NEW YORK (AP) — Tobe Nwigwe didn’t expect to be nominated for best recent artist after he submitted his music to the Grammys, but he’s learned to embrace the unexpected.
“I felt prefer it was going so as to add to our underdog story,” explained the Houston emcee. But brining his index finger and thumb closely together, he added, “That underdog story’s about that small now.”
The primary-generation Nigerian American, whose latest release is the EP “moMINTs,” is a breath of fresh air to hip-hop, welcomed by celebrity admirers like Beyoncé, Dave Chappelle, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, who called him a “genius.”
“My purpose specifically is to be a conduit to the conclusion of purpose in other people’s lives, in whatever vehicle God would have in me,” he says. He adds he could possibly be an Uber driver and still be on top. “The what I do ain’t as vital as who I’m.”
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Lauded for his creative rhyming styles, Nwigwe built his following through social media with virtually no radio play. His #getTWISTEDsundays campaign gained attention by delivering stunning visual content, including music videos with gorgeous cinematography and syncopated choreography.
Songs like “ FYE FYE” featuring his wife, Fat, and “Been Broke” featuring Fat, 2 Chainz and Chamillionaire, showcase his high-energy swag, while records like “Try Jesus” and “Make It Home” highlight his soulful artistry. “I Need You To (Breonna Taylor),” his 44-second song calling for the arrest of cops who shot and killed the 26-year-old Black woman while executing a drug search warrant, went viral, gaining the eye of celebrities like LeBron James and Sean “Love” Combs.
Fans have fallen in love along with his family-first approach. It’s not unusual to listen to Fat, a portrait artist with no previous music aspirations, featured on his songs or see their children in music videos. (Fat is currently pregnant with their fourth child.) Hardly using profanity, his Christian faith is commonly infused in his rhymes, though he’s removed from being labeled as a gospel rapper, intentionally aiming his message toward as wide a base as possible.
Nwigwe cites an eclectic group of artists as influences, including Nigerian icon Fela Kuti, Lauryn Hill, Andre 3000, The Notorious B.I.G. and ‘70s soul. Hometown heroes comparable to Fat Pat, Lil’ Keke and the Color Changin’ Click, the favored underground group led by Chamillionaire and Paul Wall of their early years, also make up his musical DNA.
Nwigwe’s original dream wasn’t to rock the mic, but to rock quarterbacks. A standout middle linebacker on the University of North Texas, a foot injury ended his NFL dreams. With no back up plan, he eventually founded a entertainment-centered youth nonprofit organization in his Houston neighborhood. Nevertheless, his profession path detoured after connecting with motivational speaker Eric Thomas, often known as “the Hip Hop Preacher,” when Thomas and business partner Carlas Quinney recognized a special talent within the “edutainer” and convinced him to pursue music.
Nwigwe is gearing up for his Houston homecoming show at the tip of the month. In January, he’ll perform on the inaugural Black Star Line Festival in Ghana created by Likelihood the Rapper and Vic Mensa.
As Nwigwe garners more attention, some may wonder how for much longer his small, close-knit team can handle the incoming demand. But he is not fearful, saying they’ve never been allergic to exertions.
“I tell people on a regular basis, just die empty. Just don’t leave no potential on the table. Just do every little thing you can do with each day that you just got,” he said. ’Tomorrow’s not promised — live prefer it.”
Gary Gerard Hamilton is an entertainment journalist for The Associated Press. Follow Gary at: @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
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