Singer AJ Nelson enjoins youth to wise & rise up by disregarding cunning politicians

Nelson Yaw Agyei simply identified as AJ Nelson who hails from Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo region says his form of music can best be described as conscious hiphop adding he sees himself as a music activist.

 

Divulging these details in an interview with this writer at a pub near the liberty park at Dansoman, AJ who has 6 siblings explained he developed strong affection for music in 1996 fingering Abretsreba Kofi Sammy’s ‘Everyday everyday walker walker’ and Akwasi Ampofo Adjei’s ‘If you do good.. you do for yourself…’ as tunes which gingered him compelling him to paint his room with lyrics of the two songs.

Asked if music has treated him kind, the man whose elderly parents are alive and well noted: “life constitutes downs and ups but when there is passion for what one does, it’s worth the trouble. Music has smiled on me and I have been good to music.”

According to AJ, the tough times in his music career involves putting in creative and financial effort to produce a song and not get to hear it on radio because it’s different and does not tow the path of contemporaries.

Although he has not amassed the following Samini, Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy, Efya and others enjoy, AJ Nelson says he makes his money through shows he puts together as well as few endorsement deals he’s managed to land.

Despite not winning any award in Ghana or elsewhere yet, the ‘Power to the People’ singjay disclosed “to see the crowd go gaga doing my performances and the fact that my fans are not just Nima, Mamobi or Ashiaman folks but seeing also Kenyan, South African, Burkinabe, Togolese, Nigerian and folks from the diaspora enjoy my performances gives me the greatest joy.

AJ Nelson adds “Abraham Ohene Djan once advised me to do music to delight, heal and empower people rather than for awards to avoid heart breaks. Bedsides Tupac, the greatest hiphop artist never won and other greats have never won a Grammy but their genius is acclaimed. True other greats like Nas, Jay Z, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar have also won so it’s all a matter of time.”

The ‘Same Girl’ singer mentioned he is the first artiste to perform at the Ghana Fashion Awards for two consecutive years adding that he’s also manned the Miss Supranational stage as well as shared same stage with industry mates Dark Suburb, EL, Wiyaala, Lauryn Hill, Okyeame Kwame and Jay Ghartey.

As to why he has only offered one album (Soul Food), AJ stated “I can’t afford to put a lightweight album out there so I make sure all things fall in place before I offer an album. My first album for instance is in 45 online stores including ITunes and the feedback and returns are encouraging.”

Once signed on to Jay Ghartey’s GH Brothers label, AJ says he is now managing his affairs under his Corna Rock Entertainment label with plans in place to sign on other artistes.

Unwilling to delve into his romantic life, Michael Eli Dokosi however managed to extract from AJ the fact that he is married to one Sally and there is a child as evidence of their passion sessions. “She is credible, business minded, loves cooking, hails from the Volta region and I love her” was how AJ described the manageress of his heart.

“My biggest project for 2016 is the ‘Power to the People’ peace campaign and movement. Being an election year, I am entreating the youth especially to go out and vote but they must not avail themselves to be used for partisan gains. Wise up and rise up and disregard any cunning politician. Faya Burn any bad mind” Mr. Nelson enjoined.

According to AJ Nelson, plans are afoot for the ‘Power to the People’ concert in September 2016. Regarding inspiration for the ‘Power to the People’ campaign, AJ Nelson observed “I have always sought to be the Nelson Mandela of hiphop. Madiba had a forgiving heart and his ideology gave life. The campaign is for the youth to achieve greater feats in life despite the tough times we live in.”

The hubby and dad  reserved praise for producer Genius Selection as one engineer who has an appreciation for good music making working with him a delight although they have qualms regarding time management. He also acknowledged the skills of Fizzy Ankonde, Cabum, P. Wizzle, Jay Ghartey and Appietus.

Aside funds from music, AJ also runs a stationery shop with wife as well as a pig farm in the Brong Ahafo region to diversify income streams.

AJ also holds Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Martin Luther King, Muamar Gadhafi, Malcom X, Gandhi and Booker T. Washington in high regard for advancing the African cause.