Good Morning and welcome to 'Mit Me'; Pricherman116 Blog's Exclusive Interview session. May we meet you sir?
Thanks. I am an art and entertainment bridge connecting the world to the Cross of Christ Jesus. Christened Sola Shittu, known popularly as SMS (Sola 'Minister' Shittu), aka Oshara.
I hail from Ekiti state, first child of my parents. Now an husband and a father. I sing, rap, act and teach. I also produce music.
So many people in one person hehe (smiles) It's nice having you on here sir. Growing up as a Nigerian kid and schooling, what was the experience like for you?
Well, growing up for me was both sweet and sour. Sweet because I was very playful, adventurous and creative as a child, never bored, never bothered, always up to something. I lived the first 5years of my life in a village and I enjoy every bit of the memory. I must also mention that I started living with my grandmother from when I was about 5months old. The sour side was because I didn't grow up in a proper nuclear family. Though mum always stuck around, dad was practically absent. I remember
that I cried some things wishing and craving for that bond. Looking back now, I can only thank God that I'm blessed with the strength of my mum and the wisdom of my grandma.
that I cried some things wishing and craving for that bond. Looking back now, I can only thank God that I'm blessed with the strength of my mum and the wisdom of my grandma.
Your Shittu surname sounds like a Muslim name. Were you once a Muslim?
I was never a Muslim, my dad wasn't, my grandpa wasn't, maybe our forefathers were.
How did you start doing music? Gospel rap for that matter?
Well, I can't remember that I consciously started doing music, I just grew up knowing myself to be naturally musical. From childhood, I did the village square singing with other children, I made my own drums, I knew all the songs available in my world at that time and so forth. Then I grew, started listening very keenly to all sort of songs and sounds, started miming, started playing some other instruments, started writing rhymes, started writing songs and here I am still grinding. I mean I've always been a performer, but if you mean to ask how I started recording, I will say I was inspired to record my debut album in 2010 when I was in my final year in the higher institution. I have since then been releasing singles. Gospel is automatically my content because that's what I'm filled with, and I can only give what I have. And rap for me is one of the tools I engage to convey those expressions that singing would not be able to deliver properly or perfectly. It doesn't mean I won't sing or act tomorrow when the need be.
You're obviously a multi talented personality. You rap, act, produce etc... How have you been managing all these talents?
They all are artistic expressions, so for me they kind of flow together. It's left to me to plan properly with the time I have.
Gospel is to be preached yeah but RAP in the CHURCH??? How were you responded to when you started out as a rap minister?
Rap to me is simply sermon + soundtrack. Matter of fact I think rap is even an advanced form of preaching. So I could care less how who ever would respond to it. I care more about the One who sent me than the ones I'm sent to. Not to say I wasn't unsure of the possible response, I just knew that what has to be done must be done. Amazingly, the first time I presented my first full rap track in 2013, the response was humbling. I even got feedbacks of saved souls afterwards because of the presentation.
Glory to God. For you to be doing music and also producing music so well, did you study music in the university?
Naaah! Not at all. Though I tried seriously to convince my mum to let me go and study music or any other form of art, she strongly refused. So I had to run with and develop my natural talents. But I'm grateful I took music classes in elementary school, they were really helpful. I took time to learn production on my own, with my own laptop when I was to record my album and I had no money to pay producers. Like I said, what has to be done must be done. I can't boast to be a commercial producer though, but I do good music when I do it for myself.
What did you study in the uni?
Funny. I studied Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences.
Wow... Are you practising the course you studied in any way?
Not at all. I never liked the course.
A lot of Nigerian students still study courses they do not like rather due to pressure from parents/peers or failure to get admission to study their course of choice. What's your advise to such students and their parents?
Education can never put any gift or talent in anybody. Rather education is meant to sharpen, shapen and refine those natural abilities that the Creator has invested in each person on earth. How can a fish be trained, or be educated to fly? We just by all means must make parents realize that one of the easiest ways to raise a failed child is to force him/her to study a wrong course without any other plan to help them get on the right lane. And for students studying a course they do not like, it's better they realize that their fulfilment in life depends on doing what they were born for at the end of the day. So whatever happens, never let go of your real desires.
Hmmmm. #Word. There's this popular theorem which states that there are some things one can do while single maybe for God too that marriage limits, would you say there are some things your marriage and family had stopped you from doing or you're still going all out?
Yeah...marriage basically means more responsibility and accountability. Your life isn't solely yours anymore, you have a part of you apart from you, and you can't ignore that. But whether or not you can do certain things in marriage depends on who you get married to and how much you both are in sync. Of course I understand that you now have someone else to give attention and affection to, but it all comes back to being married to the right person in the first place. You both must have proper understanding of each other and what both of you are up to with your lives under God. It's much less friction that way, God's way!
What projects are you working on presently?
Currently working on an album project and we're about 80% done. One or two more singles will be released before the album drops. We're also working on shooting one or two videos too.
Great. Most times, crusades and revivals are often organised in churches and the handbills are sent to other churches to invite them... My thought is, why do we keep inviting the saved or people who are already in the church. If we continue like this, who reaches out to the guys on the street, in the clubs or elsewhere?
Either Christians have lost the essence of ministry which is soul-winning and discipling, or we have become too religious, lazy or conservative to engage contemporary tactics to get the unsaved to understand and accept our faith.
Who are your role models?
I have a truckload of them, but top of the list for me is Canton Jones!
What inspires your kind of music?
Well my basic drive is the salvation of souls...I just want to see everybody in heaven mehn. So whatever musical expression I think can really express the invitation to the Way in a way they will easily understand, I engage.
Which of your songs has been the most challenging? From composition to recording?
Hmmm...I can't say any one specifically because, I believe in doing anything for God, I must leave myself to inspiration a lot. So I dont want to struggle and then get in the way of how He wants it to flow. Most of what I do is listen to the voice within. Then I put my best work into getting the expression into comprehensible forms, words and tunes. So I can simply say I'm equally challenged by all my songs because I give equal attention to them as much as they demand. The most important thing is to hear properly from the spirit instead of racking my head to write. It's sweeter that way!
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Well I think that question is a broad-ended one. I can't promise my sef any taking, I prefer to talk about the giving. All I know is five, ten, twenty, fifty, even hundred years from now as God permits, I'll still be grinding for Him in any manner He demands me to. Just five years ago, I never knew I was gonn' be rapping, maybe you didn't even know you was gonn' be blogging or something. So that's how it is, we let Him call the shots, we move while He proves Himself faithful. We enjoy when He wows us. Selah!
Wow... #Word! That's true though lol... Before you leave, what do you have to say to your friends, fans and family around the world?
Well, I'll say if you come in contact with this interview and you're a christian, please know that there's never been a time the world has needed you this much. Let's wake up to strategic soul-winning all the more. Do all you can, spend and be spent for this course. If you can't be all out and you have some money, give it to us who want to be all out in the field and we'll use it to the glory of God, Amen? And if you're not born again, please know that nothing and nobody can give your life true meaning except God through Jesus Christ. And believe it or not Jesus is coming back again, please line up with him and gain the eternal joy of heaven after your life on earth, while you escape the horrors and pain of hell.
Thanks and God bless you always. We appreciate your time on here and look forward to see more of you in future... How can you be reached on social media?
I deeply appreciate you for putting me on your platform. You is the best!
Thanks a billion!
Selah!
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