‘Cry’ to me, it doesn’t matter where I perform it, even if it a show full of people that want to dance, once I give that speech, then start performing, people always react to it. It’s my go-to song. That was the song that put Modenine on the map;

Someday when we look back at the history of Nigerian hip-hop and emcees to find the one rap song that truly validates all the elements of hip-hop, there’s no doubt, the first has to be Modenine’s ‘Cry’. Considering the lyrics, rhymes, the story, punchline, language that connects with the local audience and speaks their story, then the video, ‘Cry’ will remain the Holy Grail for all rappers in this country.

Released in 2006, at a time when artistes like Lagbaja, D’banj, Weird Mc and 2Baba were dominating popular market and other newer generation of pop artistes were also on the rise, ‘Cry’ a rap song was nominated at that years’ Channel O Music Video Awards and won three honors; arguably the most won by a Nigerian artiste in the history of that awards till it cease to exist. I recently had a conversation with #Modo to analyze how the song was birthed. He first sent me a voice note, which I transcribed, and then I had a video drop from him. Read and watch.

Let’s talk about ‘Cry’

So Cry, I was in the studio with Cobhams listening to Common’s album. We were not suppose to work that day, then all of a sudden Cobhams got inspired and he ask if I like that type of beat, I replied yes. Cobhams got his guitar, played a sample and he made a beat out of it.

The video “Cry”

I remember that day; Silver Saddih a fellow signee at Question Mark Records was shooting his video that same day I was shooting ‘Cry’. All the directors of the label went to Silver Saddih’s video because they had more of their hopes on his project. They even appeared in the first chorus of his video. I remember they left me, Ruffman of Street Monks and Nnena looking for cab to go to the video shoot. It was crazy and rough shooting that video but the guys that directed and handle the production Gecko made it a success.

Winning 3 Awards for ‘Cry’ at the 2006 Channel O music Video Awards in South Africa.

Going to South Africa was also special because it was the first time I travelled to that country. As a very big fan of Channel O, I was very excited going there for the awards. I wasn’t even worried I loss or win, I was just happy to be there. I wasn’t even tensed; I was just watching the whole show. They did not even allow any Question Mark artiste to perform; we were supposed to at least do one song. Some other guys perform representing Nigeria. That day Nigerian won big; I won three awards, it felt so good because everybody was interviewing me, I gave shout to my record label and the guys that shot the video.

 

I heard one of the Directors of the label never wanted me to give props to the guys that made the video because they had a little misunderstanding with their dealing with Question Mark but I was like, there’s no way I will win awards for best video at a music video awards and not #shoutout the guys that shot the video, But I know that Director was not Kelvin Luciano because he had my back from day one. Well, basically, that day was the best day of my life. I am not going to lie about that. Ever since I have I been doing music, I have never felt that great. It was the first time I will be winning anything outside my country Nigeria. It was #kinda serene, like a dream. I was like, yo somebody pinch me mehn, I was about to wake up (lol). It was so real, one of the best in my life.

The Significant of ‘Cry’

‘Cry’ to me, it doesn’t matter where I perform it, even if it a show full of people that want to dance Shakushaku, once I give that speech, then start performing, people always react to it. It’s my go-to song. For long time I stop doing it because it was kind of sad because it actually put me in a sober mood but I just thought, that was the song that put Modenine on the map; so I should perform it…Because right now there’s lot of reason for us to cry about (he laughed). So yeah, that the song ‘Cry’, it gave me a different fan base. People will come to me, they will say, Yo my mum, my grandmother like that song. It was that kind of song; it was storytelling.

That’s why I have gone back to doing my story telling. Because as an artiste, you get to that advance age, it really doesn’t make sense to be bragging about how #dope you are on the Mic, but you can tell stories and share your experience. Right now, I am very experienced. I have so many thing that happened to me, I got lot to say, I can even start a podcast, write a book; instead of podcast, I might just do an album titled Modenine The Man, something like that(lol).