Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? Can you imagine all the different ways in which we all use the internet? Obasanjo’s Internet is our interview series where we speak to some of our internet favourites on how they relate to the internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, KP Fawehinmi, co-host of Cruising Outwest podcast talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I actually shout “oh my God! work today” then I groan and cry and scream and then I pray. Ideally, I wan’t prayer to be first but the first thing I do is curse “oh my God, I can’t believe this shit, man.”
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
Both, but more for pleasure because I feel like the internet is just to catch cruise. So that’s what I mostly use it for but I also have my podcast and I have my business, Afroverified so I need to use the internet for business. I think it is shifting – next year it will be more of business than pleasure. Inshallah.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
There are actually a lot and it’s so funny you ask this because I’m making a TikTok right now about my best interactions with celebrities on Twitter. But I think the one that will always be my number one was when Tems replied my video. This was in 2019, I was back in Nigeria and Try me was going off. There’s the part in the music video where Tems’ shades fell from her head to her nose. It was just so cool and she later said it was not planned. One day, I was coming back from Mainland Block Party so I was kind of not sober and I was vibing. I had my shades on top of my head so I imitated exactly what she did and got it on camera. I posted it and asked Tems if I got it right then she replied “You did a great job.” Anytime I’m sad I just go to that tweet and I’m like “yes, Grammy and Oscar nominated Tems has told me that I did a great job.” I think that’s my all time favorite.
https://twitter.com/temsbaby/status/1168157666444828672?s=46&t=pSqWOhsLKQVIzft03LX3-w
Your favorite social media platform and why?
Twitter because you can use it for anything. I mostly use my Twitter as my public journal. Someone said that I talk to myself publicly and I’m like, yeah, it’s like a public diary. When I’m having emotions or whatever, I just find memes that express how I feel then I tweet them. Twitter will always have my heart even though Elon Musk is trying to ruin the experience for us – like taking away circles. I still don’t know why he did that. But you know, I think it’s still the best.
What was the last meme you saved?
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did
This might not be factual, but I think the first time I had a viral tweet was in 2017. I used to design at the time, so I made this design for Black Lives Matter. I tweeted it and people loved it. It got a lot of retweets – when I mean a lot, maybe like 500 which is not that crazy in 2023. I was just shocked because a lot of people commented that they loved it.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
I have this belief that I can never have negativity on my social media. No matter how bad or frequently I tweet, I can never be in a fight – that’s not my brand. But there was one time I said I didn’t understand why people listened to Laycon. I didnt even insult him o. All I said was I’ve never heard any of his songs and I don’t even want to hear it. Ahh his minions came for me. I was at work that day and my pocket was just vibrating. That was crazy. Some of them were insulting me, some of them were trying to put me on to his music and sending me links. Bro I said I don’t want to listen, why are you sending me links.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
I believe in the digital footprint. I believe there are some things you might tweet or post that feel right in the moment, but think about it in three or four years’ time. Do you want to be remembered by that? So I really vet things before I post them. I remember one time Kevin Hart was supposed to host the Oscars and they told him to apologize because he tweeted some homophobic shit many years ago. When he tweeted it, it might just have been bants but it cost him an opportunity in the future.
I won’t say I have a lot of rules because I think my number 1 rule is that I just want to be myself. Then the subset of that is think before you post something.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
I’m a meme head. I like saving memes and searching for memes. Right now on my phone, I have two folders that I haven’t updated since 2020 called “meme” and “meme videos.” I’ve not updated them since 2020 and together they have over 2000 pieces of media. I haven’t updated them because its just ridiculous. But yeah, I’m a meme head. If you need any meme, I’ll find it for you. Sometimes some people Dm me asking for memes and I get so happy searching for the meme.
Would you say you have an online persona?
I don’t think I do but people say I do. I don’t know what it is but people call me a Twitter nigga a lot but I’m like “I’m not a Twitter nigga, I’m a nigga on Twitter.”
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
That emoji where its hands are covering its face but an eye is peeking out. I’m in my observant mood. It also allows me to say out of pocket things without my full chest.
Are you particular about your feed?
No. If you open my TikTok, you would just be marveled. I post randomly, I tweet randomly. I think the app I’m more particular about is Instagram obviously but that’s because I don’t even like posting on the app again. I post whatever ever I’m feeling. Aesthetics are already built in me so I don’t have to go out of my way.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
I feel like there is no correct answer to that but just to answer the question, it’ll be TikTok because TikTok is the most addictive app in the world right now. It is also very good for a creators. You can go viral in one night and your life will change on TikTok. I think YouTube has a lot more algorithms that don’t really favour creators like that. As a viewer, I’d still say TikTok. You know our attention span is very short right now so I want to watch as many videos as I can. On YouTube, you’d have to dedicate time.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
Cruising Outwest. Those guys are really dope, it’s a very dope podcast. On YouTube, I watch Palmwine Papi (Emmanuel) who does music reviews and reactions. All my babes friends who are upcoming fashion influencers on TikTok and Instagram, I see them and I support as much as I can.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
I’ll say the coolest as in I like the person and I really respect them; Gbemi who used to work at Beat FM. For the coolest person I follow, maybe Asap Rocky. I don’t really find people cool. I think I’m the coolest person. I don’t really see someone and say “oh this person is cool” because in my head, they are not as cool as me.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
I mean, there’s a list. I like Submarine and A Roach, Is This Seat Taken, I Said What I Said, music podcasts like With An S and then Loose talk – they’re my OG. They were the first podcast I listened to in Nigeria. They even made me start podcasting. Then obviously Cruising Outwest. I love those guys so much.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
Technically, yes. You know how people say they Dm people on twitter? I didn’t know people Dmed people for the intention of linking them on Twitter. It’s not the place I do that. My Twitter gets me into trouble a lot. For example, 2 days ago, somebody said “I’m on your Twitter boss and I’m not talking to you again.” I get messages like that a lot. Now I pay for twitter and I can hide my likes, but before my likes used to get me into trouble. They just see “KP Fawehimi like this” I’m like bro leave me alone now.
But to answer your question, yes. Have I regretted it? No
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Davido, Burna Boy and Daniel Regha.
Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.
