MO BEH TA, NIGERIAN FAST RISING TALENT IN COLORADO

Just like we can’t expect foreigners to do a Nigerian kind of song perfectly, Nigerians can’t do hip-hop the way foreigners do it. If we can change the pattern of our songs and not copy, we will always be on top but it never gets to that level if we fail to have the right equipment to do the job rightly and make sure we actually let people who can sing do the singing-----MO BEH TA

Introduce yourself.

My name is Aileobini Mohammed Busra, a Nigerian from Edo state, Auchi to be precise. I had my primary education at Seventh Day Adventist, my secondary education at Lagos City College and my polytechnic education at Yaba College of technology. I have background knowledge in computer technology; as a result, I am currently running my own computer repairs, services and sales company. I also co-Own a radio station/ music studio with an emphasis on Hip-hop that appeals to all races and nations.

Where do you currently reside?

Denver Colorado, USA.

How did you find yourself in DIA Urban Radio Station & Studio?

I was the host of an African hip-hop program on another urban radio station, Livewire, and was also the engineer at the station.  In the process, I got acquainted with the job and had learnt a lot about the radio aspect of the music industry which I was not used to. Although, I had always been in the entertainment industry back in school days in Nigeria but I was not so committed to it until this opportunity came my way.

A few months later, livewire dissolved. But I still had a passion for it so I discussed with a friend who already owns a studio. We just purchased some necessary equipment and the venture kicked off from there.  We have been test running for 6months and the responses we have been getting from people within and outside the locality has been great.

Tell us more about the studio.

L-R:  Boozilla and  Mo Beh-Ta

DIA Urban Radio and Studios is co-owned by Xavier “Boozilla” Davies and me, “Mo Beh-Ta”. We are at our infancy stage and we are basically testing the waters to see the sort of responses we do get

We do Photography, videos (Musical and commercials), beats, computer repairs, banners, event organizing and also run an online radio station

With the radio station, we have shows that cater for the African American Hip Hop community and Latino Hip Hop community. We also have programs that cater for the educational needs of young people, sexual adult discussions and general discussions that affect the society.  We have two websites; www.diaurbanradio.com and www.diastudios.com. Our programs can be viewed from any part of the world.

You said you host ‘Sounds Across the Ocean’’, what can you say about the programme.

‘‘Sounds Across D Ocean’’ is a show that basically looks at African Hip-hop, Caribbean Music and Rhythm and Blues from the 80s and 90s. The show at inception was meant to cater for just Africans in United States but with requests from viewers asking for a diversity in the music since most African music have a bit of both in it, the time slot got extended by 30 mins and Caribbean and RnB got included.

The show runs every Sunday from 5pm to 630pm MST (1:30am Nigeria Time).

Do you enjoy what you’re doing? What are your happy and sad moments in the job?

Yes I do enjoy what I am doing. For my happy moments, I’m happy when I’m mentioned on the Denver posts as one of the Denver’s upcoming talents.  For sad moment, none really because I see every challenge as a stepping stone to success.

What are your plans for the future?

In future, I have plans of setting up a major studio that can actually link Nigerian upcoming acts with American upcoming acts which will enhance development and collaboration.

I want a situation where a Nigerian artist can have an album release in Nigeria and America at the same time and they are felt by both nations, not a record label thing but more like a collaboration, an American artist marketing his work in Nigeria with the help of the Nigerian artist and vice-versa.

As a Naija guy, and Edo State indigene, do you have plans of relocating to Nigeria?

Sure. No place like home.

What can you say about the Nigerian Music Industry?

The Nigerian Music industry has really grown in leaps and bounds.  I could remember back then when there were hardly any hip-hop artists and a bunch of promising and talented acts were wasting away. Because then, there was a stigma associated with a hip-hop artist, but regardless of this, keke and D1 of Kennis Music never gave up, they did a lot for the Nigerian entertainment industry and they should be commended.

Let me add this, I hope the Nigerian music industry does not fall into the trap the American industry is right now. A situation where you only get to hear about 7 artists and you think that is what the music world is all about.

If I must say, Nigerian artists doing collabos with well- known artists abroad is a great thing but if we have to sell our souls to get to that level, then we surely don’t need it.

What advice do you have for Nigeria (Your home country) to develop the Musical Industry to compete with the western world?

TECHNOLOGY.  We do not really need to compete with the western world in terms of music. Just like we can’t expect the white man to do a Nigerian kind of song perfectly, we can’t do hip-hop the way they do it. If we can change the pattern of our songs and not try to copy, we will always be on top but it never gets to that level if we fail to have the right equipment to do the job rightly and make sure we actually let people who can sing do the singing.