Skip to main content

Liberian Afro Pop Phenomenon Augustus G-Rize Cole: The Inspirations Behind “Lib Ladies”

                                                                  By Berenice Mulubah
                                                                                                    



                                                                                          

 


Song Writer and singer G-Rize has a knack for rocking the house. The Liberian native entered 2015 with a hit song "Lib Ladies," and he’s also nominated for the Liberian Entertainment Awards Artist of the Year 2015.
With its highlife flavor, positive message to all Liberian women around the world and cultural colored video, it is not a surprise that "Lib Ladies" is the most share Liberian music video of 2015 so far.
 
Afro-pop phenomenon entertainer - a fan of Liberian arts and culture, talked to Liberian Social Media blogger Berenice Mulubah, about the inspiration behind his song and where he's going from here.
                                                                   
 
 

Why write about Lib Ladies: My mother is a beautiful, educated, Via lady, I had to write this song for her, it was something I had to do, I had to let the world know that we have beautiful ladies and culture, forget about the negativity.  I had to uplift my people, tell the world to focus on who we are and not the negative things that are happening to us.

                                      
 

Was it ease to come up with the lyrics:  Actually, I wrote the song with Chris DeShield, who is one of my role models.  Chris DeShield, Munnah, George bee, are all artists I look up to.  I remember going nuts the first time I saw George Bee at a stop light. I've tried to learn from these guys. I’m a learner, I’m learning every time from people. Back to the question, we were working on another song called "Favor" but the melody for "Lib Ladies" kept coming, we were in the studio and my mother was on my mind, I was thinking about  back home, how she used to sing out loud cooking, while we were out playing in the yard, running around with the tires. 
I wanted to feel at home, I felt at home doing that song, I felt something, I felt it was meant to be. We were in the zone, we were back home.

 
 
 
 

Do you think this is your best song so far: I’ve grown as an artist, at this point in my career, it is one of my best, I’m finding my voice. I wasn’t born with that singing voice, I won’t lie to you, but I have charisma, I can rock the crowd.  So, from where I came from to where I am now, I’m proud of what I have become.
 

How do you balance your career and family life: I’m a father first, I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth, I was living in a zinc house in Liberia, my mother room floor didn't have cement, it was all sand and we used to put the mat on the floor to sleep.  My mother worked hard, my father was not with my mom but he was never absence in my life, I want to be a father like him. To all the fathers out there, I want say, be a father to your children. 

How do you feel being nominated for Best Artist of the Year: (few moments of silence with a sound of him sniffing back tears)  I'm very honored. I work so hard, this is not my first time being nominated, this is my fourth nomination and I haven't won yet, but like you wrote on your facebook wall, "if an award is for you, you won't have to fight for it." I hope to win this year, I've been working too hard.
 
At the end of the day, what would you like to be remember for: I want to be remember for not giving up. I want to travel the world performing, to hear people from around the world singing the words from music. I want to be remember for  giving back to the poor and still being able to take care of my family and provide everything they need and want.
 
 
Is there anything else you would like to say: I would like to say thanks, thanks, thanks, to all of my fans, please make sure you stress that, I love my fans, without them, I won't be here and I want them to know that I appreciate them.
           
G-Rize
 

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

President George Weah's One Day National Forum Successfully Attended by 26 Political Parties

On Thursday, August 8, 2018, President George Weah had a sit down with 26 political parties of Liberia.  The meeting aimed at advancing ideals that promote the spirit of national unity and political tolerance between opposition political parties and the government.  ANC, LP and UP attended the meeting as a team. According to Deputy Minister Eugene L. Fahngon, Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs at Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, all 26 political parties attended and participated from start to finish.  Even though, social media was buzzing about AB Dillion walking out of the meeting, he walked out as an individual and not a political party, "the invitation was extended to political parties and not to individuals," Minister Fahngon stated in his live video.  Each political party gave ideals and recommendations, which made the meeting a great success.  According to  Deputy Minister Fahngon, "there will be future engagements as such.&quo

What President Trump and Kim Jong Un Ate

The historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continued midday Tuesday, as the leaders satisfied their appetites while holding negotiations with a contingent of advisers over a working lunch. The lunch, which followed a 45-minute one-on-one meeting between the leaders earlier in the morning and bilateral discussion with senior aides, was held at the Capella Hotel on Singapore’s Sentosa Island. It was far from an intimate affair, with each leader accompanied by a bevy of senior staff, according to the White House. Joining Trump were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chief of Staff John Kelly, National Security Advisor John Bolton, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Deputy Assistant to the President for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger. Kim was accompanied by Kim Yong Chol , the former spy chief and one of North Korea’s chief negotiators, as well as Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, former

Liberia: Kpanto Entertains Small Crowd at Australia Concert

Kpanto's Australia tour's first night in Perth on April 1st was a tour in terms of attendance, but the artist still managed to put up a fantastic show in spite of the low crowd. Despite Kpanto's tremendous popularity, the attendance was unsatisfactorily low. A video that was just found online shows that there were between 25 and 65 people present. According to the promoter who planned the event, the actual number was 210. Despite all, the musician provided a standout performance.