What have you been up to lately?

I just released an album titled Aja 1 but my 18
track hip-hop album will be released during the
Eid-el-Kabir festival. The hip-hop album is just to
prove to people that I can do other forms of music
despite being a Fuji artiste. I want to show people
that I am a professional.

Is that why you have been working with
Olamide?

Apart from Olamide, I featured 9ice, Lord of
Ajasa, and Timaya on the album. I also have a lot
of up-and-coming artistes on my record label —
Sidophobia Entertainment. My label is to promote
myself and up-and-coming music artistes too.
Presently, I have a lot of artistes on my record
label because a lot of them come to me but I only
select those who are talented.

How have your fans reacted to this change?

People have always accepted my music because I
am a professional artiste. This is my chance to
prove that I am worthy of being called the
‘Paramount King’, as my fans always address me.

Tell us more about the title?

For example, we have a lot of kings in Lagos but
Oba Rilwan Akiolu is the paramount ruler. In Fuji
music, we have a lot of people who refer to
themselves as ‘King’, but I was crowned the
Paramount King by the people.

What do you think about the rivalry in the Fuji
music industry?

There is nothing bad in calling yourself the king or
queen of your profession. You can’t refuse being
called a king when people give you that title, and
you can also choose to call yourself a king. I don’t
see any rivalry because I do my music in a unique
way. Everything I do comes to me naturally.

How would you describe your relationship
with other Fuji artistes?

I love them so much. I am the national chairman
of Fuji artistes. I am close to every one of them
but I don’t have favourites or look up to anyone
because I come from a family of musicians. Music
is in my blood. Kwam 1 is a friend and colleague;
Pasuma is a brother to me, and I love him so
much. I love Saheed Osupa and every other
person.

If you weren’t a Fuji star, what would you have
been?

If I wasn’t into Fuji music, I would have been a
lawyer because I know God created me in a way
that makes it hard for me to be defeated. I know
that if I represent a client in court, that person
won’t be defeated.

How did your journey into music start?

I come from a home that loves music, and I never
knew that I was going to become a musician. I just
found myself in the music line. God showed me
the way.

Why did you choose Fuji as your genre of
music?

My family is known for Apala music, but you know
music advances with time. Apala advanced to
what we now call Fuji.

What kind of upbringing did you have?

I was born in Ibadan but I grew up in Lagos. I
attended St Paul Primary School, Ebute-Metta, and
Jubril Martins Secondary School, which is now
known as Iponri Grammar School, Surulere. I
couldn’t get a university education because there
was no time for that; music had taken over by
then. I’d love to attend a university, but I do not
have the time.

How would you describe yourself?

I am a responsible person. When people see me
on stage, they think I’m irresponsible. The truth is
that when you see me performing on stage, I’m
working to put food on the table for my family.
When you see me behind the scenes, you get to
know that I’m a complete gentleman. I love my
family so much, and they come first. Most people
judge me by what they see on stage, but that is
not who I really am. That is how I make a living.

How do you cope with your female fans?

I’ve been coping with my female fans for a long
time, and God has been helping me. We can’t do
without women, but we just need to understand
that we don’t need to chase everything in skirt.

How long have you been in the music
industry?

I have been in the industry for more than 30
years. It was very tough at the beginning, but I
thank God for his blessings.

Can you share some of your experiences in the
last three decades with us?

It has been God. My kind of music is very unique,
and I have a special voice. You cannot compare
me to any other artiste, because I am a unique
performer. My character has also contributed to
my success because I relate very well with people.
I don’t look down on people.

How many albums do you have to your credit?

I’ve lost count.

As a devout Muslim, how do you balance your
life as a Fuji star that is known for vulgar lyrics
and your religion?

Religion is different from the profession, but I
thank God for allowing me to serve Him. Before
coming out today, I’ve prayed to God and asked
for his protection. On Fridays, people come to my
house for Jumat service, because I have a mosque
there. I love my God, and I like to announce that
he is there for everyone.

How did you get the aliases Obesere, Papa
Tosibe, and Omo Rapala?

I got the nickname Papa Tosibe about 22 years
ago; I came across a guy who wanted to urinate in
public, I advised him not to do so, because it was
boldly written on the wall. He moved away, and
asked me if it was okay to pee there so I told him
“Yes, Papa Tosibe, so that was how the name
stuck. I got the Omo Rapala title when I was in
secondary school; my seniors used to come to my
class to fetch me to sing for them. I always
managed to slip away from them anytime I sang
for them without their notice. I would wait till they
got carried away with my music, then slip away
from them, so they gave me the nick name Omo
Rapala. I got the Obesere name from one of my
boys, Captain Adeleke Akinsanya. He was the one
bearing that name which he got from his area
friends. He didn’t like the name and always fought
anyone who referred to him as Obesere. I realised
this name made him popular but he didn’t like it,
so I took the name from him and it stuck.
Have you heard anything new from the lady

who alleged you raped her a while back?

I have not heard anything from her since the
Police found out she cooked up the story to
blackmail me. I don’t know her whereabouts, and
the Police haven’t seen her since then.

What lessons did you learn from that
experience?

It is one of those things in life. You just need to be
prayerful to get God’s guidance. Once you have
God’s guidance, you’ll be able to overcome all
challenges that come your way. It was God that
helped me when I was going through that phase
of my life. It is a lesson to celebrities because
some people believe they can swindle entertainers
with such stories. They tell you to negotiate with
them, but I refused to negotiate with anyone
because I wanted to see the end of the whole
thing.

Has the experience affected your relationship
with your female fans?

No, because I can’t decide not to associate with
ladies just because of the bad experience I had
with one lady. I have a lot of female fans. You can’t
live in this life without challenges; I thank God that
I’ve been able to overcome that challenge. I still
love women, but I don’t chase everything in skirt.

What exactly transpired between the both of
you?

It was a case of blackmail, and I believe that is
what the lady does to earn a living. She made up a
story and wanted everyone to believe it.

How do you love to dress?

As an entertainer, you need to always look good.
Looking good is part of showbiz, so I love to
always look good. I dress to suit the occasion; my
dressing at a particular time is according to the
event.

As a busy musician, how do you relax?

I don’t really have much time to myself, but I
ensure I devote some time for vacation. I love to
spend time with my family.

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