by Phil Chard

Chocolate City Music CEO MI recently appeared on Nigerian talk show Rubbin Minds where he discussed a number of issues with the show’s host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. During the 20 minute chat MI spoke about how he runs the label, the artists under it and Choc City’s plans to transition into a business akin to what Universal and Sony have built overseas.

When asked about the state of his career however MI shared some interesting thoughts regarding upcoming projects and his view on going international

Ebuka : Are you happy with where your career is now? You have in the industry for 10,11 years now.

MI: I think the fact that I'm happy as a person and trying to find balance as a human being first, it takes a little steam out of a career because you need to take breaks, to spend time with your family, to be personally fulfilled. You need to secure what you're gonna do next. So me being a CEO and working at chocolate city and planning the next thing after I've been an artist. Personally I'm completely happy, of course you are never meant to be satisfied. You always want to have hunger to do more. For instance 2Face [2Baba] and I are doing a series of projects this year and I'm like a kid in a candy shop looking forward to what's gonna come out if it. Jessie, Ice Prince and I have spoken about doing an album together. I got like 2,3 albums that I'm working on. I'm excited to make music, I'm excited to perform, I'm excited to keep going. But you also want to be happy as a person and say hey let's turn off the lights now, I need some time for myself now.

Ebuka. do you feel you should've done more international work by now?

MI : You know I'm very weird about the international thing I'm not interested at all. I'm interest in building in Africa. I'm interested in building in Nigeria. The biggest thing that we can do internationally is set up our business and our industry right here. America is very funny… when I first came out I was one of the guys that was seen as “you should go international, you should do this “. I just lost interest with that and I said wanna I come back home and work on what's happening back home. It doesn't seem glamorous but that's really our way to the top. For you to be successful in America you need to be American. There culture is so closed and complete. Nobody is gonna listen to you talk about Lasgidi in America. They want you to talk about about 57 Street and New York. I don't want to do that. I want to find value in being Nigerian. I want to find value in my language, in my neighbourhoods, in my people.

Wise words from about finding value within before we look for external approval. I cannot wait to hear what else MI and 2Baba have been cooking up. You can their song Babylon here