What do you get if you combine Sweden, Sierra Leone and Trinidad? Well, maybe the answer is a twenty-four year old artist who gets his inspiration from hip hop as well as calypso. With a catchy song he has given the answer himself. Now he wants the rest of us to learn to say the Conté.

But his real name is Ibrahim Conteh. Sitting in café just above Sergel Plaza in the centre of Stockholm he lays out the story about himself for Urbanlife.

- Basically I started in 2007 with a mixtape called “The Hybrid”. It was supposed to be my last mixtape but the response I got from people was so great that it motivated me to really go for it. So I decided to go into the studio and do another one, he explains enthusiastically.

That mixtape became his break into the business. But Conté’s talent for music and his taste for all types of genres can be traced back to his family. His step dad used to work as a musician, and although Conté was born in Sierra Leone it was the different styles of music hailing from his step dad’s native Trinidad and the rest of the Caribbean that made the most impressions on him.

- I just want to make good music and I think it’s easier to do that if you’re not limiting yourself, he says in relation to his interest for genres like calypso, soca and dancehall.

Like many of his piers in the younger generation Conté has take advantage of the opportunities that internet provides for artists. Working with producers from Germany, France and the UK he has managed to take his music abroad while still keeping his base in the multiethnic suburb Husby.

On social media sites like Facebook and Myspace Conté has put out his tunes, steady chasing his short-term goal of spreading his music to the rest of the European countries. In a longer perspective though, he wants his music to be heard on a global scale.

- Right now we’re promoting our mixtape “Can’t stop me” and we’re also working on an album. We hope to hit it big with this album and give everyone a chance, all over the world, to take part of my music, Conté says about his current plans.

The “we” Conté’s referring to is the production team DoeBoi Muzik that he has behind him, lead by manager Mozzy Moe. Although Moe, who sits by during the interview, gives a very quiet impression Conté says that he’s the real mastermind behind all the work that they do.

Finally Conté explains the reasons behind the title and the hook to his uncompromisingly catchy tune “Say da Conté”.

- I got tired of people pronouncing my name wrong. They said it like it was a Swedish name and that didn’t sound very good. So I just felt that I had to show people how you say my name right and then we threw in a “Mr.” there too, to really establish my name as an artist.

Looks like the lesson paid off ‘cause now Conté is on the verge to make a name for himself, whether you call him Mr. or not.

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