BlackfaceNaija, real name Ahmedu Augustine, was a founding member of the Nigerian band, Plantashun Boiz, that he formed in 2000 with 2face, Innocent Idibia; and Faze, Chibuzor Oji.
After Plantashun Boiz split in 2004, BlackfaceNaija led a solo musical career. He released the hip-hop album Ghetto Child in 2004 collaborating with a number of artistes. He also recorded a full album for his crew, D Tribunal, called What We Are.
In 2013, he made a collaborative album 200 with Maine Eazz. Sadly, there has been a long-standing beef between the dancehall veteran, and 2face. In January 2016, BlackfaceNaija in a series of tweets lashed out at 2face and his manager accusing them of stealing his intellectual property and even threatening to take them to court. Ever since, BlackfaceNaija has refused to renege on his statements.
In this interview, the talented artiste addressed so many issues including his strained relationship with 2face Idibia.
PT: What have you been up to recently?
BFN: My recent work is my 6th album, which I titled DEFENDER VOL1. It took me over 6 years to finally put an album out again after so long and this is because I wrote so many songs. So, because my fans have missed me so very much, I am making it in two volumes; the first (Defender Vol 1) is out on iTunes and you can find it on some digital sites as well.
PT: You have been somewhat quiet in the music scene?
BFN: Yes, I have been quiet and this is because some persons are plotting to make Nigerians turn their back on BlackfaceNaija because I stand for what they don’t stand for. They are jealous and hence been plotting for years over seven years to keep me out of the industry by labelling me names and putting out false information about me so the corporate bodies wont engage my services. And hey, they are doing a good job at it so far, I must tell you; that’s why you say I’ve been quiet. I say this because I remember I had put some videos out like KILLAH and some other singles but no radio or TV agreed to play my music for the fans. So, I hope you all know now why I’ve been quiet all these while.
PT: You have retained your dancehall style of music for over a decade. Have you ever been tempted to switch to a more commercial brand of music?
BFN: I make dancehall music a lot because it fits my grooves and my mood when I make music, I just increase or lower the tempo and then branch out to other types of music be it RnB or hip-hop.
I make music as it comes really without thinking commercial or non-commercial; when the tunes are more groovy that’s what you term commercial but slow music isn’t groovy. But it can be very commercial long as people like the tune, theme of the song and vocals of the artiste. Music fans won’t hesitate to buy it.
So, yes if that’s what you mean. I’m making some new music that this new generation will want to have in their archives because my music is different from the rest. We artistes have different brain wave, different vocals and style of rendition.
PT: You are regarded as one of the dancehall music pioneers in Nigeria. Are you satisfied with the appreciation of dancehall music in Nigeria?
BFN: I really am not happy with that because the genre isn’t embraced much here but it’s one genre that can be used to speak volumes and talk about the ills of society and how to solve it. Dancehall music also teaches us how to live in peace and harmony, as that’s what the culture around the music promotes. But, here in Nigeria, reality feels more like a slap on our face; people would rather sell out than speak the truth. The media won’t put out the truth to educate the people but anything that can pay their bills. I think that should be addressed because it’s corruption and killing the growth of the entertainment industry.
PT: What are you most unhappy about in the Nigerian music sector?
BFN: A lot of things that is not right. Like artistes remaking songs of another artiste outside the shores of Nigeria thinking there is no copyright law. If you dig d
