By Olimatou Coker
Amadou Secka better known by his artiste moniker, Vypa, is set to launch his new album Gom Gom at a glitzy event at Djembe Hotel on 9 December. The 10-track album launch is expected to be a roaring success as the sleek Basse-born, Pipeline resident is a natural crowd puller.
Talking to Standard Lite, Vypa said Gom Gom which translates from Wolof as “belief” is a social commentary on his generation. He explains: “Faith or belief is the main element that will have the greatest impact on one wherever one ends up tomorrow. It’s a thing that almost every one can relate to as faith affects all of us. That’s why the album is called Gom Gom.”
Born in 1985, the hip-hop and rap mbalax artiste started rapping in 2006 during his senior years in high school with a couple of friends. This prompted him to form a rap group called the Hood Hustlers. In 2007, they released a CD compilation titled Voices of the Ghetto. In 2008, he disbanded the group and began a solo career.
That same year, he released his maiden solo mix tape titled Hustlematic Scriptures (The Prequel). In 2009, he launched a second mix tape called The Apocalypse (Death of Realism). In 2010, he released a hit single Must Get There and A more. The songs received airplay on TV and local radio stations.
Vypa also shot two videos off the Apocalypse mixtape Rock Your World featuring Snow Ezy and Amore featuring Lenna which became the local TV station staples. In 2011, one of his projects Jiwu featuring Jail was involved in a soundtrack of a movie titled Kodho, a local movie produced and directed by Efe Omo Egori of Supagrafix Media.
In 2012, he released a hit single called Skinny Boy Fly. He shot a video for the song which was nominated and won the Best Video category at the first ever local video awards held in The Gambia’s growing music scene. In 2013, he released a promo single with Senegalese international artist Fafadi titled Swag. The song was produced by Hakim of Sunland.
In 2014, he released a third mixtape Nut and shot two videos off the mix tape. In 2016, he released another promo single titled Young Nigga. He has since released an EP and an album.
