Friedrich Nietzsche was right when he said: “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”. Colo Bondz is a champion having once boarded the train of tragedy as his best friend was killed in a drive by shooting in the state of California, the death of his God-Sister from Sickle Cell complications, death of his very first DJ and friend, his dear mother having been diagnosed with cancer and the survival of a life threatening car accident in which doctors said he would never walk again. These tiny, mostly tragic happenings still wasn’t enough to contain the potential of this Soul Survivor.

Nigerianhiphop.net caught up with the man himself and here is what he has to say.

1. Name/Age/Hometown?

Colo Bondz: Eze Jonathan Nwogu…so for the record I am Nigerian

2. How did you coin out the name Colo Bondz?

Colo Bond: It was given to me by my friends, it came from Machiavelli first name “niccolo” and then “bondz” was just for the way I moved through the streets smooth, they said I was somewhat like James Bonds versatile and unpredictable…they would say one minute am here the next am there and oh yeah the women too….lol.

3. Why and when did you get involved with the art form (hip-hop)?

Colo Bondz: I got involved in hip hop when I was around 19 years old or so…

4. You worked for New York’s radio station WBLS as a teenager, what is the story behind that Bondz?

Colo Bondz: The whole job/gig started off as for my friends and helping with neighborhood out reach for the radio station volunteering and we were handing out radio paraphernalia for the radio stations, basically street team activity, we were younger so the program director decided to employ myself and another friend because we were more able to relate with the demographic of the listeners (younger crowd)so I guess at a young age I learned marketing.

5. 10 underground CD’s inside your portfolio as a veteran that is something many emcees can be boastful of in their career. Can you name the mix tapes and tell us why there hasn’t been much buzz about them?

Colo Bondz: Honestly its probably more than 10 but I can’t remember them all hmm..

1. Nuclear War- (2003)
2. Platinum Classic- (2003)
3. Gimmie the Stonez- (2004)
4. V.S.O.P- (2004)
5. The Chronicles of Colo Bondz- (2005)
6. I Am What It Is- (2006)
7. Day –n- the Life CD/DVD combo- (2007)
8. Now or Never (2009)
9. Live Today Forever (2009)

Perhaps lack of aggressive and a structured marketing plan…I was young at the time and also didn’t have a lot of savvy business minded people around me…it was more like make a mix tape, hand it out at shows parties…but not much internet marketing so I think that’s gonna a change a bit now though…starting with you right…(lol)

Huey: Certainly Colo Bondz lol.

Colo Bondz – Baby

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6. Venni Vetti Vecci is the word that best describe your journey so far in life and despite the up’s and down’s you’ve never given up on your dream to teach through your music. What motivated you to keep going on?

Colo Bondz: Music is my therapy I don’t do drugs or drink a lot and music in general helped me get through even the most challenging times, challenging times you could read about in my bio on my website www.colomusicstore.com, I feel it’s my calling to do great music because once I get in the studio, I make stuff and everyone is like “We cannot wait to hear that on the radio”.

7. Any insight into what your proposed charity organization might be doing when it finally comes to realization?

Colo Bondz: I would like to start and work with charities for the hungry and homeless, education and awareness geared programs, teaching and letting the youth know about the HIV/AIDS epidemic most especially. I have already started moving around the Washington DC and Baltimore area assisting organizations and companies like Pastiche Group LLC and “Don’t Guess, Get Tested” initiatives. I am using my music and life experiences as tools to accomplish this challenging feat. I plan to assist with “Feed the Hunger” programs and my management is currently contacting “Bread for the City” in Washington DC to see how I could help out with the Hunger crisis within the less privileged in the region. (The Initiative | COLO BONDZ – Don’t Guess GET TESTED – HIV AIDs awareness 2009).

8. What do you think of the Nigerian music industry right now?

Colo Bondz: I think it has tremendous growth and endless capacity we have an estimated 145 mil people to serve our music and skills sets too, and they (the Nigerian audience) are ready and waiting for good material.

9. Any plans of a collaboration with similar artists of Nigerian nationality?

Colo Bondz: Absolutely I have one really HOT song named “Red Carpet” under my belt my peeps Matt Sesso and ND… shout outs to them and I also want to do other collaborations with others.

Colo Bondz – Red Carpet ft. Matt Sesoo & ND

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10. Do you feel slighted by other Nigerian entertainment blogs and if so why?

Colo Bondz: Not really, I believe in my management and that they’ll help me gain popularity on these blogs and websites even if I do not sound like the average Nigerian artist, I don’t mean to brag, but I can guarantee you that once more Nigerians begin to hear my music, I would get more Nigerian Entertainment bloggers and websites to write about me.

11. Chris Celestine, D2 Management for Trey Songz said and I quote “COLO BONDZ is a talented and very creative artist whose music will touch several genres of listeners and won’t stay in one lane” What does it feel like to be recognized by established bodies in the music industry?

Colo Bondz: What an honor…First off, I am a fan of Trey Songz and love his persona and movement. My management sent them a rough demo song, which is a secret weapon I have for you all in the future, and they love the record. They immediately set up a meeting with Chris of D2 Management in DC. They spoke very well about my music and our current movement and definitely have plans with working with them in the future so stay tuned to that. I appreciate them and all there favorable comments it is the great honor to be recognized by not just your peers but major industry management.

12. Finally, do you have any single/mixtape/album in work that is likely to be groundbreaking?

Colo Bondz: I got a BIG party song called “MAKE IT HOT” that will start playing in a lot of DC and Baltimore clubs and later in the summer should hit the radio stations and XM. That’s the plan. I got the BIG Nigerian song featuring ND and Matt Sesoo and of course I got tons more …we just gotta release them strategically. As far as my project the new EP is set to drop this summer…We are making it just like an album with all original beats from my favorite producers through the years…everybody should stay tuned.

“Access Granted: Colo Bondz @ NEA Awards ‘09″

Access Granted: Colo Bondz @ NEA Awards ‘09 from huey234 on Vimeo.

*Random Questions*

3 Words that describe your fashion style?

Colo Bondz: Versatile, casual, yet Mature and grown…Oops that’s 4 words!

3 Favorites designers/brands?

Colo Bondz: Gucci, Ed Hardy, Rock Revival, Rock and Republic, True Religions, Nikes, Stacey Adams…Its really not about the designer brand, its about whatever is relaxing and makes me feel and look great.

Any Shout Outs?

Colo Bondz: Shout outs to nigerianhiphop.net and yourself Huey thanks for the opportunity, many thanks to my management, I-Scream marketing, shout outs to BHF magazine Jeff Olisah, DJs ZIMO, DJ Obi of AJ Entertainment, DJ Soundwave in DC, DJ Sixth Sense of WKYS 93.9FM, Storm record’s Obi Asikah, Bisi and all my Nigerian fam back home and of course my USA fam as well in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC and all over the world.

There you have it raw and uncut. You can listen to Colo Bondz music on www.colomusicstore.com | www.reverbnation.com/colobondz. Peace!!!

Tags: Colo Bondz, Matt Sesoo, ND