Interview by Mojeed Mumuni. Words by Olushola Aromokun

Born Yetunde Anthonia Alabi, Sasha stands immaculate, radiant, tall and rips the mic with  much fervour. Much has been written, arguments have ensued and doubts have been cast. Starting right out of secondary school and then going professional (performing at parties before joining Trybe Records and later Storm Records). Going from award nominations to stage dominations, she has been unanimously crowned the Queen of Nigerian Rap; WRT is proud to bring you this wonderful emcee, law student and fashion designer all rolled into one.

Enjoy

WRT: What inspired/birthed your stage name: Sasha?

SASHA: A couple of years ago, after thinking so much about what my stage name would be; I was asleep and I kept hearing the name “SASHA”. I couldn’t sleep; it was like a whisper Sasha…Sasha… I know it sounds crazy but it was very real and I got up and I wrote the name down and the next time someone asked for my stage name, I just said SASHA.

WRT: What has changed between the Sasha of 5 years ago and the Sasha of today? 

SASHA: I think I’m not as naïve as I was when I started up,  you grow up very fast in this industry and you also have to learn to be very grounded and I have met a lot of people and I’ve seen that life can be very hard.  Sasha of NOW, is just more focused and you know I’m getting to know myself a little more; my first album was a collection of a lot of songs that I did in between those years when they were like where is Sasha? So the second album is going to be a lot more Sasha NOW.

WRT: What does it feel like being referred to as the first lady of both Storm Records and Nigerian rap?

SASHA: When you have only a female artist on a record label, everybody says that she is the first lady. I’m the first lady of our label and I get a lot of love and support from my people.  But the first lady of rap in Nigeria, I don’t know if I am. But let me make this clear, what the first lady means is when you think of first lady; you think of a woman who is much respected, you think of a woman who can serve as an example, and you think of power, you think of respect. When I called my album The First Lady that is what I’m talking about because I call myself a motivational speaker. The kind of music that I want to make is the type that will keep empowering my generation.

WRT: What’s the relationship between you and other female rappers?

SASHA: For the ones I know, we get on pretty well.  Like Blaise, we started up on Trybe Records together so she’s just like a big sister and we actually went to the same secondary school. Then I met Bouqui when I when I did my first show, I met Kemistry through Dare Art Alade when she was still with Brilla fm; we all did a song called ‘Too Much’ for Jimmy Jatt. I heard about Weird MC when she did Allen Avenue. I wasn’t in Lagos then, I didn’t know about Allen Avenue, so when I started working with Hip-Hop world Awards, I got to know more about her. I have a lot of respect for her because she came back ten years after and she still did a hit song. I have met BB and Siba too.

WRT: Tell us about your first album?

SASHA: ‘First Lady’ for me was the first experience, the ultimate experience. It’s a different thing when you work on different people’s albums, doing features. I wrote things that I was passionate about; a song like ADARA was really like therapy because it got to a point where I was frustrated and depressed. When TY MIX did the beat, I needed sometime alone. I went round Abuja then I came back into the studio he was playing the beat for ADARA and I sat down quietly in a corner, I got a pen and paper I started writing how I was feeling saying… and before I knew it, it was a song. I told you I lost my dad at age six and I wrote  a song dedicated to him and there is ‘Proudly Nigerian’ where I spoke about Nigeria. I also did a song for the women.

WRT: Do you write your own songs?

SASHA: Yeah I do, I wrote most of the songs on the album, except for Jeje. It was an experiment, it was written by Naeto C.

WRT: There have been whispers about you and Naeto C, what’s the dig on that?

SASHA: He’s just my label mate; in fact someone called me to say they saw me kissing Naeto C at The Palms. Right now, Naeto C is in South Africa while I’m here in Yaba, so we are just label mates. I have been refuting it since, every interview I ever had, I told them Naeto is just my label mate. Really, I’m not his girlfriend.

WRT: So who is the MAN?

SASHA: I don’t discuss my private life, but I’m not looking for a boyfriend. And I’m not Naeto’s girlfriend, we are not dating, it has never crossed our minds.

WRT: Ok. Let’s digress a little bit, what inspires you?

SASHA: I get inspiration from experiences and also from God almighty, because he is the one that helps you put down your feelings on paper.

WRT: Do you have any role models?

SASHA: Beyonce Knowles really inspires me because she is very hard working. She gives 100% to everything she is doing; I have liked Oprah Winfrey for a very long time, Condoleezza Rice too because with all the criticism she gets, she is still a top woman. I’m inspired by strong women; it doesn’t have to be somebody on TV. I really love Tupac Amaru Shakur, my mum and I have 42years between us and I realize there is something special about him. In Nigeria, I like Funmi Iyanda because she is a go getter, she inspires me a lot.

WRT: What do you do when you are not making music?

SASHA: I design, which I’m working on right now. I design clothes and I do anything that allows me to be creative, like when I worked with Hip-Hop World, I had to come up with the script for the award and different concepts, if I was not rapper I would be managing someone else.

WRT: Three things you cannot do without?

SASHA: My bible, my laptop and my blackberry.

WRT: Who is your favorite Nigerian artiste?

SASHA: They are too many to mention. I don’t have a favourite, I have a collection of favourites, Asa, Dbanj, he is an entertainer, I like Naeto C because he is very prolific, sound sultan, is one of my favourite artiste, he is one of the most underrated artiste in Nigeria, I don’t think he gets as much respect and hype as he should, because he is very talented, and a lot of people that I like and can’t remember their names.

WRT: Let’s do Nollywood. Who’s your favorite actress?

SASHA: It would have to be favorite actresses and they are Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola and Stella Damasus.

WRT: Appraise the music industry, do you think we are there yet?

SASHA: I think we are at the point where we cannot be ignored, we are not there yet, we still don’t have a structure in this industry. There is still so much that can be done; MTV is bringing it’s first African Awards here and it’s not because South African doesn’t have what it takes to host but they are bringing it here. I’m one of the hosts on a show called MTV ADVANCE WARNING, where they have 26 Nigerian artistes competing to see who will be the next hip hop star. I think Nigeria is very blessed, and people cannot ignore that right now, everybody is coming home. 

WRT: And the marketing structure?

SASHA: Abroad, there is a way they monitor album sales, but not here in Nigeria, the only thing we know is what the Alaba people tell us and we say ooh…so so artiste has sold 500,000 copies; but these artistes buy back these albums themselves. 

WRT: Any Awards for the hustle so far?

SASHA: I think I got Amen Award two years ago, for the best new comer. I have been heavily nominated. By the way please vote for me on the Channel O Music Video Awards, maybe we can make this a reality. Kora Awards is also coming up pretty soon, I have been nominated a lot but I don’t think I’ve won anything this recent years.

WRT: With all the fame, do you think you are still the girl next door?

SASHA: Yeah, I’m still Yetunde, I still keep the same old friends. But people don’t know me, I’m a very straight forward girl, I don’t let things get into my head. I don’t pretend, I’m still myself.

WRT: Any endorsements?

SASHA: I did the girl power movement for Tetmosol. We are talking to some people, but keeping it close to our chest.

WRT: Quick words to your fans. 

SASHA: Thanks very much for those who appreciate me, I really appreciate you guys. God bless you, May the lord continue to bless and guide you all, and buy the album and also vote for me in Kora and Channel O awards. Thanks.