Despite being in the music industry for
over a decade, he has blown hot and cold for most of the part, and been
out of the game sometimes.
All that is about to change, as Rocksteady says
he will be treading a path of consistency henceforth. The Hypertek
R&B/Dancehall artiste says he’s ready to make his presence felt in
the industry as a solo artiste.
In a recent chat , he shared his
plans, projects and modus operandi for getting to the top.
You have been around for a while and
in that period the industry has been through a lot of changes. Are you
satisfied with these changes?
Yes. I’ve been in the game for quite
sometime now, and you know that Rome was not built in one day. I’ve been
doing my thing from ‘B-Clan’ to ‘Second Avenue’, and from there I
became a member of the ‘Trybunal’ with Blackface and Mallam
Spicy before standing on my own as ‘Rocksteady’, a solo
artiste. So, It has been a long time and everything is going on pretty
well, we thank God for everything.
Compared to what used to be, do you
think the quality of music has improved or that the structure is better
now?
I would say the structure is a lot
better now than what was obtainable a decade ago.
Over the years you’ve been involved
with several groups. Why did you move from one group to another?
I started music at a very young age. As at the time I was in B-Clan, I was in secondary school. After I finished from secondary school I became a member of ‘Second Avenue’ and as at then Plantashun Boiz were still together, and we were all in Festac Town together. We would go for shows in different places, and from there I became a member of the ‘Trybunal’. Being a member of the Trybunal brought me into limelight. After a while, everybody went their way to do solo projects, and I have been working, doing collabos with other acts and everything is going on well.
I started music at a very young age. As at the time I was in B-Clan, I was in secondary school. After I finished from secondary school I became a member of ‘Second Avenue’ and as at then Plantashun Boiz were still together, and we were all in Festac Town together. We would go for shows in different places, and from there I became a member of the ‘Trybunal’. Being a member of the Trybunal brought me into limelight. After a while, everybody went their way to do solo projects, and I have been working, doing collabos with other acts and everything is going on well.
Why did it take so long for you to
come out as a solo artiste? Considering the fact that you’ve always been
present in the industry?
To stay alone is not easy — doing
something on your own as in just you, but I thank God for giving me the
strength to stand on my own because, honestly, it has not been easy like
that but we are standing, Rocksteady is standing big time.
When did you decide that you wanted
to go solo finally and stand alone, and be an artiste with your own
image?
When I started music, I knew that one
day I would stand on my own but I didn’t know the actual time that would
happen. Things just happened naturally, and for me I knew when it was
time to move on — which was after ‘Trybunal’. I knew that it was time
for Rocksteady to do his thing. I guess things just happen naturally.
Some people have said that you always
perform better on collaborations than on your own songs. Do you agree?
I think that is because I haven’t
dropped my own official album yet and so it is possible for people to
believe so. I know that I have collaborated with quite a lot of artistes
on projects that have become commercially successful, but very soon I
will be dropping my own album this year. Hopefully, it will change the
mindset of those that doubt my potential and they can judge me
afterwards.
How many singles are out already?
I have three singles out already: ‘Omunumidun’,
‘Ghetto’, and ‘My Love’, which I recently shot a
video for.
When exactly is the album dropping?
Hopefully, before the end of the year,
the album will be out.
You’ve been around for a while now
and working with the likes of Blackface, 2face and Sound Sultan. Why is
it taking you so long to make it to the mainstream market?
It is not easy to do it alone, but at
the same time I am always in the studio working. Sometimes I go for
shows and I’ve also been on tours. I guess that is why it has really
taken time for me to drop something for my fans. But I tell you what,
very soon you are going to be seeing Rocksteady on a consistent mode. I
think it is better when you come out and you remain consistent.
What is the nature of your deal with Hypertek?
Well, I have a 3-year contract with Hypertek.
What is the nature of your deal with Hypertek?
Well, I have a 3-year contract with Hypertek.
How does Now Muzik and 1960
Entertainment come into the picture?
Hypertek handles the record label part
of it, and Now Muzik does the managerial part, while 1960 Music is more
like the umbrella company to Hypertek and Now Muzik. That is how it
works.
Your 3-year deal with Hypertek
Records, when did it start?
It started early last year, and should
end next year. Afterwards, I can decide if I want to renew or resign the
deal.
With Hypertek consisting of 2Face,
Dammy Krane, you and Sir Victor Uwaifo, are you guys planning any
collaborative album like most other labels do?
Not at all. A few days ago, 2Face,
Dammy Krane and I recorded a new track titled ‘Jolly
Friends’ — it’s going to be on Krane’s album. Of course, we will
record a lot of collaborations but we haven’t thought about an album.
2Face has been a constant feature in
your career over the years. What’s your relationship like?
2baba is like a brother to me, and also a
godfather, you know. E don tey no be today, wey dem don dey get my
back, him and Blackface. It was like a brother-thing
before we now decided to make it official.
You’ve been there with him for so
long, why didn’t he sign you all the while?
He was trying to gain grounds too, but I
think right now he’s strong enough for that.
We understand you are doing a HipTV
documentary. What is it about?
It is called ‘Everywhere You Go’.
It’s a daily activity. We come to you in the morning; it’s more like a
daily thing where we follow you around 24hours.
How was the acceptance of your last
album?
I think it was okay. It was really a
marketing deal but it wasn’t as big as I wanted it to be.
What’s your forthcoming project
titled?
It’s called Cupid Angel and the album is
going to drop this year. It is just going to be about love and nothing
else. You know Cupid Angel is an angel of love. So, it’s going to be
love all through with love in the air. My kind of music is R&B
reggae, dancehall, and sometimes traditional. Expect all that in my
forthcoming album.
What
producers are you working with on the album?
I worked with Spellz. Jay
Sleek is on it, Souljaboy is on it and Burnaboy’s
producer Leriq is on it too. I am planning to do a
track with him (Burna Boy) and Davido.
Now that the industry is very
competitive, how do you plan to stay consistent?
We no dey compete with anybody, they do
their own and we also do our own thing…we no dey ina competition with
anyone and with God all things are possible. It is always
turn-by-turn, and when it’s your turn they turn to you. It is
Rocksteady’s turn now. That’s what’s up!
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