Tag: Olamide

 Oluwagbemiga Babalola is a Nigerian music star who rose to fame a few years back with his hit single Shayo. Better known in music circles by his moniker, Bigiano, the award winning artiste and graduate of Computer Science from Obafemi Awolowo University says his career is not only about music. Returning from a long hiatus, he speaks to ADEWOYIN ADENIYI about his decision to take a break from the Nigerian music industry and his subsequent return.

WHAT has been happening to Bigiano?

I decided to take a break from the scene and reposition myself and my career business-wise because it’s not all about music; it’s about having to structure the business aspect of the music industry. For me, it goes beyond singing and appearing on TV so I decided to take a break. Now, I’m back with a lot of materials and structures around me.

When you say business, did you go into other businesses while you were away?

I’m talking about music business. It’s not all about going on stage and grabbing the microphone and sing. It has to do with knowing the business of music, its structure and the entire music industry. So I am back with my record label, BG Records. We have been pushing it from there.

Now that you are back, are we to expect any song from you?

I have just released a single. It is titled Tonight and it has been receiving massive airplay. I will be releasing two singles soon with videos but I think we are going to do it simultaneously. After that, I still have two more singles with two videos as well, so we are going to be giving them to my fans back to back. As it stands, Bigiano is going to be consistent and ready.

Do you think you can still gather as much fans as you used to have?

Actually, having Bigiano back in the industry comes with only one reason, which is the song. The problem is not how to come back, the problem is how to get them come back to me. My fans are still out there; I know I disappointed them by keeping them waiting for too long. But basically, once the video and the materials start dropping, definitely these people will feel me and my fans will come back to me. The industry is quite big and I respect everybody but the sky is wide enough for birds to fly.

Will you be having collaborations with other artistes?

Yes, I have collaborations with artistes but I don’t want to mention names now. I am still going to work with a couple of more producers as well.

It was rumoured that you once ignored Olamide and Reminisce when they needed your help?

It is a rumour like you just said because I can’t remember Olamide meeting me up for help and I turned him down. Neither can I remember Reminisce coming to me to work together. I remember 9ice’Alapomeji and I remember Hakeem Ibro at a studio where they used to stay. I usually go there and play with them. I loved all of them so I don’t know what you are talking about

How would you describe yourself?

Bigiano is a very chill, simple and funny clown. But if you are not close to me, you will never enjoy the other aspect of me. If you see me out there, I package myself and brand myself with my small but mighty body. People won’t know, but when you are close to me you will know I am a typical clown and I make people happy. A lot of people miss me when I am not around in my family because they know this guy is a very funny guy. I am a God fearing spiritual person.

You changed your hairstyle; is that part of the rebranding?

Yes, that is part of the rebranding we are looking at. I used to have long hair but I cut it off to look more chill and mature. I think I prefer this look. A lot of people are actually heartbroken. Some of them walk up to me to ask why I had to cut my hair but I feel more comfortable with it.

What was growing up like for you?

It was fun. I was born with a golden spoon but, at some point, because of my stubbornness, I had to sort out myself. After graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in 2005/2006 session where I studied Computer Science, I decided to do music though the church and all that. At the end of the day, I had to leave home. So from that period, I learnt a lot on the street. I don’t want to go back to my dad because, I mean growing up was fun but at a point in my life, it was tough for me.

Would you agree that the streets thought you most of the things you know now?

No, my family background, my parenting thought me most of the things I know today, but the street remoulded me because my family gave me the orientation that you see in me today. I respect people a lot. I make friends, I fear God and I don’t brag to people. That orientation comes from my house; my family.

My father and especially my mum ensure that I pray all the time and I fast. But if you see me on the outside as Omo Igboro, you can’t chance, cheat or ride on me. What I am saying is that I am a combination of both the street and a decent home. I’m from a very decent home. We are six. I am fourth in the family. We are three boys, three girls and I am proud of myself and my family.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Like I said, I will be dropping two new songs this month. Also, I will be going for a radio tour.

While his latest release, Bobo, is still receiving massive airplay, Olamide seems not to be resting on his oars, having just announced a double collaboration with Five Star music acts, Kcee, and Harrysong.

He made this known via his Instagram handle, on Tuesday.

The rapper was joined by Kcee and Harrysong at his Magodo office, to record two different songs. Sound Sultan came in later on to record Olamide’s verses for a new track.

Shortly after that, he revealed that he has just finished a collaboration with Sound Sultan. “#Teamislanders studio bangbang hit them up level… no zigima parole Sound Sultan ft baddo …. Work before you flenjo…. Never joke with your last card #YBNL.

Pepenazi is a up and coming act, signed under Edesftic Records. He is an Estate Management graduate of Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA). In this interview with MOBISOLA OLADAPO, he talks on how big he wants to be in the next two years, what inspires him as an artiste…  

LET’S get to know you.

My name is Kayode Opeyemi Gbenga. I’m from a family of three and I’m the last born. I’m a rap artiste. My sound is Afrobeat urban to be precise. What I do basically is to make good music and pass messages across to people who want to be involved with music as well. My philosophy is being at the right place at the right time.

How did you come about the name, Pepenazi?

The name Pepenazi is an abbreviation. It’s the collaboration of so many words. It’s the name I got from secondary school. It’s for the people that talk a lot. I got the name in my second year in school. I was very vibrant and I could talk a lot. I’m someone who loves to express himself and the name stuck. Everyone started calling me Pepe. I had to make it make a lot of sense because I wanted it to stay. So, I made it an abbreviation. The word Pepenazi means People enjoy nice and zealous instinct.

How was it involving education and music?

I have been involved in social activities right from my secondary school days. At May Flower, Ikenne, I was the social prefect. To be a prefect, you had to study well and make sure people are happy. That was the same thing I brought into my university days. It was harder in the university. I was in the department of Estate Management and I was the social director. Imagine moving from that into the Students Union Government (SUG). It was serious work. As an artiste, I had to combine office, combine shows and a lot more. We were just two then – I and Bigmax. It was easy for us to get shows. It was easy for us to pass our music across but still it was tedious being the SUG social director. I was very keen on time – just had to be dedicated in whatever I was doing and that kept me going.

What’s your parent perception, while venturing into music?

Like every parents’ mentality that if you’re doing music you’re doing nothing, ‘like musicians don’t go to school and so on.’ They weren’t too sure and kept asking if I was going to take it seriously. In my university days, I didn’t let them know about my social activities. You know, parents can be very funny. At a point in time, they had to do everything based on maturity. At the long run, they called me and asked if that was what I wanted to do. And I promised them that I was going to be done with school before starting my musical career. Once they started seeing progress, content and hear your song on the radio, then they start to change their mind-set.

Who do you look up to in the Nigerian industry?

When you look up to people, there are some features to look out for, like the kind of music he produces, the businesses he is involved with, his belief, his stage performance , his strength, his relevance. The likes of 2face Idibia, his music, his consciousness and he is someone who is keen into the industry. People like D’banj, Dede – he is a fighter, people like FelaKuti, SeunKuti because of the sound afrobeats. Fela is dead, now so I look up to Femi Kuti. And Olamide, because he started from the root, he is a commercial rap artiste and a he is a good business man.