‘It took me years to release my music because I was afraid’

Prince Emmanuel Junior, popularly known as Prinx Emmanuel, is one of the emerging artists currently making waves in the Nigerian music industry. In this interview, the Abia State-born rapper, singer, song writer and music producer speaks on his journey into music. What was growing up like for you? Growing up as the first child in […]

Prince Emmanuel Junior, popularly known as Prinx Emmanuel, is one of the emerging artists currently making waves in the Nigerian music industry. In this interview, the Abia State-born rapper, singer, song writer and music producer speaks on his journey into music.

What was growing up like for you?

Growing up as the first child in a family of 6 children in a typical Nigerian home was all good. We had a very simple family. My parents loved and made sure we were taken care of as much as they could afford. When I was 10 years old, we lost our father and life dealt with us severely. Somehow, I was able to go through secondary school and tertiary institution – University of Port Harcourt, by fending for myself. To cut the long story short, we are here living and making meaning out of life.  

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At what point did you realize music was for you? Or is it something you have always been doing?

You know it is very typical to hear musicians say it was at a very young age. For me, it wasn’t at a very young age. I got to know about music when I was 8 years old. Not even the vocal aspect of music. You know, in church; learning how to play the drums. At 11 years, I started playing drums in church till I was about 13. Later on, at about 17 years, my friend who is a pianist was invited to the studio to learn how to produce music and he reached out to me to come along. I was excited because I had never been to the studio. I got to the studio and I really liked what I saw. As a drummer, it was easy for me to blend in because I was always around singers, instrumentalists. It just clicked in my head that I could be a music producer. It wasn’t really about singing for me. I never thought of singing or rapping; although I knew I could write good lines at the time. I even used to write lines and give them to my friend. Then, I started learning how to produce music and I started producing other people’s music.

When did you pick up singing?

After I produced music for a while, a friend of mine reached out to me. He kept pushing me to release my own songs. He even suggested I record my own songs and use them to perfect my production skills. So, I started recording. I would produce a beat and record to see if a song could fit into what I have done and then from there I started making my own music. Even after I started making my own music, putting it out there was a big problem until 2015. 

What were you afraid of?

I was afraid of not being accepted because at that time in Port Harcourt, there was a particular style of music that was gaining traction. It was easier for you to break through if you did that type of music. My style of music was a bit too complex. So, in my mind, I have a style of music to bring to you but ‘are you guys ready to take it?’  This will also be very funny to you. I was afraid of transitioning. People knew me as a drummer in Port Harcourt at the time. So, to just come out one day and claim I am a singer, I was afraid of what people were going to say. 

My church people, work people, I was just worried about a lot of things that would happen around me. People will say I was playing drums and then switched to singing, asking if I can’t stick to one. You know the jack of all trade, master of none kind of talk. I was just afraid of a lot of things.

What is your driving force while singing on stage and how do you keep your audience attentive?

I have always had this thing to put hilarious and very catchy lines in my music. Those lines come very easily for me, like they are inbuilt. I think it is as a result of where I grew up, it was a ghetto area. We had this lingua and the way we talk about things is usually funny. So, it is easy for me to put down some very catchy lines. Nigerian churches are very sensitive when it comes to some types of music. They need to be sure of what you are saying to get their attention. In my music, I make sure that my lines are clear and very easy to understand; because I’m rapping most of the time and I don’t want you to be lost. I would do a little acapella rap with the piano so that you can get what I am saying on stage and understand. I try to explain the music; I try to explain what I mean. There are always biblical references to every song I make so that when I go upstage and you give me the microphone to explain a song, I would explain it normally and it won’t look like we are just using our heads to write the songs.

Which of your tracks would you say brought you to the limelight?

‘God no go Shame us’. Guess what? That is the song I didn’t like. It took me 7 months after recording to release it.

Which artists have you worked with? 

I have worked with a lot of artists, including those who don’t do gospel music: Preye Odede, Ada Ehi, Buchi, Moses Bliss, Kaydee Numbere, Dandizzy, Erigga etc

What do you hope to achieve through your music?

I intend to successfully pass on the message of truth which is the gospel. To do that, you need to first pay attention to yourself because most people only listen to influential people. So, I want to be influential and I think entertainment is capable of taking one to that point of high influence.

How many albums do you have so far?

I don’t have an album yet but I have an EP titled, ‘This is Prinx’.

Are you signed to any record label?

No, I am not. I am an independent artist. I do not want to be involved in ‘clauses upon clauses’ that would affect my course.

Who are your mentors?

I do not have mentors. I have people whose music influences my music. When I listen to them, they influence the way I record. You can hear bits of their style in my music. The likes of MI, Vector and Marley Music. Marley Music is an American musician who was a great influence to my music. The way I perform on stage is also greatly influenced by Dr Tim Godfrey.

Apart from music, what else do you do?

Everything about me is music. I am a recording artist, I produce other people’s music, I write music for people and I direct. However, I have a laundry business that is almost ready to be unveiled. I have always wanted to have one. It is taking some time because I am making it into a company, not just a laundry shop. Soon after we launch, we will move into an automated dry-cleaning service.

What do you do for fun? 

Gaming and Football

What major projects are you working on this year?

I have an already recorded album and I have also recorded an EP to be put out and a couple of singles. However, the album project will come much later in the year, not immediately. I also have this musical concert I do every year called ‘Reverb’ also coming in towards the end of the year. I had one last year and it was massive. I also have music videos I am working on and tours this year.

A word of advice for young artists like yourself out there

My mum will say experience is the best teacher but it shouldn’t necessarily be your own experience. There is a pattern that we have seen over the years. You see a young artist that comes out, very talented and doing well for himself. Before you know it, he starts taking drugs and smoking. He does it; it becomes a part of him. He does it for so long that he really needs rehabilitation. I want to advise my fellow young musicians out there not to do drugs. It may look as though it is fun but it is not going to end well. Don’t do drugs.