The Nation Newspaper

Tag: MINJIN

  • Minjin drops ‘Yanga’ video

    AFRO Pop musician, Adewale Lawanson, aka Minjin has released the visuals to his much anticipated song, Yanga. The video was shot in Nigeria and Serra Leone by Nigerian video director Ben Adi and Mr SonGA from Sierra Leone was released on YouTube.

    The video which is barely a week since its release is already massive airplay on television stations.

    Before the release of the video, Minjin dropped a freestyle titled ‘Mr Man’ and the former Kennis Music artiste said he will be more productive in 2019.

    “I will be fishing out more music this year unlike previous years,” said Minjin.

    “And when I say more music I mean more good sweet music, trust me a whole lot of good vibes are coming your way.”

    The song, ‘Yanga’, was produced by Minjin himself.

  • MINJIN – WHY I LEFT KENNIS MUSIC

    Not many followers of the music industry in the country are aware that former Kennis Music signee, Adewale Minjin Lawason, is a jack of many trades. Aside from music, the musician, is also a painter, actor, and music producer. The multi-talented artiste left Kennis Music few years ago after his five year deal at the onetime ‘go to’ label ended. The ‘Couple De Cale’ singer, in this interview with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN, reflects on life as an artiste, why he left Kennis Music, and his new journey as an independent musician.

    ASIDE from music you also draw and paint, tell us about it.

    Art is my business side because most of the people that buy my art work buy it because of the painting. They are not buying it because I am a musician or because they like my song. They buy it because it’s cute. Some of them don’t even like music. They are just rich people who have money and want to buy art sorks.  Music for me comes first because it is my life.

     You’ve been silent for some time now after hitting the limelight. What happened to Minjin?

    I came in with only one goal as per where I was coming from and I didn’t want to go back there. So I wanted to blow up but while I was trying to blow up I didn’t understand the music business. I didn’t even care about the money. I just knew that if I should become the number one artiste in Nigeria, there was no way I wouldn’t make money. I dropped those singles and it got to a time that the label had too many artistes and I was the last signee. So, after I dropped a single, they told me I had to wait for another guy to drop a single. So,  I was  calculating how many months all that would take.  Music is the faster you drop songs that are  hits, the bigger you become and the more you get paid. They (Kennis Music) had more than they could promote at a time . That’s what I felt). We had one manager for a whole label that had up to nine artistes. We requested for another manager but they didn’t accept because I’m sure they wanted the manager to be their own person. I didn’t have anybody to talk to so I was just doing things by myself not that I even knew how to do it and I got African recognition. But at the end of the day, there is no one to blame because nobody will mention the management or the label but they will say, Minjin you disappointed us.

    How long were you with Kennis Music?

    I was there for five years. I left there and worked with a management company in Malaysia and we had a good working relationship where they also took me for a tour but it didn’t work as I wanted it. Now I am doing everything by myself and I have a good team.

    What should your fans be expecting from you now as an independent artiste?

    I just shot a video to my single which will be out in like a week’s time and I am also dropping my EP. First time I will be dropping a collection of songs but I don’t know how many songs will be on it yet because I have over 50 songs ready. During that time when I wasn’t releasing music, I went into music production and I have been making money producing and writing songs for people and these people are mostly abroad and they pay well. I don’t produce for Nigerian artistes because they won’t want to pay.

    Was there any kind of misunderstanding that made you leave Kennis Music?

    No, it was basically mutual. I wanted to go because I felt like I needed to test new waters because it’s like when you put in so much and you get so little and then still have to be answerable to somebody.

    What has the music industry taught you?

    It has taught me that you need to get the best team first and putting out your stuffs is good. Just imagine Rihanna posting that I am her favourite artiste. Imagine how many people will look for me even if they don’t know me because it matters who is taking about you.  The best musician in Nigeria has not blown. He might just be somewhere doing ‘yahoo yahoo’ sef. What I am trying to say is that there are lots of talents out there that are yet to be discovered.

    Yahoo boys are invading the industry .I How is this affecting artistes who have no money for promotion…

    It is also affecting me. But thank God for social media and other music platforms where you can showcase your art.

    Do you think it is necessary for artistes to own a record label?

    I think it is the best bet in Nigeria

  • Minjin features Timaya in new single, Baby Kojo

    Minjin features Timaya in new single, Baby Kojo

    Swaga record act, Adewale Lawanson Junior, aka Minjin, yesterday, dropped yet another major single ‘Baby Kojo’, featuring the Egberipapa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya.
    Produced by famous hit maker, Orbeat, who produced Timaya’s Sanko song, the visual of the song which was directed by Unlimited LA, according to the artiste, will be dropped in another two weeks.
    On what he enjoyed most working with Timaya, Minjin disclosed that it feels so beautiful seeing Timaya record live and as such his high spirit of willingness is second to none.
    “I enjoyed every moment working with him and as a colleague in the industry. He rendered a whole lot of advice to me,” Minjin said.
    Blessed with raw stage energy and vocal prowess, Minjin has carved a niche for himself since 2010 after he played the lead male character in the first all-black cast high school musical where he played the role of Troy. Not relenting on his first love for music, Minjin won the Centage Musical Contest and ever since he has been releasing good music among which are, ‘Jare’ and ‘Boogi’.
    Speaking on his act, the CEO Swaga records, Big Mike, noted that having followed Minjin’s music career years back, he discovered that he has the potentials and understands the art so well.
    “He is good at what he does and after listening to several songs from his stable and other recordings; I find him worthy to invest on even though the industry is currently competitive,” he said.
    Swaga Records Entertainment Limited is an international company incorporated in Nigeria in 2011 and owned by Mr. Frank Steven Jerome (Big Mike), a full businessman with immeasurable passion for the entertainment business. With over 10 years in the showbiz game, Swaga Records understands believes in discovering and breeding new talents.

  • Minjin drops new single, Boogie

    Minjin drops new single, Boogie

    As a follow up to his song Jare, Swagga Records artiste, Minjin has released a new single in time for the end of the year. Titled Boogie, the song is produced by Chillings and is mixed and mastered by Suka sounds.

    According to the artiste, Boogie is a dance track that is sure to get people hit dance floor during this festive period.

    “It is expected to also be a listener’s delight on radio, and an extension to the hit jams that is offered this year. You know, we live in a country where no matter what we are going through, we still find time to make ourselves happy. We find time to Boogie. We are getting close to the festive season and I feel it’s a good time to drop a single like this,” the artiste says.

    “It’s been a while since I dropped my last single and I know my fans have definitely been expecting something new. I know my fans will be hitting different clubs and parties to celebrate what they have achieved during the year. So, the song is necessitated out of the need to give my fans something to celebrate with” he adds.

    Born Minjin Adewale Junior Lawanson, Minjin is a versatile entertainer whose music career started in 2010 after winning the High School Musical competition in Nigeria by Walt Disney and the Centage Superstar contest.

  • MINJIN JOINS SWAGGA RECORDS

    MINJIN JOINS SWAGGA RECORDS

    NIGERIAN music outfit, Swagga Records, has unveiled its latest signee, the talented Afro-Pop cum RnB singer Adewale Lawanson Junior, better known as Minjin.

    To mark the latest move, the artiste released a single titled Jare, a tribute song to anybody going through any form of struggle.

    According to the artiste, who has been operating under his own imprint, Colonial Music, for years, Jare has been receiving massive airplay since its release.

    “We are not putting a stop at just the audio alone. We have gone ahead to shoot the video for the song. Jare is targeted at every woman who is struggling to pay her children’s school fees, every man who is out there working hard to feed his family, every artiste who is yet to have a hit song; generally, everyone who has to go through one struggle or another. It is urging them to hang in there because their time is near,” the artiste said.

    Blessed with raw stage energy and vocal prowess, Minjin has carved a niche for himself since 2010 after he played the lead male character in the first all-black cast high school musical where he played the role of Troy. Not relenting on his first love for music, Minjin won the Centage Musical Contest and ever since he has been releasing good music.

    He was once signed on to Kennis Music which he left to push his music through his Colonial Music.

    On why he was signed on the label, CEO of the outfit, Frank Steven Jerome, aka Big Mic, noted that having followed Minjin’s music career years back, he discovered that he has the potential and understands the art so well.