WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian pop icon, 2face Idibia talks career, marriage, near-death experiences, life at 40 and more with THENETNG

By Ayeni Adekunle, Adedayo Showemimo and Kayode Badmus

You are one man that can be described as lucky, having survived different phases; the first phase being the Plantashun Boiz super star to the phase of babies, the armed robberies, the shooting incident, the fights and all the drama, what would have happened if you didn’t get a second chance?

It would have been crazy. To be honest with you I can’t even imagine it. Like for me, back then I never really lost any faith or hope or anything. I never even thought about it the way you’re talking about it now because then I still kept my head straight and I still knew that time would heal everything.  Time will tell everything. Time will work everything out and it came to pass. I don’t know what I would have done or what would have happened. I probably would have just entered events planning.

Do you have any skills apart from music?

Everything that I know is actually centered on entertainment so any other thing I would have done would have been centered on the entertainment line.

Could you let us know some of them?

I like to act. I for go start to dey act home video. I for day follow Ramsey Nouah and Jim Iyke dey drag the thing na.

Or comedy?

Or maybe I for dey follow them Basketmouth dey drag the thing.

How about football?

Ah bros at that age how I want take start football? When my bones don lock for where dem dey? There’s no way I would have started football but everything I would have done would have been on the entertainment level.

What role would you say Efe Omorogbe has played in helping you through the several phases you have experienced?

I think Efe has really been a very critical part of my movement. I actually started with Efe; he was my first manager. Along the line he stepped aside and when that time came again, I approached him and said guy let’s work again. I am a free agent once again so let’s work and we started working together again. I enjoy working with Efe because he is very honest, very hard working, intelligent and what I love most about him is the fact that we work with the future in mind. I think Efe has been very wonderful in aligning with me to achieve that.

So you are forty years old

Like play like play.

READ: 40 highlights of 2face’s life and career

Do you feel like music is leaving you behind or you are leaving music behind, seeing how these days, the younger acts are the ones making hits now.

I think the kids are catching up with me now, let me put it like that. Before I be don leave them behind but now e be like say them don dey catch up with me. I’m still definitely going to keep doing music. I know that every generation has its own peculiar sounds and lingual. Funny enough, most of the lingual, were started by us but then, it was seen as crazy or silly.

Must See: 40 throwback and fun PHOTOS of 2face

You’ve always been a reggae fan, are you still so much into it as you were before?

Over the last two-three years I have not really been listening to music the way I used to.

So what happened?

I cannot even explain what happened. All of a sudden I’m more into movies, more into documentary programs, news, CNN. All of a sudden I became more into news, politics, documentaries, discovery channels. I know more about animals now than I know about music.

Do you feel you’re getting old as you are approaching forty?

One thing about old age is that it’s a mind thing. For me, I think I grew beyond my age at a very fast rate. If I can use this word without sounding immodest, I’ve been a star for a long time. You understand what I’m saying. So I’ve really grown before my actual time but in spirit and the way I act, the way I hang out with people, the way I talk, the way I comport myself, many people don’t even believe I am this age because I don’t act like it. I still see a twenty year old boy I’m like how far na how body and he’ll say 2baba how body na. I’m not the kind of person that will be like hey how are you? All those types of levels so.

For a lot of people when they’re approaching forty, they will say okay I won’t drink anymore, I won’t party anymore…

Definitely I’m going to cut down on a lot of things because as they say person body no be fire wood and with age, one has to be a lot more careful. No matter how you feel young for spirit reach the body don work according to the age, e don work the work. So definitely I’m cutting down on a whole lot of things.

READ: 10 things you never knew about 2face

What are some of the things you will cut down on?

A whole lot of things I used to do excessively. Things wey I dey do as say as I be young boy my body still fit dey carry am. But I’m definitely not going to do those things as before.

Tell us some of those things.

I’m definitely not going to drink like before, I’m definitely not going to smoke the way I used to smoke before.

But you sleep a lot too, would you cut that too?

I think that’s one of my lifesavers. For instance, if I rock, I must sleep my sleep. There is nothing that will stop me from sleeping. And I think that’s one of the things that has really helped me, health wise. As far as sleep is concerned, people already know me to be like that and they just know not to disturb me. If we have a night out they know they are not to disturb me. They know that even if there was an appointment, it will either be cancelled or postponed.

What is your biggest investment?

Wow. Right now I think it will be in my kids and I try so hard to spend quality time with them and ensure they are imbibing the right things. I would like them to be confident, humble and cool and decent.

Talking about being confident and shy, you appear to be a shy person; uncomfortable in environments and with languages you’re not used to. And you always speak Pidgin such that people once thought you couldn’t speak English at all. Do you think you’ve overcome that?

I have not completely overcome it because sometimes I forget and I start speaking my Pidgin, then I realize that oh okay, these people na English them dey expect me to speak. Then, I will switch but speaking about being shy, I used to be very shy but mine is the type that prevents me from talking anyhow to people I don’t know but if it was singing, even when I was younger, I go all out and I do it with confidence.

Tell us about some of your down times, for example the car accident you were involved in 2001.

It happened in Lagos. I was driving from Kuramo beach then. Then Kuramo beach was the reigning fun spot. I remember I was drunk, like I don kpeff so tey I day use the car do video game na.. As I reached the bend I couldn’t even hold myself any longer, I lost control and when I woke up, I was in the hospital.

You were just 26 at the time and there had been a lot of such incidents in your life. Does it occur to you sometimes that you could have died?

Yeah! That time when I woke up in the hospital I was like men, so that’s how I would have just gone like that? It was crazy and after that accident I started having speed phobia.

READ: 3 times 2face could have died before 40

Do you still have the scar on your leg?

Yeah e still day na.

Tell us about the gun shot incident

Na the same leg. Them just day target the same leg. Even when I was younger and I was playing football, opponents used to tackle the leg. Once, I knelt on broken bottle while playing football with the same leg. So everything that happened to me since I was a kid has happened on this leg. I don’t even understand that kind of coincidence. It’s a very serious coincidence that I can’t explain till now. Every major injury that I have had has been on this leg.

With the kind of experiences you’ve had would you encourage your kids to do music?

Yeah. Definitely. It’s a serious business and with discipline you can be the cleanest and baddest artiste out there.

But from all you’ve gone through – from the good times to the bad times to the terrible times to the great times, if you were to advice young artistes today on how to go about their careers and live their lives, what would be the most important advice you would give them?

Wow. One of the advice I would give them is about the videos. Nowadays, the videos are all about money and girls. I mean you find them rolling with ten girls, the baddest cars, party all night, smoke all day every day, it’s just about that life in almost all the videos out there today. These videos have a way of getting young people carried away forgetting it is just make-believe. Many of these people are not even partying like that, I just want them to know that there is a difference between the videos and real life. E just be like say e get one movie when you like and the guy na drug dealer, you wan con go be drug dealer. Let them be able to separate facts from fiction.

At what point in time did you decide to leave the hood? You were reluctant to leave Festac. What role did that play and how was that decision for you? Also, if you look back, do you think you should have moved earlier or later than you did?

I started having kids and I got married. All the time I was there I was still solo, I was comfortable and I was getting the job done, it wasn’t stopping anything, most of my investments are in Festac. But once I got married I just wanted to at least move somewhere with the serenity and sanity needed to raise kids. I’m not saying that you can’t raise good kids in Festac but you know what I mean. Quiet peaceful neighborhood.

So do you think you moved at the right time?

Yes.

To celebrate your fortieth birthday, will there be a special song from you or an album?

There is a song I’m going to throw out that day but it’s not based on the birthday.

What’s the title of this song?

It’s just a song that I did to appreciate everyone that has played a role in my life one way or the other. I’ve done a couple of songs but this particular one, I think I’m just going to bring this one out on my birthday. I thought many of my fans will like to hear something fresh from me as I turn forty, that was why I decided to release it.

What’s the title of the song?

The song never even get title o. I never even title the song yet sef.

When will your next album drop?

No album any time soon. I’m just going to be coming out with one or two sounds.

READ: ALL 2face Idibia’s album covers + Tracklists

 Why is that so?

The market isn’t so good for album business anymore, so I’m just going to be coming out with one or two singles and promoting them. But I’m definitely going to be doing an album before the end of next year.

Tell us how you came to Lagos? Take us back from school up until the point when you first came into Lagos

The first time I came into Lagos, I came with a friend and that was some time in 1992. I was still in secondary school then. I just came and spent only a week. Then in 1997, I was in IMT, Enugu, doing Business Administration and Management but I had started performing in school, at campus gigs and all that. Once I was done with my OND, I didn’t continue the HND but rather, I decided to face music squarely. Then, Blackface had done his HND and he also wanted to follow music full time as well although he had options. He could play football, he was an excellent basketball player; so good that he could go pro if he wanted to but music was his passion, mine too. So we both decided to go into it fully. Already, we had started performing together though we weren’t a group. We were friends from home, Benue so we had known ourselves for long, for almost all our lives. It continued like that we came to Lagos in 1997 and we officially decided to become the PLANTASHUN BOIZ.

Where did you stay when you came to Lagos? How did you come to Lagos?

It was by bus, We hustled some change, some little change. We just package one demo na we say okay make we come Lagos.

With your parents’ permission?

Yeah I mean they were like ‘Finish school’. You know how parents are in Africa, in Nigeria but somehow they knew that I had already made up my mind to do music and because they knew I had the talent of music in me. I think that really made convincing them a lot easier. And they were like good luck, if you need anything just let us know.

So we came in Lagos, staying in Festac at Blackface’s uncles’ house

What was his name and where was this?

Captain Moses Ahmedu, he’s late now may his soul rest in peace. He was a very gentleman,. He had a whole lot of people in his house. We used to call the place ‘Defense Academy’. We stayed there and we started Plantashun Boiz hustle in 1997/1998. In ’98 we caught a break with the Rothmans Groove. It was 31 shows all in all across Nigeria.

Who got you Rothmans Groove?

We were chilling one day and Mr Eddy Lawani sent a message to us like hey guys where una dey? make una show. And before then, we used to go hang around his office.

Was it Mr. Eddy you met first?

Yeah we met him in Festac during one of our regular beat-your-chest accapela days. He soon started encouraging us and gave us his address to come visit. Then he will still give us transport fare for coming to visit and other times, he gave us food. Eddy actually introduced us to the industry and to a whole lot of people. It was Willy Walkman that introduced us to Eddy Lawani I remember now. Willy walkman was the first person that started acting like a manager to us.

So how much were you paid for Rothmans Groove?

In all, we made 310,000 but it felt like millions of naira then. They paid us a part at first. If you saw the pride I felt when I traveled home to meet my parents, I con dey form. My mama wey be dey think say them go send me money, na me con dey give am.

Actually it felt good to do that. That was one of the greatest feelings for me at that time. After that we got into boutiques and got for ourselves good clothes and shoes. We invested the rest in our music.

Where did you guys record at that time?

We were recording some songs at Even Ezra and Dolphin in Surulere then later we met Nelson Brown. We met him and he asked to sign us. Then he was just starting his label and was producing for all his guys. But the period we met him he was working with Weird MC and we were backing her up then, as well with Bunmi Sanya. After the Weird MC project, we sat down with him and discussed and said guy how far na? we hear say you dey open label o how we go do am na?. So that’s how we started working and in 2000 our first album was released. Initially we featured Faze but in 2000 we decided to bring him in.

READ: Back then, Plantashun Boiz backed up for Weird MC – 2face reveals

At that time he was Lyrical Orge, so what incited bringing him in?

I mean the blend, the blend the blend. Initially was Blackface’s idea but I now agreed and said let’s do this because the blend, his voice, it just blended and it was like a group already. So instead of featuring him we said let’s just roll together.

So what was the sharing formula for Plantashun Boiz? What was the structure? Did you guys discuss it?

Yeah we did. We even had a contract that time for the group. I can’t remember the exact content of the contract.

 But you had a contract?

Yeah we had a contract then. But everything was level, there was no group leader, nothing like that.

Okay tell us about growing up, your siblings, your parents, your siblings, your family, growing up in Benue.

I was born in Jos, at Rayfield. I pretty much grew up in Jos and Benue state. At one point in time my Dad went abroad to study and we joined him there for about two-three years before coming back to Nigeria.

Where was this?

In the U.S. I was seven years old when we came back to Nigeria. My growing was pretty much very peaceful, no drama type of thing.

What  school  did you go to?

Demonstration Makurdi and some other primary schools because my dad was moving us around a lot.

What was he doing?

Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture. Them dey transfer am so he day move around well well. Then my secondary school was  Mountain Gabriel secondary School Makurdi.

Were you active in church? How did you first hear about music?

Yeah music for me was a natural thing. It was something I just naturally discovered and I could fill in. Then, I tried my hands on any and every instrument I could find.

So you were not trained formally in music?

No there was no formal music training for me and besides, back then there were no music schools.

What church did you attend?

Catholic, my parents where Catholic

For a long time, you were the face of Plantashun Boiz and at the end of the day you left that group to work on your own album with Kennis music. Do you feel that if you had not left Plantashun Boiz, you would have built this iconic organization and group if you had stayed?

I honestly don’t think so because like I told you we had a contract. The contract we drafted gave allowance for members to do their thing after about 4-5 years or so, but we’ll still work together as a group. We would still be Plantashun Boiz. But you know when your body, soul, mind and spirit tells you that it’s time to do solo stuff. Our second album wasn’t as successful as our first and so many things were going on so I thought this solo stuff. The plan was to do it and encourage others to do the same. That way individual success would still rub off on the group but it turned out everybody just decided to face their individual stuff and the Plantashun Boiz idea wasn’t followed up again.

Sometimes do you feel if you had stayed behind things would have been different?

If I had stayed behind it could have gone two ways, I may not be as successful or may be I would have.

What role did Kennis music play in all this?

At a point, Kennis music was the biggest and baddest label in town and there’s no argument about that. Kennis music came with a breath of fresh air in terms of how the musician is being portrayed and hyped, in terms of how things are being presented to the public. So Baba Keke brought this whole new dimension in presenting showbiz and it really created a fresh ginger in the Nigerian music scene.  So put am like this now, a guy like me when get some bad tracks and a man like Kennis way get mad hype, we couldn’t go wrong.

Did the squad come before you decide to leave the Plantashun Boiz or was it after?

I decided to leave first before I approached Kennis.  Kennis didn’t even know I was going solo. I met him after and told him, Baba Keke I wan do solo album o, how we go do am? We now fixed an appointment and I went to meet him. Everybody was happy with the deal, we talked some things over and we cancelled some.

Was there a deal that your were trying to sell the album for 500,000 naira at that time?

I remember there was one record label that offered me 500,000 naira to sign with them. I cant remember the name of the label. They were just coming up  and they offered the sum as sign up fee. Anytime I hear sign up fee no I go laugh. That thing na highest job for this world. You no go know say na serious gbese you dey collect.

So what was the agreement with Kennis?

We discussed it, if we sell, royalties, percentage, 60%-40% in favour of Kennis because they were handling production and everything. It was a good deal for me back then and I think because  I was coming from a successful group gave me bargaining power.

Like the Plantashun Boiz again it got to a point where you had to leave…

Yeah I mean I had to learn to do my own thing. To move on, make my own mistakes.

How long did you stay under Kennis music?

The contract was for three years and two albums. I fulfilled my part of the deal and so did Kennis music. It was a mutually benefiting contract.

Do you think women have contributed your career?

I would say that they have contributed. Let me just put it like that.

 Do you want to explain?

Just as you talk na, when pastor day use me dey preach. Na blessing be that na

What do you think the women saw in you?

I think they saw a very peaceful person and somebody that they could easily relate too and rely on.

How were you able to manage all the relationships at that time?

To be honest with you initially, I was a very honest boy, a very naive young man, innocent young man, along the line my head con touch somewhere. I con start to craze.

When you saw the ladies flocking around you, did you see it as an avenue to take advantage of your fame and success?

OK no. Things just started happening and I was actually genuinely interested. Everybody that I had something with, we actually dated. They weren’t just flings. We actually were into ourselves like for real for real.

Were you surprised that you eventually married Annie Macaulay?

I’m not. I’m not surprised. Honestly, I mean back in the days it had come across my mind one or two times to propose but somehow it got to a point where I was like I’m not going to get married.  Even before I started having kids I had already made up my mind not to get married. Before then I had already risked one or two times where I almost proposed to Annie. But I just decided against it because I thought I wasn’t going to be faithful. I wasn’t going to be good enough. I had always thought I wasn’t going to be the best man for any woman so because of that, I just thought I’m not going to get married; I’m just going to live my life.

So what’s special about Annie?

No one can explain love matters, the thing go just make you go blank, but when you just see the person with another guy, only you go just start to dey jealous. That was what was happening to me with Annie you know. At first, I will decide not to be with her as I fear breaking her heart but the minute I see that she is being serious with some other guy, I will stylishly slide back into her DM and say ‘Baby what’s up?’ At first, she will resist me but I will start to day ‘re-toast’ her. One time, she did me strong thing and refused my advances, I had to start all over again for about a year before finally, she agreed.

We are doing a book on you titled: A VERY GOOD BAD GUY. With the book, we want to reveal the true you but I would like to ask you to confirm if you are the humble innocent guy who can not hurt a fly or you are guilty of all the atrocities you have been accused of. So do you feel some conflict against yourself?

I would say that there is no conflict in that title: GOOD BAD GUY because that’s exactly what I am. I’m not a saint but one thing that I know is I am a peaceful person and I never plot evil against another person. But the thing be say I day rock, I day drink, I day smoke you know. Like back in the day I day do woman, I no day faithful you get; I no be one woman person. sometimes I be one woman person, sometimes when my head spark I go change am so I get season way be say the thing day happen but that’s about as bad as I get. Na my highest gangster level be all that one you know; my gangster level no pass say I be jolly good fella, na my gangster be that so nothing else way rugged about me.

Okay I think that’s about it. Do you want to describe what you think the atmosphere will be like as we celebrate you at forty? You’re the first person in your generation that is still active and successful at forty and it’s something we should not take lightly. Most of them who came after you are already being called ‘old school’ artistes and they are no longer recording. As you clock forty, you are still a respected pop star and most people consider you an icon. What do you think the legacy of the musician and the man called Innocent Idibia is?

One thing about me is that I want my legacy to be this dude that came, there were no shortcuts, he paid his dues, there was no fakeness about this dude. He was an open book, nothing hidden under the sun in this story and everything about him is public knowledge. There’s nothing hidden about me and that’s the funny truth. I can bet you know everything about me as you’re sitting there; I mean all of you here, I can bet you know everything about me. There’s no fakeness, no film trick about  me and I’ve always kept it like that and I’m going to keep it like that till my last day on this earth. And so I just want them to know that hard work pays, your level will tell its self so you don’t have to form any level. If you know say level no dey and you day form am, na only you go just dey worry how to cover your yansh any time e open. But if you be yourself you no dey fear to cover anything because na you, na so you be.

And your talent will always come through; it will always come out. Let nobody tell you see these days, if you sing the one way make sense them no go like am. NO. If you sabi write lyrics well then write better lyrics and do am. Highest, you write better lyrics on top the style way dey reign if it must be like that. But never ever say because of say them no dey talk anything make me self no talk anything again. Just do your thing and be real because fakeness dey always catch up with person. The can only keep up fakeness for so long; you no fit keep am up forever. So I just want my legacy to be that of no fakeness, an open book, hard working and be real. That’s it. The guy that came, was himself, worked hard, paid his dues, kept it going and sparked a revolution without gun shots