A brand new college of Sierra Leonean creatives is on the rise in Freetown. The motion is led by younger Millenials utilizing the nation’s conventional music to create afrobeats hits with a distinct Sierra Leone DNA.
One musician drawing inspiration from Freetown’s ɔl tin de insai syncretic musical model is Reginald “DJ Rampage” Daramy, a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and disk jockey. He is the mastermind behind Drizilik’s new chart-toping “Ashobi” album and “Shukubly”. Before DJ Rampage made beats for Drizilik and Idris Elba “to go down low,” he spent his childhood enchanted by the Oje (ojeh) music from the igbales of Lewis and Naiambana Streets.
“Even though I was intimidated by the oje, their music always called me out to the street. The percussion, the call and response, and the cultural display were unmatched! When I close my eyes, I can now play those melodies from memory.”
Music was additionally current at dwelling. Rampage is as near Salone music royalty because it will get. His maternal grandfather Ekaw Porter was the lead drummer of 70s Highlife sensation Afro National. They toured globally of their heyday with hits like King Jimmy, Sonjo, and Mother In Law. Rampage’s mom Rosaline Porter can also be a vocalist. Back within the day, she was the lead Soprano within the 100 Voices Mass Choral on the British Council.
When he was 15, he began studying to play the keyboard at Heaven on Earth Ministries underneath the tutelage of Ernest Allan. The latter was additionally a member of the Ballanta Academy of Music. He famous Rampage’s curiosity and dedication to music and invited him to Ballanta.
“When I got there, I felt out of place. I looked down on myself because the people at Ballanta were advanced; many had studied music. The first time I heard Block Jones sing, my jaw dropped. I had never heard anyone sing with so much vocal technique.”
Founded in 1995, Ballanta is Sierra Leone’s solely music and performing arts college. In addition to the orchestra, ballet, and gospel programs, it has an leisure band made up of the academy’s best musicians. It takes months, typically years, for the band to make room for brand spanking new performers.
At Ballanta, Rampage realized three devices. He performs the keyboard, bass and acoustic guitar, and percussion.
“There had been seven keyboard gamers within the band. When I acquired my first probability to play, I gave it my all. On the primary attempt, I made the band.
Rampage recollects seeing Drizilik carry out for the primary time throughout that interval.
“There was an event at Alafia Point, and Ballanta Director Ernest Allan was the judge. Benji (Drizilik) had a hip-hop set. He did well, so Allan invited him to come to Ballanta. We didn’t play hip-hop music in the band, but I thought we needed to, so I ensured we got Benji to come.”
Drizilik went to Ballanta however needed to wait a very long time for a possibility to open with the band. There was no assure he would get a spot on the band. Rampage says Drizilik was impatient.
“He suggested we practice on our own; myself, Benji, and Antonia Howard, now AYV news anchor. Eventually, Benji had a set at Ballanta’s Bafa Night, earning him a 30-minute hip-hop set on the academy’s band.”
The two musicians’ relationship grew from acquaintances to associates, and now Rampage says they’re nearly as good as brothers. But past friendship, they’ve an ongoing musical collaboration.
“People who don’t get us say I only want to work with Benji as if I’m tied to him. But that’s not it. He is devoted to his craft. He isn’t just making music because it is trendy. He has a vision and a goal. So do I. We’ve seen many people in music reach the top and then fall off. Both of us want longevity and growth. So when people say, ‘I don’t want to work with them, it’s not that. I don’t want to work with anyone who doesn’t match my drive.”
Rampage spent 4 years at Ballanta. That’s the place he honed the life-of-the-party on-stage persona now serving him as a DJ. When taking part in an instrument, he’s high-energy, singing and dancing like he’s “on the rampage’; that’s how he got his nickname. His progression from instrumentalist to music production came naturally. He has several hit collaborations, including “Issa Goal”, launched in 2018; “I like Women,” and “Endless Love”.
He produced Drizilik’s two albums, Shukubly in 2018 and Ashobi, which got here out earlier this month. While Ashobi has worldwide producers from Ghana and Nigeria, Rampage introduced the sound of Sierra Leone.
“With Ashobi, I attempted to faucet into the melodies in my head. The searching, bubu, and oje music of my childhood.
The producer struggled to make indigenous Salone music once we began making the album in Ghana in 2019. But each Benji and I need to make music that appears like dwelling.”
Rampage made the music for “Ashobi”, “Hype”, “Fana Makit”, and “Awujo”, the 4 huge Salone-sounding tracks on the album. He additionally served as its govt producer, overseeing all the challenge from begin to end.
Rampage is confident and intentional each concerning the music he makes and his profession as a DJ.
“I’m open to music from all around the world, however my objective is to promote the Sierra Leonean sound. Yes, afrobeats is the brand new wave, however once I’m making it, it wants a cultural id with both a vocal pattern or an instrument that’s recognizably Salone.
Rampage is attempting to vary DJ tradition in Sierra Leone when he isn’t making beats. Inspired by DJ Khaled and Neptune, he books gigs as a celeb DJ.
“If others can make a living from Djing elsewhere, so can I. I’m the ‘Corporate DJ’. When I show up at a party to DJ, you get a producer with hit songs, an entertainer, and someone with a social media following.”
When Rampage arrives to DJ an occasion, he exhibits up dressed to the nines. He wears a swimsuit. His dreadlocks are neatly pulled again. He says he’s explicit about his look as a result of creatives, particularly DJs, are sometimes missed and underpaid.
“I’ve done parties where people spend 60 million ($5,000) leones on drinks but want to pay the DJ (after 8-12 hours of work) 500,000 ($40). Or worse still, they don’t want to pay you at all. Aw yu sel yu sef na so dem go bai yu, and I know my worth.”
Over the years, he has turned down engaging gigs as a result of they inform him he’s “too expensive”.
“It’s just that they’ve never paid a DJ that much. But I know my worth, and unlike those looking to make quick money, DJing is my profession.”
Rampage is presently in England, taking part in at membership events in London and Reading. Next is a set with Drizilik and Freetown Uncut at Freedom Festival in Hull. He’ll play a number of devices over two days whereas DJing and doing what he does greatest––make music “on the rampage”.
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