Sound Sultan: Journey well the ‘naija ninja’ soldier

BY EMMANUEL DARALOYE

Bodmas, an order of mathematical operations became the muse for Sound Sultan’s break-out single “Jagbajantis”. On the track, the artiste traced the problems of the country, providing solutions to all the problems he listed.

The BODMAS in this context stands for

B for Brotherhood
O for Objectivity
D for Democracy
M for Modification
A for Accountability
S for Solidarity

‘Jagbajantis’ was Sound Sultan’s debut single as a solo artiste but before the release of the song, he was part of a music group and was once an event host. The money realised from the shows was used to fund his studio session. Getting studio sessions back in the day requires huge money, however, Sound Sultan was prepared for the challenge.

This writer got introduced to Sound Sultan music on a sunny day in 2003 via ‘Jagbajantis’ (three years after its release), the relevance and timelessness of the shtick is a pointer to the artiste’s ingenuity.

Telecommunication companies were just sprouting up in the country, the internet was in the formative stage, no Google to run a check on Sound Sultan. My brother became the go-to guy for information about Sound Sultan, he gave me a dollop of information about him, I became an instant fan after his encounter.

Starting a music career with a satire-driven single comes with an enormous responsibility which Sound Sultan was ready to shoulder, he never sells out like some of his contemporaries, he followed up Jagbajantis with tracks like Koleyewon, the Fela’s sampled Craze World, the 2face, and W4 assisted Bushmeat. Rapper MI Abaga was on hand to lend his lines to the call for electricity in the country in 2010.

Years before Japa (to leave) becomes the norm in Nigeria, Sound Sultan was one of the few to spot the impending problem, on ‘Motherland’, he advises the citizen on the need to look back while they strive for greener pasture: the track was inspired by his deported neighbour who committed suicide.

At the end of his contract with Kennis Music in 2007, Sound Sultan founded Ninja Ninjas record label in partnership with his brother Baba Dee. underground artistes like Karma Da Rapper, Young GreyC, Shawn, and Blacka were signed to the label. His generosity was extended to artistes not signed to the label as he advises them on the next moves: Sound Sultan was one of the few artists who urged singer Seyi Shay to return home. Sean Tizzle’s break-out single ‘Shole’ was reportedly penned by him and the list goes on.

In a depressing country like ours, there is always the need for dance-centered tracks, Sound Sultan must have considered that as his eight studio albums are resplendent with dance invoking tunes: Kokose featuring Wizkid, Very Good Bad guy featuring Banky W, Natural Something, Orobo, and others.

In 2004, Sound Sultan replicated his message in a movie, he played the lead role in Tunde Kelani’s directed student’s centered movie ‘The Campus Queen’.

Boxing Sound Sultan to a genre sounds like a tasking exercise, he rapped, sang a ballad, flowed on Fuji, and sometimes went groovy on Highlife tunes. On Define Rap and I No Send You, by VJ Adams and Tha Suspect respectively, he gave a good account of himself with his cadence and flow.

The United Nation celebrated Sound Sultan’s exemplary lifestyle and career with an Ambassador for Peace award in 2012.

In May 2021, there was a report of his throat cancer treatment which he quickly confirmed with a promise to tell his side of the story soon: rather than leave the news to thrive, he held his fans in high esteem by revealing the truth, sadly his promise of telling his side of the story never happen as he was pronounced dead on Sunday.

While I still find it difficult to grasp the news, I have been listening to some of his selected tracks, the social media is agog with the news, the tributes are pouring in from the fans.

It’s a sad day in the Nigerian music industry, one of the pacesetters of Nigeria’s Hip-hop is gone but his legacy remains untouchable.

Emmanuel Daraloye is a music journalist and pop culture enthusiast.