AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN A.K.A. WIZKID IS NO DOUBT ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY. OF LATE, HE HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR SOME NEGATIVE THINGS: OBSESSION WITH CARS AND WOMEN, FRAUD PERPETRATED WITH HIS NAME, TROUBLE WITH HIS RECORD LABEL AND SOME OTHERS. IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH LANRE ODUKOYA, WIZKID CLEARS THE AIR ON THESE CONTROVERSIES. HE ALSO SPEAKS ON HIS RECENT AUTO CRASH AND COLLABORATION WITH FEMI KUTI
MY CAR ACCIDENT…
I really don’t like to talk about bad experiences because I believe
that it’s like a lesson and stepping stone for everybody in life to
learn something at some point. When I had that accident, it was the
second time it would happen to me, so it was a reality check on me. What
if one’s life ended that day? God forbid! I’m grateful for life and I
made a promise never to slow down on what I’m good at.
WHY I WAS INVITED BY THE POLICE…
Some unsuspecting guys have been chatting with some fake Wizkid and we can’t readily give full details. We were invited by the Police which we granted. We gave our statements, the other party made their statements as well, but I cannot really say anything about that until the Police go further with their investigations. Though, we know that with the details that have been given, they must have been talking to a fake Wizkid or fake Wizkid management. So, this is really not from me, my management or label. If you have contacted anybody regarding Wizkid and you have paid, provide the bank details and email correspondences. If there was a contract, provide it and it’s as simple as that. We’re not fighting anyone. In fact, we sympathize with anyone who has been duped. For a while now, we’ve been having cases of people reporting that they’ve been chatting or planning business with a fake Wizkid’s manager or they booked Wizkid for shows. Some even go to the extent of creating fake accounts in my name and collecting money from people. I just want to re-emphasize that there’s a process of booking Wizkid for shows which is just like the normal standard most of us are familiar with. Everybody knows that if you want to book Wizkid, it’s either you go to Empire Music Entertainment (EME) which is my label or you connect with my manager, Godwin Tom. These are the main ways to book me for a show or whatever form of service you need me to handle. Chatting with a Wizkid that has promised to do something for you or charging you some money are fake and I never charge anything with anybody directly. I don’t discuss fees. I allow my management and label handle my business. So, nobody talks directly to me concerning business.
WHAT I’VE DONE TO CURTAIL FRAUD PERPETRATED IN MY NAME…
I’ve tried as much as possible to create more awareness about this on the social media and shared it with as much people as I can access and I’m just sharing this with the press. My management is coming up with details and phone numbers to reach if you want to do a business with Wizkid. It’s either you contact my manager of EME directly, but even when you contact me, it’s the normal procedure that I direct you to the booking office as well. The process is simple. You’d send us your request via email, the booking office will contact you from the email address you provided with a booking questionnaire. The questionnaire will have information about your event as well as your publicity plans and other special requests you need.
EME/STARBOI EVOLUTION…
We’re doing very well, it’s been fantastic and we’ve been have meetings and going back and forth devising new plans for making EME one of the best record labels in Africa, not just Nigeria. We’re putting in works, everyone is currently in the studio and Banky W has shot a couple of videos. We were at the video shoot two days ago and we’re still working to be the best we can. I’ve set the record straight not just from this medium, but everything I’ve released like in JayeJaye song. That record was put out by Starboi, my new company in collaboration with EME. EME is definitely still Wizkid’s record label, Starboi is a record label that I run and I have a couple of producers that I’m working with. So, we’re expanding the business. When Banky W and I started, the dream has always been to build an empire to help more people and give them that platform to excel too. And it cannot just happen through one person, we had to branch out. The industry is very big with about five million talented kids out there looking for channel to hone their skills and become stars. And now that there’s Starboi, everyone can start something like that to help somebody become who he or she wants to be. It’s been a great evolution because I’ve worked with legends and it’s still a learning process.
MY FORTHCOMING ALBUM…
I tweeted my track list which has Olamide, Don Jazzy, D’Banj and Banky W. The album is ready; we are just putting the final touches to it and right now we’re just mixing and mastering. In a few days, the album will be out and we’re going to be having a listening party pretty soon too and we will be announcing the venue, date and other details. The album is coming out really good and I’m very happy with everything I recorded on it and I believe that this will be better than the last one I did.
RELATIONSHIP WITH MALEEK BERRY
I’ve known Maleek for about a year and a couple of months now. From the first day we met, we’ve been talking about business. We took our time to plan something properly and we’ve been executing our plans right now. This is what I said about branching out and giving other people the platform. Someone gave me that platform when I was coming up too.
COLLABORATION WITH FEMI KUTI…
Many people didn’t expect that and it was to show that sometimes people don’t understand that it’s all about music. Some people think that all Wizkid talks about is girls, flashy cars and all that. All I speak about in my music are my true life experiences. If I’d not been through it, I wouldn’t talk about it. So, when I decided to do JayeJaye featuring Femi Kuti, I wanted to pass a message across to all the kids aspiring to be like me that you’d have to continue to learn. The song was to build the gap between the old and the young people. And I really appreciate Uncle Femi Kuti for doing that song with me because I called him a day before we recorded the song and he obliged me.
PENCHANT FOR HIGH END CARS…
I don’t think I have a penchant for flashy cars. A lot of people in Lagos drive more expensive cars than mine in Lagos. I don’t think I’m about the cars as against what many think of me. I just like to live comfortably. It is part of the work, I need car as tool to do my business. How about people in government spending so much money on automobiles? If someone works hard for his money, I don’t think anything is wrong with what he likes to buy with the money. I work hard, why would I not live well?
ENTERTAINERS JOSTLE FOR CITY PEOPLE AWARDS
Plans are in top gear for one of Nigeria’s most glamorous entertainment events, City People Entertainment Awards billed to hold on Sunday, July 14 at the Haven Events Centre, G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos. The coveted rendezvous of stars will be attracting entertainers across all genres; music, movie and comedy with some of the most enchanting features. Some of the finest acts jostling for different categories of awards are Genevieve Nnaji, Odunlade Adekola, Sanyeri, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, Yemi Alade, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Sean Tizzle, Davido, Wizkid among a host of others. Being the 4th in its series, veterans are going to be honoured and a horde of entertainment personalities from Ghana are prepping to storm the show in grand style.
BETWEEN SAHEED OSUPA AND GOV. AREGBESOLA
When you walk into the office of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Governor of State of Osun, chances are that you would meet him doing one of the following: attending one meeting or the other with stakeholders in the state; his head bowed studying mountainous files jostling for his attention; his bespectacled eyes fixed on his personal computer; or found listening to the music of Saheed Osupa when yearning for relaxation after a hard-day’s job. While it has been reported that Ogbeni Aregbesola has a broad musical taste, so evident is the governor’s love for Saheed Osupa that he mostly choruses his songs anywhere they are being played.
And indications are rife that the governor would have much more of the talented Osupa’s songs to sing in coming days. A very reliable source close to the award-winning musician reveals that he is in the studio waxing an album in celebration of Aregbesola’s exploits. Reminiscent of the album he did for Governor Babatunde Fashola in the run-up to 2011 gubernatorial election in which he eulogised his achievements in the first term and also campaigned for his second term. Osupa is reportedly releasing a full album in 2014 for Aregbesola’s re-election bid while he would be dropping a promotional tape on ‘Opon Imo’ any time soon. ‘Opon Imo’ also known as ‘Tablet of Knowledge’ is Ogbeni Aregbesola’s recent initiative geared towards improving educational standard of Osun State and fostering computer literacy amongst the students and teachers of the State.
WHY I WAS INVITED BY THE POLICE…
Some unsuspecting guys have been chatting with some fake Wizkid and we can’t readily give full details. We were invited by the Police which we granted. We gave our statements, the other party made their statements as well, but I cannot really say anything about that until the Police go further with their investigations. Though, we know that with the details that have been given, they must have been talking to a fake Wizkid or fake Wizkid management. So, this is really not from me, my management or label. If you have contacted anybody regarding Wizkid and you have paid, provide the bank details and email correspondences. If there was a contract, provide it and it’s as simple as that. We’re not fighting anyone. In fact, we sympathize with anyone who has been duped. For a while now, we’ve been having cases of people reporting that they’ve been chatting or planning business with a fake Wizkid’s manager or they booked Wizkid for shows. Some even go to the extent of creating fake accounts in my name and collecting money from people. I just want to re-emphasize that there’s a process of booking Wizkid for shows which is just like the normal standard most of us are familiar with. Everybody knows that if you want to book Wizkid, it’s either you go to Empire Music Entertainment (EME) which is my label or you connect with my manager, Godwin Tom. These are the main ways to book me for a show or whatever form of service you need me to handle. Chatting with a Wizkid that has promised to do something for you or charging you some money are fake and I never charge anything with anybody directly. I don’t discuss fees. I allow my management and label handle my business. So, nobody talks directly to me concerning business.
WHAT I’VE DONE TO CURTAIL FRAUD PERPETRATED IN MY NAME…
I’ve tried as much as possible to create more awareness about this on the social media and shared it with as much people as I can access and I’m just sharing this with the press. My management is coming up with details and phone numbers to reach if you want to do a business with Wizkid. It’s either you contact my manager of EME directly, but even when you contact me, it’s the normal procedure that I direct you to the booking office as well. The process is simple. You’d send us your request via email, the booking office will contact you from the email address you provided with a booking questionnaire. The questionnaire will have information about your event as well as your publicity plans and other special requests you need.
EME/STARBOI EVOLUTION…
We’re doing very well, it’s been fantastic and we’ve been have meetings and going back and forth devising new plans for making EME one of the best record labels in Africa, not just Nigeria. We’re putting in works, everyone is currently in the studio and Banky W has shot a couple of videos. We were at the video shoot two days ago and we’re still working to be the best we can. I’ve set the record straight not just from this medium, but everything I’ve released like in JayeJaye song. That record was put out by Starboi, my new company in collaboration with EME. EME is definitely still Wizkid’s record label, Starboi is a record label that I run and I have a couple of producers that I’m working with. So, we’re expanding the business. When Banky W and I started, the dream has always been to build an empire to help more people and give them that platform to excel too. And it cannot just happen through one person, we had to branch out. The industry is very big with about five million talented kids out there looking for channel to hone their skills and become stars. And now that there’s Starboi, everyone can start something like that to help somebody become who he or she wants to be. It’s been a great evolution because I’ve worked with legends and it’s still a learning process.
MY FORTHCOMING ALBUM…
I tweeted my track list which has Olamide, Don Jazzy, D’Banj and Banky W. The album is ready; we are just putting the final touches to it and right now we’re just mixing and mastering. In a few days, the album will be out and we’re going to be having a listening party pretty soon too and we will be announcing the venue, date and other details. The album is coming out really good and I’m very happy with everything I recorded on it and I believe that this will be better than the last one I did.
RELATIONSHIP WITH MALEEK BERRY
I’ve known Maleek for about a year and a couple of months now. From the first day we met, we’ve been talking about business. We took our time to plan something properly and we’ve been executing our plans right now. This is what I said about branching out and giving other people the platform. Someone gave me that platform when I was coming up too.
COLLABORATION WITH FEMI KUTI…
Many people didn’t expect that and it was to show that sometimes people don’t understand that it’s all about music. Some people think that all Wizkid talks about is girls, flashy cars and all that. All I speak about in my music are my true life experiences. If I’d not been through it, I wouldn’t talk about it. So, when I decided to do JayeJaye featuring Femi Kuti, I wanted to pass a message across to all the kids aspiring to be like me that you’d have to continue to learn. The song was to build the gap between the old and the young people. And I really appreciate Uncle Femi Kuti for doing that song with me because I called him a day before we recorded the song and he obliged me.
PENCHANT FOR HIGH END CARS…
I don’t think I have a penchant for flashy cars. A lot of people in Lagos drive more expensive cars than mine in Lagos. I don’t think I’m about the cars as against what many think of me. I just like to live comfortably. It is part of the work, I need car as tool to do my business. How about people in government spending so much money on automobiles? If someone works hard for his money, I don’t think anything is wrong with what he likes to buy with the money. I work hard, why would I not live well?
ENTERTAINERS JOSTLE FOR CITY PEOPLE AWARDS
Plans are in top gear for one of Nigeria’s most glamorous entertainment events, City People Entertainment Awards billed to hold on Sunday, July 14 at the Haven Events Centre, G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos. The coveted rendezvous of stars will be attracting entertainers across all genres; music, movie and comedy with some of the most enchanting features. Some of the finest acts jostling for different categories of awards are Genevieve Nnaji, Odunlade Adekola, Sanyeri, Nadia Buari, Yvonne Nelson, Yemi Alade, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Sean Tizzle, Davido, Wizkid among a host of others. Being the 4th in its series, veterans are going to be honoured and a horde of entertainment personalities from Ghana are prepping to storm the show in grand style.
BETWEEN SAHEED OSUPA AND GOV. AREGBESOLA
When you walk into the office of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Governor of State of Osun, chances are that you would meet him doing one of the following: attending one meeting or the other with stakeholders in the state; his head bowed studying mountainous files jostling for his attention; his bespectacled eyes fixed on his personal computer; or found listening to the music of Saheed Osupa when yearning for relaxation after a hard-day’s job. While it has been reported that Ogbeni Aregbesola has a broad musical taste, so evident is the governor’s love for Saheed Osupa that he mostly choruses his songs anywhere they are being played.
And indications are rife that the governor would have much more of the talented Osupa’s songs to sing in coming days. A very reliable source close to the award-winning musician reveals that he is in the studio waxing an album in celebration of Aregbesola’s exploits. Reminiscent of the album he did for Governor Babatunde Fashola in the run-up to 2011 gubernatorial election in which he eulogised his achievements in the first term and also campaigned for his second term. Osupa is reportedly releasing a full album in 2014 for Aregbesola’s re-election bid while he would be dropping a promotional tape on ‘Opon Imo’ any time soon. ‘Opon Imo’ also known as ‘Tablet of Knowledge’ is Ogbeni Aregbesola’s recent initiative geared towards improving educational standard of Osun State and fostering computer literacy amongst the students and teachers of the State.
ERIC EGHIMIEN’S A MILE FROM HOME PREMIERES IN LAGOS
Lovers of good acting, sounds and cinematography graced the much talked about premier of A Mile From Home, Eric Eghimien’s first shot at movie production and directing. The event held last Sunday at the Silverbird Galleria, Lagos. Hills Pictures in Association with Brooks+Blake presented the premier with the most refreshing features Nollywood has seen recently as the cinema was filled to capacity. The storyline which rests on the quest for revenge and ultimately culminated in loss of life essence is a tale of many morals. Unique in its cinematography, casting and sounds, A Mile From Home, though a light budget movie, cannot compare with the plethora of half-baked theatrics we see lately. According to the director, Aghimien, “this is just a lesson that a good film doesn’t necessarily require huge capital as often misconceived. This work is a proof. We had to work with a cast of budding actors throughout the shoot which had all its locations in different parts of Lagos, but we hope to feature A-list stars in our subsequent works when our budget can accommodate that. One thing I’d never relent from doing is to employ the medium of filmmaking to spotlight fresh talents as we churn out more fascinating films”
IK OGBONNA, YVONNE NELSON PREACH CHARITY WORK
When Williams Shakespeare made the quote; “there is flattery in friendship”, he definitely wasn’t referring to the kind of relationship that exists between the trio of fair-complexioned Nigerian actor and model, IK Ogbonna, sensational and one of Nigeria’s sexiest singer Adokiye and sassy Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson.
Though all entertainers, their relationship seems far from anything that can be likened to flattery and this was what saw them defying all challenges when they recently visited pupils of Courage Primary School, Ikota Village, Lekki, Lagos for a charity work.
Defying torrential rains and muddy roads, the group sauntered in gutters as they made to reach the pupils of the school. The day turned out to be one of mixed feelings as the guests encouraged the children with their charity work giving out stationeries such as Eraser, Pencil, Biros, Rulers and many more.
One of the high points of the day was a photo session involving the pupils, their guests IK, Adokiye and Yvonne followed by handsome cash donation. Over the years, the trio have excelled in their individual careers with IK emerging one of the most sought after and revered models in the Nigeria with a large clientele base and Adokiye rising above every musical target she has set for herself.
As an artiste, Adokiye wields tremendous influence and one of her credits is for recognizing the talent of wave making rapper, Olamide. She subsequently featured him in her song titled, Baby Baby which became widely acclaimed and rubbed off positively on her towering career. The song was accompanied by an exciting video which equally enjoyed massive airplay.
Currently, Adokiye is in the studio blending sounds as she gets set to release a new single in preparation for her forthcoming album.
WAP DEBUTS WITH KID/YOUTH TALENT HUNT
Wale Adenuga Productions is earnestly staging a unique Talent Hunt dubbed, the Nnenna & Friends and wapTV Talent Hunt for kids and adults in four specific categories; singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and stand-up comedy.
The talent hunt gives participants an opportunity to win up to N200,000 cash prize and nationwide fame while exhibiting their talents to a discerning public.
For the Nnena & Friends talent hunt, participants are expected to be between ages 6 and 15 while the talent hunt takes place by 8am on Saturday, 20th July. On the other hand, the wapTV Talent Hunt for participants between ages of 16 and 30 comes up July 27.
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