Time with the Fokn Bois

One is known to be the whiz kid who produced Reggie Rockstone when he was barely an adult, releasing one of Ghana's best hip hop albums to date. He now sports very neat dreadlocks and is easily spotted in his fresh t-shirt, a pair of shorts and a low-cut old school "camboo" stopping a "tro-tro" in town.

With a very witty flavor to his music, this lyrical dictator has matured over the years both in life and his art. Introducing Ghana internationally recognised rap emcee M3nsa!

This guy is a firm believer in originality and freedom of choice. He is a common sight on the busy streets of Accra wearing his long dreadlocks, a neat T-shirt, a wrap skirt and invisible shoes as he puts it, wearing an African Tye & Dye side-bag and gallivanting all over the place which has earned him a unique name popularly used for misfits and "roaming ambassadors" in "Ga": a local Ghanaian Language.

He has proved to be one of Ghana's most respected musicians given the time he entered the industry commercially and this is undeniably due to his unique style and masterful delivery on any song. Introducing Ghanaian international ace-rapper Wanlov the kubolor!

When you put these two amazing artistes together, you get the rap-duo "THE FOKN BOIS". These two gentlemen (even though the still eat waakye in the leaf with their bare fingers) bring a different taste to Ghanaian music and have amassed a very large fan base for themselves, thanks to their unique styles of rap the offer audiences world-wide, and yes world-wide.

We caught up with them quiet recently, fresh from an international promotional tour for their upcoming movie "COZ OV MONI" and had a chat with them. Wanlov answers most of the questions as M3nsa makes some important calls just outside the chop-bar. Enjoy!

VbGh: What does "FOKN" mean?
FOKN BOIS: It can mean anything you want it to be. For me. It’s the Fear of Knowing Nothing.

VbGh: What Genre/Kind/Type of music do you do?
FOKN BOIS: I’d like to think its "Good Music". My label is Pidgen Music but I don’t like to be pigeon-holed, so to speak.

VbGh: What crowd do you target with your music?
FOKN BOIS: People that like "Good Music" abi?

VbGh: What shows or concerts have you played so far?
FOKN BOIS: Too many to list on here. Pop over to my facebook or myspace fanpage and you can see some of the shows I’ve played at and any upcoming shows. For now Its all "Coz Ov Moni" so we won’t be doing many shows for a while.

VbGh: Who are your influences and how many Mixtapes /Albums do you have so far?
FOKN BOIS: On both albums and mixtapes. I lost count after 1. Look out for our "FOKN with you" album though.

VbGh: Why did you choose to do music,was there a particular cause to it?
FOKN BOIS: I remember seeing Talal Fatal singing "Darling" when I was growing up and thinking, "That’s what I want to do"

VbGh: What about the acting, is it the new thing now that musicians branch into acting? Enlighten us.
FOKN BOIS: Mensa and I had been putting off doing an album for a while. When we finally got round to doing it, we released we were having so much fun doing it that we wanted to share it with the fans. What better way to do it than through a pidgin musical. The first of its kind.

VbGh: Tell us a bit about your upcoming production, COZ OV MONI.
FOKN BOIS: Just a couple of FOKN Bois, FOKN around. Get the FOK out of our way cos we’ll be FOKN with you!All of course, for the FOKN money.

VbGh: What would you say you have achieved so far in your music career?
FOKN BOIS: Being taken seriously. Considering I walk barefoot and wear admittedly silly clothes and no "dross". I’m the Crown Prince of Pigdin Music but I may just as well have turned out to be the Clown Prince of Abelenkpe.

VbGh: Is music a full time venture for you? How do you maintain life balance because we know you travel extensively to promote your music?
FOKN BOIS: I have a side job as a drugs mule. Just FOKN with you. Music is it for me. So yeah buy my music and come see my shows. This lifestyle isn’t easy to fund. Do you know how much an invisible shoe costs?

VbGh: What is the most treasured, fascinating or humbling moment in your life as artistes?
FOKN BOIS: The moment Mensa told me for the first time that he loved me. Not a homo moment, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think that guy has even told Reggie that he loved him. Be he told me, A FOKN Kubolor. I love you too Menses!

VbGh: What are your most cherished moments of Ghana, what do you find unique about Ghanaians?
FOKN BOIS: It doesn’t ever get old. I love the smell of the gutter in the morning. You don’t get that same smell anywhere else in the world. Some random market woman shouting: "Kubolor! Libilibi Labalaba Kokonsa!"

VbGh: Any new projects in the works and if so when is it dropping?
FOKN BOIS: As mentioned before, the "Coz Ov Moni" pidgin musical is coming soon. Specifically on Saturday 15th May at the National Theatre. Pop around to have a look. We’ve got some generally OK reviews but can’t complain much being as it’s our first project.Around that same time, the FOKN Bois album will drop. It’s all tongue in cheek stuff. Making fun of everyone around us and at ourselves.

VbGh: Are you on a Label/ Indie or still looking forward to be signed?
FOKN BOIS: I’m unsigned to a major label if that’s what you’re asking. For now though, I’m happy just making good music and hope people get to enjoy it.

VbGh: We heard you on a lot of songs with other emcees,what influences your choice of collaborators on a project?
FOKN BOIS: Fun people. People who don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s only music after all.

VbGh: Who would you really like to work with in your lifetime as an artiste?
FOKN BOIS: Michael Jackson. And don’t tell me it’s too late. Biggie and Pac are still doing collaborations. Plus we all know MJ is not dead.

VbGh: What are your plans for Ghana, and what do you think about the State of Ghana Music now and the film industry respectively now that your presence and prominence can't be overlooked or underestimated?
FOKN BOIS: I won’t claim to be savior of Ghana Music (even though some say I look like the Jesus on weed). It’s more of what Ghana and the world can do for me. I need more supporters from Ghana. Not that kind of supporter, I don’t wear those. But evangelists to tell the world that there is more to Ghana’s Music that the very main stream

VbGh: Finally any message for your fans?
FOKN BOIS: One Love and Keep FOKN.

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