Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, rapper, singer and songwriter with the sobriquet Skales was Wizkid’s label mate before their exit from EME Records. He spoke with ORUKPE NELSON about his recent Twitter rift with Wizkid, new record deal and forthcoming album.

You recently dropped a couple of singles this year. What’s next for you?

My album is the next project now. I might drop a single before the main album drops, but really, the way I made my album sound is kind of different. I made everything sound like singles, so it’s from a single to another single.

How many songs do you have in the album?

For now, we haven’t really decided, because we are still confused as to which song should be on the album and which song shouldn’t be on it, but for me, I’m looking at 18 tracks.

What’s the reason behind the album title; ‘Man of the Year’?

Well, I thought of that name because of my grass to grace story. A lot of people don’t really know my story, they don’t know my background. But I’ve always been focused, I came to Lagos without a plan, I hustled real hard, I went for shows that I wasn’t invited for, a lot of people gave up on me and thought I wasn’t going to make it let alone make a hit song. And suddenly out of nowhere, the whole spotlight is back on me, everybody is talking about me, I’m about to drop an album and people are waiting for it.

When is the album due for release?

Right now, the situation of the country with the elections going back and forth is playing a major role in fixing a release date. I cannot be specific as regards a date yet, but in a month or two it should be out.

Your next single features Davido; what’s the title?

It’s titled Always Always, that’s the single that will be dropped before the album. And of course there’s plan for an album release tour when the album drops, there’ll be an album concert as well, I can’t give too much details yet, but you can be rest assured that anything I do now will simply be amazing.

Your exit from E.M.E last year was rather abrupt. What really went wrong?

Well, you know when something is not working you just have to move on to other things. Basically, it is just a mutual agreement that we had. We sat down, had a meeting and decided that since it’s not working, it’s better to just go apart. There was no bad blood, and I’m still cool with everybody, and who knows, they might be on my album.

Did you have the meeting when your contract expired or before then?

Yes, it was at a time when the contract was about to expire.

A few months after you left E.M.E, you signed another deal with Baseline Records. What did they offer you that you didn’t have at E.M.E?

Apart from being an artiste, I also see myself as a businessman. Any investment that is going to take my business to the next level is welcomed. For me I had just set up my own label, OHK, and my whole mindset was just all about the next level. Along the line, I met Baseline and the offer they gave me was really good, it was next level for me and I decided to flow with it. I run OHK Records with some partners whose names I can’t really mention for now.

Reports say the offer was worth N200 million; is this true?

I really don’t like to disclose details of my contract in public. When it’s done you’ll surely hear about it. With regard to the amount, I think it should add up to that figure if you add up the whole budget.

How will you compare your time at Baseline to your time back at E.M.E?

It’s better than E.M.E. I make decisions now, there’s more money and better team. I’m sure you can tell the difference too.

One would think that having left E.M.E, you would also change your manager. Why did you retain Osagie?

Well, that’s because we understand each other, and it’s really more than just business; we have a good relationship, we understand each other, we listen to each other and there’s respect.

How long has she been your manager?

It’s probably been over five years.

Let’s talk about your recent Twitter spat with Wizkid; you guys were together at an event some hours before you went online. What really happened?

The truth is that we were not really together, we were just at the same venue of the same event, that’s all. And really, whatever needs to be said now has already been said on Twitter, so you can pick everything there. Right now, I’ve put the whole episode behind me. I just want people to focus more on my music. It’s life, human beings must always fall out.

Let’s go back to your time at E.M.E, what kind of relationship did you have with Wizkid?

We were just there, we were cool. For me it was just about making music, that’s what brought us together in the first place, it’s not like we are from the same family. So, let’s just focus on the music which was what I did, if I had something on my mind I always say it out.

At what point did you guys really fall out?

We never really fell out, the relationship we had is always been music, it’s not like we are brothers, we are not from the same family like I said, it was just business and music. So we were cool, and even till now we are still cool, I have no bad blood against him, I just want to face my music right now, I’m about to drop my album and that’s all that matters to me right now.

How long have you been trying to get Wizkid to work with you?

For as long as every other person has been trying I guess (laughs). We know that he’s a busy person and I’m a busy person too, I’m doing my own thing too. The truth is, I really don’t want to talk about it.

Will you consider working with Wizkid anytime soon?

I don’t know, my fingers are crossed for now.

You’ve been in a relationship for quite a while now, are you planning to get married soon?

To start with, I don’t have any child anywhere; I made sure of that. I’m still a child taking care of myself. So, I’m not ready to take care of anybody yet. Of course, I’m a human being and I have a relationship.

Do you see yourself getting married to her when you are ready?

I don’t know, I’ve not thought about it yet, maybe I should start thinking about it now. I’ve never really sat down to think about it.

You’ve dated her for over two years now, how did you meet?

(Chuckling) It all started out as friendship, we used to talk a lot and we were just cool with each other.

What stood her out from your other female friends?

She’s a great person; she’s just someone that I can relate with. Like I said, she was my close friend, I tell her stuffs, she gives me advice and, of course, she’s my fan too. She tells me when I’m making poor music.

How does she cope with your other female admirers?

Well, if you know me well, you’ll know that I’m not a public female kind of guy, once I’m with one person, I don’t have time for anyone else, and that’s why you’ve not heard any baby mama drama or scandal about me.

Do you have a crush on any Nigerian celebrity?

Right now, I don’t have any anymore, because I’ve not thought about it. It used to be Beverly Naya, but I guess I’m over it now.

Back to your album, who are the artistes you featured?

I featured a lot of my friends and people that I’m currently feeling their music, I have Davido, Ice Prince, Phyno, Olamide, Reekado Banks and a couple more people on it. As regards producers, I worked with Dj Coublon, Jay Pizzle, Orbit, Drey, Spells and others.