I see no woman who deserves to feature in my song - Joe Lyriko

Joe Lyriko is one of the few rappers who have maintained the underground (hardcore) music. His first project, Marie Ngombe is doing well in stores and promotion is being done all around. We approached him to find out a little more.

Q: Give us a summary about yourseIf.

A: Lyriko Joe is a young Cameroonian artiste in his 30s. I'm a registered Hip Hop artiste and I started since 1998. My first work was in Yaoundé then I moved to Bertoua then to Nkongsamba and finally settled in Douala where the effort is much appreciated.

Q: And how did you make a name for yourself?

A: Let's say that I was lucky in Douala. I came across a guy who took me to Squad Room studios where I also met other guys like Rephtil. He said I could work on my projects there. Gradually I established my own label, Benskin Music. For now this is the project I’m working on but will introduce others later. Moreover the project will be presented as Benskin Vol. 1.

Q: And talking about the project you are referring to MARIE Ngombe, which currently is circulating in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé.

A: That's right. On one hand Marie Ngombe is the lady who had her image on the ten thousand francs note, when i was still living in Yaoundé. In Marie Ngombe I meant that girl that everyone falls in love with except that I addressed the subject in a rather complex way. Unfortunately Cameroonians no longer make the effort to understand the songs so they culled the meaning from the second verse.

In the video, one sees me with lady and questions me. Then suddenly I’m called for and told “Money is calling me”. I go places on a motorcycle with speed except that these bikes are not racing motorcycle, but rather Benskin (which is used in our neighborhoods).

This leads to the conclusion that business should always come first because going after a woman yields nothing but chasing after money helps us win in life. So at a point I spoke about Mary Ngombe and in the other I put forward my ‘business man’ side and my Benskin Music label.

Q: We noticed too many technical words in the song.

A: This is on purpose so that those who understand it will appreciate it. At one point I came to realize that hip hop, the other music we practice, is marginalized much like Benskin motorcycles. Indeed, there are struggles for these bikes in the cities especially when there is a congestion or fault when visiting remote and isolated areas. We use them for emergency sake. The same goes for hip hop, they treat us all the names, but when it takes up projects and validate in, it's always on the backs of hip-hoppers we are enriched. I portray a reality where US rap receive a million airplay while local rappers get low air play.

Q: Why did you not involve a female voice in your projects?

A: My point of view is that I do not see a lot of women do rap. Already -and that's my point of view-, much like with Benskin motorcycles, I do not see women do. Hip hop is essentially a man-thing, a guy thing.

I'm not saying that I would never work with a woman when it comes to my music. So far, I do not see where I could involve them. This is the trap music, and it's not too feminine. And honestly, this is not a rant, but I do not see a woman who deserves to feature in my song.