12th March, 2013
Popular singer and music producer, Gabriel Oche-Amanyi, better known as Terry G, tells BAYO ADETU about his life, career and joy of being a father
Congratulations on the arrival of your baby boy.
Thank you very much.
How do you feel being a father now?
I can say it’s the happiest thing that has ever happened to me. There is always a feeling one has never felt before, especially when it is the first time. It’s full of new experiences, and the truth is that it has brought good luck to my life.
Has it changed anything about you?
Yes, definitely. It has changed my lifestyle. I’m now a homely man; always at home playing with my kid. It has made me to be calm.
How will you describe the mother, Mimi?
She is lovely, understanding and very intelligent. It is always difficult to find the right partner, but I’m lucky to have found her.
How did your paths cross and when?
Mimi and I have been together for five years now. We have also been working together; she has been in charge of my music affairs, and when it comes to organising my projects, she has been quite supportive. Though she doesn’t come out in public, she has been awesome.
What attracted you to her?
I told you it is very hard for men of nowadays to find the right woman, but what I was looking for was a homely girl; that is the best attraction any man can get. Even your mom will tell you that you must bring a responsible girl home. That is the image she has.
Tell us about the new video you shot last week?
It is a new video that will portray the sexy side of me. It’s a love song, and I shot some scenes with sexy ladies. It’s a club banger, and it will also show the other side of me as well.
I saw you direct the video. Many people don’t know you also direct musical videos?
I have been getting compliments from people as regards that. I direct most of my videos. I directed See Groove, So High alongside AK-One and the one I’m shooting now, Pull-Off.
When did you discover the skill?
It has been there for a long time, there has not just been the right opportunity to exploit it. It has to do with your imagination. As an intellectual artiste, you should be in the best position to interpret the visuals of your songs. You just need one or two technical abilities. I have actually waited for this time and we are getting there.
Your personality means different things to different people. Who actually is Terry G?
Terry G is just a business man, and a man who has chosen a path to follow. He is a crazy entertainer on stage; up to date and energetic.
When you first came to the industry, you referred to yourself as Mr. Bling-Bling, later it was Ginger, Akpako Master, and lately, you said people should call you Lucifer…
A lot of people got it wrong; nevertheless, I’m in support of controversy. I knew it was going to cause controversy. What I actually meant was, ‘Look See Far’; meaning, I’m seeing ahead. I told my crew members that it was going to generate controversy and I’m enjoying it.
To what extent do you enjoy controversy?
Not 100 per cent, because there are some controversies that are accidental; you don’t plan for them. And there are some controversies that come for good. For instance, I just had a baby, bought a car; these are positive controversies that everybody likes. Let me say I like positive controversies.
Considering how wild you are, many people will not believe that you started music from the church, and as a gospel artiste?
Sometimes, you need to put yourself in people’s shoes. When a preacher is preaching to you, and you already knew all what he was going to say, it might not sound interesting. I think God knows why He chose a path for everybody, because if you look at it, everybody has done gospel music at some point; it worked for some people, and didn’t work for some. That is because we have different purposes in life.
I know you recorded a gospel album before delving into secular music. How would you describe yourself, then and now?
I will say it was a process. Everything in life demands experience. Some people are there right now just because they understand the market. It will get to a level where you will understand that it is more than just singing; it has to do with showbiz- the talent and business side of it. So, I have understood that with time, there are certain ways you can still do it.
Are you saying gospel music doesn’t sell?
I didn’t say so. The truth is that in all my albums, there is an element of gospel. There will be a track where I will praise God. Gospel music comes from the heart, because what you sing should portray who you are. You can be singing gospel music and still be a great sinner, so you can’t judge me for playing secular music.
Will you go back to gospel music anytime soon?
By God’s grace; it has been prophesied that God is going to use me to prophesy to multitudes, and I think I’m already doing that in a way, but when God calls me at the right time, I will go for it.
You need to make certain clarifications about your personality. Perhaps due to your energetic stagecraft and lyrics, some people perceive you to be an addicted Indian hemp smoker?
Well, these things are attached to secular music; everybody doesn’t do it but I think 99 per cent of us are seen doing it. The fact about life is that everything has control. There is a reason for everything. If you ask me, it doesn’t have to do with the fact that people say I take Indian hemp. It has to do with the talent that I have. If I take Indian hemp and I’m not creative or naturally intellectual, it won’t work. Besides, if you look at it, I’m not the only one.
How do you write your songs? Where does the inspiration come from?
I was born in the ghetto; Iju area of Lagos. I will say my environment inspires me. I’m a very down-to-earth person. I relate with the people you don’t expect, just because I have an agenda. I’m a business man and my market strategy is on the streets, so I have to relate with the street to get my content. Basically, my environment inspires me.
You have been adjudged one of the best beat makers in Nigeria. How do you feel?
I have been a producer even before I started singing. I play all the musical instruments, so I’m full of sounds and creativity. I don’t write my music, but the beat is the inspiration behind my freestyle and songs. This is because I make the beats before I sing, so my beat inspires me.
You don’t write your songs?
I have never written any of my songs. I only do freestyle. You can ask anybody close to me. It is imagination, a magnetic memory. The environment itself helps. You just need to decide on the topic first, then everything in your memory comes to play. You can use creative words that are not existing, add them to the ones that exist to make a good sound.
What’s the meaning of Akpako?
Akpako means scope. Interviewing me now means you’re ‘nacking your akpako’. Your akpako is journalism. As a lawyer, you ‘nack your akpako’ when you’re in court. My own akpako (scope) is music. So if I’m referring to a girl that ‘tile make I nack you akpako…’ that means I’m making conversation of a sexual nature with her.
You have been quite consistent since you came into the industry. How challenging has it been?
I don’t have challenges. I just try to improve myself. I don’t compete or copy anybody because my style of music is different from what other people do. I try to be versatile in my own way.
You have done many collaborations. Which of them is your favourite?
Malonogedege with Timaya. That was a very good sound; it gives you life when you listen to it. I love the song and I appreciate the fact that I did it with Timaya because he is my good friend and my son’s godfather.
You also did a song, Crazycally Fit with Tonto Dikeh. How did that happen?
You know that Tonto Dikeh is also controversial. When she dropped her first two singles, everybody was criticising her, but I like the fact that she has a market that other female artistes in Nigeria don’t have. She has this crazy female swag that will make her relevant for a long time. I was the one that called her on phone after making the beat. She came and we killed it. I’m happy that the response on the song is good. Music is not all about talent, it’s about the producer’s ability to discover the potential of the artiste and give the necessary support.
What was your experience with her in the studio?
It was cool. She listens to instructions and is always ready to work, and that is very vital. The problem we have with some artistes in the studio is that they don’t listen.
I guess she is one of the most difficult artistes you have worked with?
Not really. The song we did was good.
She didn’t sing off-key like she did in her debut singles?
No. Every good sound comes from the producer because he has the right to monitor the production and voicing, so if it is not good to go, he won’t let it out. So you can’t blame the artiste; you blame the foundation of the song. Everybody can sing; they just need a good producer to coordinate them. It is a step-by-step stuff.
Some artistes have in the past accused you of either stealing their beats or songs. Can you clear the air?
People often make this mistake; you don’t say someone stole your beat when it is not your intellectual property. A production belongs to the producer, and he has the right to give his beat to anybody. If I give you a free beat from my heart and you stab me in the back, I don’t have to be violent because there are ways to kill your market. That is why I deliberately do some stuff. I’m a human being.
Where do you place yourself in the industry?
I’m at the top of my game and I wish to be better everyday.
Aside the video you just shot, what is new from your stable?
My album will be released in a few weeks, and I will be going on a one-month tour of Europe. I will still shoot two more videos before embarking on the tour. After the tour, I will go to the United States, in April.
What does your daily routine look like?
I said it earlier on that I’m more of an indoor person now. If I’m not working in the studio I will be with my son at home. I don’t go out anymore.
What’s your definition of fashion?
Fashion means presence; it is value and determines how people rate you.
You pierced several parts of your body. Don’t you get uncomfortable with it at times?
You wouldn’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. The only way it might inconvenience you is when you listen to the negative things people are saying. So if you want to do something, do it the way it pleases you. I’m comfortable with my piercing.
If you have the privilege to change something about yourself, what will it be?
I love driving, and I deny my driver of his duties most times. Maybe I need to change that. But talking about my person, it can’t change. You can’t change what brings food to your table; so far it is not negative.
You were recently enmeshed in a hit-and-run allegation. What really happened?
The guy was hit by my car, but we rushed him to the hospital and we took care of the bills. It wasn’t a hit-and-run case as rumoured. It was even my driver that was at the wheel that day, not me.
How has piracy affected you?
It doesn’t affect me. If you are wise in Lagos, you will know that you need to keep dropping hits so that you can get shows and make your money. I don’t depend on album sales, so I concentrate more effort on releasing good music that will keep me relevant.
Are you fulfilled?
Yes, I’m fulfilled. The Bible says that whatever you say with your tongue shall come to pass, so I’m fulfilled.