I just saw this interview with and it interest me. Popular television and radio host, Bardia Olowu, popularly known as Ill Ryhmz tells Ademola Olonilua of Punchng about his music career, looks and his childhood
How did you come about the pseudonym, Ill Rhymz?
I like keeping things simple; I felt the easiest way to spell the brand name was Ryhmz. I really don’t like doing things the normal way too. The story behind the name dates as far back as when I was in secondary school. I used to rap all the time and I was a super hip-hop rapper in school because we used to have freestyle battle all the time. A freestyle battle is when two rap artistes begin to rap and compete with each other to see who is better in terms of efficacy and fluency. Most times when I did rhyme, some of my classmates would come and tell me that my rhymes were really good; that my rhymes were ill (very good). That was when I coined the name. Ever since, I have called myself Ill Rhymz. The name is on my bank account and my ID card. It is a brand name.
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Have you ever participated in a reality talent hunt show?
I have only hosted a few reality shows. I have not been a part of them because I have spent most of my time discovering other talents that I have and would love to build. My career comes first; I mean from the days of Soundcity to Nokia First Chance to mention a few. I have been too busy working and building a career and a brand name. For you to change your environment or to get what you want, you need to make the environment ready for you. I have spent the last few years making Nigeria ready for the kind of sound I would love to release. If you listen to my radio show and the things I do on television, you would see that my style is different and cool. I am trying to promote the other side of Nigeria which is the cool side. I don’t want to join the bandwagon train; I want to be different.
Why do you keep dreadlocks and a bearded face?
It is my Jesus of Nazareth look. Apparently, some kids call me Jesus when they see me. I know it is weird but it is the truth. It is quite hilarious when I wear a white traditional attire. I don’t know how I started the look but I like the hair on my face. The hair just grew and people began saying they liked my dreads, so I stuck to it. Who knows maybe as I would change it sometimes I did this season. I shaved the side and left the dreadlocks. Who knows maybe next season, I could rock a short hairstyle.
When these kids call you Jesus, how do you feel?
I laugh because it is so funny. I find it really hilarious. When I let my hair down, I seem to bear an uncanny resemblance to Jesus.
What was your childhood like?
For me, childhood was fun. I think I am still the same kid. There are two sides to me; a side that is very quiet and reserved and the other side which is the extrovert. Growing up was fun; I had my crazy moments and my quiet times as well which is the same way that I am now. I have always been lucky; I never got in trouble even when I was involved in it. I grew up in Lagos. I come from a very small family; we are just two children, I and my elder brother. We are a very small close knit family.
How did you feel when your parents compared you with your elder brother?
It is good to have a brother that is successful as well. He is into advertising, we are similar but we are still different. He is a creative genius and I don’t think there is anybody better than him. It pushed me so that I don’t settle for less; it made me to be a perfectionist.
So competing with your elder brother helped you discover your talent?
Yes. I had to find a way to show that I was good at something as well. I remember back in the days when we used to write love letters, I wrote a poem and I showed him. He told me it was very good, although it was very cheesy but the writing was really good. He worked for an advertising agency and after some years, he told me about a big advert campaign the company was trying to write and asked me to try. I wrote the Life is Beautiful advert campaign for MTN. That was it and I started writing from there. I was very young then and it was so good that I started writing copies for his company.
Your father is Yoruba, where is your mother from?
My mother is Persian.