15 November 2010

Hip-hop star Naeto a master of ceremonies and science

Photo opportunity: 9.30am on Wednesday, 17th November at City Square, Dundee. Naeto C will be joined by family members for his graduation.

One of the world's fastest rising hip-hop stars will next week ditch the bling in favour of more sober robes when he graduates from the University of Dundee and becomes the only MCee with an MSc.

Naetochukwu Chikwe, better known by his stage name of Naeto C, is a multi-million selling and multiple award-winning Nigerian rapper. He has also spent the past year studying for a Masters in Energy Studies, and will receive his degree at the University’s Autumn Graduation ceremony on Wednesday, 17th November.

Family members will travel from Nigeria to be with Naeto on his big day.

Naeto, dubbed the most educated entertainer in Africa, writes and co-produces his music as well as Mcing, and his uplifting tunes have proved a hit with audiences around the world, leading him to be heralded as the voice of young Nigeria.

Despite the obvious temptation to abandon academia in favour of hip-hop fame and fortune, the chart-topping 27-year-old decided to pursue his studies and settled into life in Dundee just like any other student, with tutors and classmates largely unaware that they had a superstar in their midst.

Leading something of a Jekyll-and-Hyde existence, he completed his dissertation whilst preparing to release a new album, flying all over the world for festivals and promotional events, and doing charity work to help some of the world’s poorest children.

Now, with his Masters in the bag, Naeto says his focus will shift back to music.

'I am delighted to have graduated and am really looking forward to receiving my degree next week,' he said. 'It's been a bit difficult balancing my music with my studies, but I got there.

'When I was studying in Dundee, my aim was to get my head down and hadn't intended to let anyone know about my music as I didn't want any distractions. Eventually I had to tell my tutors as I needed their help in balancing everything. I had been leading a kind of double life.

'I was working hard to get the grades, but it became difficult when I had an album coming out and had to fly to South Africa to do some filming. I suppose these weren't bad problems to have though!

'It's not just about music for me. Music began as a hobby which became much bigger than I'd ever imagined it would, but there’s more to me than that. I think what's important is what you use the music to do. In that respect, my main inspiration is Jay-Z because he's not just a musician, but also a businessman. That’s a good benchmark for me.

'My music and my Masters degree are both extensions of myself, my areas of interest that have essentially become a part of my daily thinking. I can’t predict the future but I plan to continue working hard and expanding my knowledge and skills in these two areas where I have created a livelihood for myself.'

Hip-hop has become massively popular in Africa over the past decade, something Naeto attributes to the growth in urban culture in that time. He says that young people in cities connect to the themes and messages prevalent in hip-hop, and he works hard to represent the urban youth.

Naeto's 2008 debut album U Know My 'P', sold more than three million copies in Nigeria alone and led to him being named Best New Artist at the MTV Africa awards in 2009. He has performed at festival and concerts across the globe, and was a media panellist at Harvard African Business School's Annual Conference 2010.

Naeto says he says he is motivated by a desire to give something back to Nigeria, both in practical and inspirational ways. He is involved with a project entitled ‘School is Cool’ which sees him visit schools in Africa and speak to children about the value of education.

He continued, 'Nothing is as important as education, and the youth need someone who is educated and who has been there to tell them that. It’s not all about the fame, cars, money and women that they perceive someone to have and which is very often not the case.

'We will be asking them to consider the importance of education and how this is the key to their empowerment. We will go around different schools, doing concerts and signing autographs and generally trying to be a good role model and encouraging them to stay in school.'

Naeto's dissertation dealt with energy economics in Nigeria. He says it was important to him to carry out research about his homeland because he wants his work to contribute to the development of the country and its people.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277