Mo Hawk speaks about Guidance Riddim and more!
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 17:13
News - Interviews
Gambuster:- Sup Mo Hawk may I start by congratulating you on the arrival of the much awaited Guidance Riddim. How do you feel been the mastermind behind such an incredible piece of work?
Mo Hawk:- Well santa yalla, i feel great about it and really feel is something i wanted to do for a long period of time.
Gambuster:- Where and how did you come up with such a great idea and what's the motivation behind the name Guidance?
Mo Hawk:- After the realease of smiling coast riddim, which was very popular and was not doing much in Gambia, and abroad, i decided to drop a new riddim line up with ma own label THE BLOCK ENT. in which the its gonna feature lotta Gambian artists especiallly in different languages..the riddim was made by A9 a producer friend i worked with and we then decided to have different artists. the guidance name came after couple of months when i heard the songs from heartbreaker, jah micheal, smokey killa and so on talking about rightiousness...then i decided to call it GUIDANCE RIDDIM.
Gambuster:- I must admit the Guidance Riddim is a uturn away from the traditional way of making a riddim covering only one music genre. It must have been a lot of hard work to come out with something like this so unique and versatile?
Mo Hawk:- YES U RIGHT!! coz when i was recording the riddim at the block studios in pipeline, Gambia i felt like i should have this riddim versatile just wanna be different from others, i just dont want it to be all english coz ppl also need to know what these guys are sayin...i wanted to have all local languages in Gambia but it was kinda tough but perhaps next time on the next riddim.
Gambuster:- Tell me something about the artists on the riddim. There are very respected artists on it and some new artists aswell. How did you manage to get hold of them to make Guidance Riddim a reality?
Mo Hawk:- Some of the artist are big and respected in Gambia and some are upcoming artist....artist like huricane, heartbreaker jah micheal are big in the scene after gaining popularity from the smiling coast riddim...then i decided that i also wanna have new artists on it. Lotta of them came to the studio and wanted to be on the riddim but u cant take all u have to get the best. I vision is to have all of them unique with their own styles. New artist like ASSA from Guinea Bissau is one of them, singing in CREOL, BALA RANK singing in mandinka, CULTURAL MELODY in fula and so on, this is really beautiful. These are the true colours of the Gambia.
Gambuster:- MO you had been involved in the Gambian music scene for over a decade now, from a boy band to solo artist and Dj and now you have your own label and a top cut recording studio. Your wonderful contributions and the way you are helping to change the Gambian music industry surely shall not go unrecognised. How do you feel about that?
Mo Hawk:- Its a dream i had long time ago since the begining of DA FUGITIVZ, i fell like even if i stop doing music i must have some to engage on producing or promoting, (something) !! and i feel also like the industry needs to be boosted up, in doing so, if we can, we build studios help kids and young upcoming artists to be able to record. I am not done yet i still got more to come, i live this game and i know how it feels.
Gambuster:- There are a few Gambian made riddims out now and two well known ones produced by the late MJ (R.I.P). Do you think they are getting the right promotion and is that the right way forward for our ever growing music industry?
Mo Hawk:- Sorry to say but the smiling coast riddim was the biggest riddim ever produced but the promotion didnt go right, it died easily...i spoke to the late M.J (R.I.P) 2 weeks before he past away to do a massive promo for the riddim worldwide but then past away very sad! The riddim was never duplicated, it was ppl going around copying for each other which shouldnt be done that way. It has to be promoted well so everbody can get a touch of it. But on the other hand i blame the companies for not sponsoring! Well about the guidance i wanna make sure its out there on every media outlet nation and international if i can and promote it well with Gambia base sound systems to tour the whole Gambia. Sell the cds in all record stores in the Gambia.
Gambuster:- How do you see the promotion of gambian music, there are a few promotional websites, Open Mic and a few radio stations in the Gambia, would you say that's enough promotions for the artists?
Mo Hawk:- Naa man, its not enough!! We need more, the radios are doing ok but needs to push more gambian music on air...open mic is doing well real good making sure all hoods are hosting it, this encourages outdoor concersts and upcoming artists too. About the websites they are also doing fine big up to Gambuster for dedicating all their time on Gamban music, big up to Energy Soundz, One Gambia...we just need more promo from the Djs and promoters.
Gambuster:- How do you see the Gambian music scene in general do you think its going in the right direction?
Mo Hawk:- Hahha... i say its going half and half not soo well but i think it can be better if we all try together.
Gambuster:- Have you got any suprises for the Guidance Riddim, any promotional tours and are we going to see another riddim from The Block Studios anytime soon?
Mo Hawk:- We gonna be touring the whole of Gambia, and another project is coming from The Block Ent. This time it's The Block hiphop mixtape. Stay tuned!
Gambuster:- I've heard some of your songs in the past and they all full of energy, educating and original and your album is due to drop later this year. Can you give your fans a taste of the album and what suprises they can expect?
Mo Hawk:- My album is gonna be full of surprises songs are well crafted from different studios but half of it from The Block Ent(sweden). I have lotta featurings for ma album, club hits and educational songs. This is Mohawk package part 1 (lol).
Gambuster:- Your song with Alioune Kasse blew me out when I heard it and it inspired me to link other Gambian artists so we can speak out about the so called Back Way where somany lifes are getting lost. What was the inspiration behind the song and what responses did you get when you released it?
Mo Hawk:- Well it was Alioune Kasse's idea for the tilte but it was my idea to do a track with him, after when we met in stockholm and was in stuido we heard the song from one of ma swedish friends, it blew us away then Alioune was like he wanted to talk about migration issues then i said it's a good idea. Later we had the melody then boom comes the rap. It has lotta good responses after when we released it as a single in Senegal and was used in a festival in Spain about the Illegal Immigration. The back way is a big issue we all need to talk about, we are young and we need to work hard and build our nation. The tubabs build their countries we wanna go today so why cant we??
Gambuster:-Your boy band DA Fugitivz has been quite and as a fan im sure other fans are so desperately awaiting for the next drop. Any suprises for the fans any time soon?
Mo Hawk:- DA FUGITVZ! we just finished a new video called Don't Back Up Soon Out! For our new album. For the fans out there i just wanna tell yall it's FU4LIFE and anytime we come, we come hard! Expect the unexpected.
Gambuster:-You have played and Dj'ed alongside so many big names in the music industry and your promotions through Energy Soundz is highly respected and appreciated. How are things going on with Energy Soundz, what's the next level?
Mo Hawk:- Energy Soundz is another media outlet we use for promotion, it's doing well thanks to Mustapha Kah who is behind the whole project. We started doing online radio 2 years ago and still doing it, then we went to Gambia and hook up Lamin Manga's radio UNIQUE FM to go online. We have more in the pipeline. Energy Soundz is also used as our publishing company. We have dj Mario doing online radio every saturday from 5pm to 7pm Thomas from Raliegh North Carolina doing lovers nite programmes live on the webradio and myself every sunday from 7p to 9pm. Soon we will be having Pisces of One Tribe Sound doing reggae dancehall show case. We'll keep u posted.
Gambuster:- Where can someone get their copies of the Guidance Riddim, have you got any distribution plans along the globe so fans can easliy get their copies without much hassle?
Mo Hawk:- The guidance riddim will be available on Energy Soundz , Reggae Mixtape World , Gambuster Records , One Gambia , iTunes, Napster, Amazon, The Block and more.
Gambuster:- Finally what word of advice have you got for the young artists and producers embracing the music scene? How can we stay updated about your developments?
Mo Hawk:- They just need to work hard, be patient, have dedication and let no one crush your dreams. My developments hahha...thru Energy Soundz , The Block , Myspace and on the WORLD WIDE WEB.
Gambuster:- MO Hawk it's been a great plaesure sharing your wonderful time with us and hopefull many people will learn something from you today. Once again thanks very much and may Allah grant you all your wishes and continue to bless you so you can continue your wonderful works to mankind. Much appreciated and thanks again and hope to catch up with you soon.
Mo Hawk:- Thnx man One!
Blessed Love
Serign-B
