GROSSMONT COLLEGE — On my daily routine sitting on the lawn watching my fellow students push on to their next classes I was reminded of a quote I read by Calvin Coolidge:

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”

The quote made me think of how many talented people we have on campus, young adults full of dreams aspirations and desire to become more. Who are these people around us? What are their talents? Could you be sitting next to the future Jim Morrison? Mike Giant? or even Oprah Winfrey?

Enter the rapper/poet Mood Swings, a hospitality major with an ambitious desire to not only showcase for the world his talents but help to showcase the talent of others.

Q: So let’s start with your name?
A: Abayomi Ismael Adefioye is my government (name).

Q: Does it have any meaning or significance?
A: Abayomi translates to a gift or a moment/cause of joy/happiness, Ismael is from my pop’s Muslim upbringing! As you know, I go by Yomi. MoodSwingKing used to just be MoodSwings; it  was more of a description of my reactions to life in general.

Q: So your alias is a reflection of your experiences?
Yea, All my issues and problems when I was younger. I was more dramatic and got a little more wrapped up into stuff. Kind of like going through puberty. Hormones all messed up. MoodSwingKing was a coming to terms with all my issues and all the b_s we all deal with in life. Taking ownership and controlling my surroundings as opposed to just going with it! Reaching the point of mastering my mood movements.

Q: So you’re Nigerian, right?  It must have been hard adjusting?

Yeah, I came here when I was 4, so it wasn’t the most significant transition I’ve dealt with. I do remember the differences growing up though. I lived in Inglewood during my elementary/middle school years. I remember going back and forth between school and home and constantly noticing a separation in the two worlds I lived in. 1: The home of my conservative Nigerian parents.
2: The US world outside of the home.

Q: What did you learn from this?
It taught me at a young age to keep those worlds and even other worlds I resided in separate. Kind of like a different realms. No matter what, they all blend and blur together, but it usually tends to work better this way. 
Q: Your parents would prefer you to be a doctor or a lawyer.  What do they feel about you being a musician?

At this point, my parents are supportive. Don’t get it twisted though, it hasn’t always been this way! I went through most of my life not able to participate in things or activities that my American counter-parts and friends were into. If it wasn’t school they weren’t feeling it. Their support was almost by force.  I have always been persistent in doing whatever it is that I wanted to do regardless of the outcome or expectations. All in all though, they have seen me grow as a person, so at this point, they know I’m a grown man. Nothing they say is gonna stop me at this point and I think they know that. 

Q: Ha, I hear that.  So what’s next for your music?

I’m in the process of dropping a solo project hopefully to be released early 2011, so I’m getting my press game straight right now. I’m really looking forward to this one! An opportunity to go some places cats ain’t really expected! The best way to stay updated with my progress… from music to life to hi-jinx. Find me on twitter:  http://twitter.com/MoodSwingKing  

Q: What about Broken Dreams?

As far as music, my group Broken Dreams just dropped a mix-tape called “Get Familiar.” Get your free download here: http://www.famroyal.com/downloads/getfamiliar You can find the rest of our music/bio/info here:http://www.famroyal.com/crew/brokendreams

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Goodrum is a student in Media Comm 132.