They are children of wealthy businessmen and political bigwigs. Many years ago, it would be preposterous for them to contemplate a career in music. The jobs reserved for them were blue chip, and they would easily be tagged as rebels if they ignored a career in the corporate world for a vocation believed to be reserved for school dropouts and never-do-wells.
But this is the jet age; the age in which emphasis is placed on the independence of the child’s mind. The society and its value system have experienced a paradigm shift from the age of restriction where parents decided the future of their children to the age of freedom where the kids decide what path they want to toe.
That is the case with Folarin Falana, son of frontline lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), whose alias is a.k.a. Falz the Bad Guy. Folarin literally rebelled against his father, dumping the wig for a career in music.
Falz the Bad Guy is not alone in this trend of the nouveau-rich treading a path previously believed to be reserved for the children of the poor. The list includes other music stars like Naeto C, son of former Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe; David Adeleke a.k.a. Davido is a member of the prominent Adeleke family in Ede, Osun State; Florenece Ifeoluwa Otedola a.k.a. DJ Cuppy is the daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola while Chuka Edozien, popularly called Lynxx, is son of a former deputy governor of old Bendel State.
Folarin Falana (Falz the bad guy)
The name Folarin Falana may not evoke any emotion among young and upward mobile Nigerians, but the mention of Falz the Bad Guy is sure to elicit loud cheers, especially in entertainment circles.
The son of fiery legal luminary, Femi Falana, Folarin, though trained as a lawyer, is making a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He attended St. Leo’s Catholic Primary School, Ikeja, after which he proceeded to Olashore International School in Osun State. He bagged his law degree at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom and later proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja.
His career in music began in 2009 when he released a mix tape titled Shakara. It was a compilation of some songs he had recorded, which was uploaded for the public to know more about his music. He later came out with other singles like Cool Party, What’s up Guy and High Class, his most successful single to date.
Given his father’s reputation, many had expected to take the courtroom by storm when he graduated from Law School. But rather than head for the courtroom, the allure of music was too tempting for young Folarin to resist.
He said: “A lot of people have asked me why I opted for music instead of Law. My response has always been that when you are very passionate about something, you must follow your heart. Music is my passion.
Initially, I had hoped to follow in my father’s footsteps. Looking at his life, how much he has achieved and the kind of name he has made for himself, I sincerely wanted to follow in his footsteps. I admired his achievements and lifestyle. The main reason I studied Law was to emulate his achievements. But music simply stole my heart.
For those who thought that his decision to drop the wig for the microphone would lead to family dispute, Folarin said he had the backing of the family the moment he made his plans known.
He said: “My decision to take up music did not cause any problem in the family. Although my father was surprised when he got to know about my decision, because he found it strange that I would take up music as a profession, it was handled maturely by my father and other members of the family. Later on, my dad and my mum started to accept it and have even gone as far as encouraging me.”
On his stage name, Folarin said: “First, Falz is a nickname my friends gave me while I was in school. It is just a short form of my last name, Falana. As for ‘Bad Guy’, it is not Bad Guy but BAHDguy, which is an acronym for Brilliant And Highly Distinct guy (BAHDguy). The BAHDguy stands for something positive.”
David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido)
Better known by his stage name, Davido, young Adeleke is an American-born Nigerian recording artist, performer and record producer. Davido stormed the music industry in 2011 with his chart-bursting single, Dami Duro, which was well-received throughout Nigeria.
Along with his elder brother, Adewale Adeleke, Davido is the co-owner of HKN Music. He has produced for numerous artistes, including Naeto C, Skales, Tiwa Savage and Sauce Kid.
With the huge success of Dami Duro, Davido, who relocated to Lagos at a young age, came out with his debut album, Omo Baba Olowo in 2012. The album features singles like Back When, which featured Naeto C; Dami Duro, All of You, Overseas, which featured Sina Rambo; Ekuro, Gbon Gbon and Feel Alright, which featured Ice Prince.
Davido was born on November 21, 1992, to Chief Deji and Vero Adeleke in Atlanta, Georgia. His father is a Nigerian business magnate while his late mother was a university lecturer. He attended The British International School in Lagos before proceeding to study Business Administration at Oakwood University, prior to relocating to Nigeria. He graduated from Babcock University in Ogun State.
Speaking on his musical career, Davido said: “I have been doing music for some time now, but I took it seriously in March 2011. I started with a group called KB international in America. It wasn’t working out, so I thought I should just do this on my own.
“I was around people who were musically inclined and I love music. So, I simply said to myself, ‘Why not do something you love and be happy while at the same time making money?’”.
Chukie Edozien (Lynxx)
Chukie Edozien, better known by his stage name Lynxxx, is a hip-hop recording artist and entrepreneur. The only son of Chief John D. Edozien, a former deputy governor of old Bendel State, Lynxx burst onto the scene in 2010 with his debut single and went on to become the first Nigerian artiste to be endorsed by the global brand, Pepsi.
He is the originator of Jollof Musik, a genre he describes as “an artful blend of music to create great music.”
Chukie attended Corona Primary School Ikoyi, Lagos for his primary education, and went on to Kings College, Lagos for his secondary education. He attended the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, where he obtained a degree in Business, Economics and Marketing.
After almost a decade of behind-the-scenes work, Lynxxx came out with his debut as a recording artiste in December 2009, when he released his first official single, Change Your Parade. The single became popular in nightclubs and radio stations across the country, leading to tremendous rise in his fan base.
He followed up the success of the single with the release of his debut album, This Is Lynxxx, in December 2010. The album featured a combination of musical genres, including urban hip hop, contemporary R&B, and infusions of funky house. He would later tag the style as JollofMusik.
Naetochukwu Chikwe (Naeto C)
Naetochukwu Chikwe a.k.a. Naeto C is the son of former Minister of Aviation and Nigerian Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs. Kema Chikwe and Chief Herbert Chikwe. He spent his early years in Owerri, Imo State, in a household highly influenced by music. His fondness for music grew fast and soon found his way in other creative art forms, most specifically poetry, which took him to various competitions and earned him accolade as a young poet.
After finishing his secondary education in Lagos, he moved to the United States for higher education. Naeto C later hooked up with other budding talents, Uzikwendu and Ikechukwu. The trio went on to form a group, the World Famous Akademy.
Naeto C graduated in 2004 from the George Washington University with a B Sc. in Biology, but with plans to go further and become a medical doctor. After some deep soul-searching, he changed his mind and decided to pursue his dream and develop his talent as a musician.
In the summer of 2013, Naeto C disappeared from the entertainment scene and returned to school to pursue a higher degree at the University of Dundee, London.
His notable production achievement is I Believe, a song Naeto wrote and co-produced with VC Perez. Naeto C has garnered more experience to establish himself as a household name in the nation’s music industry.
Florenece Ifeoluwa Otedola (DJ Cuppy)
Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, also known as DJ Cuppy, is a Nigerian music producer and the daughter of Nigerian billionaire businessman Femi Otedola. She graduated from King’s College London in July 2014 with a 2.1 honors degree in Business and Economics, and is currently enrolled at New York University to pursue a Master’s Degree in Music Business.
Her father, Mr Femi Otedola, is the second Nigerian to ever make the Forbes annual list of the world’s richest people with an estimated net worth of over US$1.2 billion. He is the CEO of Forte Oil Plc and the Nigerian President and Chief Executive Officer of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.
His marriage to wife, Nana, is blessed with three daughters and one son, among whom is Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, who was recently named tourism ambassador for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
DJ Cuppy began her career as a DJ at 16 in London, buying second-hand equipment and playing in clubs. In 2014, she was the resident DJ at the MTV Africa Music Awards in Durban. She would go on to play at the Tatler and Christie’s Art Ball in London and the Financial Times Luxury Summit in Mexico City.
In July 2014, she released House of Cuppy, her first compilation mix in both London and Lagos. She then had a launch for House of Cuppy in New York City on September 2, 2014. She also launched her music management and content production business, Red Velvet Music Group.
Speaking about her love for music, DJ Cuppy said: “I have always loved music, even as a child and I was very passionate about young people. I am greatly honoured when young people approach me to say they like what I am doing. I am also establishing my own company, which is into publishing and management. I have a 10-year plan to change the face of entertainment in Nigeria.”
She says she has the blessing of her parents, both of whom she said have been very supportive.
She said: “My mother has been my everything. She has been very supportive of my career. She is such a strong woman, and I only wish I can be half of what she is. All I know is that it is always good to do what you love. I also love to do business and that is why I am combining music and business. From the onset, I have always had this entrepreneurial spirit to run my own business one day. That, I will say, I got from my dad.
“My dad is not only my mentor; he is very involved in my adventures. Whenever I have shows, he will help me go through the list. He is very passionate about music. He loves music a lot. I remember listening to Fela’s music with him in the car when I was younger.”
While not dismissing the importance of her background in her rise to the top, DJ Cuppy believes her talent and hard work have been the major factors in her ascendancy to the top.
“I will say that I am very lucky, because I have very supportive parents. Of course, I also have the most supportive team in the world. My parents encouraged me to be the best in whatever I do. I think it is all about being myself and not trying to be someone else.
“I am very lucky to have the kind of parents that are pushing and challenging me to be the best I can. A lot of times, people get distracted by the background information. I am where I am, following my dreams and doing a very exciting project. With time, people will come to see that it is passion and talent that has worked for me.”
