Jesse Jagz sat down with Hip Hop World Magazine recently to speak on the state of naija music (hilarious – he said “even goats can dance to our music”) and more. Interview highlightsa after the click.
Jesse Garba Abaga, known musically as Jesse Jagz, recently sat down with HHWM and touched upon his recent breakaway from famed record label, Chocolate City, his second album, Jagz Nation Vol. 1- Thy Album Come, his current relationship status and more. Snippets from the interview below:
People have been talking about the changes in your music, lifestyle and whatnot…
People do not change, but people grow. Chocolate city has been just a phase for me. Africans are very sentimental; once people get attached, it becomes problem. Just like when TuFace left Kennis, people were like “Ha!” If u can deal with it, cool. I have been doing music light years before Choc City came and its not like I started Choc City or anything. Choc City was a phase in my life; I was a phase in Choc City’slives and will be for as long as they are going to last… It’s up to them. Regardless of whatever story came out, the truth is I was just at the stage where I was ready to go. I was just at that stage where whether it was Chocolate City or another, I would have still put out the album by myselfbecause I have worked hard.
It’s been speculated that one of the major reasons you fell out with Chocolate City was because of your excessive promotion of Marijuana.
Yes I have spoken about Marijuana in my music however every other Pop artisthas made allusions to Marijuana in more demeaning and derogatory ways than I have. The reason why I am being attacked is because of the truth that is attached to my music not the Marijuana. People have heard “Pass me the lighter” or “Gimme the kpoli” from other acts but my music is not that. If you really listen to the truth in my music you will not have a problem with the Marijuana in my music. I am not being derogatory to people who use it but I guess everybody wants to evade the truth I speak about and say “Oh there’s Marijuana in it, he wants to be rebellious.” Do you know how many songs have Marijuana in them? Should I start reeling out names? People should stop saying “Oh Jesse Jagz wants to be Fela.” Jesse Jagz is promoting marijuana in the reggae context. Let’s just focus on the truth and leave everyother thing. When Choc Boiz did the song Blaze, why didn’t they criticize then? Can we just talk about the truth?
So basically you have no legal problems with Chocolate City it’s just the weed…
I have no legal problems with Chocolate City. They too may have been uncomfortable with the truth andnot the weed in my songs. But when we did Blaze, didn’t they promote it? Have you listened to Ice Prince’s album? There is Marijuana in it, aren’t they promoting it? If people are dancing, they are okay but the minute you say “Oh I smoked weed in the morning”and then later in the evening you say “the Government is bad” then that becomes stuff grown ups do not want to talk about. I am not promoting Marijuana or rebellion, I speak the truth.
Do you still live a normal life like you used to back in the day.
I still do live on the mainland. I live a very normal life. The only thing I don’t do is ‘take bike’. But if a Doctor can take a cab why can’t a musician do same? Why live differently?
Your relationship status?
I’m not married, I’m not very big on marriage. Marriage is not in my top five. Let me just say, yes, I am officially in a relationship.
How do you unwind or spend most parts of your day? You read books?
I read books. I’m either listening to music, having a serious discussion or watching a movie. I’m online but I don’t tweet or facebook a lot but I read everything.
Your top three Nigerian artistes right now…
My top three artistes in Nigeria is me, me and me. No one works harder than me. I would like to see a lot of my colleagues step up their music. This is not a Kendrick thing. You don’t need Jesus to tell you that Nigerian music is unintelligent. Even Goats can dance to our music. Can Jesse Jagz make Nigeria a better place for Wizkid? Can Wizkid do same too? Let adults do better and let kids party. We need to leave something better for the coming generation.
