Abdul and Daniel, members of wavemaking group, Blacktribe speak on their plans to take the Nigerian Music industry by storm. They spoke with DESMOND UTOMWEN and LOIS OKEREKE
Who are the Blacktribe and how was the group formed?
A: The group Blacktribe is made up of Abdulmalik Usman and Daniel Nwankwo from Kogi and Abia states respectively.
It started around 1997 when we were still in secondary school. We used to play football together and often, we would mime other people’s songs. When the zeal to sing became high in us, we now thought of doing something of our own. And that was how we met the group, Plantashun Boiz, in 1998. About that time, we also met another guy, Seal, from Kogi State, bringing the number in the group to three, at the time. But Seal had to leave the group afterwards due to the problems in the music industry. You know how hard things were. Along the line, we christened the group Blacktribe.
Q: You have been around for a while, yet you have just an album in the market. Why is this so?
A: Actually, we have released a couple of songs. Before Nino, which was an instant hit and is still very popular today, we had released the song, Be My Girl, featuring the group, Plantashun Boiz. We had Marry You, Ngozika and some others. Then, we were working with Nelson Brown. We weren’t too impressed with the way things were going and Nelson had so many artistes he was producing at the time. Seal’s exit also affected us badly because he was vital in the way we arranged our songs. But we had to go back to the drawing board and began repackaging our stuff. What you have now is the new Blacktribe which is fresh, hot and smoking.
Q: But it appears Nino didn’t do quite well in the market then?
A: It was not actually released into the market then. It came out in the album that was released two years ago. Nino was actually a hit in 2000 because that was the song that brought the Blacktribe to limelight then. The one you hear now, which is popular, is a remix.
Q: Why did you repackage most of the songs in the album. Could it be that you couldn’t bring in new songs?
A: Not at all. As I said, the songs were not actually released as an album before. Some were released just as singles and though very popular, people didn’t get them in the market. So, we had to actually take the songs to our fans. I remember that a whiteman came from Singapore then and said he knew the songs there, yet they were not actually available in the market.
Q: Was Seal part of the first recording?
A: He was actually the person that brought the chorus. So, having to do it again without him was the reason we had to go back to the drawing board.
Q: First, Nino was produced by Nelson Brown and the second by OJB Jezereal. Were you not trying to ignite some kind of controversy?
A: Not at all. They have different approaches. Nelson Brown is very good, but the decision to repackage brought about the need to take the song to OJB to see what he could do with the song.
You can take your song to any producer for a different touch if you so desire. OJB, like you know, brings in this western touch while retaining the original African rhythm.
Q: How much impact have you made in respect of the repackaged Nino and other songs, especially given the fresh competition coming from so many new artistes, who are equally talented?
A: It is bringing us fame, fortune and better deals. It has taken us to a level we didn’t really believe. Now, we have a deal with Edi Lawani and Associates. We are not there yet, but we are moving up and that’s O.K. by us.
Q: Many mistaken your songs for those of the old Plantashun Boiz. What influence have they had on your career? Why do you sing like them?
A: The members of the group Plantashn Boiz remain our friends. And to be honest, when we came in contact with them, we loved what they were doing and they fit into what you may call a model, considering the fact that they were older than us in the game. But then we have to retain our own flavour, because we are Blacktribe. It is the same around the world. Take for example the Backstreet Boys, Westlife and others. They sing alike yet have their different fans and still make their money. Here Blacktribe is keeping it real. Many credit our songs to the Plantashun Boiz, but it’s O.K. because the guys are good guys and not criminals.
Q: Any plans to collaborate with them?
A: Our first song, Be My Girl was actually a collaboration with them. And now we are doing a remix of You Are The One with Tuface.
Q: Whose idea was that song?
A: Blacktribe’s. Actually, I (Abdul) do the singing because I can’t really write and Daniel is very good in writing the songs. Daniel sings and does some rapping too.
Q: Why are you not with any of the big labels?
A: We are doing well with the management deal with Edi Lawani and Associates. The issue of label is a matter of choice. We have gotten offers from the big labels in the country, but what we need most is a management team that shares our dream and we have that already. The second most important thing is a good marketer to distribute and circulate your songs.
Q: Could the belief that these big labels exploit artistes be one of the reasons you are not keen about accepting the offers of these labels?
A: What we need is someone who can share our dreams and help us to grow. There are some artistes who are very talented but are not doing so well. Maybe it has to do with their labels. We don’t just want to be famous, we want to make the money because fame without money may be shame in disguise.
Q: Do you think you can get the kind of label you actually desire in the country?
A: The industry is really growing but I think they should also consider giving to artistes what they deserve in order to get the best out of them. With Edi Lawani, the future appears bright and colourful.
Q: Considering the Tuface and Kennis affair, who would you say is promoting the other? Is it the hit songs of the artiste or the influence and ability of the label?
A: I would say both, but we really don’t want to talk about Tuface and Kennis because they are both our friends.
Q: Though disbanded, the name Plantashun Boiz still looms large in the music industry. Do you think you can surpass their feat?
A: We have done that already. Plantashun Boiz is no more, but Blacktribe is keeping it real. And with or without them, Blacktribe is hot and we are making an impact.
Q: What lesson did you learn from the break up of the Plantashun Boiz and other groups? Are we not going to see members of Blacktribe going their separate ways soon?
A: We are not just partners, we are brothers and we are one body and I don’t know how possible it will be for you to do without the other parts of your body. Whatever we do individually affects both of us. And we have decided that if an artiste must feature us in a song, he/she must feature the group Blacktribe and not a member of the group. There is no Daniel or Abdul, but Blacktribe.
Q: A word for your fans?
A: Yes, we want them to know that Blacktribe is here to stay. It was unfortunate that our former marketer/distributor, CK Ventures failed us and that was responsible for the poor distribution and marketing of our first album, and that is why it didn’t go far as it ought to. People loved the songs, but couldn’t get them to buy. We are assuring them that we will make up with our new album. We have started the process of promoting it and are going on tour to Benin, Port Harcourt, Abuja and other cities soon.
Q: How many songs are there in the album?
A: Ten songs. There is something for everyone.
Q: If you commended CK Ventures as having contributed immensely to the release of that album, would it be fair to say the company failed you?
A: My brother, I am an Igbo man and I know what happened to that album. The ‘‘outro,’’ as you said, was done before the album came out and we thought he was going to make our dream come true. But he didn’t. People tell us, the songs are good but not available in the market. I can tell you that if we have the opportunity of doing another ‘‘outro’’ now, I will tell him that he didn’t live up to expectation.
Q: Generally, how has piracy affected you?
A: Piracy is really eating us deep in this industry, especially the upcoming artistes. This is the reason some artistes today would prefer to sell the rights of the music to the marketer outright.
For example, one can say, okay, give me N10 million and take the album. The album will still bear your name, but the proceeds go to the marketer. But all these things are not actually helping us to grow. Artistes in other countries that are not as populated as Nigeria are selling 20 million copies and here in Nigeria people are battling to sell less than a million. This is why Nigerian musicians are forced to do what they are not supposed to do. These marketers would produce 20,000 copies of your album for you, and produce other copies, say 50,000 for themselves, and sell their own first without your knowledge and when you go to them to ask for proceeds on the 20,000 copies, they tell you that the album is not selling.They are not helping us. I pray that God will touch them.
Q: What is the title of you coming album?
A: It is titled Better Days and has ten tracks.
Q: All the songs in your first album are about ladies. Couldn’t you have sung about other themes?
A: Actually, it was kind of in vogue when we were putting the songs together. But our new album has songs like Be Proud, which is speaking to the youth, encouraging them to shun social vices and embrace dignity of labour. They should be proud of what they do. We have Figbayemi, Hold On, Cry No More and Mago, which is about those guys that cheat on girls.
Q: She Wants Hit and Go was in your first album. Were you singing from personal experience?
A: Yes. It was about the girl that ran away with Daniel’s money. It was the money we were given for our first album and she ran away after she finished the money. She used woman power!
Q: How has that affected you particularly in relating with your female fans?Now, we are very careful and don’t allow fame and overtures from women to get into our head.
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