It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives. The act of dying is not of importance, it lasts so short a time,” says British author, Samuel Johnson. And as friends, fans and family mourn the passing of songwriter, music critic and performer, Olumuyiwa Osinuga, aka Nomoreloss, not many are bothered about how he died, but why he should live for all that he lived for, including saving the life of colleague, OJB Jezreel.
Indeed, two days after his demise on Monday March 21, 2016, details of his death did not as much matter like songs such as Ehen, which he did with Ruggedman, critiquing some of their colleagues, and suing for professionalism; Iyawo Asiko, a rap remix of Orlando Owoh’s hit of the same title, and from his 2015 Grass to Grace album, tracks such as Ojuri, Ololufe, Imagine,All the time, Kini and Omo Africa among others.
Nomoreloss was said to have been hospitalised two weeks ago after being diagnosed of typhoid fever. He was said to have been discharged and recovering before the relapse that led to his death.
Mourning the passing of the artiste, his colleagues have been pouring out their heart on the various social media platforms.
“Hey soldier, words fails me today because two days ago I cast you as a character in my new film,” said Dancehall artiste, Baba Dee, via his Facebook wall.
He added: “You were one of my selfless men in this selfish industry, you did your best and you made your mark.
“We shall all go someday but Muyiwa this is to me a great shock, rest in peace my padi, mourn you till we join you .R.I.P’’.
Cally Ikpe of Callyvision Networks and founder of the Nigeria Music Video Awards (NMVA) said: “Farewell Nomoreloss, no one ever doubted your versatility, talent and love for your industry.
“You gave so much and kept giving, even now as I write, I expect my phone to beep to a message from you, offering opportunities to young talents to express themselves.
“That was just a bit of your commitment to see the industry grow
“We will miss you till we meet you again, farewell Nomoreloss.”
Obviously pained by the demise of his colleague, Ruggedman was critical of the music environment the deceased found himself when he said; “Those who never called to ask how you are doing will appear.
“God knows and sees all.
“Those who demanded for money before playing your music or showing your videos will now play it, because after your death, it is now good material for their shows. God sees all.
“I appreciate every contribution you made to my career, God bless you bro, till we meet again, who knows, we might finally get to do “Ehen part 2’’.
What Nomoreloss told us in 2013
Relationship with OJB Jezreel
I wouldn’t be singing if not for OJB Jezreel in the first place. He’s my producer; he’s my friend and my ‘brother’. I learnt a lot from OJB. I stayed in his house for almost seven years.
How did you feel the first time you learnt he had a kidney problem?
I’ve always known that he had issues. We just didn’t know how bad it was. OJB has been dealing with it, but he never told anyone. He never went public, but when it was stopping him from working, we just had to go public for him. Most of the time when he had been paid for a job, he’d have to return the money because he couldn’t make up with the appointment. It was getting really bad. We just had to tell everybody and ask for help. He didn’t like the idea but we just had to do it.
What was your worst experience during the OJB fundraising?
Ha! See now, I don loss weight. I stayed up till 4am- 5am in the morning. People call me from abroad, raining curses on me thinking I am a scammer.
Did you feel like backing out then?
No I didn’t. I’ve always been a production person, always behind the scene. It’s like my music; I never got anyone to say oh you are good. People will put you down. The closest people to you will call you unserious. Loads of stuffs went down; people turned the fundraising to an avenue to do business. Some people started to do shows. People assumed that it’s just a kidney issue that OJB has. But I tell a lot of people the day they announce to you that you have kidney issue or you have some ailment that you may die soon, try and imagine how you will feel. Half the time he’s depressed. At a point we had to even stop him from relating with the media because he was always down, he was always feeling miserable.
About his lifestyle and family
I drink, I smoke, I do everything.
For once, have you thought of quitting the habits?
The Bible says that in everything, moderation should be applied. I don’t have any qualms about doing anything; my qualms is, don’t do it to kill yourself.
How challenging has marriage been?
It’s very challenging. We just made up our minds early to do things differently. She has her own radio show and she has her own TV thing she’s trying to do. I just let her be her own person like she’s my girlfriend. She has her own life. If she needs my advice on certain things, I give her and vice versa.
How are the kids?
Those ones; they already know that both of us are ‘not well’ (laughs). They are nice kids. They are bookworms.
Do you believe in the maxim ‘Happily ever after’?
Na lie. I don’t believe in it. Tongue and teeth, they fight. Where is the happily ever after in that one? There will always be quarrels. Only just learn to bend over for each other. You can argue, you can quarrel, but learn to say sorry. You see that word ‘I’m sorry’; it’s not far from my mouth. I like to see my wife as my girlfriend. My wife and I go to night clubs. We drink together. She does skimpy. You no go fit tell say she don born and men they toast am 24-7. We don’t touch each other’s phones. Not that we can’t touch it, but it’s a case of ‘anything your eye see there, don’t get angry’. We don’t lock our phones, but we have an understanding. And I think that’s the most important thing.
About his music career
Anyone that knows me well will tell you that for me, it’s not just about commercial music. I’m not a commercial singer. I don’t believe in commercial music. It got to a point in my life when I felt I was no longer with that conviction, I was lacking that conviction. I feel like every time that I sing I should mean what I am saying to a large degree and if I can’t feel like that I should just stop. And also my mum’s passing away really altered that for me. My mum is the major reason I stopped singing. When she died, I just lost interest in everything. You know feeling of just going back home and there is only one person telling you I understand, you are just doing great. She was my number one fan. When she ‘left’, I fell into a very deep depression. It took a lot. I did a lot of therapy sessions. It was hard. But people don’t understand depression in Nigeria they just think you will get over it, but sometime people die out of it. A part of me died. And when my dad now had cancer, it just sparked something in me again. I went into the studio and I put out a song called Ojuri and the song just went viral.
So, are you back into music full-time now?
I’m back to performing full-time. I have a weekly show. I have refused to release an album because I want to have a complete understanding of what I want to do now. I stopped any form of appearances on music reality shows and stuffs like that to concentrate on myself; to concentrate on the new brand I’m trying to come up with. The return to music was Ojuri for me. I dropped a new single, but I had to go back to Surulere where the passion started. I had to go back to that environment to get the vibes. And if you watch the video for Ojuri, for me it was going back to my root.
What is the story behind Ojuri?
Ojuri means ‘Eyes have seen’ and it’s basically the summation of my life’s story and my return to music, my constant fight with my family. It just sums up all that I’ve gone through. My return to music is for a purpose; it’s not just because I want to sing and make money again. I have a management company, I have a record company. I do a whole lot of stuffs. My return to music now is to show by example what I am trying to sell; I can’t be sitting down at home and saying this music is bad, that one is bad. I have to get back on stage to show what I am trying to teach.
What’s your style of music?
Really it’s difficult for me to define my music. I play RnB, I play all sorts. I can’t really fathom it. I just love music.
You also came under criticism that you don’t have the music credibility enough to be a judge…
Coming from the background of who is he. I don’t need to blow my trumpet. I’ve won several awards for excellence for technical and stage. I’m a live band person, so my appreciation of music is not the average. I love stage. I love an atmosphere that speaks music. So, when you are doing it, it’s either you do it right or you don’t do it at all. I’m hardest on myself. I have in excess of hundred and fifty something songs I’ve not put out because I’m not satisfied. When those people were complaining about me, I was like they need to get to know the person they are talking about. I think the sweetest thing you can hear is “I hated you; I hated you for like three years and then I took out time to listen to your music and watch your video and then I realized you are good.”
But is it difficult for you to cut a commercial single?
No, like Iyawo Asiko for instance, that was at the point that I was telling a story. That was real to me and it became a national hit. Suru, Grass to Grace, Kilode, my first single became a national hit. These are songs that stayed on the average of twenty three weeks at number one nationwide. I don’t need to prove any point to anybody. Ololufe went on number one. It was there for long and it was based on that we, that we had a Wande Coal do a reply.
