Beyond the dreadlocks, his distinct style is redefining the Caribbean sound with strong influences from his Nigerian identity. The music of this singer, songwriter and songstylist can be defined as reggae fusion which willingly incorporates elements of hip-hop, rock-pop and R&B into the riddims of reggae and dancehall. He calls his a “tube-sound” carried by striking vocals that capture a forest of emotions and textures—This is Pype.
Originally from Abeokuta in Ogun State, Nigeria, Ibrahim Majekodunmi was raised in Lagos. At the source of his unmistakable voice is a combination of nature and nurture. Having been introduced to singing in church, he joined an acapella group at St Gregory’s Secondary School, Obalende in 1998. The formation grew into a 30-man classical/opera choir, The Triumphant Chorale Voices, which became one of the top three classical groups in Nigeria under the aegis of ASP Mike Ohiri. Pype, who was then known as Majek, still draws from a classical tradition that forced him to train his voice with the rigor of an opera singer, pushing his vocal capacities to a breaking point, translating emotion into the language of notes without the luxury of gimmicks. The group performed at the Eagle Square Abuja to usher in the new Millennium. Pype delivered solo performances as the choir’s bass singer accompanied by The Grand Chamber Orchestral which accomplished the rare feat of rendering all three parts of George F. Handel’s Messiah. As he came of age, it became easier to extend lessons from the classical genre into something that gave him more creative license.
His unique stamp has pumped a dose of adrenaline into the sounds of highlife pioneer Sunny Neji (“Crush”), hip-hop Diva Sasha (“Strong thin”), Niyola (“Mo Ranyan”), MI (“teaser”) and Sheyman (“Showa remix”). His desire: “To make music that inspires and uplifts, make people think and dance there is nothing wrong with following your dreams. Music and timeless lyrics are my passion— I breathe for this.” says Pype. Among his biggest influences are Beethoven, Frank Sinatra, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Bob Marley, U-Roy, fierce Dancehall pioneers Supercat, Shabba Ranks, Spragga Benz, Sizzla and Beenie Man. As a performer, he has shared the stage with Nigerian and international artists including Sean Paul, Akon, and the duo of Brick & Lace to name a few.
At the 2009 edition of MTVBase Music Awards hosted by Wyclef Jean in Kenya, Pype stunned the audience with his power-packed performance of “Teaser” with MI and South Africa’s Lira. Also, his newest single, “Champion”, a brass-driven dancehall tune that could easily serve as a world anthem has been getting rave reviews.
Pype's View on 'Champion'.
From Pype’s perspective, if “Champion” were a person, it would be you, with black stripes under your eyes, wearing a camouflage uniform and heavy-duty boots, standing with confidence in front your life’s biggest obstacle. Champion is the 20th century world anthem. “Champion is a gift from my soul to everyone across the globe. Don’t look at the limitations. Pursue your goals.” The music video was directed by Bobby Boulders and shot in Obalende-Lagos where Pype was raised. “The world needs to see where I’m from. They (The people of Obalende) are champions that gave birth to a champion.”
A perfectionist, Pype is currently putting finishing touches to his much anticipated debut album and Podium Vybez and Storm 360 have combined forces to ensure that it hits the world stage. With his enthralling vibes wedded to lush melodies, he is fast becoming a major force and one of the few artists leading the progressive movement of reggae and dancehall in Africa by expanding its reach without diluting the core values of this ageless genre of music. Made in Nigeria for global consumption, pave way for General Pype and get ready to be Pypnotised!
Additional video: Watch Dj Vinnie ft General Pype - Some love
Listen to his new joint, "Nigeria love"
Links:
http://www.facebook.com/generalpype?v=wall
http://twitter.com/#!/Generalpype
