Hip-hop sensation, Tuface Idibia is set to celebrate 10 years as an artiste
By Nehru Odeh
Come 20 June, the attention of music buffs across the world will be directed to the popular ThisDAY Dome in Abuja, where internationally-acclaimed artiste, Innocent Ujah Idibia, aka Tuface Idibia, will celebrate 10 years in the music industry.
For Tuface and his numerous fans, the decade is worth celebrating because not only has it been a period of excellence, the multiple award winner has waded through the turbulent waters that is the Nigerian music industry unscathed. “God has been good to me. Many things have happened. And for me to still be alive today doing music for people, I just feel there is cause for celebration, to have been in an industry that is as crazy as the Nigerian music industry for over 10 years,” Tuface told TheNEWS.
Tuface is indeed saying the obvious. In a rollercoaster career as a recording artiste, beginning from his cutting edge days as a member of the group known as Plantashun Boyz, he is arguably the most decorated artiste in Nigeria today. Not only were Tuface’s first two albums as a solo artiste, Face 2 Face and Grass 2 Grace smash hits, reportedly selling more than 10 million copies, he has won numerous local and international awards. The latest was the Best-selling Nigerian Act Award which he won at the 2008 World Music Awards held in Monaco, France. Tuface has also done duets with big names on the global music circuit such as Wyclef Jean, Chakademos and Pliers Mellisa Briggs and R. Kelly.
Asked to explain his phenomenal rise, Tuface said: “First and foremost, it is God that created me. It is God that gave me the talent. Then secondly, I think I have the talent, the skills, and I am able to write songs that appeal to people. Then probably, the number of people I have worked with over the years. I have worked with so many people who have contributed in one way or the other to elevating my status as a musician,” Tuface said. Despite his success, it has not been a bump-free ride for the Benue State-born artiste who shot to prominence in 1999 when the Plantashun Boyz released their debut single, Knock Mii Off. He was the lead singer of that group and the first to launch a solo career. Aside the fact that he was twice attacked by hoodlums in Lagos, on one occasion hit by their bullets, he has recently been under media blitz.
Asked what challenges he has faced as an artiste these past 10 years, Tuface said: “It is the challenge of breaking my own record; coming out with a hit and repeating the feat. It’s not easy. People say so many things about you, so it’s kind of tough. But the major challenge is breaking my own record,’’ he intoned. Still, Tuface sees the forthcoming celebration as an opportunity to put his career on a new footing. To achieve this end, he has made Now Music, his new managers. The Chief Executive Officer of Now Music, Efe Omoregbe, told newsmen in Lagos recently, that they have put everything in place to celebrate the anniversary. “On 20 June, we’ll be staging a befitting concert to mark the anniversary. Fly Time Entertainment will also host a special event in Lagos on a date to be announced soon. We have an exciting package for deejays too. There’s also the Tuface Idibia ReachOut Foundation, a Charity Organisation that will be raising funds to assist other charity organisations,” Omoregbe revealed.
Is Tuface fulfilled? Absolutely. “I think I have built confidence in good music, opened doors that were not opened before and made Nigerian youths realise that you can get to any level musically, whether they are based in Nigeria or not,” Tuface averred.
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