HKN artiste, Adebayo Adeleke, fondly called B Red, is a fast rising Nigerian Pop artiste. B Red, a drummer and part of Davido’s team, discovered his love for music while he was in the United States of America. He has played drums in different churches in Nigeria and the US. However, the Twerk crooner, in this interview with FAMUYIWA DAMILARE, said he will be dropping his next two singles, Ayepo and Money, featuring Skales and Runtown, both produced by Teekaywitty in a few weeks’ time.
The whole process since you’ve started, what has it been like for you?
When we stared, it was really hard. And I’m pretty sure, that is what anyone would have loved to say in this circumstance. We just started. We don’t know whether we will blow or not. We came to Nigeria believing that everything is going to be okay. And Davido dropped his hit single ‘Damiduro’, which paved the way back then, for me self. I had lived in the Mohit house in Maryland for about eight months; HKN started doing things gradually. It is a big process, a long way to come at. You have milestones that can never elude you in this profession, like paying your dues, hustling things; it’s a big thing to be precise.
You’ve travelled to beautiful cities around the globe in the course of making exploits in music. How would you describe the Nigerian music industry compared to the ones abroad?
It is not that different, just a bit different. But basically, everybody is making money off shows and doing tours. Obviously we are praying and hoping to get there. It’s a milestone in getting to such level of the music industry abroad. Even in America, they blast Nigerian music. But we are getting there.
What would you say is your greatest achievement in music since you’ve started?
I will rather say that I haven’t had my greatest achievement yet. I’m just happy for having people that love me, and happier to be part of the HKN with my family. You see, for someone like me, happiness is fulfilling. When I go on stage, people are crying for me, which when I first started, it wasn’t like that. But now, I’m going to London, Paris, America, people start catching the vibes with me. It’s a good thing in this profession because it’s a long way to come at. It doesn’t start with a day; it is a journey that its anticipation depends on one’s instinct of doing great.
Have you ever considered yourself back then as such that everyone would have loved to reckon with?
Of course, you know I’m a drummer; I started playing drums since I was eight. I have played in churches in America, and amazingly, here in Nigeria too. I knew I was going to do music, trust me.
You mentioned you started music from church. So what is the lure from being kind of ‘churchy’ to doing secular music?
I can’t put myself in one particular genre of music because I don’t think that is creative enough. I can make any type of music. My producer, Teekaywitty, and I, are always in the studio doing things, and we don’t limit our exploit to doing Afro pop. We just do good music. Like I said, I’m a drummer. I’ve got varieties of ideas to make my production a super one. I can wake-up a day and decide to do this particular music. And tomorrow, it might be something far different from that particular genre of music.
But anyways, I’ve got no specialised genre; we do good music that make people happy. We also have gospel jams that we’ve done as well.
What have you been up to in recent time?
Right now, I just dropped my latest single, ‘Twerk.’ Before that, I’ve dropped two singles already. In two weeks’ time, hopefully I’m dropping two fresh tunes, ‘Money’ and ‘Ayepo.’ I will be dropping one with Tiwa Savage as well. These are songs you don’t want to miss and the soon-to-come ones are worth to watch out for.
You always move around with Davido. This has left most people with the impression that you can’t stand alone. How will you address this?
It is not like that. I don’t believe it’s what should be most people’s priority to have me answer. Davido and I have been best of cousins right from childhood, since the age of who knows who. So, it’s not like when he made the break in the industry, that’s when I started running after him like an headless-chicken. In fact, when we started back then, I was hyping Davido for about two years. Even before I dropped my first single and everybody knows I hyped him. It is not that we started hanging around together when he made it. We’ve been together since the age of five.
Every group needs a leader. I believe you all subscribe to that. More so, I believe as well that he is the leader and he’s the one motivating all of us to do better.
Being Davido’s best pal right from childhood, how true is it that an Abuja-based lady is carrying Davido’s baby?
I’m not in good position to talk about that because I believe this is my interview. And everything has to revolve around me. If this interview is all about me, so why should I be answering on some else behalf; I’ve got no business with that before e come vex for me.
What should your fans be expecting from you any anytime soon?
They should expect greater things from me this year o. Like weeks ago, I just dropped the video for my single, ‘Twerk,’ featuring Davido, and have got over 400, 000 views. I’m getting a lot of shows. But now to come, I will be dropping my new singles, Money, and Ayepo featuring Skales and Runtown. So, watch out for that. Both (are) produced by my producer, Teekaywitty. I’m going to be dropping a lot of videos for my singles, and I’ll be going on tours.
For someone like you who had moved round the globe, if you’re given a chance to change anything, what would you change in the Nigerian music industry?
You know, in America basically as an artiste, once your song gets played on radio, you get paid. You know, many things happen over there that helps artistes in terms of fortune. If we can start doing that here in Nigeria, trust me, we will make more money than we are making now. And that would have changed a lot.
Who is your celebrity crush?
(Candidly) My celebrity crush used to be Chidinma, but not Chidinma again. No, but I’m joking, I don’t have a celebrity crush.
Who are you in relationship with?
I’m not in a relationship; I’m single for now. I am focusing on music for now, and like people say, you can’t get involved in two things at a time. I’m trying to make money. And after, will get married. But for now, let’s enjoy.
So how soon are you getting married?
Marriage! I’m just 24, hmmm…but let’s say before I start thinking of marriage, I should be between the age of 30 to 35 (laughs).
You said you are not in relationship, but I believe you admire a pretty lady when you see one. So what makes you admire a lady?
I like a lady that has something good for herself. I don’t really do ladies that seek for a ready-made guy; you expect the guy giving you everything. I might not mind doing that, but I mean, bring something to the table, you understand. I will like a smart lady, with a good job, and a lady that can also impress me with a quality education background. And she has to be cute. Trust me, when you’ve got these things, I might like you. I am not the type that craves for a lady with big boobs and great curves.
What would you have been doing now, if not music?
I will probably be working a lot of things out. But if I haven’t been doing music, I will just be doing business with my dad, doing oil and gas, iron rod, doing many things that make money.
Do you see yourself having your own record label, I mean leaving HKN to start yours?
For now, I’m not thinking about that. I am happy and satisfied with everyone (that is) part of the team. HKN, but we never can tell. Maybe later, but for now, I’m soft with HKN.
When are you dropping your album?
I am not looking at dropping any album. No time yet. Probably next year, or next upper year. I am just looking at dropping a lot of singles and dropping a lot of videos and building more fan base.
But why do you conclude at not dropping album anytime soon?
I mean, when your time is ripe to drop an album, you will know. I feel like people know me that I’m hot, that I’m B Red; I feel like I’ve got a lot to show them and prove to them before dropping album.
