TOBi wants to help young Black boys tap into their power

CBC

17 hours ago

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TOBi is a Juno award-winning rapper who collaborates with Canadian music legends like Jully Black, Haviah Mighty, and Saukrates. Nonetheless, he says making hip-hop is not about fame; his whole life is devoted to connecting with young people.
"I hope that young Black men hear these lyrics and can feel seen," TOBi tells Q guest host Garvia Bailey. "As well as to know that they have an inner power that they should tap into.… We don't have time to wait for the world to change."
WATCH | TOBi's full interview with Q guest host Garvia Bailey:
TOBi just released Elements Vol. 2., which is his fifth release after three albums and an EP. But before his career in rap, TOBi worked as a youth counselor. He's happy that he's still motivating people with his words, but now he's connected with his higher purpose.
"When I was in the middle of work thinking about song lyrics and concepts, I was like, 'I think I know where my heart is telling me to go,'" TOBi says. "As much as I genuinely love this profession [as a youth counsellor] and this field of work, it didn't feel like it was my calling."
Although his work with social services is behind him, TOBi says that his experience with helping at-risk teens in Toronto holds a special place in his heart.
"I wasn't much older than some of these people. Like I was like 23, 24," TOBi recalls. "'Til this day, I still will talk to some of those people who are on the front lines, here and there, just to check in.… The lesson that I learned from that is everybody's trajectory can change.… I don't think anybody's a lost cause."
As an immigrant who grew up pouring his feelings into his poetry whenever he missed his family back in Nigeria, TOBi was always in touch with his own vulnerability. But as an adult, TOBi is writing about the bigger picture too. He says that learning about colonization and war has inspired him to dig even deeper with his lyrics.
"This is not just a game, you know what I mean?" TOBi says. "Like there are rules that were set in place before you were born that are affecting your life right now. So understand what those rules are so that you can have longevity."
TOBi's new album Elements Vol. 2 is an homage to all of these components that have shaped his life, and now shape his art. His tracks encourage his listeners to overcome obstacles in their lives, and keep fighting even when they feel like the odds are against them.
"I think [this album] should also reflect not only my growth as an artist, but also it can be a way to speak to the times in an interesting way," he says.
The full interview with TOBi is