Nana Kay: I Want To Be The Best Thing To Happen To Hip-hop

Hip hop music, also known as rap music, is a genre of popular music developed in the United States by inner-city African Americans and Latino Americans in the Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s. But with the likes of Nigga Raw, Illbliss, Ruggardman, Ruff Coin, and the emergence of Phyno, Slow Dogg,  Zoro, etc., made hip-hop acceptable in Nigeria, new kids in the block are springing up ready to take over the mental from the top names in the industry, Eric Nana Kungwa aka Nana Kay has wawed hip-hop heads with his mind-blowing skills on the mic as he is a force to reckon with any time, any day.

Nana kay

In an exclusive interview with Anaedoonline.ng, the Awka-based artist reveals how his journey for fame and fortune has turned out.

To truly appreciate Hip-hop, not just as a genre but a culture, one may have to go back in time to 46 years ago, 1973 to be precise when the likes of DJ Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa pioneered an art form that will go on to become a global phenomenon.

Today, mention names like Jay Z, Nas, Drake, Cardi B, and you can tell that the genre has earned its stripes and now sits as the number one music genre in America.

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There has always been a misconception as to what Hip-hop really is and what it is not, debates as to those keeping it real and those selling out, old versus new school, and how beef plays a role in promoting violence or encouraging superior rap skills.

These debates will forever linger on but for clarity, Hip-hop has never been just about rapping or emceeing, it is a culture that covers other elements like deejaying, beatboxing, break-dancing, and graffiti art.

Eric Nana Kungwa aka “Nana kay” one of the upcoming hip hop artists in Anambra, he has revealed how he intends to be the next best thing in the hip-hop world. The talented rapper while explaining further his style of music said he does hip-hop with a combination of afrobeat. Nana Kay who is making waves in the entertainment scene within and outside the state has no doubt has lived up to expectation.

Just like in America, Hip-hop in Nigeria has passed through several phases over the years, with different actors and iconic moments.

Nana kay

The genre is believed to have gained its first footing on the motherland in the 80s. The success of their songs opened the doors to a lot of non-hip-hop artists. But as the years rolled by, with the radio playing largely foreign songs and the Nigerian audience not fully appreciative of what they offered, many of them fizzled away, while some others switched to Reggae, which was the dominant genre at the time.

Then came the late nineties, with the coming of private TV/ radio stations came accessibility to American rap which had become colossal on the global stage, and the more they got played, the more a lot of young Nigerians became inspired to rap.

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Then sometime in 2002, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens popularly known as Ruggedman appeared and tore the landscape of Nigerian hip-hop. With his single “Ehen pt 1” Ruggedman not only went to war with top-tier artists like Eedris, Rasqie, Maintain, and then power label, Kennis Music, but he also kicked off a phase in Nigerian music, where what was being said actually mattered.

With subsequent singles like Big Bros, and Baraje, he cemented his status in the game and his success gave visibility to younger rappers.

Nana kay

“With support and platform, more names became prominent. From members of the Swat Root clique [Modenine, Terry Tha Rapman, OD, SixFootPlus, Rule Clean, Pherowshuz], who held it down for Abuja to Dr. Fresh, Abounce, KageThaGrimChild, K Show and Six O, Kemistry, Bouqui, Da Trybe, Big Lo, The NDT squad that had Magnum, Cashino and D’Black, Nuff Noyz, The Kaliphates, Sauce Kid, Naeto C, and Ikechukwu, with the majority enjoying some measure of success.”

Carrer and challenges

Nana kay while speaking on his challenges as a hip-hop artist said ‘As a talented musician, I find it easier jumping on any beat irrespective of the genre. currently, I have six tracks. Burna_boy, roddy_ricch and Bella shmur6, and Bella Shmurda are my role models. I listen to their music and I drave inspiration from them.’ Nana K revealed.

“I am very confident in my craft and I see myself at the top. Because since I started I have not been the same after every year. The support, encouragement, and love people show me motivate and inspire me a lot.”

Nana Kay revealed that the challenges he is facing are the promotion of his music and the environment he found himself living in. “I am not signed to any record label and it is a setback for me because I lack financial support to promote my music and Awka, the capital of Anambra where I live is not a music hub, unlike Lagos.

“So far, the journey has been good. It has been great. I have many people listening to my songs every day and my fan base keeps increasing. The number of downloads both on the audio mark and other platforms has been amazing. All these achievements, it has been a big motivation for me.