There Is More To Me Than Flashy Cars And Girls, Wizkid Opens Up

AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN A.K.A. WIZKID IS NO DOUBT ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN THE NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY. OF LATE, HE HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR SOME NEGATIVE THINGS: OBSESSION WITH CARS AND WOMEN, FRAUD PERPETRATED WITH HIS NAME, TROUBLE WITH HIS RECORD LABEL AND SOME OTHERS. IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH LANRE ODUKOYA, WIZKID CLEARS THE AIR ON THESE CONTROVERSIES. HE ALSO SPEAKS ON HIS RECENT AUTO CRASH AND COLLABORATION WITH FEMI KUTI

MY CAR ACCIDENT…

I really don’t like to talk about bad experiences because I believe that it’s like a lesson and stepping stone for everybody in life to learn something at some point. When I had that accident, it was the second time it would happen to me, so it was a reality check on me. What if one’s life ended that day? God forbid! I’m grateful for life and I made a promise never to slow down on what I’m good at.

WHY I WAS INVITED BY THE POLICE…

Some unsuspecting guys have been chatting with some fake Wizkid and we can’t readily give full details. We were invited by the Police which we granted. We gave our statements, the other party made their statements as well, but I cannot really say anything about that until the Police go further with their investigations. Though, we know that with the details that have been given, they must have been talking to a fake Wizkid or fake Wizkid management. So, this is really not from me, my management or label. If you have contacted anybody regarding Wizkid and you have paid, provide the bank details and email correspondences. If there was a contract, provide it and it’s as simple as that. We’re not fighting anyone. In fact, we sympathize with anyone who has been duped. For a while now, we’ve been having cases of people reporting that they’ve been chatting or planning business with a fake Wizkid’s manager or they booked Wizkid for shows. Some even go to the extent of creating fake accounts in my name and collecting money from people. I just want to re-emphasize that there’s a process of booking Wizkid for shows which is just like the normal standard most of us are familiar with. Everybody knows that if you want to book Wizkid, it’s either you go to Empire Music Entertainment (EME) which is my label or you connect with my manager, Godwin Tom. These are the main ways to book me for a show or whatever form of service you need me to handle. Chatting with a Wizkid that has promised to do something for you or charging you some money are fake and I never charge anything with anybody directly. I don’t discuss fees. I allow my management and label handle my business. So, nobody talks directly to me concerning business.

WHAT I’VE DONE TO CURTAIL FRAUD PERPETRATED IN MY NAME…

I’ve tried as much as possible to create more awareness about this on the social media and shared it with as much people as I can access and I’m just sharing this with the press. My management is coming up with details and phone numbers to reach if you want to do a business with Wizkid. It’s either you contact my manager of EME directly, but even when you contact me, it’s the normal procedure that I direct you to the booking office as well. The process is simple. You’d send us your request via email, the booking office will contact you from the email address you provided with a booking questionnaire. The questionnaire will have information about your event as well as your publicity plans and other special requests you need.

EME/STARBOI EVOLUTION…

We’re doing very well, it’s been fantastic and we’ve been have meetings and going back and forth devising new plans for making EME one of the best record labels in Africa, not just Nigeria. We’re putting in works, everyone is currently in the studio and Banky W has shot a couple of videos. We were at the video shoot two days ago and we’re still working to be the best we can. I’ve set the record straight not just from this medium, but everything I’ve released like in JayeJaye song. That record was put out by Starboi, my new company in collaboration with EME. EME is definitely still Wizkid’s record label, Starboi is a record label that I run and I have a couple of producers that I’m working with. So, we’re expanding the business. When Banky W and I started, the dream has always been to build an empire to help more people and give them that platform to excel too. And it cannot just happen through one person, we had to branch out. The industry is very big with about five million talented kids out there looking for channel to hone their skills and become stars. And now that there’s Starboi, everyone can start something like that to help somebody become who he or she wants to be. It’s been a great evolution because I’ve worked with legends and it’s still a learning process.

MY FORTHCOMING ALBUM…

I tweeted my track list which has Olamide, Don Jazzy, D’Banj and Banky W. The album is ready; we are just putting the final touches to it and right now we’re just mixing and mastering. In a few days, the album will be out and we’re going to be having a listening party pretty soon too and we will be announcing the venue, date and other details. The album is coming out really good and I’m very happy with everything I recorded on it and I believe that this will be better than the last one I did.

RELATIONSHIP WITH MALEEK BERRY

I’ve known Maleek for about a year and a couple of months now. From the first day we met, we’ve been talking about business. We took our time to plan something properly and we’ve been executing our plans right now. This is what I said about branching out and giving other people the platform. Someone gave me that platform when I was coming up too.

COLLABORATION WITH FEMI KUTI…

Many people didn’t expect that and it was to show that sometimes people don’t understand that it’s all about music. Some people think that all Wizkid talks about is girls, flashy cars and all that. All I speak about in my music are my true life experiences. If I’d not been through it, I wouldn’t talk about it. So, when I decided to do JayeJaye featuring Femi Kuti, I wanted to pass a message across to all the kids aspiring to be like me that you’d have to continue to learn. The song was to build the gap between the old and the young people. And I really appreciate Uncle Femi Kuti for doing that song with me because I called him a day before we recorded the song and he obliged me.

PENCHANT FOR HIGH END CARS…

I don’t think I have a penchant for flashy cars. A lot of people in Lagos drive more expensive cars than mine in Lagos. I don’t think I’m about the cars as against what many think of me. I just like to live comfortably. It is part of the work, I need car as tool to do my business. How about people in government spending so much money on automobiles? If someone works hard for his money, I don’t think anything is wrong with what he likes to buy with the money. I work hard, why would I not live well?