Tabi Bonney, born Tabiabuè Bonney, has been seen on VH1-Soul, MTV Jams, MTV 2, MTV U , MTV Africa, BET J, Music Choice, and Suckerfree MTV. His rap has a powerful message and he is proud to be from Washington DC. The son of a famous musician, Itadi Bonney, he couldn’t help but follow in the footsteps and pursue his love of music. Jamati caught up with him to discover what gives him the passion to do what he does.

Jamati: You were born in Lome, Togo to Itadi Bonney, a great musician in his own right. How much of an influence was he in your life, and how did it help direct your music?

He has a huge influence in my life and probably is the main reason that I chose to have music as my full time profession. I look up to my father so of course I grew up wanting to be like him. I grew up in an age of hip-hop so I leaned towards that side of things, but I definitely took elements from my father’s style. That’s why I prefer to perform with a live band and actually feel like I have to put on a real show for the audience by having dancers etc…

Jamati: You were pre-med (Biology) and completed a graduate degree in Biology, has the degree been of any use to you in what you do? Do you think you might still want to do something related to it?

Yes! I apply the discipline that it took to graduate and ace tests, and simply apply it to my music and the music business. I do not use my degree itself for work at all, because I am a full time artist, but my background in it has allowed me to assess every situation from a scientific aspect…I think that’s why I have been so successful as an independent artist.
And no…I don’t want to be a doctor anymore. I found my true passion.

Jamati: You have opened up for several big names, including Outkast, LL Cool J, and Cam’ron. Did they have any influence on your style? What was their take on your individual hip-hop style?

Yes, every artist that I have ever listened to has definitely had an influence on me. Whether it be their music, sense of style, or the moves they make behind the scenes. I am a student of my craft and I try to learn from anybody that’s involved in it. I don’t know what their take was on me–I never got a chance to speak to them about it. But some artists that dig my music are Dead Prez, Camp-Lo, T-Payne, Chingy, Lil Jon, Polow the Don, Soulja Boy, Raheem DeVaughn and Wale.

Jamati: You are a very independent soul in your music, self-promotion, and fashion line. How did you get VH1-Soul to put your first video on their show?

I just made sure that I had a quality product, from my music to the packaging of my CD, to my actual first video. I knew that even though I was independent, I had to try and compete with the majors. That being said, VH1-Soul loved what I had done and they are truly fans of my music.

Jamati: You rep Washington DC really hard, which is a change with everyone wanting to be associated with Atlanta, New York, and California. How much flack do you get about how DC is not really hard, etc.? Do you think the social messages that are running through your raps are making a difference to those who listen?

Actually I get a lot of flack from particular people in DC who feel as though I don’t represent the city correctly because I am not showing the grittiness of the streets of DC. It makes me laugh because I can only represent me and what I feel. I can’t portray something that I am not, and feel as though DC cannot be represented by just one person…there are many faces to DC. And I can only hope that the message that my music has is affecting people and touching their lives in some way. My main message is for people to live out their dreams.

Jamati: James Madison University allows it’s baseball team members to choose a theme song and Joe Lake’s song is your song, “The Pocket“. How does it feel to be part of the mainstream rap scene, and do you think it was a long time coming?

Wow! That’s crazy I didn’t even know that, you have to give me their contact info so I can definitely thank them. I am humbled for people to consider me part of the mainstream rap scene, I feel like I obviously have a long way to go, but I am appreciative of my current blessings thus far. I do feel as though it has been a long time coming, but it still is a long road ahead of me. I’m just enjoying the journey right now.

Jamati: Your line of clothing, Bonney Runway, seems to be very unique (very you) with it’s Euro-urban edge to it? What inspires you when you are designing? Are there any new projects in the works for your clothing wear?

Yes!! You can say it has somewhat of a euro-chicness to it. It’s just my own personal style and stuff that I love to wear. I get my inspiration from life, from furniture, from seeing what other people are rocking, and not rocking, LOL. No, there aren’t any new projects in the works, Bonney Runway is just starting so we are going to continue doing the same thing and keeping things to a minimum for the next couple of years until we perfect our craft.

Jamati: Some people may not be aware that you are African. Do you think that the industry is a little harder on Africans trying to break into it, or do you think it is totally dependent on talent?

Yes, I was born in Togo, West Africa. My mother is from N.E. DC though and my siblings were born in the US. I don’t think that the industry is harder on Africans, I think it is all dependent on talent. After all, look at Akon. There are also a lot of up and coming artists from Africa that are making headway such as WALE and VIC (he has that get silly song). There are some more that aren’t coming to mind right now, so excuse me if I left anybody out.

Jamati: Any plans to share your talent with the African continent in terms of tours?

Hopefully, my videos are playing on MTV-Base Africa right now, so that should hopefully open up the doors for it. It would be a dream to tour Africa.

Jamati: What new projects can your fans expect from you? Everybody should be seeing a video that I just shot in Africa for a song called Cool and Fly extremely soon (that was 1 of my ultimate dreams; to shoot a dope video in Togo). Also I have really been delving into directing so you should be seeing a couple of new videos on TV from other artists that say directed by Tabi Bonney ; )

And most importantly my next album Dope meet Fresh…Fresh meet Superstar which is coming sooner than you think.

Thank you for sharing the essence of you. To learn more about this shining star, visit his website and his myspace page.