OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI
Annie used to sit under the tree to cry for 2face's love …
After a failed album, Originality, he took a long break from the music
scene, only to re-surface with Re-Fazed, an album which opens a new side
to the dreadlocks wearing Faze. But this time, the dreads are gone-
here comes the 'new born' Faze. Read on.
What do you mean by 'leaving everything'?
That is I had to relocate from where I was living because we weren't
living together at that time. I went to live with 2face and Blackface to
enable us form the Plantashun Boiz. Even there was a movie I featured
in, titled Alero's Symphony. I insisted that I would be coming to
location from my home but the producers disagreed with me because they
wanted me to get used to the environment. So, I was on location for
about three months and that was what delayed my album.
You have a degree, 2face doesn't, and I don't think Black Face does…
No, Black Face has a degree. What Black Face just told me was that if I
wanted to cope with Plantashun Boiz, I should forget about this because
I don't like talking about the past. As young boys, in the Plantashun
Boiz, we were always back up to each other. If 2face wasn't singing, I
could take his part because we have similar voices. And Black Face raps
and sings at the same time.
So, two heads are better then one.
Then, as the baby of Plantashun Boiz, I listened to whatever Black Face
said, and I never see anything wrong with that because it worked out for
me. Who knows, if I wasn't part of the group, I might be struggling
with other groups to come up today. I attempted it and it worked but if I
tried and it didn't work out, maybe I would have done something else.
How do you feel today that 2face is a superstar as well as yourself, but Black Face is yet to hit the mark?
Black
Face is also going to be big. Everybody seems to be supporting him
financially, and it takes a lot for people to believe in you. Black Face
wrote almost all the songs we had in our first album, so, he has
potentials. He has management challenges and people that believe in him.
We must be frank, we have some junk music in the industry but they sell
because they have financial backups to pay for publicity and other
things. These days, if you are bringing out an album, it has to be well
packaged, it has to generate noise. I'm working on something with him
to make sure he bounces back.
Since you know his problem, why didn't you…?
He's going to be big. Everybody has his time
But don't you think it's getting too late?
Nothing is too late. He just needs a single and I'm working with him on
his album because he was involved in my career. I remember when I
wanted to go for a singing competition. I was young and scared of the
unexpected because there were so many ladies there that could sing well.
I didn't want to involve myself because I noticed judges were usually
partial when it comes to ladies.
It was a live performance but
Black Face encouraged me to go ahead. He accompanied me to the
competition and I won at the end of the day. So, it's the same spirit
that I'm trying to give back to him. Whenever, we sit and write songs
together, he writes in a different dimension. I think the only thing he
needs to do is take his time and not to be in a hurry.
It appears you are more passionate about Black Face than 2face?
No, it's not like that. 2Face is already big and Black Face will still
grow. Most of the times when he's down, I sit with him because I know
his kind of person. He has talent and he has his fans. What is left is
for him to give his fans the right music to listen to and enjoy.
He
made me grow, and I don't want to say I don't care about anybody but
I'm a kind of person that I don't forget my benefactors. Sometimes, God
directs me to give to people and I do it because I know there's blessing
behind it. It was Black Face who made me join Plantashun Boiz and
that's why I'm known today.
So why didn't you speak with 2face to lend him a support?
What he needs isn't financial support. We are working together to bring out the right songs.
What's 2face doing about it?
I'm sure both of them meet to discuss on their own, you know they are
from the same area. I can only speak for myself that whatever I do for
Black Face, I'm not helping myself, he's helping me. I'm still going to
do one or two songs with 2face in future. But I'm doing everything to
make sure things work out well for Black Face. We are all looking for
money to take care of our responsibilities. The highest we can do is
work together and make more money. Black Face has been helpful to me
even financially so, it's on both sides.
Why were you and Black Face absent at Tuface's Dubai wedding?
I was in Dubai but got to the venue very late. I had other functions I
was attending to. People saw me because we were together at the club.
Black Face has his own reason he didn't make it.
But you are his friend and you should know better
He must have his reasons.
Maybe, he didn't have money for the ticket…?
It's not about the money because tickets don't cost that much. He must
have his own reasons. Tuface had his reasons he didn't invite him too.
After all, when Black Face did his wedding, none of us was there.
Now, that 2face and Black Face are married, what are you waiting for?
I'll do that very soon.
I thought you said you had a girl you were dating for years and you'd get married to?
I've never dated any girl for years in my whole life. Besides, I don't
have to date anybody for years before knowing who she is. That's why I
wrote a song called Good Wife. I know the qualities of a good wife, and
it's only God that can show you who a good wife is because you know
most of our young ladies pretend only to change after the wedding. I
know my wife. It's not that I'm perfect.
Meaning that someone is in your life…
Yes, I don't play with that. But what if I want to marry her but she
isn't ready for it? Both of us have our lives to live but what matters
is that we love each other. I didn't say I have another girl. She's a
wife to be by God's grace. It's not that my mum has to approve her. It's
just for her to pray because God determines everything we do in life. I
do things at my own time and make sure that person is ready to do it
too.
So when is your time?
I won't say anything now but it'll happen at the right time.
How come you and Black Face are reserved with girls but 2face isn't?
Tuface is also a cool headed person. The girls who got pregnant for him
knew what to do to avoid pregnancy but they didn't. That means they
wanted the babies.
They wanted him to marry them?
It's all
about choice when he decided to marry Annie. I've known Annie for years
and I think she's perfect for him. There were times she would sit under
the tree, crying and asking me if 2face really loved her. Even when
2face was dating Annie, Black Face and I were equally dating two of
Annie's friends. But we didn't marry those girls but 2face and Annie
eventually got married. That's life for you.
How do you cope with girls?
It's not easy. They come, want to get very intimate and ready to do
anything. Some of them already have boyfriends, and some are even
married but I know the rules. So, what I do is to invite them to my
shows and they see me. Some of them just wants their parents to see me.
There was a girl that her mother always calls me and prays for me over
the phone. So, considering all the prayers I get from mostly elderly
people, I don't think any evil can happen to me in this life.
So since you are still single…
No, I'm not single. I have a fiancee and I'm marrying her by God's grace.
How does your fiancee cope at your shows?
No she can't go to my shows because it's not right. I'm not a public
person and I can never take my wife to-be to my events. And that's why I
can't marry an entertainment person because we can't be doing the same
thing.
Maybe, you don't want her to get jealous
She can't
get jealous because she's a matured person. I don't go out with kids and
I can't date a girl that's not intelligent because it's going to affect
my career, and even our kids will be dull. I like a lady who can help
organize my life.
Since you know his problem, why didn't you…?
He's going to be big. Everybody has his time
But don't you think it's getting too late?
Nothing is too late. He just needs a single and I'm working with him on
his album because he was involved in my career. I remember when I
wanted to go for a singing competition. I was young and scared of the
unexpected because there were so many ladies there that could sing well.
I didn't want to involve myself because I noticed judges were usually
partial when it comes to ladies.
It was a live performance but
Black Face encouraged me to go ahead. He accompanied me to the
competition and I won at the end of the day. So, it's the same spirit
that I'm trying to give back to him. Whenever, we sit and write songs
together, he writes in a different dimension. I think the only thing he
needs to do is take his time and not to be in a hurry.
It appears you are more passionate about Black Face than 2face?
No, it's not like that. 2Face is already big and Black Face will still
grow. Most of the times when he's down, I sit with him because I know
his kind of person. He has talent and he has his fans. What is left is
for him to give his fans the right music to listen to and enjoy.
He
made me grow, and I don't want to say I don't care about anybody but
I'm a kind of person that I don't forget my benefactors. Sometimes, God
directs me to give to people and I do it because I know there's blessing
behind it. It was Black Face who made me join Plantashun Boiz and
that's why I'm known today.
So why didn't you speak with 2face to lend him a support?
What he needs isn't financial support. We are working together to bring out the right songs.
What's 2face doing about it?
I'm sure both of them meet to discuss on their own, you know they are
from the same area. I can only speak for myself that whatever I do for
Black Face, I'm not helping myself, he's helping me. I'm still going to
do one or two songs with 2face in future. But I'm doing everything to
make sure things work out well for Black Face. We are all looking for
money to take care of our responsibilities. The highest we can do is
work together and make more money. Black Face has been helpful to me
even financially so, it's on both sides.
Why were you and Black Face absent at Tuface's Dubai wedding?
I was in Dubai but got to the venue very late. I had other functions I
was attending to. People saw me because we were together at the club.
Black Face has his own reason he didn't make it.
But you are his friend and you should know better
He must have his reasons.
Maybe, he didn't have money for the ticket…?
It's not about the money because tickets don't cost that much. He must
have his own reasons. Tuface had his reasons he didn't invite him too.
After all, when Black Face did his wedding, none of us was there.
Now, that 2face and Black Face are married, what are you waiting for?
I'll do that very soon.
I thought you said you had a girl you were dating for years and you'd get married to?
I've never dated any girl for years in my whole life. Besides, I don't
have to date anybody for years before knowing who she is. That's why I
wrote a song called Good Wife. I know the qualities of a good wife, and
it's only God that can show you who a good wife is because you know
most of our young ladies pretend only to change after the wedding. I
know my wife. It's not that I'm perfect.
Meaning that someone is in your life…
Yes, I don't play with that. But what if I want to marry her but she
isn't ready for it? Both of us have our lives to live but what matters
is that we love each other. I didn't say I have another girl. She's a
wife to be by God's grace. It's not that my mum has to approve her. It's
just for her to pray because God determines everything we do in life. I
do things at my own time and make sure that person is ready to do it
too.
So when is your time?
I won't say anything now but it'll happen at the right time.
How come you and Black Face are reserved with girls but 2face isn't?
Tuface is also a cool headed person. The girls who got pregnant for him
knew what to do to avoid pregnancy but they didn't. That means they
wanted the babies.
They wanted him to marry them?
It's
all about choice when he decided to marry Annie. I've known Annie for
years and I think she's perfect for him. There were times she would sit
under the tree, crying and asking me if 2face really loved her. Even
when 2face was dating Annie, Black Face and I were equally dating two
of Annie's friends. But we didn't marry those girls but 2face and Annie
eventually got married. That's life for you.
How do you cope with girls?
It's not easy. They come, want to get very intimate and ready to do
anything. Some of them already have boyfriends, and some are even
married but I know the rules. So, what I do is to invite them to my
shows and they see me. Some of them just wants their parents to see me.
There was a girl that her mother always calls me and prays for me over
the phone. So, considering all the prayers I get from mostly elderly
people, I don't think any evil can happen to me in this life.
So since you are still single…
No, I'm not single. I have a fiancee and I'm marrying her by God's grace.
How does your fiancee cope at your shows?
No she can't go to my shows because it's not right. I'm not a public
person and I can never take my wife to-be to my events. And that's why I
can't marry an entertainment person because we can't be doing the same
thing.
Maybe, you don't want her to get jealous
She
can't get jealous because she's a matured person. I don't go out with
kids and I can't date a girl that's not intelligent because it's going
to affect my career, and even our kids will be dull. I like a lady who
can help organize my life.
