By Lolade Sowoolu
Since the 2004 split of the successful talented pop trio called Plantashun Boiz, group member Chibuzor Orji – stage named Faze, has been the second most visible, trailing behind internationally recognised 2face. Despite releasing three albums claimed to have sold over six million units as at 2008, and a fourth in the works, questions are making the rounds about the vocalist’s financial and commercial state.
At a recent MTV/STV gathering where Faze made a surprise appearance. The ever-thin light-skinned singer spotted his usual casual Tee on jeans and a low cut rather than dreadlocks. And even though he didn’t say much on the red carpet, a few vigilant eyes couldn’t help but wonder what happened to the singer’s dreads. Did he shave it off cause the cost of maintenance had become a luxury? Far from that. Faze says his new look is one of the signs of the new career chapter he’s opening. Don’t be surprised if he changes his sound too…
Faze was first seen wearing not-so-cool dreadlocks in his string of late 2007 video releases. Then he pioneered the trend of South-African-shot Nigerian music videos in ‘Tattoo girls’, ‘Kpo kpo di kpo’ and ‘Need Somebody’, all from his sophomore released in the previous year. All these following closely after his ‘Kolomental’ break. These were the premium hey-days that established the vocalist as an R&B giant headlining nearly every major gig in town.
By mid 2008 when he returned from a tour that included South Africa, the Kolomentalist had upgraded to wearing well-locked uber-cool dreads which soon became his signature. In high hopes of global domination, the then A-list star announced his new business affiliation with international music promoter Joy Tongo as he basked in the soaring status of his new single, ‘Originality’. It’s been years now and not much has been heard or seen of that business partnership. No big-budget shows. No foreign deals. No popular engagements. The result of this is narrow income and a steady decline of the singer’s rating.
A deal-gone-sour with Akon also did not help matters.
But now that Faze seems to be back and brimming with fresh excitement, we’re waiting, patiently, to see what the next few months have in stock for the singers’ singer
46 comments
Boring heading….
What as dread got to do with bin broke?
I agree with u ohy if total rubbish was thinkin u guys saw him riding okada nonsense!
Lol @ Wealth…nawa to you o!!
You guys are so stupid and fake, it is not compulsory you write something everyday.sometimes it is cool to just shut up.
i just wonder. what the rubbish….this guy is hot,….how much does it cost to maintain this dreads….its all rubish..he’s stil rich…i both saw him and 2face at a hotel in abuja…..the luxury is there…i just pray for him cos he’s my fan
Tottal rubbish
rubbish faze is self made he can maintain 10000…pple dread
U guys sucks,d guy stil got afluence,saw had a crush wit him at emeka enyiocha’s joint,nd he luks extremly gr8t.
Was thinkin i’d see hw much he’s worth nw or y u guys think he’s broke. Nt sum story abt his dreads. Didnt Omarion tk his hair off 2?
Was thinkin i’d see sum figures on hw much he’s worth nw n y u guys think he’s broke. Nt sum story abt his dreads. Didnt Omarion tk his hair off 2?
dis writer is not serious. cant he go and find sometin to do. faze z d best everywhere. he got money n have everytin.
Nxt tym will be mohawk if he likes,u guyz writing sucks
What sort of rubbish story is this ? It’s bcos you are broke like a broke-ass and you think maintaining dread is expensive… Better go and hug transformer or go and kiss your sister or better-still go and hawk gala…
u guyz are so sick faze is rich ie wealthy knw dat. but why u guyz luv critizin faze in d first place, he is d best n nice wit is haircut…. It all about choice niggi
u guys re looking for what to sell ur useless papers, even though faze stop working till next 5 years he wont be broke.
broke or not he is the man.forget the dread.
After rain come shine,No matter how bad today may be tomorrow will be fine.Dry bone shall raise again for not recording song some time now do’s not mean he’s broke.i wish Faze the best in days to come.
Faze only rebranded, he is not the first musician to rebrand so stop criticising him.
I no nowen dey gostop saing rubish in niger if faze no sing again he no fit sufer coz he don already work for is money and about d dread is a celebrity he can change is look 100times in a year dint yu see r kelly i no say dose talking rubish about faze are hoodlums and bad pple wu want dose on top to come down na yr generation go broke no be our world celebrity kpokpodikpokpo master
Faze cool with his low cut sut ur mouth
I love faze song when it cum 2 RNB.but faze de fall my hand unto say in song don finish.i want make him bi lik 2face,de unstopable But i stil luv my Guy faze
Faze go still be my guy no matter wetin craze people dey yarn,he is the best and will forever be the best
Make una help me tell faze make he release new album i beg.make he no alow 2face dey top am i beg oh
Faze is still great bro’, he’s ma best. Haven’t u guyz heard of his new single ” ‘AM IN D MOOD ” the track is bangin! Looking forward to his new album.
U guyz are realy doing a great job. Luv u yall!
Stop talking stuff about faze an average man can afford d maintenance
of dread how much more is faze…If u gat nuffin to publish drop da pen besides AM IN D MOOD rocks MY MOOD
You can see for yourself the publisher of this article that you enraged myself and Faze’s fans world wide with this publication. It is obvious some sorts of brats don’t want the progress of Faze so they are working round the clock to foil his efforts. Recently he was featured as a lead actor in Alero’s Symphony and people started writing inane stuffs that music is no longer favouring him so he’s shifting to the movie world. Just watchout for Faze the evergreen enigmatic, superb vocalist because he is never fading no matter what badman does or do.world w brats to to stumble him.
What is these you people do not like a humble person faze can never be broke he still have it in excess.ok because he never release album that why you people are talking nonsense, you people didn’t hear his songs that we be release REFAZE-AM IN THE MOOD, GEAR ONE, RELATE, AM BLESS, BEST OF THE BEST FT 2FACE,BLACK FACE. ALL this music the videos has be release .please don’t talk rubbished to my guy. My best nigeria musicians. God bless faze and his fans and every body in this earth.
faze gat wt it takz 2 remain ever rich.put ur screen on, all u c is faze. Nd ur radio on, dy stil talkin abat faze. He singz 4 real gz, nd he make d dogz bark. Dis haterz tutpic, all dy do is fall back. Yeah is ur man. Young black h.e say so 1uv faze i,m proud of yah.
I LUV FAZE DIE
faze is da best, he is creative and very original. its just that a major part of nigeria’s audience listen to senseless music. faze would always remain my no 1. i hope he reads all our posts and see how much we belive in him. the sky is his starting point. if i had my powers, faze would be in every big show in this country. we luv u faze. keep it up.
Oun to ba wu anybody lo le fenu e so, faze o ro yin. Wht I mean is dat u can publish wht eva u wnt abt faze, he is @ d top no baggar can bring him down. Faze u ar d best!
Faze we love u but do something, i am begging u o (nwa) u own the music in nija.u be the best
No mata wetin dm talk,FAZE na my guy.faze am ur no 1 fan i know u wil neva let us down kip d fire burning broda.FRANK
Faze stil remain my best man in 9ja muzik. Nd i lyk his new luk
faze is one of the best hip hop singer in nigeria(mr originality.)
ur music alway giga me. Am ur num 1 fan anywhere anyday blive me u ar not alone am very proud of u bringout ur REFAZE album am waiting 4 d legend
Faze is my friend in music world and is a Good musician
d real men dont rush in their ways they settle down in order 2 com out wit d best FAZE, until d wrld ends u’re d man i’m proud of i call u d Almighty in music nobody can deter u. Ur new outlook so perfect hope 2 hear ur new album NO DORLIN BROS.
Am your no 1 fan even in grave you are my best when it comes to music in niaga faze i love you
No male artist wit pure voice lyk faze nt even 2face. . .Iisten 2 his song I’M BLESS, D guy gat much on him dat’s why. . .He lok more respectful without d dread.
dis posts ar all fake
without much statements,you guys should be expectinga new face in d music industry…soonest,the whole world will be screaming,singing,calling and dancing to his tracks. Lilboy..
Faze,we did not hear about u again,I am waiting 4 ur album tO be release.
I don hear ur latest track AKACHUKWU bro I dey die 4 ur muzik….U 2 much
Faze remain my best musician. you that is saying nonsense about faze how many world class musician have come out from your family. At least he has established him self at the world level . No matter what he can never run down. GO CHECK OUT THE “REFAZED” album is a must listen.
Hay guys Faz is not a fake; Originality you are d man i believe in you, man they all will come looking for you soonest