Mode 9 Returns

By Osagie Alonge

Veteran Nigeria rapper Segun Babatunde better known to the public as Mode9 has returned to the country after spending almost a year in the UK.

The rapper who left the shores of Nigeria in early July 2010 just after winning the award for ‘Lyricist on The Roll’ at the 5th edition of HipHopWorld Awards, travelled to the UK for the ‘Ikukulive Presents Bang The Hip-hop Takeover’ show which took place Saturday, July 24, 2010.

At the time, he had only just gotten his UK Passport (Born in England, Mode 9 has dual citizenship, but did not obtain the legal documents until last year) and it did not come as a shock when news emerged he was considering taking up permanent residence in the UK.

It was also rumoured that he had signed a management deal with Ikuku Records, a budding record label based in the UK but the news was never confirmed. In his time spent abroad, Mode 9 released a mixtape in October 2010 and a free album in January 2011. Even thought the six foot-plus size rapper was busy waxing songs, his absence was felt back at home.

Since his return, rumours have been flying that Mode9 has apparently signed with Serengeti Records, the same record label that houses rapper Godwon and producer/singer DJ Zeez. What’s not certain is whether he’s back here full time; or just back from a minute…

Mode9 who has released four albums so far in his career is gearing up to release his 5th studio album titled ‘Commercial Break’.