No doubt the mantle of responsibility in the Nigerian music industry for a while now has fell upon thee young stars with the emergence of Wizkid, Davido, Skales, Young 6ix, Young EL, Burna Boy, Ice Prince, L.O.S, Tekno, to name just a few, Ben 7 a.k.a The Don Dada, has come to stake his position in the burgeoning industry. Born Olawepo Benjamin Opeyemi from Kwara state, this 18 year old artiste gradually generating a level of buzz after releasing some singles that enjoyed favourable airplays, one of which is “Kilode”, where he featured one of Nigeria’s hottest popstars Terry G is extremely gifted both artistically and academically having scored straight A’s in the last West Africa Examination Council Exams. With a fresh single titled “Leave am like dat”, this budding talent is one to watch out for. Morakinyo Olugbiji spoke with Ben 7 a.k.a The Don Dada
Why are you into music and how did it start for you?
Music is just a blessing to me. It just started because it’s inbuilt. You know, when you just have the talent for something you just express it and it becomes something you do over and over naturally. I have a talent for music and I love music so I’m into it because it’s my natural talent. I sing effortlessly. If I don’t sing a day, I won’t be ok. I won’t be myself at all and this started from church. I was around 13 years old when I started from the church. My dad was and is still the pastor of the church. My mum is an Evangelist.
Now that you started from the choir and your parents are ministers of God, how do the take the fact that their son is doing secular music instead of gospel?
They were both skeptical initially but after several attempt to convinced me to do strictly gospel, they eventually allowed me to follow my passion when they remembered the fact that music is really my passion and I really want to try it out in the secular way. My parents didn’t want to limit me.
I’ll still ask again, you are a church boy why not just focus on gospel music instead of Afropop?
What I didn’t tell you is that I’ve actually done a gospel album before. I dropped an 8-track album in my church. But why I’m entering the secular scene because I want the world to know who Ben 7 is. I want them to feel the real me and feel my versatility. I’m someone who doesn’t like to stay limited. I like to be dynamic with my talent.
But how do you plan to do secular music without mentioning ‘unholy words’ like ‘bumbum’, ‘boobs’ and even sex, and don’t forget your parents are heads of a church?
Like I sad earlier, I’m just trying to express my talent. That’s all. I believe that if you are not stealing, doing drugs, and committing any crimes as a youth, expressing your talents should be encouraged as long as it’s legal. The secular music I’m doing is legal so I have no regrets doing it. It’s a talent God has given to me and I must express it. To be honest with you there is no way you are going to sing secular music with mentioning those things you talked about. Even if you listen to my songs, there are already traces of such things there. But my parents know how well they’ve brought me up and if I sing about women, sex and what have you, it’s just strictly business. If I was a doctor, I’ll still mention stuffs like that, but does that mean I doing something bad? So my parents support me and when they hear me sing about those stuffs, they just have to dance to it.
But why must secular artistes mention those things?
We don’t mention those things just for no reasons. Secular artistes sing mostly about boy-girl relationship and life in general. However the aim is to entertain and ladies are our number customers. The ladies listen to music more so there is very little thing we can do about that. Like I said, we don’t sing about those things for no reasons. It’s the reality. For instance my song “Leave Am Like That” was inspired by what I saw recently when I and my manager, Lanre Lawal visited a shopping mall. Two guys were arguing over the girl one of them was dating and criticising her physical features. Then the guy who was dating the girl just told his friend, ‘I don’t care what you think about my girl, just leave am like that’. That was how the idea struck. It’s just a story of a guy who will defend his girlfriend irrespective of the flaws the other person thinks she has. So it’s about reality. So how will I sing such a song without mentioning the physical features especially when it comes to the area of comparison in the song. Although I Ben 7 don’t sing about bum bum, boobs, sex, parties and money alone; the topic of my songs are eclectic. My church background will infact help me to infuse some inspirational themes in my music.
When you look at the track records of artistes like Davido, Wizkid and Young 6ix who started almost at your age, are you not scared if you will be given much room to thrive in the industry?
Ok, when you asked me my stage name earlier, what did I tell you? I told you my name is Ben 7 a.k.a The Don Dada! Do you know the meaning of the Don Dada? It means The Boss! I’m the boss of what I’m doing. I’m thee boss in this music industry, and I’m in a class of my own. I only see Wizkid and Davido as my brothers. I respected the fact that I can use them as an example of young people doing what I’m also doing, but I’m not here to copy anybody. Music is not about competition, but more about your own uniqueness. I can’t decieve myself, what I give is what I’ll get. If what I give to people is better than what Wizkid and Davido gives, I’ll definitely outshine them.
What stands you out as an artiste?
What stands me out is my personality. I don’t copy anyone. My talent is inbuilt. Some people say I’m boisteorus but I’m not. It’s just confidence because I know I’m different from other artistes. I’m in my world and my talent is inbuilt like I said earlier.
So what are you working on now?
I’m working on my hits right now. Before I got signed to Jebon records, I promised my fans that if I had a good backing I’ll release 7 hits before my album drops. So I’m working on those hits now.
Could you tell us about your academic background?
I’m planning to get into the university soon. I only completed my O’level education not long ago. So right now I’m just trying to juggle between education and music.
Are you not going to abandon education by the time you come out with 7 hit tracks and you become a superstar?
There is no way music can affect my education. Everyone knows that another side of me that is highly active is my academic life. A lot of people where surprised when I scored 8 distinctions in the last WAEC exams despite the fact that I was always hanging out in the studio and recording. So I know what I’m doing. I bless God for my parents who always watch my back and make sure I don’t derail.
Also, many of you mates starts impregnating girls once they became a superstar, how do you want to avoid the temptations of girls?
Like I said earlier, I’m from a christian background and my parents are always watching me. The upbringing you have can determine how responsible and disciplined you are with females. I’m not going to fall into such temptations with God on my side. My aim is just to entertain, that’s all.
Finally, tell us about your record label.
Jebon Records is anew label founded by Mr Umebulue Johnpaul Ebuka as its CEO/Managing Director. The principles of Jebon Records is in grooming and encouraging young artistic talents and I believe that’s why I was signed as its first artiste and that was the happiest day of my life. Jebon Records is here to redefine the state of Nigeria music as an art and a business.
