Olamide is the MTV Base artiste for the month of March. Photo: Bhm
On Thursday, March 20, 2014, MTV Base honoured Nigerian Rapper Olamide as its artiste of the month of March, and organised an interactive session with select media houses at VIACOM Office, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.
The rapper, who is the best in the Yoruba rap genre at the moment, talks to NET about his career, his life and his relationships with American rapper Wale, D’banj, Wande Coal, Toni Payne, and his former manager, Tony Nwakolor.
You started out doing hardcore English rap, so why did you switch to indigenous rap?
I switched to indigenous rap because the change was called for and I followed my heart.
How do you feel being on 2014 Star Music Trek tour?
I’m very happy to be part of it this year — Star trek is a platform that everybody wants to get involved in.
What should your fans be expecting from you in this year’s Star trek tour?
My fans should be expecting all of me.
Having established yourself in the industry, when will you bring out your newly signed YBNL artistes?
Viktor is one of the newly signed acts. He dropped his single on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, while Lil Kesh dropped his a long while ago. It was Viktor who introduced me to Lil Kesh. He said that he was from Bariga and I should listen to his song. When I heard the song, I asked Viktor to call him up and we signed him. They have shot videos and Viktor’s video will be dropping next week while Lil Kesh’s video will be dropping in the next two or three weeks.
What was the modality for signing them to YBNL?
YBNL is beyond a record label, it’s a movement, a way of giving back to the street. If I have the money to sign more of them, even if they are ten and my spirit is connected to them, I will sign them. I believe in their talent that is why I signed them so they don’t forsake their talent for something else.
Should we be expecting a collaborative album with your newly signed artistes?
Hopefully, there should be, but I will keep you posted when we are ready.
What kind of relationship do you have with D’banj?
D’banj is just my big brother. He calls me to advise me, he hides nothing from me, tells me about the industry, and he respects me for my hard work and puts me through business wise. We were just planning to do business; people hear things and get it twisted. Baba and I are still doing business low key and we have a lot of surprises coming very soon.
Would you have signed for D’banj’s record label if he had pushed for it?
Maybe years back I would, but for now, I think I am good and blessed. All I need to do is live my dream and help the other artistes with me to do so.
American-Nigerian rapper Wale spoke about his love for your songs when he came to Nigeria last year. Is there any possibility of a collaboration between you two?
I think it’s very stupid when someone likes you and you take them for granted or misuse the opportunity. Just because somebody likes you doesn’t mean you must do a song with that person. I believe more in having a good relationship with people. Wale is like a brother to me, if I feel like doing a song which he could be part of it, I will, but I’m not an opportunist.
We heard you are working on your fourth album, is that true?
Yes.
Will it be dropping this year?
I don’t know yet, it depends on the demand from the fans and Alaba marketers. If they call me that they need an album, the very next morning, I will surely drop it.
How do you treat you female fans?
My female fans, I treat them like my girlfriend. My girlfriend knows I show them love, but I keep it low key. I don’t go too far. I don’t want to take anybody for granted. I don’t want it to seem like God gave me private part so I should be getting laid with every lady. I appreciate my fans, I show them love.
Are you and your longtime girlfriend tying the knot soon?
God will decide for us.
What kind of relationship do you have with your parents?
My mom and dad… I’ve never been that close to them. I don’t stay at home often; I am just that stupid boy, more of a black sheep. . I can’t lie about it but the blood and love is strong. We love each other so much and we still keep in touch but my brother and my sister are closer to my parent. I am the middle child — between my sister and my brother.
You dropped out for music. Will you be going back to school?
Yes, I will be doing a professional course in South Africa to study Music Business and I’m certain about it. Hopefully in 2015.
What is your relationship with Toni Payne?
Tony Payne is my mother, my angel. ID Cabasa is also my angel. They both helped me to get where I am today in my music career. If not for them, there will be no Olamide. Even if I once had a problem with Tony Payne, mistakes are meant to happen; nobody is perfect
What was the issue between you and Toni Payne?
I don’t really know. I think she got a wrong piece of information about me. Wagging tongues told her stuff about me that were untrue and she took it and got vexed. But she didn’t take it to the heart, she’s still got it cool with me.
What is your relationship with your former manager Tony Nwakolor, now that he is managing D’banj?
Tony Nwakolor wasn’t meant to be my manager; he is not a manager, If you see him managing anybody, it is somebody that needs his help at that particular time. I needed help so bad and when Tony Nwakolor came on the scene, I had no manager. I was just doing my thing myself; that is when ID Cabasa came to my rescue. Tony Nwakolor is not a manager, he is a business man. If you see him with any artiste, it is just somebody he likes, but there is no beef between us.
How do you spend your leisure time?
I’m just chasing my dream, because based on my research, it seems Aliko Dangote doesn’t sleep, Obama doesn’t sleep, Bill Gate, the richest man in the world, still needs more, so I need no sleep either.
If you hadn’t done music, what would you have done?
Seriously, I have no idea.
Did you ever have any beef with Wande Coal over mentioning his name in your lyrics?
We never had any beef. We spoke on phone three days ago. When I heard the gist, I was also surprised. He is my guy, he is a street boy like me. Why I said they want to Wande Coal me, they want to Davido me on my song is that people are just out looking for who to use for a scapegoat, trying to bring you down… that was all I was trying to say. I don’t have issues with them.
No comments:
Post a Comment