Jedii Is Too Mago Mago for Stagnancy

Every now and then, Jedii007 remembers he can rap.

Basta Pikin x Kairaba Avenue

It happens once or twice a year. Last year, it was +1 Puff featuring Rossi SBW. This year, it is Basta Pikin and Kairaba Avenue, released two weeks apart, each with a music video. Rumour has it there was supposed to be a third release, but Jedii settled for two.

On Basta Pikin, Jedii reflects on growth, obstacles and the things that come with trying to move forward. The title translates to “bastard child”, but here, the obstacles themselves become the bastard children, unwanted baggage that comes with the journey. He also shouts out Kololi, where he spends much of his time making music alongside the 187 Studio, a place that currently forms part of his creative environment.

Kairaba Avenue takes things closer to home. Built around a bouncy instrumental, it spotlights his neighbourhood and the goals he is working towards. The obstacles remain, but so does the resolve. By the end, the message feels more like a shrug than a declaration: oh well. You know where to find me. I'm home, I'm chilling.

Together, the two songs capture where Jedii is right now. But the music is only part of the story.

More than music

There is a Cruel Santino influence in Jedii's willingness to explore different creative disciplines. Music remains central, but videography has become another outlet.

In Cyprus, he shot Rossi vertically for TikTok and other short-form platforms. Since returning to The Gambia in March 2025, he has been experimenting with horizontal video, turning clips into full music videos.

The progression runs through Newcomer featuring Savage, +1 Puff, Binance, Basta Pikin and Kairaba Avenue. He also edited OuZii's Cash Flow visualizer.

Only Basta Pikin was shot with a dedicated camera. The rest were filmed on an iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Asked how it feels to be a multidisciplinary artist, his response is immediate.

“Fun asffeccckkkkk.”

Making do, moving forward

Does he worry that audiences might judge his work as low quality?

“Well, I'm making use of what I have currently. It's either that or nothing. I know many elders that chose nothing. I wish they didn't, cause it all just went stagnant.”

Then comes the phrase that sums up his approach: “R too mago mago for stagnancy.”

Rather than wait for better equipment or bigger budgets, Jedii keeps creating. Writing, recording, mixing, mastering, shooting and editing have become part of the same process, with every release offering another opportunity to improve.

He sees the journey as one massive portfolio, or self-advertisement.

Instagram, YouTube and the numbers

Despite the work behind each release, engagement has not always matched the effort. So why upload full music videos to Instagram instead of directing everyone to YouTube?

“The problem is if I start thinking about all of that, I'm gon stay stagnant. I can't. Most of my audience are on Instagram, so I'd rather they just watch it there.”

He recognises YouTube's potential but knows where his audience currently spends its time.

“When I create, say a music video, I'm posting it to all platforms, including YouTube, so you choose where you wanna view it if you have the patience. But currently, if I want people to see my stuff, it's Instagram.”

For now, creating matters more than letting the numbers dictate his next move.

Basta Pikin and Kairaba Avenue are out now, both with accompanying music videos. They add to Jedii's catalogue while documenting what an independent, multidisciplinary artist can build with the resources available.

Still doing the DIY Alté thing. Still finding ways to make things happen.

Still too mago mago for stagnancy.