Inside story of my duet with R. Kelly – 2Face
Weekend Magazine: You have worked with some big names in the past and are friends with multi-platinum selling recording artistes Wyclef and Akon. How did you handle the R. Kelly debacle, in which you were chided for not really recording a song with him, despite claiming so? 2Face: People should first of all verify the […]
Weekend Magazine: You have worked with some big names in the past and are friends with multi-platinum selling recording artistes Wyclef and Akon. How did you handle the R. Kelly debacle, in which you were chided for not really recording a song with him, despite claiming so?
2Face: People should first of all verify the claim and sources of the guys who reported the R. Kelly disclaimer. Thereafter I will feel obliged to really respond because I wouldn’t have any reason to raise issues with R. Kelly’s lawyers or representatives if truly R. Kelly ever said that. It’s unfortunate that after recording with Clef, Beenie Man, Chaka Demus and Pliers and a lot of other great artistes I have had a lot of respect for on deals that I even did not solicit for, people would be somewhere trying to suggest that I will condescend to the level of doing what I am now being accused of. Very unfortunate. But then again, people are people. Some of us are straightforward, others are not so straightforward.
WM: You have had a frosty relationship with the press…
2Face: I don’t think I’ve had a bad relationship with the press…
WM: (Cuts in) ‘Frosty’
2Face: Maybe with a section at a certain point in time. But like everything in life, there are people who want to attack and others who want to show their appreciation of what you do. I take it as it comes.
WM: Your last album, despite reports of not being a commercial success, is an apparent critical success having won several awards within and outside the country. How does this bring to bear on your songwriting and future materials?
2Face: It’s always been like this. The people who focus on the music have expressed a deep sense of satisfaction with the album from the onset. Those who were preoccupied with other issues really didn’t listen to the album. Half the people who have talked about the album say it is their favorite 2Face album yet. So, sometimes you wonder where all the stuff is coming from.
The album is soon to be officially released into the international market and the licensees are excited about the prospects so really, ‘The Unstoppable’ has done pretty well. There have been marketing hitches within the local market and we needed to have done a little more with the initial promotion. But it’s a young label.
As for songwriting, I’m spontaneous. I don’t really work with formulae. I follow the inspiration in whatever direction it leads. I don’t like limiting myself to one style and approach because it has given me a hit before.
WM: This year you’ve gone from Abuja to Calabar to Makurdi. And there’s Bayelsa on the way. What is the significance of the locations chosen to celebrate your tenth year in the music business?
2Face: We have tried to spread out the activities to reach as many different locations and classes of people as possible because the 2Face brand connects with all kinds of people everywhere. Calabar hosted my birthday bash because my friends down there insisted they wanted that; Bayelsa is for my Niger Delta people; Makurdi was a charity event in support of the NAFDAC public awareness initiative. We’ll have one in Jos hopefully. It’s the land of my birth and we’re working with the state government to organize a peace walk to mark the anniversary of the crisis. Of course there must be something for Lagos.
WM: What is the relationship with the mothers of your children?
2Face: We dey try. Everything is OK. Of course I have a responsibility to the kids. I love them more than life.
WM: November alone, you’ve been to Canada, Malaysia and the United States. How do you cope with the itinerant musician you are? And how do your kids cope with that?
2Face: It gets crazy at times considering that you have to add Abidjan, Jo’burg and Nairobi to that list. Plus all the local Naija runs for like Port Harcourt, Bayelsa, Abuja, Makurdi. Sometimes I don’t even get to sleep. But that’s been the reality for a few years now. I’m thankful to God. Rather this than being idle and unwanted. I try to create time for the kids in between these trips. It’s something I constantly work on.
WM: Why does an international star of your status retire to Festac after traveling the world? And especially after the attacks you’ve had in that community…
2Face: I’m very attached to Festac, I must confess. But then again, we are who we are. Whatever Nigeria is today is what we have made of it. Probably I’m saying some real world-class products can come out of all kinds of places in Nigeria no matter how tough it is to survive here.
I might also be trying to call the attention of the leadership to the fact that every neighborhood can be upgraded so that all of us are not struggling to move to just one part of town. If you look around you’ll find that there are a couple of very decent stretches of property in all kinds of places – Festac, Ikeja, Agege, Omole – everywhere. The general state of security, roads and other things just has to be upgraded.
WM: It would seem that you have been off the radar for a bit. What have you been up to?
2Face: Off the radar? Not sure how exactly you mean. I’ve been up to finishing work on The Unstoppable (The International Edition), working on a few videos, executing Infinit2 events in Calabar, Lagos, Makurdi, Bayelsa, Jos and more. I gave performances both at the MAMAs and the Channel O Awards, won at the Africa Music Awards in Europe. I was nominated for the Face of Hope, I played at the Miss Ecowas pageant in PH, recently did concerts in Canada, Abidjan, Kuala Lumpur, Dallas. With so much on my plate, maybe I should be permanently off the radar. (Laughter)
WM: Do you ever have to do anything because you know the camera and the lights are on?
2Face: There is constant pressure, I can’t lie. What I miss most is my freedom to be me, be ordinary. You know, freedom to experience life, make mistakes and learn from them. But most times the pressure keeps you on your toes in a positive way because there are millions of young people looking up to me. It’s a responsibility I welcome, but I too, am only human. I will make mistakes. I will feel low and weak sometimes. Life is like that. Maybe it is also a good thing that people see you stumble so they know it’s a part of life.
WM: What is the next step for you?
2Face: A new phase. The next decade by the grace of God: more work, better music and hopefully better results.