2005 - IJOYA (non animated)
2006 – READY TO PARTY
2006 – TIRE NI 2006 - DA WAY WE BLO’
2006 – KAMPE 2006 - BIZZY BODY 2 (Alongside Psquare)
2008 RIRANWO
2009 STEP UP FEATURING YOMEDIES
Weird MC produces her material and she collaborates with other producers. While she was on a break in the United Kingdom she took a diploma course in Music Technology at the Institute of Music and Technology. There aren’t too many Female producers in the industry and the Weird MC will like to be one of the people to effect a change in this area. Weird MC is also recognised as one of the Pioneers of “Women in Afrobeat” a genre which has been male dominated since it’s inception because of her refreshing blend of Afrobeat /HipHop elements. She undoubtedly remains one of Africa’s most important voices.
