Only the best get noticed

Noah Odongo, 22, known by the stage name GBO that stands for GoldenBoyOdongo, is a rapper, producer and sound engineer. Matilda Nzioki why he chose music even after graduating with a Masters in Civil Engineering

Tell us about yourself

I graduated in July with a Masters in Civil Engineering from City University, London.  I’m now taking a year off from this field to pursue music on a full time basis.  I think I’m passionate, creative, focused, humorous and crazy, which describes both my work ethic and how I live. I work and play hard.

Why did you decide to pursue music and not formal employment?

Because I’m passionate about it.  I once read a Warren Buffet interview where he said he goes to work everyday practically skipping because he enjoys what he does, and it’s the same with me. I’m hoping to make money off it, but it’s all about loving what I do.  Who wouldn’t want to do what they love?

What did your parents have to say about this choice?

Initially, they weren’t too happy and were confused, especially because I had pursued my studies to the Masters level. I feel like music is what I have always wanted and my parents understand that now.

Where did you study?

I studied Civil Engineering for both my undergraduate and Masters in City University, London.

Describe life studying abroad?

It’s amazing.  One has a lot of freedom and can interact with many different cultures and share lots of interesting experiences.  I really loved London, but, of course, not as much as Nairobi.

How did you manage to get a Masters degree at such a young age?

I finished my undergraduate with good grades, so I immediately enrolled for a Masters programme. I felt that it was something I would eventually do, so I thought I’d just get it out of the way. I thought that once I started working, I would find it hard to go back to school. In the UK, they encourage doing Masters straight after undergraduate, so it was easy to make that decision.

When did you start doing music?

I have been into music since I was ten. I would spend hours locked away in my room writing music and it has changed. It started after listening to The Marshall Mathers LP.  I was intrigued by how he put words together and I wanted to do that. 

By the time I was 14, I had over 50 completed songs that I was ready to release, but because I couldn’t produce music, the songs never saw the light of day. 

At 17, I met my two producers AR and K-Yos, and formed the company Miagi where we record our songs now. I learnt how to produce by watching these two.

Which are some of your songs?

My latest releases are DTA and Everything.

DTA is about overcoming negativity and doing what you love. It plays quite regularly on local radio stations. It has an accompanying music video, which I edited.? Everything is about how you can get everything through hard work.

How was it starting out as a rapper?

It was challenging.  Obviously as an artiste, all I want to do is spend all my time creating, but there is the business side of it, which is very tricky. I have to chase people like DJs and promoters. This involves a lot of almost nagging or an introduction through the right people.

I also realised that everyone wants to be a rapper, which means stiff competition.  Sometimes I feel like we’re all in a pit and whoever can shout the loudest for the longest will get noticed and picked to leave the pit.  This challenges me to be different. I tell myself: “How can I pull off wearing all-black at this all-white party.”

How can you compare getting into music here and abroad?

In London, there are more avenues for one to get discovered. There is always an open mic somewhere or some sort of competition going on that any musician can be a part of. The downside to this is that you compete with many people to get noticed and if you’re not ambitious, you might get content just performing in front of the same small crowd over and over. 

In Kenya, on the other hand, there are fewer shows, especially for upcoming artistes, so it forces you to really up your game to get the shows. I feel like it’s harder to get noticed in Kenya if you don’t know ‘people’.

Tell us about the T-Pain competition you participated in while in London?

The word on the street at that time was that getting a T-Pain feature would make your career. T-Pain wanted to prove that that’s not the way it works and that a lot of work is needed. Not just one song. So, he released a song with just one verse and the other verse empty for anybody to try and hop on.  The winner would get the opportunity to feature on his mix tape and album. I was in the studio in London and one of my friends stumbled upon the competition announcement. We had a week till the deadline and the winner depended on fans’ views. Some people had been gaining views for two weeks already.

That same day, I wrote my verse on the train home from the studio. Everybody was looking at me like I was crazy, because I was whispering continuously. The next day, I went back to the studio right after class and recorded my verse. I didn’t win because I couldn’t get enough views before the deadline, but I got an email with a top five honourable mention from T-Pain and looking at it now, it birthed a new me.

Tell us about your background...

I grew Karen, Nairobi and went to Makini and Hillcrest for my prep and secondary school.  I then went to London to do my undergraduate and Masters degrees.

I’m the youngest of six sisters. Growing up with strong females has given me a respect for women. My mum passed away when I was seven and I miss her. I even have a song for her that I’ll release on her memorial in March. My step-mums have been amazing just like my dad. He is a self-made man and the hardest working person I know.