Weird MC
(Sola Idowu)

Sola's words to other women:
"Stand tall, Stand strong.".

Nigerian-born Sola Idowu, better known as Weird MC, has publicly identified herself as a lesbian in print and broadcast interviews in Britain. Idowu told London's Omega magazine, "I thought to myself as my career is progressing every time, the question will come up one day -- 'Weird, are you gay?' I'd say 'no,' I'd say 'no,' and there is a very popular saying in the hip hop world: keeping it real. I thought to myself that I was not keeping it real, not 100%. So I thought to myself this would be an opportunity for me to bring that across. Some people are going to fault me for it, I can imagine, but that's what I am, that's who I am, and I am no longer ready to deny it." Weird MC said that her family in Nigeria were already aware of her orientation. The album she's now working on is titled Africa Woman. Source -From Planet Out

An Artiste/Lyricist/Programmer/Producer whose musical style is a hybrid of HipHop/Afrobeat/R&B plus anything undefined, her sound is leftfield in a sense she refuses to be put in a box. Her main influences are Fela Kuti, Lauryn Hill, Da Roots Angelique Kidjo, Dr Dre and Jimi Hendrix.

She is recognized as the woman who pioneered hip hop music in Nigeria and won proper recognition for hip hop in 1997 by picking up the very first award ever given to a hip hop artiste in Nigeria. She recently collaborated with Femi Kuti (Fela Kuti's son) recording a cover version of Fela Kuti's song title 'Palava.'

COLLABORATIONS: The artiste also known as Da Rappatainer has collaborated on stage and in the studio with the likes of Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, Tony Allen and Ashley Beedle. [One of the most respected dance remixers who lent his talent to Femi Kuti's shoki shoki remix project.] She has also toured extensively with the Shrine sound system, Afrocelt sound system and doing her own thing with her all female band. A recording she was recently featured on alongside "Rhythmic Altered state" has just been released in Berlin.

Shola loves performing on stage and has also had the opportunity to perform with King Sunny Ade, and she has supported MC Lyte on stage. She writes, produces and composes most of her material, and also collaborates with other writers. One of her unique afro/hip hop songs ('African Woman') was recently licensed to a compilation project which featured songs by Orlando Julius and Snowboy.

FUTURE PROJECTS:
Appearance on Tony Allen's soon to be released album project.

Weird MC's new album in progress tentatively titled "After Da Storm"
Keep ur eyes open Keep ur ears firmly 2 da ground . . . Da storm is comin' . . . Da wait is over . . .

Contact:  rappatainer@hotmail.com
Telephone:  07939 319632

Source with music clips: http://freespace.virgin.net/tamsin.harris/music/wierd.html 
http://www.nigeria-arts.net/Music/Hip_Hop/Weird_MC/
www.mckenziehpa.com/bw/greenview.html 
Photos:  Nigeria Arts Net http://www.nigeria-arts.net