Encomium Weekly was at the Omole Lagos residence of Oganla of Fuji, Alhaji Alabi Odetola, famously known as Pasuma, where he granted an interview on issues that revolves around his life and career, including why he delved into hip-hop, his two mansions (completed and yet to be completed) and much more…
It’s long ago we had a chat with you, what’s really happening at the moment from your stable?
It’s not about what’s happening but what’s trending now. What we have is what is being showcased now, that’s hip-hop talent which has been attracting a lot of comment from the public. A lot of people are saying I am going far away from my genre. I think now, I have established a recording label called Wasbar Records, which am the CEO. Under the label, we are releasing our first hip-hop album, My Word, come Friday, July 31, 2015. And on Thursday, July 30,a day before the release, we are staging listening party of the album at D Place, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. I think we are trying to infuse something unique into what we are known for. And that’s exactly what we are doing by leaving our genre for another and proves to our fans that we can do it all. And my manager, CEO, AO21 Media, Afolabi Oyekoya has made me realize we can even do it better. This thing has been on our desk for a while but because of our busy schedule we couldn’t do anything then. So, we left it aside, but now this is the right time for us to do the hip-hop album fully without a mixture of Fuji.
With this development in your career, don’t you think a lot of people will be saying you have dumped Fuji fro hip-hop is the in-thing now in the music industry?
No, I am not abandoning my genre which is Fuji. Hip-hop is different from where I came from but I started this thing with them way back in 1997 with Remedies when we released Jealousy. It’s not something I don’t know or that I just dabble into now that it’s trending. I have been in it for a while. But what happens now is that I just want to release an album to call my own. If I had featured for 9ice, Remedies, Pastor Goody Goody and a lot more, I believe I should be able to do mine as well. Even some of my fans who are well educated are eager to see me release a hip- hop album. Each time they ask me, ‘Pasuma, when are you releasing your hip-hop album?’ they all want to see me do hip-hop of my own, not a collabo with anybody. The fact that I moved into hip-hop is a kind of diversification of my career, not that I have quit Fuji. I can’t quit Fuji. That’s my genre and that’s where people know me well. I am just trying my hands in a new thing, and I thank God its working.
How many tracks does the album have?
It has 17 tracks
But we learnt you featured some hip-hop artiste in it?
Yes, I featured Phyno, Olamide, Tiwa Savage, Oritsefemi, Wizkid, QDot and others.
How much have you invested in the album?
I can’t say this is the specific amount I have spent on it because it’s a lot of money. But none of the artistes featured in the album collected a Kobo; I didn’t pay them a dime. They all just wanted to support me, and they actually did. All of them were eager to be part of the project. They are all happy to identify with me. Even if I say let me just give them money for fuel, they will say ‘Baba, no be you.’ They will all reject it. None of them took a dime from me, they just came to support. They all showed me the love they have for me. And about the production per se, I can’t just remember how much exactly I spent. But we thank God, the goal has been achieved and it’s surely coming out on Friday, July 31, 2015.
Thursday, July 30, 2015, is very much around the crooner, how prepared are you for the album listening party? We are preparing. We won’t leave any stone unturned. What I think we are doing at the moment is engaging ourselves in prayer. We just have to be prayerful, especially for God to spare our lives till that day and beyond. We are expecting a lot of people that day. We are starting the show with the red carpet starting by 4p.m. The show starts properly by 5p.m. by then, we believe everybody might have been at the venue. Then it is scheduled to end by 11 0’clock. And there is going to be an after party commencing from 12 midnight and ending at 5a.m. so, all hands are on deck for the historic event. We just pray that we will all be in good health that day, and after the event we will all have a reason to thank God.
Who are the likes of the guest you are expecting that day?
We have a lot of prominent people coming. We are also inviting our friends. We are not selling any ticket, it’s strictly by invitation. Also, some of our fans will be invited because they are the reason we are in the business. Some of them love hip-hop as well. That day, we want people that will come and watch the show live. And when we talk about the venue, by the time Pasuma fans and the hip-hop fans that love Pasuma come in, I am sure the place might have been filled to the brim.
Security wise, are you also prepared?
There is adequate security at D place. That has always been guaranteed. Lives and property are safe regards the venue.
What constantly makes Pasuma tick and all the controversies?
I don’t know. But as for me, I believe it’s just that I am focused. Maybe somebody is talking good of me or not, I don’t care because I believe where I am going is still very far. Whether you are abusing me or not, I don’t look at that. I believe in where I am going. I know where I am coming from which I have gone past and where I am presently, but where I am going is still very far so I have to be focused. And by being dedicated and prayerful, I believe I will get there.
Can you share little of your top secret that perhaps nobody knows?
(Laughs) I don’t have anything secret. I believe you also know everything about Pasuma. I can’t hide anything from you. So, there is nothing new about Pasuma except this hip-hop thing and we are pushing it out now for people to see.
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