I don’t sound like D’banj; we are two different acts

Oluwadamilare Okulaja popularly known as Durella, the proud originator of the slang In the Zanga has finally come to make a name in the entertainment industry with his own brand of music. This Zaria cum Mushin berth artiste believes his inspiration comes from the street of Mushin divulge to MUTIAT ALLI reason why is bent on doing hardcore hip-hop song, his environment, his new outfit amongst other issues.


Have you always thought of been a Musician?
Not really, but music for me started while I was still young because that was the stage I developed love for music and ever since then, I have been unto of my game. Although I started out in the church where I normally play the keyboard and sudden my love for circular music developed having listened to songs by great legends of music like Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Steve wonders.
So what has been the acceptance ever since you stormed the industry?
The acceptance has been massive because I get to understand the fact that it is not how well but how far you can go about things you go. Although the beginning was a bit challenging because I find out that people find it difficult to accept new brand music; but on the long wrong things started working out for me and the acceptance was okay.
Talking about challenges, what is the major one you will never forget in the cause of your growth in the industry?
In life, I got to believe the sayings that nothing so good comes easy because when watch the performance of artistes then, all that comes to mind was that whenever they just sing, the money just come like that but I later find out that my thinking was not right, so when I started, I find it so difficult that people don’t even know the brand name called Durella; so I started with a simple method of whenever there is a show or concert in my area, I will beg the organizers to allow me sing and through that I was building the name. I could recall vividly the first time I released my first major single In the Zanga, people thought that was my first written song but due to the fact that circular music sells well in a setting like Nigeria; I just I had to do it also.
How do you come about the slangs you use in your music?
Usually, people consider me as been very bad due to the words I use in my songs but the fact remains that I grew up in an environment that has affect me to where I am presently, so my slangs comes from the street; most especially the bus conductors and I was the type that when I hear then say that in the bus, I also use it to address my friends so when I developed this love for music, I thought of the fact that this slangs would be useful, so I started infusing them into my stuffs and I found out that it was making sense.
Growing up in a terrain like Mushin which has been considered as an area for the breeding of thugs. How has your parent been able to stay focus inspite of the several distractions attached to that area?
Well, I want to believe that Mushin is not as bad as it has been painted, historically it used to be bad but along the line, it has been reformed. So I believe as at today, I can cite quite a number of successful people that also lived in Mushin before attaining their present various positions. I want you to note this fact that it is often said that in every society, there would be some black sheep that may not cope in the environment they find themselves. I can never do without that area because it makes who I am today even if I relocate to some other places; my visit to Mushin will still remain constant.
The first time we heard about you, people thought who this D’banj wanna be was, how did you take that when people tells that you do things like D’banj?
Although that was the first impression people heard; most especially when the video of Shayo was released and people was like; this guy look and sounds like D’banj but I want to correct that saying; I don’t sound like anybody, specifically D’banj because we are two different artistes and our style of music differs from each other. I have always been original and will continue to.
But is also believed that you copied D’banj style of music?
I did not and will never, even before I started music fully, he has always been friend and we still communicate well. Please no further comment on this issue.
It is believed that most of Nigerian artiste today deals in hardcore drugs; are you an inception?
Yes to be sincere, I don’t go drugs and will never do such a thing because first of all, my parent will disown me because this is one the things I promised them I wouldn’t be doing if allowed to go into music fully. Although there are some artistes that do drugs which I do not know but for me, I have other businesses that I venture into and is earning me a whole lots of money as well.
Talking about business, what are the other things you do aside music?
If I am not doing music, then I give 100% attention to my shoe line known as 2gbaski sneakers and my clothing line; I believe I am making a lot from it since it is not sold in Nigeria alone but across the country and very soon, I will launching some other stuffs.
Nowadays, we have seen most Nigerian artistes go international when it comes to the release of their album; do you also intend doing that as well?
All things been equal, I am also planning that but before then, I will be releasing it to my fellow Zangalist (People) in Lagos before proceeding abroad because I believe I have more fan base in Lagos than in abroad.
How will you describe your school days before you dropped out?
My school days have always been fun for me only that I did not really enjoy my National Diploma days in Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo campus due to the threats I received from the cult members. Since the pressure coming from them was too much for me to bear, I had to drop out from the Insurance course I was doing because then I was about going back for my HND before the pressure was unbearable. Inspite of that anyway, I still enjoy my school days.
What was growing-up like for you?
Growing-up for me was fun and enjoyed every bit of it most especially for the fact that I was a very stubborn and problematic to my parents because I will never listen to them whenever they instruct me to do something; but trust I got that from my father because he was stubborn but my mother was homely and wonderful.
You recently left TC records for another; was it based on contract matter?
Yes, my leaving TC record was on mutual based contract because I own my record label know as 2gbaski record because I believe it was high time I also give back to the society in my own little way. Leaving TC records was not on the basis that my contract expired; I just thought it was time for me to be independent and all that I want now is to see record blow.
What inspires your kind of music?
First and foremost, I will say my Mushin environment because that is one major area that keeps me going and that is you see that most of songs are inspirational in the sense that it is either telling you about the challenges I have faced so far in the career or about something else. For instance, one of my tracks My Life is all about telling my enemies that inspite of their talks and discouragement; I am still unto of my game.
If you are given an opportunity to change one thing in the music industry, what would that be?
That basically piracy because they are really killing us and still we don’t know what to do about the issues; it pains every producer of a song to see that he does not make even 80 percent of the cost of production but the pirates make more than that from a work they know nothing about. I believe the only change is that all Nigerian artistes be it in the music or movie industry should join hands together to proffer lasting solution that will better the live of everybody.
How much will it cost to make Durella perform in a show?
Any show below 1million naira, I cannot perform.

Koffi, Owen-G, other endorses world Mental Health Day walk

As the United Nations, celebrate the World Mental Health Day, so is Nigerians as top celebrities are set to take to the street of Lagos for a two day walk tagged Advocacy Walk on October 8th and 9th respectively.
Day one will witness top artistes like Koffi, Owen-G, Ashionye, DJ-Jimmy Jatt, MI amongst other sensitize the public, government, policy makers and all other health stakeholder on mental health issues while the day two is set aside for workshop and stimulation dialogue to be held at Rotunda Hall, National Library, Yaba Lagos.
Discussing further on the choice of celebrities and media practitioners for participation in the Walk, The Executive Director of the PR outfit (Rubies Ink) to Mental Health Foundation Nigeria, Miss Esther Ijewere noted that the need for the celebrities to be chosen was to use Entertainment/Showbiz Stars and Icons because they wield so much social power and they are prime influencers of lifestyle and they need to be sustained as behavioral and attitudinal change agents in the society.

STEP OUT IN GRAND STYLE WITH PEEP TOES SHOES

ALL FOR THE LOVE OF BLACKBERRY

It was fun and razzmattaz recently at the popular celebrity hang-out Tribeca, Victoria Island where fans, Freinds, Celebrities all gathered for the first edition of the MTN/Acada Blackberry Fever with host from crazy presnter,Denrele Edun and Owen-G
E-WEELKY captures it in pix

Frustration led me into music production-So-sick

Esosa Osemwengie popularly known as So-Sick is for sure a producer to be reckoned with in the music industry after proving himself in the production of Shank’s Julie and Gino’s No be God. His glory came calling after his work on the late Dagrin’s CEO album. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, he tells us more about his career, what he missed so much about Dagrin and the more reason why entertainment runs in their family and other sundry issues.


Having been in the industry for a decade, what has changed in the kind of music you produce?
Quite a lot of things because way back our productions are based on the audio base of the music but now a lot of things have been put in place before a production is carried out
How would you describe your meeting with late Dagrin?
My meeting with that talented artiste as I will always referred to him even though he is late right now, our meeting was while I was rounding up my programme in YABA TECH as he has come to perform in my school, then he was still known as Green and after he listened to some one of the work I have done on campus then and he was like, he wanted me to work with him and at the end of the day, we ended up having a great relationship, like blood brothers. We lived together, ate together, did a lot of things together.
He was more than an artiste to me. We were way beyond that. Everybody in my family knew him; my dad and my brothers. They always teased us, saying that we looked so much alike. He was an angel to me because he exposed me to a lot of things. Maybe if it was not for him, you would not be interviewing me now. Before I met him, I had done a lot of work and people did not know who was behind it. With him, it was different. One thing I appreciated more about him was that, he never argued with me, and to be frank, nobody has trusted me that much.
Why are you referred to as So-Sick?
The nickname is the product of my frustration with the situation of things in Nigeria. I am a very conscious person and there was this period in my life when I got sick and tired of many things; from the government to lack of power supply and water, even music and the kind of stuff that I heard on the radio. At first, the name did not stick because I used to be known as just Soss. I wanted it to be Soss is sick, but that would have been too wordy. So I shortened it to So-Sick. I wanted a change in every aspect of our lives in this country. Unfortunately, we are still like that, and I am still so sick.
It seems the entertainment industry new who So-Sick was after the production of late Dagrin’s CEO album?
The fact still remains that my major production on the CEO album brought to the forefront of the entertainment industry as this is the more reason why I will never forget Dagrin because he actually made people to get know who So-Sick was. Prior to that particular album, I have produced songs like Shank’s Julie and Gino’s No be God, and I must say here that 80% of both Shank and Gino’s album was produced by me, only that God use late Dagrin to open the way into the industry for me.
Looking at your background, most of your immediate brothers are also involved in the entertainment industry of Nigeria, why that sudden flair into the same profession?
It won’t be right if I say I did that because of the fame attached to it but it was only natural that I would end up as an entertainer, because I just did not see myself wearing ties and carrying files or sitting behind a desk in an office. I think it has to do with the way my father brought us up. We had freedom, but it did not give us the right to be stupid.. Everybody started with music, including Owen G. I was the little one in the family then, always tagging along. I started out rapping and then I did a bit of singing before I ended up as a music producer. I did not like what was being produced in those days, beat and production wise. So I took my time to learn how to produce and I started doing the stuff.
How do you go about the mixing of the various beat you produced?
I do not take drugs. It is God. I say this to everybody; I do not know how I do it. I go into the studio, it just happens. I might be sitting somewhere and something would just say I should go into the studio and do something. There would be nothing in my head but I would end up doing a very good beat, every time. That is how I know that it is not me but God. I also try to measure myself with people out there; people like Timberland and Dr Dre. Since I did not want to limit myself to the Nigerian standard and market, and because some international music producers were my mentors, I decided to make my music sound foreign. Nigerian music marketers could force you to bend the rules and keep to their own standard. With such attitude, we cannot grow the way we want to. I measure with them, hoping they would get to recognize my work really soon.
So, how was growing up like for you?
I was not born with a silver spoons, but it was fun growing up. Initially, I lived with my parents. Along the line, they went their separate ways and I moved in with my Dad. I lived most of my growing up years with my Dad. We are very close and one thing I love hearing was when people tells us that we look alike. I hope I do not have to take sides, but I like my dad a lot. I just can not ask for a better father, considering the support and everything he has given me. He is just the best.
Initially when you took into rapping and then music production, what was the reaction of your parents then?
Initially, my mother tried to stop this from happening. She tried to stop everybody from doing music or going into entertainment. She wanted us to go to school, get a degree, and find work. But that was no stopping us. On the other hand, my father wanted us to pursue individual dreams. Often, he would tell us that if we needed help, he would provide it. If we needed a backup singer, he would volunteer. He is great fun to be with. While my mother tried to stop us, he encouraged us, as long as it made us happy and we did not misbehave.

Banky W notches MOBO, SMVA and Channel O award nominations

R & B crooner Bankole Wellington, a.k.a Banky W, is currently relishing the fact that his career is getting the needed boost especially with the knowledge that he debuted on the music scene almost unnoticed some years back with his debut single entitled Ebute Meta. The burgeoning act whose career began in the United States of America is on a high at the moment after he got news of his nominations for three different music awards.

Banky W leads the list of nominees for the 2010 Soundcity Music Video Awards with seven nominations; he also got a MOBO award nomination for the Best African Act and a Channel O MVA nomination for Most Gifted Male (Video).

“I'm deeply humbled, and really appreciative of every nomination we've gotten. I definitely wasn't expecting so many; and whether I win any of the awards or not, I'm honoured to be nominated alongside other incredible Africans that I look up to and admire," 'Mr Capable' says. "I'm also grateful for the support of my fans in Nigeria, Africa and around the world. I'm so blessed to have them. Thank God for everything,” he added.

The 2010 MOBO Awards will take place at the Liverpool Echo Arena on the 20th of October, 2010. This year's SMVA's will hold at the prestigious Expo Hall of the Eko Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria on the 20th of November 2010 and the 2010 Channel O Music Video Awards is set to take place on Thursday 4 November at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Christy Essien, 9ice, Durella, others set for Naija @50

ONE of such events that have been mapped out towards the celebration of Naija@50 is the “Corporate Ball”.


The event which is being put together by Crown Media Limited is billed to come up September 30, 2010 at the prestigious Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos.


Corporate Ball is an initiative which is meant to create an atmosphere for people from different fields to come together and interact in peace, unity, love, patriotism and celebration, to connect sponsoring brands with the top echelons of the society who are special target audience, to create an event that has rich social entertaining contents with the independence celebration as a focal point.


Expected to perform at the event are Durela, Chuddy K, KAS, Shalom, Nigeria female veteran songsteress, Chief Mrs. Essien Igbokwe, and 9ice among others.


Mr. Emmanuel Amechi Nwabuoku, Managing Director of Crown Media Ltd, who was highly elated with the level of preparedness of the event stated, “As you know that over the years, we have contributed our own quota to the industry, hence, this is just a statement and effort to create an ambience that is corporate and unique for the corporate world to celebrate Nigeria's independence in style.”