“I Was Surprised When I Heard President Jonathan And HisWife Dancing And Singing Limpopo” – KCEE

Many people don’t know him as Kingsley Okonkwo, but if
you mention Kcee, then you are likely to get everybody
thinking it is time to dance. This is unconnected with the
fact that his latest hit, limpopo has become an anthem of
sort on the lips of the young and old in the country and
outside. Kcee has been ruling the airwaves with his new
single. In this interview with Segun Adebayo, the singer
bares his mind on various issues. Excerpts:
How do you feel about the success that has been trailing
your career recently?
From where I was coming from to where I am today, it has
been God. Basically, I always tell people it is God because I
have been working harder than I am doing right now, but
right now the story is different and I can say that God has
been so merciful to me.

You have worked hard over the years, but it seems the
rewards have started trickling in, are you surprised about
the turnaround?
Laughs… Yes, I will say I am surprised, but if I look at it
again from another perspective, I had always known that I
would hit it big someday. I already had that determination
since I started singing, but honestly speaking, limpopo was
a divine song from God. I think God just felt it was time for
me to step up my game to the A’list level.
When you were writing the song, where were you?
It just happened like every other song that you want to
release. I was in the studio with some friends. We were all
playing in the studio and the song just came up. It was not
one of those songs that you already have the idea of what
you want to do about it, I mean the arrangement and other
stuffs. But something very funny happened in the studio
that day, after recording the song, we decided to celebrate
it as though we knew it was going to be a massive
success. As luck would have it, the song became an instant
hit in its first two weeks of release. My brother, I was
surprised; I could not contain the joy. In less than one
month, I was receiving calls from different parts of the
world and in two months, it was something else. It is the
anointing and the power of God that I have been enjoying
since I released the song.
Talking about anointing, are you that religious, considering
your style of life?
It is the anointing. It is the power of God. My life style has
nothing to do with my religious life. I know where I am
coming from. The truth is that you need to recognize God
and appreciate Him for what He has done for you. Today,
when I am performing and I see the way people appreciate
my songs and performance, I don’t need anybody to tell
me that this is God working.
You were said to have left the country immediately after
the recording, some people said you were afraid the song
won’t do well…
No, that’s not true. We traveled out of the country after the
recording to shoot the video of the song. I dropped the
song while I was in Spain. We came back a week after
dropping the video. When I came back to the country, the
response to the song was massive, bigger than what I
have ever done.
What does Limpopo mean?
To me, Limpopo means let us have fun. It’s just my own
way of saying let us go and have fun.
Sometime ago, you were said to have quit the industry. I
learnt you went into furniture business. What exactly was
responsible for it?
It got to a point that I wanted to leave the industry. I
remember in 2009-2010, I almost quit the industry. I went
into furniture business, I started importing furniture into
the country. I got a showroom in Lagos and I was doing
fine with it, but I was not deriving the kind of satisfaction
that I wanted because I still wanted to do music, no matter
what. So, immediately after the break up with my partner,
it was a point where I took a decision that I must make my
own impact in the music industry.So, I had to put aside
every business and said to myself that If I try it this time
and it does not work, I will leave. I know it got to a point
that I wanted to leave the industry, but I am happy that
my determination not to give up has paid off tremendously
today.
You went into the furniture business with your partner,
Presh but it still didn’t work. Is that why you decided to go
your separate ways?
I think our separation was divine. It was divine in the sense
that I didn’t just wake up one day and said I was not going
to work with him again. We were talking as friends after we
started the furniture business, we wanted to do something
different. The both of us agreed that we should do separate
albums to express ourselves. That was the story behind
our break up. It was an agreement between the two of us,
it was not because we had any irreconcilable differences.
If it was a mutual agreement that you had, why has it
become almost impossible for you guys to come back
together?
We are still on the project. We have not released any
album since we broke-up. You never can tell. We might
come back together. Nobody knows what would happen
tomorrow. We are still very close, but you know sometimes,
God knows how to come into issues. That is how much I
can tell you about our relationship.
Who is frustrating the come back move, is it you or Presh?
Nobody is frustrating anything. Journalists have a way of
bringing nothing out of something. I have told you that we
are still friends. When the time for us to come back as a
group, nobody will stop or frustrate it like you have said.
Don’t you think your current status is one major problem
why you can’t be together again; he may be jealous of
your success?
You are right. The love might not be as it used to be. There
might be some sort of jealousy or envy as you have said,
but no matter how you look at it, even if were to be me, it
is not going to be all that rosy like it used to be. The
bottom line is that you need to find your feet and believe in
yourself. For me, I took a lot of boldness when we
separated.
Are you saying you expected him to have found his feet
like you did?
Well, like I said, it took me a lot of boldness. A lot of people
were saying my partner was better than I when we broke
up. I read a lot of stories online, but I was not moved. In
fact, some people said I should go back to Onithsa and
start selling clothes; they said why are we even singing. It
was a difficult moment in my life. But I knew I have what it
takes in me. It’s like pregnancy; only the woman carrying
the baby that knows. If it is two or three months, nobody
knows. Even the man who impregnated her may not know
what the woman is carrying until she tells you or the
pregnancy starts developing gradually. What I am trying to
say is that you know what you carry inside of you. That
was the kind of feeling I had when we broke up. You have
to believe in yourself in everything you do.
So, you were never scared of leaving your partner?
It was scary when I wanted to leave. You don’t need to lie
to yourself. I knew that I have the passion and what it
takes to sell good music, that gave me the confidence. Not
because I am the best singer, it is just the determination to
succeed and the passion for music.
But you have released some singles and videos before
now, why is limpopo different?
It is not like people didn’t know I am a musician. When I
did Opeke remix, people did not act like they saw it; I did a
remix with a South African artist, we no hear anything; I
did one with Davido; Nack me with Harry Song; I did a
song with Flavour, nobody said a word. Limpopo was the
eight singles that I did since my partner and I broke up. As
I am right now, you don’t know if I will be doing a song
with Beyonce and Jayzee tomorrow. If I had given up
before now, I wouldn’t be talking about all these. I just
believe that there was something in me that I need to
express; the journey has just begun.
Let’s talk about your deal as MTN’s brand ambassador,
how did you come about that?
The truth is when God wants to bless you, He blesses you
on every side. Yes, other brands were calling me for deals,
but just as were talking about it, the MTN deal came and I
was very happy about it. The deal was worth taking, if it
was not, I won’t take it.
Is the deal not restricting you in any form?
The deal is good and of course it came with some
restrictions. But if you consider the benefits of the deal, I
am comfortable with it. I think MTN is just trying to support
the industry and I appreciate the company for what it is
doing. Limpopo song was just the bridge that connected
me with some of the deals and top places I have visited
since I dropped it. I was surprised when I heard President
Jonathan and his wife, Patience dancing and singing
Limpopo at a function. They love the song so much,
especially top government functionaries. So, the song is a
huge success.
Are you not feeling weighed down under the burden of the
success?
(laughs)… there you go again. One thing I know for sure is
that God won’t give you the kind of blessing you can’t
handle. He had prepared me for it before He gave it to me.
He has given me the strength and energy to move on.
Success and I are on the same page. When you hear Kcee,
you hear good music. I will be dropping my album very
soon, when you hear it, you will know why I am made to
sing music. My kind of music is totally different from what I
used to do; no vulgar words, strictly for mature minds.
How did you support OJB before Governor Amaechi came
to his rescue, it was reported that some of his friends
ditched him…
I was in Calabar when I heard about the sad news of what
he was going through and I called him that I was going to
see him when I get to Lagos. It is annoying for someone
like OJB to be down with such ailment. He’s talented and I
know people really supported him.
Did you support him financially?
I don’t get moved about what people say, I just want to do
what I know is right and I don’t have to announce to the
world what I have done or what I intend to do for OJB.
Where OJB is right now, God knows about it and I know he
will surely come out of it alive. I didn’t call OJB because of
what people would say, I called him because I had to. But
mind you, it is not everyone that will show him love and
support. Whatever people say does not count right now,
what matters to me is how we can save a dying soul who
has done a lot to help change the face of music in Nigeria.
I learnt that you were working with Sunday Are before
now, but reports had it that you wanted to leave his
management when your status changed. How true is this
story?
We were in the process, but we are still working. We need
him to do one or two things for us. But there was nothing
like quarrel. He’s like a father in the industry, we needed
some kind of support from him in terms of projecting the
brand, not recording or promoting our songs. We needed
some support because of his experience. But it was never a
major deal or agreement. He can get me shows and I will
pay him his percentage.
How do you relax?
I try to relax, but it has not been easy. You need to work
out and work hard.
What is it about your love for exotic automobiles, I learnt
you just took the delivery of a BMW BMX6 and a Range
Rover. Will you ever stop acquiring cars?
I don’t see them as cars, but big toys. It is normal because
those that know me would tell you I appreciate good things
of life; clothes, cars, house, videos and anything good you
can talk about. I am not complaining about how I live my
life. If I buy anything today, I do it because I could afford it. Source www.twitter.com/am_responsible

Posted: at 5-08-2013 09:18 AM (10 years ago) | Newbie

Nothg is wrong to d president dancing to ur song. He is a nigerian and a young old man. He has rite to catch his fun too. As for Presh, I kn he is taking his time. He is not despirate for unnecccessary publicity.

Posted: at 5-08-2013 09:52 AM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero

no comment

Posted: at 5-08-2013 11:22 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming

nonsense post..

Posted: at 5-08-2013 11:42 AM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero

don't have time for long rubbish post

Posted: at 5-08-2013 12:19 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Too long

Posted: at 5-08-2013 01:10 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

S what is they dance it? Re they nt human?

Posted: at 5-08-2013 01:46 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

Posted: at 5-08-2013 01:48 PM (10 years ago) | Hero

So?

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Posted: at 5-08-2013 02:13 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac

  IS IT BAD TO CATCH FUN

Posted: at 5-08-2013 02:48 PM (10 years ago) | Newbie