Interview

JJC Skillz Talks Candidly About D’banj, Don Jazzy

JJC-Skillz-LookJJC Skillz has over the years left an imprint on the Nigerian music scene, having helped launch the career of artistes like D’banj and Don Jazzy. In this interview with ORUKPE NELSON, he talks about his new single and early days naivety.

You are always in and out of showbiz; why is that the case?

Whenever I am out of the scene, I am always in the background. Many years I will disappear and come back. When I get back, I would create something. For some years now, I have been a video director. I also started developing certain acts in Nigeria like 2kriss signed under D’banj’s record label now; Tipsy who just did a song with Olamide and another artiste in the United Kingdom called Noni Zondi. I brought all of them to the scene. Some people have called me the “kingmaker” and it is quite an interesting name because a lot of people with whom I had worked have become kings in their own rights. I could find someone who probably does not see himself as a special being and show him the way. There is this guy called Stylo G, though he is not popular in Nigeria but he is the biggest among UK’s reggae artistes. Ten years ago, I signed him, the same time I signed D’banj and others. He is a Jamaican. Then, I used to tell him that he would become a known name, but he did not really believe me. He tried several times and failed, but recently he told me he was the headline artiste of a place I took him to perform in 2011. My eyes were filled with tears.

Are you fulfilled as a musician?

What I enjoy most is doing music. People wake up and face traffic every day, go to their offices and go through different things. They are probably doing what they do not want to do, but since it is paying their bills they have no alternatives. For me, music or entertainment is what I love to do. I love making songs, I love writing songs, and I love chasing the dream.

What was the message behind the song, My Life?

I find out that there is a whole new generation because of how long I have been in the industry. There are sets of people who probably were just born when I started my career and never really got to understand the struggle we went through in the beginning and in the process of creating afro-beat. I am releasing an album this year and I want it to sum up my whole life story. So, the song tells you who I am before you start getting a different perception of me. It is basically my CV and biography.

See also  Afeez Owo Confesses

What were those struggles?

I will say it is being among the first set of artistes to combine hip-hop and RnB with African language or flavour. Being the first, we made a lot of mistakes and we did not understand the industry or how to make money from it. I cannot really recount all what we did wrong or the challenges right now. But there was no infrastructure and it was a challenge because we had to create the infrastructure. We created how to record our songs, release them and along the way we even created the Alaba network (a large market in Lagos famous for sale of electronics and illegal copies of CDs and DVDs.) because of demands by people who wanted to hear our music. Alaba became very strong and television stations became more creative in their contents.

Was there a time you wanted to quit music for a regular job?

I think it is necessary to assess and look at your life and try to put things right by yourself. I decided to quit music some years ago because I felt it was not working. I put all my money into the Nigerian afro-beat scene and I didn’t get anything out of it because like I said earlier there was no infrastructure in place then. I got tired of doing pop music and there was no room for African music. Even at a point there was no room for pop music too because the scene changed after a while. If you listen to the song, My Life, I actuallystopped music and moved into properties. I started to buy, sell and develop properties. When that did not work I came back to music.

See also  Goodluck Jonathan Is A Failure – Buhari’s Aide

You used to be known as Mr. Skillz, JJC and now JJC Skillz. What informed the frequent name change?

When I was growing up in the UK, a lot of people there called me ‘Skillz’ because I was shooting videos. I directed, I edited, I produced music and I wrote songs too. But most Nigerians who I met called me JJC because of my accent. So in the UK most people know me as Skillz, while in Nigeria I presented myself to everybody as JJC.

What was your parents’ reaction to your decision to do music?

I was able to change a whole new generation and I believe that it is because of people like me we have Wizkid, Davido and a host of others.

Then, parents wanted their children to be doctors and lawyers and today most of my friends are doctors and lawyers. It is a good idea actually because being a musician sometimes could be seen as a waste of time. As a lawyer, you have consistency and you get salary monthly. But I didn’t get to study law or medicine. I am the last of 13 children and in my family we have a doctor, a lawyer and even a mechanic. We have almost all professions in the family. Being the last born, I was allowed to do what I liked and when I was young it was all about music. I was in a group in Kano and we were always entertaining people.

What are the major things that influenced your music?

I would say life and environment. For me, music is a reflection of life.

When I go out and people are having conversations, I see different opinions. I take those opinions and turn them into music. I might be in the club too and get an idea after I must have listened to a beat. Life influences me.

How have you been able to handle fame?

A lot of people meet me and they don’t believe I am JJC. On a normal day I am not a performer; I am just Abdul Bello. So if you meet me by chance, outside entertainment, you will probably walk past me. When it is time for the club or interviews, it is business. I have been in this industry for years and I have learned a lot. I became popular when I was about 22 and that was the height of my career.

See also  Alaafin Of Oyo Spits Fire

At that time, I was stupid. I didn’t walk on the street, as luxurious cars had to come pick me. I didn’t wear the same clothes twice too.

Do you still keep in touch with members of the 419 Squad?

419 Squad members are my friends and we are still cool. I am hoping to do a reunion with them sometime this year. They are scattered around the world, but we are still friends.

What actually happened between you, D’banj and Don Jazzy?

When I came to Nigeria, the media or some certain newspapers wanted to sell and create a scenario. When Backbone Music, the company that developed them, folded up we left on good terms. They went to Nigeria and I stayed back in London because I just had a son. I give kudos to them, as they worked extremely hard to create a new life for themselves using the platform that JJC and the 419 Squad gave them. They did really well and we are cool.

You talked about your son; are you married?

I am not married, but I am blessed with three beautiful children – two boys and one girl. I have never been lucky in love and I believe my first love is music. I had my children when I was young just like my career and every other thing. Everything started when I was really young because I wanted to experience life in a hurry. I had my daughter when I was 20 and she would be 18 this year. My second child is 15, while my last is 10. My last child is very active on social media. Even in the midst of white people, he is still proud to be an African.