Why I came out on stage in a coffin – Famous singer

– Kelly Hansome is known for massive hit in the mid-00s, Maga Don Pay

– The singer went into hiatus after several feuds with his colleagues in the music industry

– When he first came on the scene, Kelly was signed to Kennis Music but soon parted ways with the label 

Move over Korede Bello, Kelly Hansome is the new Mr. Romantic in town!  Orji Kelechi Obinna George Michael Hans aka Kelly Hansome is a gifted singer, song writer, producer and instrumentalist who is also a graduate of Computer science.

While signed to Kennis Music, he released his debut album Too Much Money which spurned hits like Maga Don Pay, Like Play, Like Play and Free Me. The album was a commercial success and it made Kelly Hansome a household name in the Nigerian music scene.

After leaving Kennis music, he signed a management deal with renowned Now Muzik entertainment services with plans to expand his reach in Nigeria and beyond. In October 2015, he released the critically acclaimed single Akunatakasi, a catchy love song that praises loyal women. The song is the soundtrack for a movie of the same title due to drop this year. Right now, it’s all about love for the controversial singer.

Naij.com’s contributor Nikki Duke engages the singer in this in-depth interview.

READ ALSO: Nigerian musician reveals problems in his career

Akunatakasi means ‘wealth bites’ in English. What inspired you to write the song?

The original version is a story. It’s actually a movie that is coming out, Akunatakasi, by Charles Okocha. We came up with that concept. The movie’s about people who make money and then get loud; start being stubborn, start disturbing everybody. So the song is the soundtrack for it; what I was trying to say is the song is just loyalty. First of all, if I say wealth, money is the first thing that comes to mind. Actually you should look at it as; wealth is not money, wealth is money and other things. At the end of the day, wealth is happiness and wealth is love and God is love. You’re not wealthy except somebody loves you and you love somebody because if you have a million dollars and no one wants to walk on the same road with you, you’re going to be miserable. You are who you are because people love care. The song is just celebrating loyalty; those who are there for us during tough times. That’s what I was trying to put out there, because the songs we have out there are just wayward songs. Everybody’s just wayward and just dancing, nobody really talks about what life is all about and I’m a human, forget about partying and clubbing, what is really the right thing to do? What should be my mind set? I was just trying to make sure people’ don’t lose focus of that. I have crazy songs coming through; I might have another one that’s talking about ‘drop your pants’ or whatever but this time, it’s all about love and this song. There are more songs coming o, people want to dance, they will get tired of dancing, no worry.

When can we expect the movie?

I have to speak to Charles Okocha about that. The movie is done, the post-production and everything is done; he was on the packaging last time I checked on him, before the accident. You know he got hit by a stray bullet. But he’s okay now, he’s kicking and we give thanks to God. I haven’t really touched base with him since but it was supposed to be released in the beginning of this year, but God knows best.

What to you are the qualities of your ideal woman? We get that she has to be loyal, but what other qualities must she possess?

There is no such thing as a perfect woman who will fit all your specifications. So you’re going to have to take an imperfect woman because you too are imperfect and you’re going to make her perfect, that’s it. Women are like beautiful poison, so choose your poison, if you must. For me, my average woman has to know how to turn one naira into a million naira. She has to be calculating and smart. I can’t be talking about politics and you don’t have anything to contribute. You must not be a politician but at least you must be able to indulge in conversations. Also, you should respect and treat me the same way you would want me to respect and treat you; that’s all. It’s actually very simple, it’s just that people complicate it. I feel sometimes people are just intentionally rebellious. Once you get married, it’s a different ball game adapting your life to live with this other person. Love is not by mouth, it’s by action.

Compared to last year where by January, you were featured on Ogologo with Splash, this year has been quiet from your end. In terms of singles and performances, what can we expect from Kelly Hansome?

I don’t usually give out what I want to do before I do it. But I can say that there a lot of collaborations coming up. There’s a mixtape and there’s an album but we’re trying to determine which one of them to drop off.

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You are currently signed to Now Muzik. How is the deal going?

I’m under Now Muzik management and they manage me. The deal is going on fine, we have a lot of payroll. I’m not saying it’s easy but Rome wasn’t built in a day but we’re on it.

You once said you and your generation will never forgive Kennis music. What was the genesis of your fall out?

What’s important is not what started it  or what had happened; what’s important is that all is over. I forgive them, maybe I didn’t say it before, I forgive them. I’m a man. We offend people every day so you’ve got to be able to move unto the next one. It’s like one of the things that went down in the heat of the moment so it doesn’t last forever. That’s now what’s on my mind right now. I don’t have any grievances against anybody.

You publicly said your beef with M.I. boosted his career, are there any musicians out there whose career you would like to boost in a similar way?

In the first place, nobody’s beef with me affected their career. I have nobody on my mind, my mind is clear. People call people’s names and they react to it. If you call somebody and the person calls you back, you can refuse an apology if you want the beef to go on. I was having problems with my record label then and it was like I had in house problems and external problems. And it gets to a point where everything looks like this is who you are: the one always beefing. But they were all responses to what people said. At the end the day, I don’t even care who responded to what. If someone calls my name, I’m going to roast the person but it’s still music even if you roast people. It’s not a fight, it’s just music. If there a show with M.I. and I called beef, it’s going to be a huge success so there’s an interest to it all; it’s business. So why don’t we make use of it from the business point of view? Because M.I said ‘ Kelly Hansome’ is handsome, I’ll tell him when I see him’, that means Kelly Hansome is ugly and you see it creates little pictures in your head. It’s just metaphors. Africans take things too persona’. It’s not always serious, it’s wordplay. You have to think for yourself and not always believe what you see on paper.

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In 2011, you famously shocked your fans by showing up on stage in a coffin at a show in Owerri. Will we be expecting any similar stunts at your performances this year?

A lot of stuffs are going to come out. The thing with the coffin was a demonstration with significance. The media had it out saying, ‘Kelly Hansome’s career is dead,’ whatever so the coffin stunt was trying to make a point. This year, there’s going to be so many performances that are like weird-ish but with significance.

Your famous hit, Maga don pay was glorifying Yahoo-yahoo business back then. Is it still something you support?

I don’t support anything bad. Music is freedom of expression; it’s what you feel at the time. You’re just singing about something like I might sing about robbery, but I’m not a robber. Music is a state of mind. I’m making songs for the people in different that states of mind. I’m also a serious programmer; I do a lot programming, a lot of project management, like yesterday we just shot a video for a song I wrote and produced for an agency called Pop-up Nigeria. So the video has 2face, Isce prince and Waje. I’m an intellectual person, not just a music head.

Your song, Bounce Along, was leaked in August 2015. Critics have said it is similar to Wayne Wonder’s Bounce Along. Was this intentional?

*singing* Bounce along, bounce along, only you can turn me on…bounce along, bounce along. The key is in my sound. They are two different songs and if there ‘a resemblance, it’s fine but remember there a difference: Bounce Along by Wayne Wonder and Bounce Along by Kelly Hansome.

How has your life changed since your car accident in 2012?

I got in the car accident when I was campaigning for my governor back then. I’m healthy now, I’m cool.

Is there a Mrs. Hansome or a potential Mrs. Hansome?

There are always potentials but right now, I’m just focusing on my work. If it happens, you will be the first to know. It’s probably going to be on Instagram.

What advice can you give to upcoming artists?

Be yourself. Believe in yourself. And tell yourself that you believe in the truth. And the truth is you have to work hard and stay humble. Music can be as sweet as jell but you need to play it on AIT, Channel, Trace TV etc for people to appreciate it. If it’s on your table, nobody will notice it’s a hit. Don’t lie to yourself. A lot of upcoming artists are thinking they need to drop out of school to become a celebrity. Education is important! Education is going to help enhance whatever talent you have; it’s not going to kill it. At least you can stand and speak to people; communicate and defend yourself anywhere. Education brushes you up and gets you ready for the corporate world.

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