Gibou
Bala Gaye alias GEE a controversial Gambian rapper had announced that he will
make a ‘Comeback’ concert in The Gambia music on 23 July 2016 at the Pencha Mii
Hall.
The
comeback show will feature guest artistes Dip Doundou Guiss from Senegal, VYPA,
Silky Criss, Jizzle, Kerr Gi Family, New Era, Bizzle MYK Jayda and IZZY T.
In
September 2015, Gee said he is quitting the music scene “as Gambia music is
wasting my time.” He told the local show Fila on Gambia TV, “because Gambian
music is not paying my bills, can’t pay my daughter’s school fees, can’t get me
a live band and can’t get me the proper contacts I need. So why should I still
waste my time in Gambian music.”
But
an analyst said Gee does not believe in himself, as success does not come
overnight.
He
welcomed him in the music scene, and cautioned him to produce songs that added
value in the society that can win international awards or recognition.
“Considering
the fact that Gambian music industry is not rosy, so if you venture into it,
you should know that at the inception. I urge Gee to target the international
market if the home market is not paying him.”
However,
other analysts said Gee’s comeback is good news to producers, because he spends
huge amounts of money in the production of his songs.
Gambian
music followers said GEE’s future in The Gambian music scene is very slim,
“because we have emerging talents who are far better than Gee.
“I
don’t think his comeback will make an impact, because he has already lost
popularity and attention from fans.”
Below
is the earlier interview with local show Fila on Gambia TV, when the
controversial rapper said he is quitting the music scene:
“Gambia
music is wasting my time,” Gambian hip-hop artist Gee told local show Fila TV,
“because Gambian music is not paying my bills, can’t pay my daughter’s school
fees, can’t get me a live band and can’t get me the proper contacts I need. So
why should I still waste my time in Gambian music.”
Earlier
this year Gee, whose real name is Gibou Balla Gaye, announced he is bringing
his music career to an end. “It’s time,” he said, “to venture into new things.”
The
announcement came after Gee was voted Artist of the Year 2014 at an award
ceremony largely criticized for being “below standard.”
“Besides,
the disrespect in the music scene is too much,” Gee continued. “No end of
promises. I’m a person if I don’t see many changes for quite a while in
anything I’m doing, I move on. I’m not growing any younger and no time.”
He
said even the most popular show organised in The Gambia, Open Mic, does not pay
artistes well, to say nothing of other shows.
“This
‘chicken change’ could not meet all my demands as an artist, and now I wanted
to venture in to other businesses, because if not my daughter’s future would
not be bright,” he said.
Gee
then called on corporate companies to venture into Gambian music. He said most
companies do not pay attention to Gambian music, and most of the time they
sponsor only by providing a radio advert or billboards. They will never use an
artiste as an ambassador and pay him or her decent money, unlike in Nigeria.
“Look
at Nigeria, as an example. An artiste was paid recently over 80, 000 dollars to
be an ambassador to a company,” Gee noted.
“These
are some of the things I am talking about. So when I saw that companies were
not willing to do that in The Gambia, and promoters and event organisers don’t
want to pay much, I felt Gambian music was a waste of time.”
Asked
whether he will come back, he said only miracles can bring him back to music.
He
revealed he has 50-plus yet-to-be released songs which he could sell if his
decision to quit were linked to monetary issues. “That’s it I’m out. Only
miracles can bring me back. I’m doing business instead,” he concluded.
