Junior and Pretty made me become a singer –Pepenazi

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Fast rising singer, Pepenazi, tells Saturday Beats about his career

How did you come about the stage name Pepenazi?

It started from my Alma Mata, MayFlower School, Ikenne. Pepe was the name given to someone who talks a lot and my peers gave me the name because of my outspoken nature. Pepenazi, however, is an abbreviation I coined and it stands for “People Earn, People Enjoying Nice And Zealous Instincts”.

You recently performed at your Alma Mata, how was the reception?

To be honest, it was great performing in my secondary school, Mayflower School, Ikenne. It brought back lots of pleasant memories from way back when I was still there. It made me realise how much I have grown not just as an artiste but as an individual and how far I have come in the past 11 years.

It was also a dream come true for me because I remember telling myself during my days as the social prefect of the school that I would become an icon and put the school on the world map through my musical exploits. A few years later and I was back to my Alma Mata as a superstar. That performance gave me a great sense of fulfillment.

Can you describe the feeling?

I had this nostalgic feeling you get after being away from home for too long. It felt as if I was home again. It felt like doing the same thing I always did during my secondary school days as a student but this time on a larger scale. It was more or less like a confirmation of my belief that whatever you believe in and work hard towards can be achieved. It also served as a motivation not just for me but for everyone who knew how it all started for me and it finally cleared the doubt to all those who never believed in me. It was really an emotional experience for me.

Will you say the industry has finally accepted you, especially with your hit track, Illegal?

Well, I don’t think the industry refuses or rejects anyone; it is always very welcoming; it welcomes every artiste with open arms regardless of the kind of styles and sounds you sing. What really matters is building a strong fan base that believes in you as an individual and also in your craft.

Most people believe you are growing fast in the industry due to the influence of your brother, Do2dtun, do you agree with them?

What are they talking about? I have no idea. All I know is that I do good music. If my music was not good enough, the people would not accept it and they would not dance to it. I don’t think my brother’s influence has anything to do with my music career. However, I am blessed to have him as a brother. He is a very hardworking and wonderful person.

How did you become a singer?

Music started for me during my early teenage years. My father used to listen to the radio a lot and he had the records of great musicians like Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, The Beatles, Yusuf Olatunji, Ik Dairo and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

While I was growing up, whenever I was doing my chores on weekends, I always had to listen to those sounds consciously or unconsciously because of my father and that’s how my love for music began to grow.

My environment at that time also played a huge part in helping me discover my music talent. Junior and Pretty which happened to be one of the biggest acts at that time lived just a street away from where we lived. As a young boy, that further fuelled my desires to sing.

I later evolved to listening to sounds from Diddy, Wyclef, Nototious B.I.G, Fat Joe and others. However, I became more serious with music when I got into the higher institution and recorded my first song and did an album for my school titled, Futa’s finest.

Your song, Illegal, was a massive hit. Why did you decide to feature Olamide on it?

Working with Olamide is like working with a brother. There’s always a synergy whenever we’re in the studio together. That’s why we have worked together on several records, including DJ Xclusive’s album on the track “Gone are the days.” I have also been featured on two of his albums.

Olamide is a proper representation of what the street is all about. He has such a great lyrical prowess and even a layman can relate to what he says and that is why I believe no one would have delivered a better verse for my song, Illegal.

A lot of people believe you are signed to Olamide’s YBNL record label. Are you?

Ecleftic Entertainment, which I represent, and YBNL are family. We are affiliated and maintain a strong bond. Don’t forget, YBNL is more of a movement than a record label and we are one. I am not signed to his record label.

What new project are you currently working on?

I released a new song, One for the road, and the video with ace director Squareballfilms. The video is out and I am encouraged with the kind of positive feedback that I am getting. I’m also working on the remix of my song, Low, with an A-list artiste. I also have lots of great songs waiting to be released. My fans are definitely going to get the best of me this year.

You were nominated for the Rookie of the year category at the last edition of the Headies but you did not go home with the award, did you feel bad not winning?

Of course no. There’s no better reward than to be recognised for your craft. Although it is an added advantage when you win, when you begin to treat your allies as competition, you begin to lose concentration.

I feel every nominee was absolutely amazing and everyone of them equally deserved to win because they all put in their A game but the best man went home with the prize. My nomination only shows how large my fan base has grown which only signifies the progress I am making so far. I see it as motivation to press on.

Right now, I’m focused on the bigger picture which is to provide my fans with more great musical content.

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