In the last three years the tagline “initiating, Rage process” has decorated some of the biggest songs to come out of Nigeria, from the Grammy-nominated Afropiano anthem ‘Unavailable’ to two top 10 songs on Ayra Starrr’s sophomore albums, including the chart topping ‘Commas’ which currently sits comfortably atop the Nigerian Apple Music chart. The backdrops for these bangers have been curated by one of the fastest rising producers in the Nigerian music industry. Ragee has been having a very good 2024 and he’s just getting started, according to the Multi-platinum selling producer, who has his sights set on the highest pantheons of African music lore. Album Talks caught up with the Producer to discuss his success so far, his relationship with Magicsticks, and his goals for the future.
You’ve had an amazing year so far, from your contribution on Ayra’s album to producing for Boj and Odumodublvck, and Chris Brown.
Yes, yes it’s been a great year for me. It feels great, I can’t even lie, it feels amazing to be where I am right now, doing everything I’ve done. It feels great. You know I started from the church, playing drums in the church so to be doing all the things I am doing right now definitely feels great.
Given that Nigerian parents are very keen about education and corporate jobs for their children, how did your family take your decision to do music, was it a musical family or were you an outlier?
I wouldn’t say my family was a musical one, I was the only one at the time, but unlike most Nigerian families my parents were not against me doing music per se, but they didn’t really support it either. My parents would have loved if I did something else but my mom was never openly against me doing music, as the years went by she got to understand the dream better and now she’s one of my biggest fans. My Dad, though, was very indifferent about the whole thing.
One morning I was sleeping and David just reached out to me and said Chris Brown wants to work
You started taking production seriously in Uni, how did the transition from from a computer undergrad to a Grammy nominated Afrobeats producer happen?
It is crazy for real, it is really crazy. It was my guy Magic ooo (Magicsticks), I met Magic in Uni and I learned production from him, in fact I used to use his system to produce. Magic was my producer, we were in the same department in school and he used to produce for me and when I wanted to start producing, he taught me a whole lot.
So all these plaques, the Grammy nomination and everything that’s been going on in your career, was kickstarted by you producing ‘Have Fun’ for Bad Boy Timz in 2020. Can you take us through that journey, how did you get the opportunity to make that song, what was the creative process like?
So when I first started producing I used to go out to network and put myself out there, I no dey shy ooo, I still network till today. So I used to network a lot even before producing a single notable song, all I had was my beats on my laptop. Eventually I went to this event called ’Let’s Relate’ and that’s where I met Timz and told him I’m a producer. Funnily enough he never asked which songs I had produced before, he just gave me his number and we talked about working together later. I sent him all the beats I had on my drive and he made a freestyle on the ‘Have Fun’ beat and sent it to me. The song was half done for a long time and I didn’t hear from him again, but one night we met at a club and I convinced him to finish the song. After Olamide co-signed the song I just kept going. Subsequently, I got to produce for Magixx and Toby Shanks.
And then ‘Timeless’ happened in 2023.. You produced two joints on that album. Can You take us through how that happened, how did you get to meet Davido and what was the creative process like?
So how that jam happened was that my guy Magic called me one night and said “OBO dey do album, send me beats ma send give am,” I was a bit skeptical about it but he convinced me and I sent a few beats. OBO really loved the beats for ‘’Unavailable’ and ‘Picasso’ and Logos (Olori) wrote the songs with the help of Peruzzi. The funny thing is that the ‘Unavailable’ beat was on my Laptop for about six months before I sent it to David.
You also got to work with Internationally acclaimed producer Hardwerk, on Chris Brown’s hit song ‘Sensational,’ with Lojay and David. How did it feel to finally have your first international production credit?
It feels good you know, David made it happen ooo, it was all David. One morning I was sleeping and he just reached out to me and said Chris Brown wants to work. Hardwerk just sent me the data to an already started beat he did and I finished it for the song. Hardwerk, David and even Chris did not stress me at all, they were so easy to work with.
Apart from Hardwerk and Magicsticks obviously, which other producers have you collaborated with?
To be honest I’ve not done too many collaborations with other producers apart from Magic who I’ve been working with since Uni days. Oh there’s this guy I also met in Uni named Question Mark, he was very good but I don’t think he’s still into music now.
Which producers or artist do you think you have the best working chemistry with?
Definitely Magicsticks, Magic and I have very good chemistry. As for artists, there’s Young John who I knew since way back in his YBNL days when he was just producing for Baddo. There’s also Boj who is an amazing artist and I also love working with Ayra who I also know from way back, when I used to go to Mavins studio. Mavins is family to me.
Which song would you say is your favorite out of all the songs you’ve produced so far?
Hmmm [very long pause]… favorite song I’ve produced so far … I think it’s ‘Picasso,’ it’s just a different kind of sound that needs somebody to calm down and say things, and pour out their heart. It even had OBO spilling his emotions, I mean listen to lyrics like “no do me like this is so…”
You have accomplished so much in your career in such a short space of time. When was the one moment you felt like you’ve made it?
Omo make I no lie you, I’ve not felt like I have arrived yet. I have a plan and a vision, I have a place I am headed towards and I don’t think I’m there yet. When I get there I’ll definitely know.
Two years ago Pulse NG put you on their list of ten producers to watch out for and today you’ve come this far. Who are some of the most exciting young producers you feel will get to where you are in the next few years?
Okay, there’s this guy called Germany, he’s very very good, there’s also another talented guy named LOL, he produced the title track on Llona’s ‘Homeless’ album.
Who were the producers that influenced you during your come up, who did you learn from or look up to?
Man, it’s mostly Magic. Magic used to come to my hostel and I would learn a whole lot from him. There was also Jay Pizzle my OG, he’s very experimental and unique with his sound. J. Pizzle was ahead of his time, he was the first person to play Amapiano for myself and Magic. He brought the best out of Magic. There’s also this guy Cassybeats also known as Sweet Cassy, Magic watched him grow.
“Initiating, Rage process” is now one of the most recognizable producer tags in the country. Why did you opt to use Jay Pizzle’s voice instead of using a female voice?
Jay Pizzle is a very talented and unique producer, he’s somebody that can just come up with something from nothing within a very short period of time. One day he pulled up to the studio and did several variations of the tag— “Initiating, Rage process.” He tried several vocal effects until we settled on the version you hear on tracks now.
You’ve already achieved so much already. What would you like your legacy to be when it’s all said and done, what do you want your career to be remembered for?
I want to be remebered for making music for the next generation and also for giving opportunities to the newer generation of artists and producers through collaborations and other things. I want to be remembered for putting people on, so people can point to this person and that person and say that I discovered them. Much like (Don) Jazzy, I am very inspired by Jazzy and everything he does for up and coming artists.
You’ve already scored a #1 song on Apple music this year, and you tweeted that you are just getting started, so do you have more projects in store for us for this year?
There are so many plans for new music before the year runs out. God willing, I’ll drop one more single of my own later in the year while still producing for other artists. If everything goes as planned the single will be ready before the end of the year, but if not you people should wait till it’s ready
Sarz or Metro Boomin?
You wan dey whyne Sarz? They’re but good but there’s nothing Metro can do that Sarz cannot.
To wrap up, do you have any last words for the fans out there?
I really don’t have too much to say, all I want to say to the fans is thank you. Thank you all for the support, I really appreciate the kindness, thank you for streaming the music and supporting Ragee. If una no stream we no go fit chop.
