MG Kick: Talent search product still living music dream

When the books are written on the country’s music, MG Kick’s name will feature as one of the hotshots produced by the South Sudan Talent Search which was carried out by Vivacell.

He was by then inspired by Lam Tungwaar, but after bursting into the music industry, he groomed himself as a manager and he found a home in another place. Below is the excerpt of his full interview with The City Review’s Boka Jr.

BOKA Jr: Briefly tell us who you are

MG Kick: My name is Paul Wolid Ibn Haider aka Rapper MG Kick

BOKA Jr: Why the name MG Kick?

MG Kick: ‘M’ is My ‘G’ is Grandpa ‘Kick’ is kick. When I was in 2014 South Sudan talent search – Lam Tungwar advised me a lot and gave me more lectures about music especially hip hop.

He said you can make your stage name through the best moment when something happened to you with meaningful reason or to make sense in your stage name.

Then I picked the unforgettable moment which happened to me in 1999 when my Grandpa kicked me and then he passed away in the same week.

Boka Jr: Could you talk about your basic educational foundation?

MG Kick: I was born in Sudan on 11th September 1994 and I came to Juba in 1997. I started my primary schooling at St. Theresa from 2000 to 2006 then shifted to St. Kizito Primary School from 2006 to 2010. I then joined Juba Technical Secondary School for 3 years and then I shifted to African Council for School Sudan Secondary certificate.  I joined Juba University in 2018 and I am done with my studies.                       

BOKA Jr: When did you start your music and how? Could you describe the journey?

MG Kick: In 2009 I met with Lual, the Rapper at Secret Corner and we did a freestyle then he signed me in as his student and later met Nasty J.  I had a freestyle then he said he will help to work with me. He signed me too but I still did not start recording any songs that time but I was a freestyler then when I was done with high school, I started recording songs.

 I started my first mixtape -album- a project called ‘Kulu Yom’ in 2017 which hit radio airwave and became the street anthem. In 2019 -December 31ˢᵗ I also dropped another album called ‘Black Day’ and also I launched it with a show and won the best album of the year 2020 -SSUSA AWARDS.

BOKA Jr: What is your preferred genre in music and why?

MG Kick: For me, I have chosen hip hop to send and preach the message of peace and love to my country and the African people at large.

I am like a pastor or a teacher because my lyrics got moral lessons that can unite and support youths. 

BOKA Jr: What are some of the musicians with whom you did a collaboration?

MG Kick: I worked with legends and upcoming artists like Lual, Asif   Justin Jad,  laxlil and some cypher 2018 J-yang, Panda nation,  one pound   Moni Moniac and Young boy in 2017.

BOKA Jr: Have you ever done any video, and how much does it cost to produce a quality video?

MG Kick: Yap I have done the ‘Kulu Yom’ video which cost me all 650$ here in Juba. It costs more money to have the best quality video because the problem is the locations, dressing and accommodation, so you have to at least prepare something like 600$.

BOKA Jr: Is there any managing or marketing outfits that help you in your music

MG Kick: No I don’t have. I only have a die-hard fan that supports me. In most cases, I struggle on my own.  Now, I have 10 talented young boys aged 9 to 17 years. I am managing and supporting them to develop their talents.  I have been working with them until now, 4 of them have 4 single songs and I did ‘Kick cypher vol•1 2021.’

BOKA Jr: Who are some of the artists you have collaborated with since you began your career?

MG Kick: Kulu Yom ft. L. u.a.l the song that made my name light. Black market ft. l.u.a.l that hit the street and club then Black Day and Salam be Dush and some others that people and calling me with it.

BOKA Jr: What’s your message for South Sudanese?

MG Kick: I want to let my country people support and show much love to the artists through financial support, sharing the little they have. They can download songs/videos from the website, subscribe to our YouTube channels, like and follow our entire social media platform and give some respect as we respect them too.

[I want to see that] all the radio stations, DJs are playing our songs on streets 99 per cent because now I can see what they are doing is 70 per cent.  Thanks to all South Sudanese for the good things they are doing for us.  Let them keep that up because soon we will bring BET & GRAMMY AWARDS to them here in South Sudan.  Peace and love my beautiful South Sudanese, God bless South Sudan.