Elveektor

Straight Out of Nigeria

Interview by David R. Navarro

David R. Navarro: Tell us a little bit about yourself? About your music?

Elveektor: My real name is Valentine Tochukwu Ogbu. My rap name “Elveektor” was coined from my first rap name “Lil Val” which I later abbreviated to “L-V” even though it was written as “El-Vee”. When I branded to full indigenous rap, I joined the name and added a suffix -Elveektor. My music is mostly in Igbo language. It’s a decision I made to use my art to impact and preserve my culture.

DN: How long have you been in the Music Industry?

E: I have been rapping since 2005 buy I professionally started my music career in January 2018. With the release of Nsibidi EP.

DN: What made you decide to be serious about music?

E: Growth encouraged me. I was just becoming better and better. Music recording and editing was the only thing I can do from sunup till sundown and I wont even feel like eating or sleeping. I will say my penchant to always excel in all my dealings is the reason why I decided to be serious about my music career. I started gaining fans and I didn’t want to let them down.

DN: Tell us about your singles you released this year, “Ofu Ukwu” and “Local Man Is Tired”.

E: “Ofu Ukwu” is a drill hip hop sound produced by my friend and colleague in the game, Prosse. The title which translates to “One Leg” in English tried to explain the concept of the popular New York “woo dance” by late Pop Smoke. This was just me passing down the New York hip hop style to my native indigenous fans in a language that they understand better. It was also an opportunity to uphold the legacy of the late rapper Smoke who is arguable the father of the drill genre.

DN: Which people or books have had the most influence on your music career and why?

E: I read widely, any book of interest. I love history books mostly, as a matter of fact my last album Nsibidi 2 made me do a lot of research in Igbo history because I was trying to portray and explain the philosophical growth of the Igbo tribe. The author Chinua Achebe has had the most influence on me. His interest in the Igbo cultural background even when he is writing fictious story gets me.

DN: What would you say is the #1 key to success in the Music Industry?

E: Consistency and growth. Consistency is the fact that you should never give up no matter what. Growth is studying the music, the industry… then learning, experimenting, and applying the lessons from past mistakes.

DN: Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

E: My lyrics and rap flows are my greatest strong point. I carefully choose what I have to say on a song. I feel like I just say what everyone wants to say (but haven’t thought about it yet) and the way I say it is just so different and special.

DN: What has been your biggest challenge as a rapper? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

E: My biggest challenge is the funds required. But, I am very resourceful because I know that I cannot just sit and wait for money to come. I must be doing something. Frankly, there is a lot you can do even when you don’t have money.

DN: A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

E: Yes! You must bleed for your art to be recognized and stand the test of time. You must put in work. There is no shortcut, but hard and steady work.

DN: How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

E: The internet has helped the music business in a lot of ways. One of the best ways is the reach. It’s a lot easier for artists to know and reach their desired fans.

DN: Have you done or plan on doing any Live-stream Concerts? If you have, how has the response been from your fans?

E: I do live stream shows on my Instagram live all the time. People don’t stay a long time watching you. They easily get bored and I understand because it’s way different trying to catch the vibe from your couch compared to when you are at the event.

DN: Can you give us some examples of things you are doing or have done to expand your fanbase?

E: After Nsibidi 2 album I couldn’t shoot a proper music video for any of the tracks because I didn’t have the necessary financial support. I resorted to making of so many shot clips with my mobile phone. I am also recording and dropping covers of popular songs with short phone-shot clips. My plan is to embark on a radio tour soon as the pandemic relaxes a bit.

DN: Talk about the biggest failure you’ve had. What did you learn from it?

E: I don’t see failure. I always tap from all the negative energy then use it to build up myself. I have never had anything on the platter of gold. I don’t have any support from any label or sponsors. My not being able to shoot a music video is a big fail but I didn’t let it stop me because I know that I can also try to reach people by making short clips. In my mind ‘its just a matter of time”.

DN: What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

E: 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Trying, Eminem – Eminem Show, Drake – So Far Gone, Lil Wayne – Carter 3, and Kanye West – College Dropout.

DN: What advice can you give other young men and women who want to follow in your footsteps?

E: My advice is that they should be able to work and have patience because Gold is not found on the surface.

DN: What does a typical day in your week look like?

E: I have a 9-5 job that I basically use to pay my bills. I work every day except on weekends. Thanks to the ‘work from home” style due to the pandemic. I can use all my leisure time in my room studio… or I will be out shooting contents for my IG.

DN: What keeps you going when things get tough in the business?

E: My strength comes from the fact that I already have people who believe in me. I might have about 100 fans but in my head it’s a 100 million fans. Its just a matter of time and the only way I can really know is if I don’t stop working.

DN: Please list your website and/or your social media platforms.

E: I am @elveektor on all platforms. I am still working on my personal website.

DN: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

E: Yes! Id like y’all to brace up for my coming album titled “Ife Nwoke” (means “a man’s thing” in English) … I already dropped two singles from it. – “Local Man is Tired” feat. Chidokeyz and “Ofu Ukwu”. The album will drop in the last quarter of 2021.