With ups and downs; good, bad and ugly
things said about Orji Kelechi George[aka] Kelly Hansome, the Eziobodo,OwerriWest
LGA of Imo State born singer cum music producer is still kicking.Kelly Hansome
who has been described as one of the greatest talents to emerge from Nigeria is
not giving up on what he has been called to do.
In this interview with CHINEDU HARDY
NWADIKE, he bares his mind on the struggles of the days before his glory, the
challenges and the plans to get Kelly Hansome back to where he belongs as the
king of Afropop in Nigeria.
Excerpts
What
were you called before the invention of Kelly Hansome?
Kelly Hans
Why
make it up to Hansome?
Kelly Hansomeas a name was actually born
in Madonna University right after I was called Madonna Michael Jackson, because
I used to perform Michaels Jackson's songs back then in Madonna University and
even won several dance competitions outside the school. At a point I didn't
want to keep singing and performing other peoples’ songs. I wanted to sing and
dance to my own songs, written and produced by me and that was how the name
became popular.
The Hansome part of it came from my dad's
name 'Mr Emma Hans' as he is popularly called by friends.
How
did your dancing career begin?
It was Michael Jackson from nursery
school to my primary school.When I started playing the school organ from
primary 4, it changed to 'The Boy'. Then came 'Orshi' generated from my
surname. Orshi was actually started by a friendcalled Arab and then
IfeanyiNwude, OgbonnaNjoku and everyone else just took it from there. We were very
close friends who studied and attended ‘Mgbaratu’
[parties] together. From Kelly Hans, to Madonna Michael Jackson, to Kelly
Hansome.My parents still call me Kelechi.
I started dancing at a very tender age.
I always won a price dancing at birthday parties. One day Uncle Sunny, one of
my neighbors who loved me so much took me to a dance competition and I won. That
was actually how I became popular in school because many of my school and class
mates were there. After then I was asked by the school to perform at our PTA
[Parents Teachers Association] end of the year party and ‘I killed it’. That
was it. I danced all the way to Madonna University and even my first album had
videos where I did ‘break dance’.
What
doesMadonna University remind you?
When I hear Madonna University, I
remember the conscious efforts made by my parents to have me concentrate on my
education. I remember learning how to manage money, my provisions and all. I
remember getting into trouble in Madonna University because I wrote a petition
to the school authority to allow us have performances once in a while since we
had no social life and it was initially misinterpreted but I had to make that
speech that had everyone clapping and hence it gave birth to recreationalactivities
in the school.
For the first time, the Chancellor
approved our performances on the eve of every matriculation and convocation day
and so on.
I remember the discipline the school
installed in me, waking up early, compulsory exercises and jogging.
It was a lovely experience which we did
not appreciate while we were in campus because we felt the conditions in school
were too harsh; but trust me, now that we have passed out, we appreciate it the
most. It was a wonderful experience indeed.
The
music journey from Madonna University
I had a record label then with 5 artistes: the Kindreds, a group of three rappers who
loved WytangClan; Double O; The Legends, with Rex Idaminabo, GoddyIdaminabo and
one other guy and Onyinye[aka]Oniel James who was dating my friend Obiora back
then.
We were the best thing that was
happening in school. I also had dancers who performed with me like Sammy
Wine(Madonna Usher) and we always took permission to go out of school during
weekends to record songs atHarida's studio.Because I had a deal with his dad on
studio sessions,
I produced and managed these acts and
got them booked to perform in different parties and shows, outside school.
How
did your Madonna days end?
I got a deal and left. So many people
rumored that I was expelled but that's nowhere near the truth. I am still in
very good terms with Father Edeh who mentored, monitored and advised me on
several occasions.
School was fun, I gained lots of
experiences while working with my team until I left. Before I left, I handed
the mantle over to another guy [ChuksAreh] who was coming up strongly as the
next Michael Jackson and I zoomed off to Lagos to look for a record deal.
Did
leaving school bring trouble between you and your parents?
The decision to leave school and move to
Lagos brought a very big issue between my Dad and I because he didn't
understand how such a brilliant son of his(actually his first son) could leave
a private school to Lagos in the name of music. I started off working as a
producer from studio to studio, sleeping in the streets because I initially had
nowhere to stay until I went to stay with the Onojas who are still very close
family friends of ours till date.
It was a tough experience, I lack words
to describe my ordeal on the streets. I literally met the streets, she fell in
love with me and we dated. I learned more in the streets than in any
institution I had attended but that doesn't meaneducation isn't important or
wasn't beneficial to me. It totally was.
I met Blackface and he took me in and I
started running the first blackface's official studio - Loud Houz Studios with
the help of AYK and TuebaainFestac town. I later got employed as a studio engineer
for Myke Records which led to a production deal that gave birth to several
songs from artistes under the label like Freewinds, Bumpa Clash, Mamuzee andZyon,
amongst others.
I got signed on after the CEO Evangelist
MykeIkoku heard my songs. I dropped my second album, ‘Simply Kelly’ and made a
couple hits in the South East but it wasn't nationwide until I recorded ‘Maga
Don Pay’.
This is just a summary, it's a long
story.
How
did your first hit come?
I made the first hit before Kennis
promoted it. I printed the first one thousand copies all by myself with Richezas
my marketer. It was already everywhere but I didn't have a video until I signed
with Kennis. They did a great job in pushing the whole thing down to other
African countries and even inside Los Angelis and other American States largely
populated by Africans.
Do
you deserve signing on for Kennis?
I really deserved the deal because it
was a dream come true. It was actually after I had promoted it and it became
popular in Nigeria that I left the country to resume my studies but then came
the deal.
Do
you think kennis showed you the world in your dreams?
We hadn't even started the big plans we
had before issues arose. The album we made in some local studio went
international, sold over a million copies. Some bullion van of money came and
then came a little disagreements here and there which we would have settled
amicably but a whole lot of people were threatened by the sudden positive turnout
of events and hence the 'Rise Of Kelly Hansome'. They started putting things in
different ears, accusations flew around, the misunderstandings grew stronger,
angry words that should have beenunsaid poured out, but for some reasons we
just couldn't hold the business bond together, even though we still maintained
a cordial relationship till date.
The actual issues are simple but for the
sake of confidentiality, I will not share the details because it will only be
my own view no matter how you look at it. We have settled and left it within
and behind us for good and so should it remain.
Why
did it take long to settle with Kennis?
It took so long because the media took sides
instead of mediating professionally as supposed. It became a messy face off and
off course you know how it goes.
I was also way younger and less
experienced in dealing with such corporate issues than I am right now, so it
was just a lesson for me and I don't regret any part of the experience. I have
learned to overlook certain things and move on.
Did
your fame favour people around you?
I had barely made it off the streets to
carry anyone along but a whole lot of people especially artistes benefitted
from the connection.
I cannot begin to mention names for some
reasons, but trust me, even Jesus who gave his life is still not appreciated by
some of the people he died to save. It’s only natural for people to say that I
didn’t help anyone and of course I am human. I can't help everybody no matter
how much I would love to and moreover in life, you have to stand on your feet
before you can start helping people.
Are
there things you would have done better now?
I don't think I would have done anything
better because I didn't know better then. We can only talk about the future and
not the past. I have no regrets so far because my only regret was not finishing
school but I am done now and there is nothing to worry about on that side.
A man is not judged by his experience
but by what he does with them
People
say Kennis ghost is still hunting you
I don't see ghosts. I am a mere mortal
but of course I don't know what I am going to do when I see one. I believe that
everyone has moved on. I personally have.
We all are human, nobody is perfect. I
used to hold grudges back then but when I think about it now, I just smile
because some of thosethings nowlook
childish to me.
Once you're a celebrity, certain things
about you go public and hence public opinions and judgments follow suit but
nobody is perfect including the celebrities.
What’s
next for you?
I have a lot of projects coming up but
this time I will not talk about them till they are ready to go public. Youth
empowerment via Education is one of them and my next album is also in progress.
I have a new single dropping soon titled
‘Akunatakasi’ and a song featuring an American rapper from Philadelphia in the
pipeline. Right now, talking is not on my agenda, I will let my work speak
henceforth.
Can
your experience be used to inspire younger artistes?
Of course yes, a whole lot. I have
written about 3 books to that effect and trust me, as usual the books will make
a huge inevitable positive impact on the younger generation and generations yet
unborn. My books are simply blueprints. It's an honest and blunt timeless
intellectual masterpiece that will be celebrated hundreds of decades even after
I am gone. Some of these books will be turned into movies with highly
contagious positive messages and energy capable of illuminating and setting so
many minds free intellectually.
Will
you still go back to Owerri to support younger artistes?
I have been doing that and I won't stop.
Do
you think the public know the real Kelly Hansome?
No they don't. They know the person in
the media, which is obviously not the real me. It's like seeing Super Man in
real life, you would expect him to fly and save people right? People have been
mentally programmed by the creators of the movie to see him that way.
Does
this arrogance the media painted of you affect you in anyway?
It used to affect me a little bit
because sometimes you can't stand people having a weird impression of you especially
when they act a certain way towards you as a result of what the media had
programmd in their minds. That was then, but not now, not anymore.
To
young people being approached by labels and those doing music
All I have to say is decide where you want to
be in life and don't stop till you get there.
Secondly, don't drop out of school
because you want to pursue a career. You need all the education you can get,
trust me.
Thirdly, it’s not an easy road, prepare
for the worst but hope for the best. Whosoever told you it's an easy road lied
to you.
Fourthly, don't hate what you want to
become, support anyone who is doing well and believe in yourself. Nobody can
stop your shine. It’s not how far but how well.
Lastly, you have to know your role and the
role of God and the devil. Give unto Caesar what belongs to him and unto God
what belongs to him. Do not give God what belongs to Caesar and vice versa.
Kelly
was in many scandals then but none with women why?
[Laughs] Well like I said earlier, I am
not perfect but just favored. It so pleases God, the great architect of the universe
in whose hands we are but pencils.
Any
relationships or wedding bell
No comment.
