INTERVIEW: JHBYO TALKS ABOUT HIS MUSIC, LIFE AND NEW VIDEO 'DEM JUST DEY RUN THEIR MOUTH'

AJIBOLA TORIOLA DOES NOT RING A BELL TO SOME OF US BUT JHBYO IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. HE WAS SHOT INTO LIMELIGHT WHEN HE FEATURED ON TERRY THA RAP MAN'S TRACK AND HE ALSO FEATURED IN SUNNY NEJI'S VIDEO 'AWARAWA'. JHBYO HAS BEEN INTO MUSIC SINCE WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. HERE'S A LITTLE CHAT ABOUT HIM , HIS MUSIC AND RECORD LABEL BAY PRODUCTIONS.

LETS MEET YOU?

My real names are Ajibola toriola popularly known as JHBYO . I rap, sing and I do music generally

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?

I was born and bred in Lagos. I’m from a family of six and I’m the third child.  I grew up on the Island , I schooled on the island , my primary and secondary school was on the island before I proceeded to Ogun State which is my State. I went to Olabisi Onabanjo University and I studied Mass Communication there.

YOU READ MASS COMMUNICATION IN SCHOOL,WHY DID YOU GO INTO MUSIC?

Music has been a part of me since I was young especially when I was in secondary.  music has been in me and also a part of me . I felt comfortable doing rap back then in school the lyrics flowed back then in school when I use to freestyle. It’s a talent that I have and music is in me and I write songs  , I rap and I also compose . I’ve been shuffling music and my education then when I was in school.

YOU DO YORUBA RAP, WHY YORUBA RAP WHY NOT ENGLISH?

Right from my childhood , I had love for yoruba music and rap and its my culture. When I was growing up I watched more of India movies then later Nigeria English movies like Living in Bondage, Sakobi and the likes. I also watched Nigeria Yoruba movies I liked the incantation in it because it was more ore less like rapping . when I watch such movies then I like the way they say the incantations, I love the dance.

ARE  YOU TRYING TO STEP INTO THE SHOES OF THE LATE DAGRIN?

Wow!  No, I can’t step into his shoes  I am different from him. I am just me and I’ve been developing myself since when I was young. Though English was 60% and Yoruba wax 40% back then in school while I was still in secondary school, I’ve recorded so many tracks and because of where I grew up I attended show on the island where I perform and they spray me money so it is normal when people try to compare me with the late Dagrin (May his soul rest in peace) and it is also good when they do that because he has laid a good platform for other rap artistes. So Jhbyo is jhbyo and I have been doing my music way back. If people are saying that I’m trying to step into his shoes what will you say about lord of Ajasa, Ay in London because Ay in London

was the first person who started Yoruba rap on TV and it was recorded on TV and then people were nursing their dream in their mind then because I was nursing my dream then. When I saw AY it was then I knew someone else was doing Yoruba rap too

WHICH SINGLES DO YOU HAVE NOW?

I have ‘faraway’, ‘ dem just dey run their mouth’, ‘ be naa ni’, faraway’, ‘naija’, no be say’ and many more

ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY ALBUM NOW?

Yes , I am  I’m working on my album and its coming out soon

RECENTLY YOU GOT AN AWARD IN MALAYSIA FOR THE AFRICAN ENTERTAINMENT AWARD?

(Cuts in) yes I won my category and my song ‘faraway’ was nominated for the best upcoming artist and I’m grateful to God I won my category.

ABOUT YOUR NOMINATION , HOW DO YOU FEEL?

I was about when I was told that my single ‘FARAWAY’ was nominated for an award in Malaysia. I’m happy because someone somewhere is appreciating my song and what I am doing I was excited and happy. When I got to Malaysia for the African Entertainment award I got my award after I performed on stage.

ARE YOU SIGNED TO ANY RECORD LABEL?

Yes I’m presently signed to BAY Production

LETS TALK ABOUT ‘DEM JUST DEY RUN THEIR MOUTH’ VIDEO? WHAT BEHIND THE CONCEPT?

It was shot in Lagos and I featured Cynthia Morgan I love paying back and I decided to go back to my roots. I shot the video on the island because I love the streets and I grew up on the island and I wanted to pay back to the street that was why I shot my video on the street.

ON YOUR DEBUT ALBUM, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO FEATURE?

I’m working with other artistes and this is my first album. I’m working with Terry Tha Rapman.

YOU FEATURED IN SUNNY NEJI’S ‘AWARAWA’ VIDEO, WHAT WAS THE CONNECTION?

I got to know him through a friend Sunny Neji heard my song and he said he likes my song and he called me to feature in his song. And we met late last year; we recorded the song and also shot the video.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU WHEN YOU WRITE?

God inspires me and my mood. I’m always inspired when I think.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE  YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY DOING YORUBA RAP WE HAVE OLAMIDE, LORD OF AJASA, SERIKI AND OTHERS. WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

I see myself doing great once you are good and you have originality I see no reason why I won’t last in this industry. I have originality in my song , lyrics and music I see myself been reckoned with . I see myself reaching out to people there in diaspora and in  Nigeria.

HOW DO YOU COPE WITH YOUR FEMALE FANS?

I cope with my female fans as an artiste it is bound to have females around you.

ONE LAST WORD

I want to say thank you to all my fans out there. God bless you all.