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Nairobi, KENYA - Nigeria may well boast of one of the most exciting entertainment -- nay, hiphop -- scenes on the African continent. The country is blessed with abundant talents who are daily coming into the limelight. And as the local media focuses on the existing ones, more [new ones] are gearing up for the big stage. From the heart of Calabar in Cross River, STEVE OGAH brings into global focus a new phenomenon: X-CREW, a musical collective willing to "entertain wherever."
Steve Ogah G21: The X-Crew is a collective, how many people make up this group?
Menthol X: The crew is the result of the creative spirits of five foundation members with three others joining. We have Dennis, Klemzy, Emma, Nero, Isaak, Monalisa, and of course - you. [Chuckles]
Denis: Monalisa is the first lady of the X-Nation.
G21: What informed the adoption of the group's name?
Menthol x: Naturally, we were looking for a name that would be naturally appealing to our fans. We also wanted to be extraordinary musically, that is; so it became quite easy to adopt X-Crew.
Klemzy: It's got an interesting meaning. It's simply Xtraordinary Characters Representing Entertainment Wherever ...
G21: How did these individuals come together?
Nero: It was quite easy for us to unite as a musical family. Basically, We all attend the same Catholic Church here in Calabar and we have always been friends and a family for Jesus Christ, you heard!
G21: I have listened to some of your singles. You are strictly Hiphop. Is this true?
Menthol X: Yes, we are strictly hiphop. We believe hiphop is hiphop wherever you are. I don't like the term "Afro Hiphop" frequently used in Western Nigeria.
Dennis: Yeah! We are down with hiphop to the core but don't get us wrong, we also appreciate other genres of music.
G21: Some acts are doing "genre Ò crossing" on the local scene. Is this a possibility the group is romancing at the moment?
Klemzy: Right now we are concentrating on hiphop and we are enjoying it. We don't want to cast stones at any one.
Menthol X: We wouldn't like to give the judges much headaches when considering us for awards. [Laughs]
G21: There is the presence of local Nigeria languages like Efik/Ibibio and Yoruba in the group efforts. What does this mean?
Menthol X: We use Efik and Ibibio, because that's where we're from. These are our lingua francas together with English, we don't do wholly pidgin raps, no hard feelings though.
G21: How does the group get its songs?
Menthol X: By the grace of God we write our songs by ourselves. God has really blessed us with lots of talents, and we can't thank him enough.
Dennis: God owns all we got!
Nero: We get inspiration from the things that go on around us.
G21: "coming for you" is enjoying airplay at the moment. How has this impacted on the group?
Klemzy: Hearing our songs on radio makes us feel we have been accepted. We want to keep singing as long as we are alive.
Nero: I was hugely excited when I saw kids in my neighborhood dancing to our beats. The experience is quite humbling.
G21: Has the group had performances of late?
Menthol X: After the single got to the public, we have performed at Miss UNICAL 2004, and recently we were appreciated by our fans at the Pinnacle shakedown and the just gone by Face Of Cybermull at the Ashbury Hall.
Dennis: It was the bomb!
G21: When is the album dropping?
Isaak: We are working really hard and we should have finished the album before the year is over.
Nero: We have no concrete release date at the moment. But our fans should just keep their ears to the ground.
G21: How would you rate entertainment in Calabar?
Menthol X: It is the bomb. Cally town is the home of tourism, entertainment and relaxation in Africa. It is a city full of excitement 365 days a year. You heard! Ask Ruggedman and Co.
Dennis: We even got a song about Cally town
Monalisa: It is a wonderful place to be in right here in paradise.
G21: How about the country at large?
Menthol X: Things have really improved since the liberalization of the airwaves. The local media is really doing much for entertainment in the country. Once private stations came on board it was like an entertainment bomb had exploded.
G21: Do you guys think Charly Boy's lead PMAN is doing enough for musicians in the country?
Menthol X: He is doing well but he shouldn't restrict his efforts to Lagos alone. He should visit other cities including Calabar.
Emma: He has been in the news lately and the association is constantly becoming the mouthpiece of musicians in the country.
Dennis: He made sure the local artistes got a fair deal when the likes of Wyclef came around. He even rode with Wyclef on his bike. But like most of us know, there is still plenty to be done for the Nigerian artiste. We got to wish Charly well.
G21: Is there any philosophy propelling the group?
Emma: We simply want to be positive, we have got to keep it real all the time.
Nero: X-Crew is down to earth, you know!
G21: Interestingly, X-Crew wants to represent entertainment wherever. Is there any dream city you guys would like to perform in?
Monalisa: Get me on stage in America and I will scream into the mic and London will hear it.
Klemzy: Atlanta.
Isaak: New York.
Menthol X: New York.
Dennis: Jamaica.
Emma: Abuja.
Nero: Chicago.
G21: In the aftermath of your public appearances, how have you managed fame and the many "headaches" of entertainment?
Menthol X: We are keeping it real with our fans. The watchword is humility.
Emma: We ain't got no choice.
G21: During your last appearance on CRBC TV, not all members of the group were present. What happened?
Klemzy: A lot of us traveled out of town to handle X-Crew business, but right now we are back to stay for real, brother!
Isaak: You can catch the crew at www.cameroonimages.org or e-mail: namzi4eal@yahoo.com.
G21: Wishing you guys the best as you grab the mic.
X-Crew: Thanks.
© 2004, GENERATOR 21.
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