“the story of my life @ 40 -Tuface”

• What He Told City People About His Success Story

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His real name is Innocent Ujah Idibia, but he is popularly known as 2face Idibia. He is without doubt one of the biggest and well loved Hip-Hop stars from this part of the world. He is a household name in the Nigeria music industry with many followers around the world. With several awards in his kitty he has done so well. The Otukpo, Benue-born singer started his music career in the late 90’s as a member of the rested group, PLANTASHUN BOIZ. After several hits with the group, he moved on to record his first solo album in 2005 and till date, African Queen, a track from his 2nd album remains one of the best songs ever recorded by any Artiste the world over. It even hit a platinum. African Queen positioned 2face as a force to reckon with and also gained international applause particularly when the song was used as a sound track in blockbuster American movie, Phat Girls. 2face definitely has made a fortune from his chosen career and part of what he has to show for it is a proposed estate in Lekki and two houses in Festac town, Lagos, properties in Abuja and Benue State,  luxury cars and shares worth millions.  At the height of his career, 2face suffered a setback as stories of him and his ‘Babies Mamas’ (Sumbo Ajaba, Pero Adeniyi and Annie Macaulay) graced the covers of many magazines. “That was the most challenging period of my career but I thank God that I have gotten over it and also learnt from it,” he told City People in a very comprehensive interview years back. He has since married  one of his baby mamas, Annie Macaulay. With a new management, 2face got his groove back as no show seem complete without him on the list of performing artistes. Another thing he has seriously worked on is his stagecraft. “It’s all about my music now and I am very optimistic I will blow peoples mind” he said. A few years back, the humble singer celebrated 10 years of his career during which he spoke to City People. Decked in a black T. shirt and Blue Jeans, he came to City People office to talk to us exclusively on his music, fame, and his many controversies. Read on. 

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How has it been achieving 10 years on stage?

Its not been easy to get to this stage in my career. The good times, the hard times, all in all, I just thank God for everything. I thank God for where I am right now. You know I am still growing, that is the way I look at it.

Why did you restrict the celebration in some places?

I did everything on my own. There is so much, in terms of plenty plenty publicity but you know, I did it in Benue and Abuja because I have a lot of fans in Abuja and definitely Benue is where I am from, so I went to celebrate with my people as well and I did one in Lagos, which was quite interesting, with just only three hundred guests, I also did one in Bayelsa, based on peace because I always preach one love, that one, the Bayelsa State Government supported. So all these places the noise was plenty, but it wasn’t like Star Mega Jam type of noise or a Kennis Music Easter Fiesta kind of noise.

You did the anniversary on your own, was it that you did not get anybody to sponsor the show or what?

I decided not to really invite many people. I just wanted it to be my own thing. I had support from one or two people and that was it. I had support from my State Government. I had support from Guinness and a couple of other people but apart from that, everything was done by me.

Something has changed about your stage performance; This days, we dont get to see some energy in your performance. What are you trying to make of that?

I have outgrown doing music just for the sake of it, just for the sake of record sales and all that. I want to do music now as music…you understand what I am saying? I want to do music for real, let me just say I am more matured with my music and not into doing all that CD performance, come to the stage and mime and leave, now I’m doing real music performing with a band you understand. That is how you get to feel me the way I am. Something different from what you hear on tape.

What has been happening to your label “Hypertek”?

“Hypertek” right now is concentrating mainly on 2Face. It is just like how the whole credit crunch affected my business, you understand, me self come downsize.

Now that you run your own record label, what’s your relationship with Kennis Music?

Kennis Music and me, we are still very close, If they need me, they invite me and vice-versa. But I dont have a contract with Kennis Music anymore. So it is more of friendship thing now.

As at when you started Hypertek, people didn’t really know what you were up to.

I was just starting it then and I was still with Kennis, Infact they were the ones that called me to start up my own thing and that was when I started Hypertek Entertainment, while I was still under the label, so immediately my contract expired, I started mine fully.

There was this gist everywhere that the money you realized from the album you dropped under your label is not worth it, compared to what you used to make from your previous albums under Kennis Music.

Yeah. That was very true, the album was not really successful compared to the previous ones. But it is just like, I am just experimenting, trying to learn one or two things on my own and I think at this point I know exactly what and what to put in place. I have done it and I have known and if I had not taken that bold step I wouldn’t have known nothing, but now I know a lot, so Hypertek has come to stay.

At a point in your career, there was a lull, its like everything was coming to an end as you sudddenly lost your sparkle. People said it was as a result of the many problems with your women. Were you depressed?

When all that was taking place, I wasnt really depressed. I would say it was a distraction, it was so distracting. So one thing that I sat down and thought of is especially  my baby mama issue and all that. Some of these stories were true, while some were false. But the truth was I got some ladies pregnant and it did not come out positively for me. And it was getting in a way of my mental state of mind, so it definitely affected me, so all through, I was like, God that gave me the strength to accept these responsibilities will surely give me the strength to come out of it and to move forward. And one thing about any career in life is always a hard time and there is always a good time, so I will say that was one of my hardest moment. About the music, the music was not just totally bad, it was just that Nigerians were not ready for the style that I came out with; I tried to do something different. Though Nigerians complained about the album, some people were like men, this is your best album so I am like what is going on. I have learnt a lot and somehow I am even happy that I did not hide anything, Once it happens, everybody hears, so people know exactly my story, exactly who I am.

Would you say it is the fame that got you into this controversial babies’ mamas issue?

I wouldn’t say it was the fame, the fame doesn’t have anything to do with the issue. I actually dated all these girls, they were my girl friends at one point in time. It wasnt like a one night stand. Let me say I was cheating, because I had a girl friend, we broke up, I started dating Pero and then while I was dating Pero, I met Sumbo again, something happened and they got pregnant the same time and there was nothing I could do about it, so they just have to have the baby. I accepted it and I never tried to shy away from that. That was how the first one happened, the second one was obviously because I didn’t even care anymore, I wan make them get brothers and sisters. After that, you know me and Annie have been together for long. Somehow it just happened and I said let it be. But one thing is, I am encouraging younger ones to do the same thing. I am laughing about it right now, I am accepting the responsibilities but it is not like I want other people to say, 2Face do am make meself do. I know what I faced.

How has the issue affected you?

It affected me in a lot of ways, there are people who never wanted to associate with me anymore. There are a whole lot of corporate deals that I would have gotten, but they wouldnt even think of me. Even if someone calls my name, they will be like… no, dont even go there.

How do you manage the controversies, in terms of when you see some stories about your babys mamas saying some sort of things?

They are adults and there is a limit to how I can handle it. But one thing that I know is most of the time, most of  these controversial stories, I read it and I am like come, why did you say something like this and what I hear is I didn’t say anything like that, then how come it is the paper and all that. Based on the fact that I have seen many write ups about me that is not true, because of that, I always give it a 50-50, because I have seen so many things that were not true about me, so I tend to take it like that. So there is nothing basically I can do about it than to pray to God to give me the wisdom to manage the controversies.

How have you been able to manage the controversy?

You know say ehn, na me predict oh. It is like my prediction for myself is coming to pass like my first album, I said in “Nfana Baga”, I was like, I know people would say something that will cut light and knife, I know some people would say I might never find a wife. Dat time I no know say all this things go happen and then I also said a song that “Some people them go dey worry, when they hear a story wey de becloud my glory, them go dey worry like say I promise them say I too holy, infact Okolo pass me dat Poli. Is not that was planning to do this kind of stuff, I mean to be controversial but somehow its happening. But when all these things are happening, I was like, look I didn’t steal from nobody and didn’t kill nobody, the only thing I did was to bring lives. Morally in the eyes of some people, it was done the right way. One thing I know in life is, especially the issue baby and all. If it happens, you know kill anybody you no commit crime, that how me I saw it, I have done it and I am taking the responsibility, I didn’t commit no crime, so that what gave me the strength to cope. Now if you get to see comedians saying 2Face the guy that single handedly increasing the population of Nigeria, meself I go just follow the guy laugh because it is funny to me. But I no look am as anything, I go just look am say true true, I don increase Nigeria population. Through me, extra five citizens have shown up.

There are so many flavour of music now, seeing all this new and young artiste dominating the music scene with their swagger and flavour, how would you determine which of these flavour you wish to infuse in your kind of music?

Let me not sound braggadocios, but you know most of the flavours today, they are all one part of my music. Most of these flavours came from most of the songs that I have done before. For me, I am someone who appreciate competition a lot. I am not someone who will be like this person don they steal my stuff Oh. But one thing about music, is that there is reigning music and there is evergreen music. I had my own style before, I have my own musical orientation, My music orientation is just do good music. I am not going to do music because say na this style they reign now. I am going to do music the way it comes to me. And one thing about music is that sometimes you cant even predict a lot.

Did you know that African Queen was going to be a hit?

I don’t think it was going to be as massive as it became but I knew it was a good song which I felt when I was recording. Sometime its promo and hype that makes songs popular. Sometimes its the music itself that makes it a hit. I just dey pray say make God give me MO’ HITS.

Now that artiste are bringing a lot of energy into music and it has become a trend now for stage performance, how do you intend to bring such energy into your live performance?

In terms of energy, how do I put it now Oh… there are some people wey be say there energy just day like, as he be, So for me, like I said earlier, I am not going to try and do like others, different people with different styles. What Jay Z is doing is different from Soulja Boy and the flavour Sasha brings is always different from Asha’s flavour. So for me, energy, na people wey dey craze dey craze and people wey they cool dey cool. For me, my fans understand my stage craft and they will definitely get along with me. But “I still dey craze small small”. I like to look at my music as the music for the old and the young ones.

Presently, you are doing more of collabos, featuring in some younger artistes’ songs. Is it that you are trying to help them hit the limelight, and one wonder how that affects your music?

Let me divide it into 2 ways. One way is this, it might become popular everywhere and it affects you negatively. E go be like over publicity. And then secondly, you might not do it wholeheartedly, because you will feel when you write a good song, if I want come write my own now, wetin I go write?

Do you mean you write some of these songs you feature in?

Yeah, some I write the whole song and some I write just my own part. So basically, what it entails is if I am down with you, I will do a collabo with you but if I dont feel you, I wont do any song with you.

Do you get paid for all those collabos?

No, I dont collect money, and I have never collected any money from anyone of them. Although people collects money, but I have never collected any money for any collabo, but we don start to dey collect now.

What is your relationship with other artistes?

I have cordial relationship with every artiste, I dont have any problem with anybody except na dem get problem with me.

I gathered you had a problem with Eedris Abdulkareem the day you were washing your new ride?

No be serious issue, na just joke.

How would you describe 2Face Idibia?

I will like to describe myself as a complete person, complete in the sense that I am not too holy, I am not too religious, I am not an extremist and I am not a crazy person, I am just like in the middle. I am a laid back person. I am a social person, very jovial person, I make friends easily, sometimes I fit enter club, begin dey shake everybody. And that is the way I have always been.

How do you react to your female admirers?

I have always tried to be myself, and African China don talk am if you love somebody walk up to am and tell am oh.

How do you draw inspirations to write your songs?

I will like to say its God’s gift. I will say it is creativity and I will just thank God for giving me the talent to be creative. And for me everything I see, the reality of life, sometimes its life experience and sometimes, it is just fiction.

Which of your album will you rate the best?

I cant really tell, but if I want to rate it. I will say my first album was an introduction of myself. My love for African Queens, I’m coming out straight This Time, Nobody Holy Pass, Catch the vibes and Get the feeling. It was just some kind of introductory songs. And my second album “Grass to Grace” is more of in this music, see wetin I see oh, that was why I had songs like “My Guy, Na your eyes go sharpen”. I was even talking to myself and it sounds like I was giving advice to other people. Then the third album was like doing music the way it should be done. So if I want to rate the best, I will pick the third one because I was more creative in it.

Let’s take you back to why Plantashun Boiz parted ways. Though it is not longer news, but is there anything specifically you have not said on why the group parted?

I was the one that decided to do a solo album and it was due to one thing. I am somebody that works more with instinct than my head. Immediately we did a second album, I want to do my solo stuff. So in 2003, I suggested it that let me do my solo album and still be part of Plantashun Boiz, that was the initial idea. But Black Face, we cant do Solo album and still do Plantashun Boiz, I asked them to, but they refused. But since my mind, my body and soul tells me to do a solo album, that was when I decided to do it.

What is your relationship now with other members of the defunct Plantashun Boiz, because you barely feature them in your album?

I featured Black Face in my first album. We have been very cool, they have been part of all my shows and we hang out together.

What do you think has been happening to Black Face music career, because it seems it is only you and Faze that are doing good?

I wouldnt say exactly what is wrong with his music. But one thing that I know is Black Face’s song is more of Freedom Fighter song, and many people are uncomfortable of playing such songs on air, corporate bodies no go want even invite somebody wey dey yab government. He comes out really strong at times; I have done political song as well but I try to do mine on a plain ground, but he does the kind of Fela political songs, so that is one of the thing that has really slowed him down.

What happened to the “PLAN B” album, because even bringing you guys together again, the album did not really blow?

The album was released prematurely. Everything was just in a rush. One thing about music is not about the person, no matter how the music is, if you dont put the right thing in place, it wont blow. If you think you can only arrange the talent side and you dont organize the business side of it. The music go just dey there. So that was what happened to that album.

Now that you just acquire a brand new Range Rover Sport and you still have so many other cars parked in your garage, can you just tell us the secret?

Well, I will just say I thank God say I no dey enter bus again. I get my own house wey be say I buy by myself. I am just growing sha, I never reach the place wey I want reach.

How many houses do you have?

Right now, I just have two in Festac Town.

What about the house you were planning to acquire in Lekki?

That one na plan no be house. I am planning to get a house there and we are still on it.

What is you relationship with Now Muzik?

Now Muzik, when I started my solo career, I approached Efe. I and Efe, we have known each other for a long time. I have known him since I came into Lagos. Then he used to work with Hip-Hop World. So when I started my solo stuff, I made him my manager. So my first 2 years as a solo artiste, Efe was my manager. Due to one or two competitions with my record label, because I have a clause on my contract with Kennis Music, which clashed with Now Muzik management. There are times whereby Now Muzik will want me to go for a show and Kennis will also want me for show, so it was contradicting each other, so i decided to be with Kennis Music till my contract expired and now I am back with Now Muzik.

How do you create time for your children?

Anytime that I am in Lagos, I definitely make sure I spend two to three days with them.

What are your challenges as a father?

Oh boy, then no dey tell person. Before now money dey for pocket, you go just go club dey pop champange, but now you go think of school fees and all that. It is not that it is not easy to raise a child.

What would you consider your gain and your pain as an artiste?

My gain is that I get peoples attention easily. For example, if someone who is not really recognized want to see Fashola, It will be very difficult, but in my own case, it wont be difficult, you understand what I mean, that is one of the gains of being famous. Also, so many good things come your way. In terms of pain, you tend to lack privacy and that is the major prize of fame.

There was this gist that Black Face wrote African Queen?

African Queen was written by both of us, and it was even me that wrote more. I dont know if some people were pushing him. When I did that song, I did something that Kennis still respect me for till today. I told him that, look this song is written by me and Black Face and any royalty that comes out from it will be shared equally between me and Black Face. For the fact that I wrote more of the lyrics, I still ensured that whatever came out was shared equally. We wrote that song long ago, even before Plantashun Boiz first album, and that song was mainly my flavour, my style of singing, he was even him that suggested that, that song you don forget am, so I went to the studio to do an extra verse on it. And everything has been cool, but I dont know where that came from, and it was even the same period when Faze was singing, “them be two later become three”. So I dont know where those talk was coming from, because my intention to go solo was made clear to them because people started feeling I was a betrayal. Before I went solo, I discussed it with Nelson Brown before I met Kennis, I even wanted to talk with Little Fish at that time, because I wanted to see the record label that can offer me a good deal.

A lot of people always say 2Face is very humble and generous, how come you are this generous?

I no dey generous like that again oh, school fees dey now. I dont just know, If I can, I will and if I cant, I pull out, that is just the way I am. So in terms of humility, that has always been my character, I try as much to be myself, I dont let the stardom to get into my head.

How much do you charge for shows?

You go ask my manager, there is no fixed prize. We dey do some for free sha.

What about the tatoo you are wearing?

“In God we trust”, that is what it means.

How true is the story that you are not responsible for Annie Macauly’s baby, that you are just trying to cover her up because of the long time relationship?

For my Ene, my daughter? Who talk that one? If you see the pickin self, you go know say na me make am, them no dey deny that kind pickin, no argument.

How would you describe yourself on stage?

I get carried away by the music and the crowd when I am on stage. Sometimes you will be like ‘shey, na 2Face dey craze so’. Outside stage I am just there, as you see me, na so I be.

How old are you?

I was born in 1975.

Which of the genes would you say you are more of, your father or your mother?

I look more like my Mum, although I still have some of my father’s features like my bald head.

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