Sola aka Weird Mc is a Performing/Recording Artist, Lyricist, Producer and Composer whose sound is a Hybrid of HipHop/Afrobeat/Club Essence plus anything undefined. Her main influences are Fela Kuti, Missy Elliott, Jimi Hendrix, Angelique Kidjo, Lauryn hill, Tina Turner, Dr Dre, The Neptunes and Lagbaja…

Nigeria’s HipHop icon started out taking part in Talent contests such as the reputable club 291 contest U.K. s equivalent to America’s Apollo. In 1992 she took part ending up 3rd but this did not phase her, she got really motivated and she placed an ad in the U.K.s HipHop Connection magazine seeking for a producer. A young producer named Kevin Best came through and within two months of recording with him Weird MC released a double sided single titled “Wanna make u jack”/”Let’s Get Wet” . 

This single was put out into the market independently and it went straight to NO 1 on the Choice fm Promo chart and NO1 on the Blues and Soul UK Swing chart. The release also got good reviews in the print media [Voice, Pride, Soul Trade, HipHop Connection] .

Da Rappatainer immediately got busy on the live performance circuit securing a support slot opening up for MC Lyte along the way the late Aaliyah even came to see one of her performances, but putting out a HipHop/Swingbeat Flavoured track independently without proper financial backing proved to be too daunting only a few licensing opportunities emerged.

Determined to succeed , Weird MC went back into the studio and recorded a few more tracks she decided to go to Nigeria on holidays, whilst there she had a chance meeting with a couple of music consultants and got her material shopped to a few labels: Disc Entertainment offered her a PPD Deal which she signed and this jump started her career in Africa. 

Sola put out a project tiltled “Simply Weird” which produced an instant smash hit “Allen Avenue” the fact that it was a unique song widened it’s appeal it was the first attempt to fuse Afrobeat and HipHop elements, Fela Kuti loved it so much he gave it the thumbs up, it didn’t hurt that the track was also accompanied by a very good Video . 

Sola became a major favourite on the Live circuit in Nigeria performing at the biggest concerts such as the Benson and Hedges golden tones Series she was the only MC with a deal in the country. She worked hard to change people’s attitude towards HipHop.

THE AWARDS ROLL IN

In 1997 Da Weird MC won proper recognition for HipHop Music in Nigeria by picking up the very first HipHop Music Award in the country. She was named the Best HipHop/Pop Act of the year. [AMEN:AWARDS FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE IN NIGERIA] 

The following year [1998] she picked up an Award for Best Rap Act an honour bestowed upon her by the University of Lagos Nigeria. The university of Ife’s Music Students Association followed suite the same year by giving her an award for her outstanding contribution towards the development of HipHop music in Nigeria. Her ground breaking debut album opened doors for other HipHop Acts 2 flourish. She is recognised as one of the Pioneers of “Women in Afrobeat” a genre which has been male dominated since it’s inception because of her refreshing blend of Afrobeat /HipHop elements. She undoubtedly remains one of Africa’s most important voices.

STYLE

Weird MC’s style is Versatile her material borders on the political as well as “Party till u drop” Anthems. One minute she taps into ur consciousness with her thought provoking lyrics the next she has u bouncing to her jams in the clubs. She’s got a distinctive sound which is credible and commercially acceptable. Her music has depth and substance. This is one Artist who can’t be put in a box, try doing that and you’d have to break the seal over and over again, Sola’s style also embraces the use of live instruments against the backdrop of cutting edge sounds and Traditional Grooves. She delivers her material in English and Yoruba [A Popular Nigerian Language] This reflects her multicultural background she cuts across universally.

COLLABS

Nigeria’s 1st Lady of HipHop is an open minded music creator who transcends so called music boundaries this has lead her to collaborate with Acts as versatile as her influences. She has recorded and performed with the likes of Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, Afrocelts, JJC and the 419 Squad, Tony Allen, Rhythmic Altered State, The Shrine sound System, Ashley Beedle, King Sunny Ade, KWAM1, Aiyetoro, Aalladin,Osibisa, Kween and the Plantation Boiz.

PERFORMANCES

This Dynamic Artiste one of the most Daring Acts 2 emerge in recent times has an impressive live tour record, her ability to engage an audience is simply amazing She’s got star quality and charisma. Her personal and collaborative performances have taken her to the Four corners of the Universe. Concerts and Festival appearances stretching from Territories such as the

U.K. [Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Astoria, Blackheath Halls, Essential Festival, 
Millenium Dome, Greenwich Anti-Racist Festival, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Bracknell Festival, 
Barbican, Cargo, African Centre, Modal,Ocean]
Ukraine [ British council Afrobeat Nite]
Russia [ International Womens Festival Moscow,]
Bulgaria, [ Bulgaria World music Festival, ]
Finland [Helsinki Afrobeat Nite]
Nigeria [ All African Games Eagle Square,Benson& Hedges Concert Series]
Ghana [Panafest Festival]
Berlin [Berlin Jazz Festival , Pop D’Europe Festival ]
Belgium [Folk Festival Dranouter, Sphinx Festival]
France [Festival La Noche,Tribu Festival]
Amsterdam [ Amsterdam Roots Festival]
Ireland [Afronova Nite]
Norway [ Oslo Kongsberg Jazz Festival]
Spain [Womex Showcase, festival Territorios]
and America : Riviera Club Chicago to name but a few

Weird MC aka Da Rappatainer is muitifaceted: She is an Artiste/Columnist/Radio Presenter and a budding Entrepreneur; she is currently floating her own label known as 0907 Entertainment; She is a columnist for Nigeria’s biggest Urban Magazine called HipHop World ; she’s even presented programmes on Nigerian Radio: EKO FM Lagos. 

She produces her material and she collaborates with other producers she recently took a break from her career to study Music Technology at the Institute of Music and Technology Deptford in England. There aren’t too many Female producers in the industry and the Weird MC will like to be one of the people to effect a change in this area. Very recently she’s starting to express an interest in Acting opportunities. There’s no stopping this woman behold what the future 
holds.

Fresh, Innovative, GroundBreaking, Provocative and Energetic this is one Artiste on a mission Make Way for Da Rappatainer!

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