Good music is infectious; it is able to reach deep into your mind and connect with your soul or inner being no matter the genre of music. Ron Orleans Binder, alias Ronny O, is a Canadian based Ghanaian rapper who knew that he was made for the rap game from the moment he listened to the ‘Ruff Ryders’ First Lady: Eve’ album, at age 14.

Born in the heart of the Bronx and later relocating to Toronto due to his parents separating, Ronny O was able to acquire and make sense of the hip-hop culture surrounding him, and has carefully harnessed his experiences into a unique talent that reflects the pain, hardships and good times in his life. After appearing on over 25 mixtapes, Ronny O is readying his debut album ‘Celebrity Status’. The first single off the album, yet to be titled ‘Lazer Light’ or ‘Bus Stop’ features Akon’s new artist Gypsy Stokes and promises to be one of the most-talked-about albums of 2009. Jamati.com got into the creative space of this young rapper with a sharp sense of humor, to find out about his music and life.

Jamati: How was growing up for you like?
I can’t complain. They say your past makes you who you are today. If I didn’t experience the sleeping outside; the sleeping in a shelter; the sleeping at the Immigration center; and selling drugs for the first time because immigration wasn’t giving us our papers, I would
not be the goal oriented man that I am today.

Jamati: When did you discover your talent as a musician?
You know this is a funny story I haven’t told anyone. I was in my room in the homeless shelter, mad because I had just bought the Ruff Riders’ First Lady: Eve album, and every track was relating to my life. So I’m there with my headphones, banging my head against the table…then I took off the head phone threw them on the floor  and ran to my mum and said, “Look,  with or without your support, I’m going to be a rapper!” Mind you I was just 14. She gave me this look like; okay what’s wrong with you? Then she said, “Who’s stopping you?” So I went back to my desk, picked up the headphones and since then it’s been a wrap.

Jamati: How would you describe yourself as an artiste?
I’m a fan of rap. I rap at rappers, telling them what they are doing wrong. I also say what the normal fan is going through; I give the reality of this fabricated game. My music is real! If I’m mad, the right record will help me say it. Balling, making love, partying, I get it out on the right record. Being real is the best thing you can do for yourself, health wise. It wasn’t till lately that I found my persona. I was rapping about throwing money around and stealing girls for such a long time that when I got in a club and I was broke, I would feel sick or forced to do something not in my character. Now I do me…like or dislike…I’m still doing it.

Jamati: Who are your musical influences?
They include Eve, DMX, Jadakiss, Stack Bundles, Capone N Nore, and 2pac. I would really like to work with Jadakiss and some rappers  like Drake from Toronto but one of my main dudes I want to work with one day is Akon. That’s in the works.

Jamati: When did you start performing?
I started performing at age 14 at Neil McNeil High School. I and my clique called ‘Platinum Bling’ ran the school. We later changed our name to ‘The Chase’. But yeah at 14, I was getting groupie love.

Jamati: When did you get your lucky break as a musician?
This game is messed up. I wouldn’t recommend it for you unless you are mentally strong.  I was like 19 or 20 when Akon’s best friend, Blewz, hollered at me on MySpace page. He told me I was cool and if I needed anything, I should holler. So my first video single is with Gypsy Stokes who is under Akon’s label. Watch out for his single dropping in April and Africa should watch out for our video dropping soon. My mixtape, hosted by Konvict Music, will be out soon.

Jamati: Do you write your own music?
Yep, and I write for R&B artists as well so if you need a hit, get at me.

Jamati: What do you rap about?
Pain, it’s what I go through on a regular; my life’s like a movie. If they were to make a movie based on my life there would a success in the tissue selling market, think about it. My rap is inspired by the surroundings within me and around me, period! The rest would be a fabricated rapper; like watching movies before you rap, what the hell is that?

Jamati: Who produces your music for you?
Me, a Ghanaian producer called Neo Tempus from Canada, and another called Knox,

Jamati: What is your opinion on contemporary African music?
They need new blood. It’s the same old people.

Jamati: What have been the highlights of your music career so far?
Performing in the Sky Dome….no wait…I’m lying. My biggest highlight was back two years ago. I had this one song called ‘Let Them Know’. A girl reached out to me and told me she was going to commit suicide but when she heard my track, she felt comfort. That was a big thing for me. Shout out to you Marzi, love u mami!

Jamati: What do you hope to achieve with your music?
I want to reach out to a wider audience and have more fans so that my message can be heard on a bigger scale. Getting the money for marketing is the biggest challenge. My campaign alone is a 15,000 dollar expense…but we are getting there!