He is widely known as Kanasu, a staunch follower of Baye Niasse. Read below our interview with the talented young rapper.
What’s On-Gambia: Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
Kanasu:Absolutely!! I go by the names Bashir Barz Kazion Dasufi but I’m better known as Kanasu. I have made a name for myself in the Senegambian region as one half of the Divine Lyrikal Cypher (DLC) collective alongside my brother from another mother, Killa Ace. I make the type of hip hop artist that some would consider “conscious”. I am a Sufi disciple and I represent that way of life in every way possible, a modern day nomad.
What led you and your family to settle in The Gambia?
Well, I was born in Amman, Jordan and at the age of two my parents moved to Banjul. My father got a job at the Atlantic Hotel as Chef. I grew up in Pipeline. So I guess, we can say it was fate that I grew up in The Gambia – but I consider myself extremely blessed for that.
You attended Marina International. Tell us about that.
Yeah. After I left Ndow’s, I was a knuckle head in Marina. I built up a reputation for being that stubborn kid that didn't pay attention in class. Not something that I'm proud of. But I think it's connected to the whole schooling system. I never found it that intriguing.
How do you deal with being called toubab in the streets?
It depends where it’s coming from, when it’s from a little kid -I imagine they’re only saying it out of the excitement of seeing a white person, while hoping on getting a little present from me ‘mintyyyyy’. But when it is coming from a grown man in Serre Kunda, for example, I just think it makes them look a little ignorant. I usually just shake it off because I know it is not in any way racist.
When did you first fall in love with rap music?
When I was around 11 years old, my mother bought me my first stereo and Tupac’s Are You Still Down on cassette. Then I got Wu Tang’s 36 Chambers and had it on repeat all the time in my room - that led me to fall in love with pretty much everything that was coming out of the east coast, especially Nas, Jay Z and Biggie.
I spent the majority of my early teens catching up with all the classics like Ready to Die, Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Wu Tang Forever, and everything that followed it. I was a real hip-hop head from the start. Everyone in my grade was riding with the new wave of southern rap (cash money, no limit), while I was bumping the classics.
According to reports reaching us, you were part of Smoke Doctah’s Ghetto Noir. What happened?
Are you talking about the album or the movement?
The Movement.
Nothing happened. Before and after Smoke Doctor came in the picture Killa Ace and I were DLC. We used to hang out a lot in Serre Kunda where Smoke Doctor called Ghetto Noir and we held it down. I don’t know how to further answer that for you…
Could you see yourself becoming a household name in The Gambia?
Absolutely, mainly because The Gambia is the foundation. The Gambia is where I became who I am today, from my personality to my state of mind and my music. This is where my main fan base is, my real supporters. So no matter how far my music takes me it will always have its foundation in The Gambia. It’s where I represent…
What is your honest opinion about rap-mbalax?
To be honest, I haven’t heard enough of it to form an opinion. It really took off after I left in 2010. And whenever it comes across my social network feeds, I tend not to give it the time of day, not because I have a problem with it but just because I’m the type of rapper that tends to stay in his universe. I do know this though: it’s a genre of music that has an extremely thin line between it sounding good and it sounding really corny.
Are you a Muslim?
Yes, I am!
Did you convert or?
Yes in 2008, right before I did mytarbiyu?
What’s tarbiyu?
It’s the act of finding yourself through intense prayer and meditation.
What captured your attention towards Islam?
Sufism, straight up! I have always been soul searching since I was around 15 years old. Truth seeking has always been a main characteristic of mine. When I came across Sufism it just clicked.
You are a staunch follower of Baye Niasse. What is it about him and his family that attracted you?
Baye Niass is the truth; the more you look into him and what he represented the more you realize that he is the truth. He opened doors of spirituality that are vital for our generation.
What were the changes in your life after becoming a talibeh baye?
I know who I AM, who God is. I am the epitome of the term “everything is one” becoming a talibeh defines who I am. As far as music is concerned, it gives me a reason to keep rapping- everyone needs to hear about this spiritual path called the Tariqqa Tijannia.
Are you now based in France?
Yes I am. I left The Gambia about four years ago. I wasn’t really planning on living in Paris at the time but fate so had it that I would be out here for a while. Who knows where I will end up next, moving around is the story of my life- I’m a modern day nomad.
Killa Ace is your dude, right?
My dude? No, he’s my brother, my best friend. We have known each other for about 14 years now.
What do you think about his beef with Gee?
I saw that coming from a mile away, they never really got along. As a friend of both of them, I always found it funny and harmless. When they started getting at each other with beef on records I was just being entertained like everybody else, it was fun!
Who’re some of the people in the Gambian music industry who’ve been your main supporters?
Well, at the beginning it was Xmyles. I remember when he just started his show, The Basement, he used to play a lot of American hip-hop and when he got his hands on mine and Ace’s records, he was happy to have some local hip-hop to play on his show, (that didn’t suck). He was very supportive of our music.
The most recent supporter is Bankie Grey Johnson. This guy totally gets us man; I mean he’s part of the few that really want to see us make it.
What projects do you have coming up?
A five- track EP followed by a full length LP… and the videos to go along with it. I recently signed with an independent label in Paris with the aim of spreading my music out to the European, African and eventually the American public.
Any final words?
I am extremely humbled and grateful for the undying love and support of the Gambian fans and for their patience, I got you!!!! One love!