Since Olumide Edwards Adegbolu, aka Olu Maintain released his smash hit last year, Nigerians have been seized with the Yahoozee fever. Not only has the album sold millions of copies, the dance steps the title track engendered has continued to enchant music lovers, young and old alike. In fact, Yahooze was the choice song of the world-conquering Golden Eaglets when they were hosted by President Yar’Adua last year. He tells NEHRU ODEH about his music and a variety of issues.
Q: How do you feel almost a year after the smash hit Yahooze was released?
A: I feel fulfilled. Many awards have come my way. I feel that they are well deserved and they have inspired me to do more, to work harder. Getting to the top is not easy, but it is even harder staying relevant. So it just makes me want to keep my game tighter; as I said, putting in more effort to get results because I’ve got results and I am still getting results. Basically, that is how I see my career so far.
Q: Can you mention some of the awards you’ve won?
A: The awards I have won include Artiste of the Year, Global Excellence Awards; Song of the Year from all deejays in the UK; Song of the Year, Hip Hop World Awards; Artiste of the Year, Dynamics Award, and the Most Loved Song by Children Award.
Q: Your presence always generates excitement among your teeming fans. How have you been able to cope with such excitement?
A: Well, there is a price you pay for everything. When I walk on the streets and everybody is hailing me, I don’t complain because it is the price I have to pay for being someone that is celebrated. I try to be as open and accessible to people as possible. But sometimes you are not in a good mood; still you can only be human. But you do your best to make sure that people always get the best side of you. Sometimes going out for me is challenging, but God is seeing us through. We are fine.
Q: While working on Yahooze did you ever imagine it would be a smash hit?
A: Basically for any artiste that goes into the studio to record a song, what he aspires for is that it becomes a big chartbuster. That has been my expectation recording any song in the studio. But God has willed that it was going to be Yahooze that would crown Olu Maintain as a king. So I would just say, in a nutshell, that I expected something good out of that album and I got something much better.
Q: Has the money started rolling in?
A: Definitely, yes! My marketer is smiling to the bank. He is doing very well. In fact, before Yahooze he was a nobody. Now I don’t think there is anybody that is ahead of him in Alaba right now. He is just doing very well. He recently signed 9ice and Idris Abdukareem. How better can business be? So he is doing very well for himself and that is because of the success of Yahooze. I am happy to be a part of this success story.
Q: What actually inspired the video concept of Yahooze?
A: We just tried to do the best visual interpretation for the song as best as we could. And fortunately for us we gave people what they were expecting to see. We weren’t metaphorical about it in any way. So we gave people what they were expecting, or even more. That is why the video was just accepted hook, line and sinker.
Q: Are you now under Kennis Music label?
A: No.
Q: Then what is the relationship between you and Kennis Music?
A: It was a management deal we signed. They get me shows, they get their percentages. I did not sign under their label. I have got a lot of agents and Kennis Music is one of them.
Q: Do you mean you are still under your label?
A: Yes, it is called Country World.
Q: Is it true that you are into real estate?
A: Well, yeah! You know I am a businessman. I am into everything that I can make money from: real estate, stocks, everything.
Q: You bought some houses in Anthony Village, Maryland, Lagos?
A: Yeah.
Q: Is it also true that you returned the Hummer jeep you recently bought because you couldn’t afford the cost of maintenance?
A:There is nothing to say now. My car is my car. The car is there, you know. When it’s time for it to be unveiled, you will see it. You will understand why it is not unveiled yet.
Q: You mean you didn’t return it…?
A: How can I return what is not even here? Where did I return it to?
Q: Are you working on another album yet?
A:Yes, definitely. In fact, this my longest stay in Nigeria since January. I am working on a new project. I am coming out with a new group this year. It is called Country World. And our first single is coming out very soon. It is titled Kamikazee. We are shooting the video in London and some parts of Europe. That’s a project I have been working on over the past three months. But we are finally going to unveil the first single and the first video two weeks from now.
Q: Does your present popularity translate into your getting shows?
A: I have spent less than two weeks now and I have played like four shows, including two for Celtel.
Q: Why does Yahooze have mass appeal?
A: It is the dance that everybody can relate to – the young, old, rich and poor. Everybody can relate to it. That’s why it has so much mass appeal. It’s a language that is universal, that cuts across.
Q: Have you done a duet with any musician?
A: No, I mean, who knows what the future holds? I guess at a point in time if that’s what I am feeling like doing, why not?
Q: How do you relate with your fans?
A: I am used to it. It’s an industry that I belong to. So I am used to whatever comes with it. Some fans are crazy, some are mild.
Q: Have you ever had an embarrassing moment with your female fans?
A: Every man has experiences. But there are some things that are personal. I am just human. As a human being you are likely or liable to make mistakes … you are vulnerable to mistakes. I try to be as level-headed as possible. I try to be as rational as possible. When some situations come you just have to apply wisdom. And wisdom, they say, comes with experience. They say experience is the best teacher.
Q: Can you give me an estimate of the number of copies Yahooze has sold?
A: It must have run into millions by now, judging by the fact that everybody that music appeals to in Nigeria has heard the song, Yahooze. And we are a nation of over 100 million. So you can do the calculation. I guess it must have sold millions by now. I don’t have the fixed data in my head but judging by the acceptance and the concerts I have played and everything, it must have sold millions by now.
Q: Does that mean you are smiling to the bank?
A: That is no longer news.
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