As producers, we earn
little respect from artistes
By LUKMON BUSARI
Friday, October 29, 2004
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| •Nelson
Brown
Photo by Sun News
Publishing
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His works send vibrations across the country and beyond.
No house party is scored high without playing the albums from
his stable. His deft fingers were instrumental to the success
of popular acts like the defunct Plantashun Boiz, Sound Sultan,
Baba Fryo, Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh, Black Trybes and host
of others. Onome Nelson Omoniri (a.k.a. Nelson Brown) is a
man who has crossed many hurdles to become one of the best
young producers in the country.
Aside from abandoning his course of study, he was rejected
by his father because of his love for music. In 1991, Brown
was motivated by an award given to a colleague whom he believed
was never better than him. After that, he veered fully into
music production. From the production of Baba Fryo’s
hit album, Denge Pose, to the emergence of the Plantashun
Boiz, Brown’s career is tantamount to the proverbial
water that has passed under the label bridge. Interestingly,
this has fetched him national and international awards.
Background
I am popularly known as Nelson Brown but my real name is Onome
Nelson Omoniri. I am a music producer from Delta State. The
first child of my parents, I had my primary and education
in Lagos. I also obtained an OND in Computer Science from
the Yaba College of Technology.
I started playing music in the church way back in the early
1980s. I used to play conga and when I moved to the headquarters
of my church in Olodi Apapa, Ajegunle, I had the opportunity
of playing the drums. I also played the keyboard, the guitar.
I finally settled for the keyboard which I handle more than
any other instrument.
I never thought of becoming a music producer. I had wanted
to be an engineer. As I grew up in the music business, I started
playing on stage-with big musicians even as a member of the
choir. So, in 1989 precisely, I was introduced to a studio
where a keyboardist was needed to help them with the production
of jingles.
In 2000, that was when I moved to a studio at Ebute Meta,
Lagos owned by George Olaleyin. There, I was opportuned to
meet young talents, some of whom already had their demos and
albums. In 1991 – 1992 there was this young producer
called Tunde, he was given an award then as the best up-coming
producer, that motivated me because I was doing the same thing
that fetched him that album. I told myself “ If this
guy could be nominated and won an award, as a young producer,
I could as well do the same.” I went back to Lagos,
after which I had the opportunity of producing hit albums.
Between 1994 and 1995, I co-produced Daddy Showkey’s
albums. 1996 was my first national hit with the release of
Baba Friyo’s Denge Pose. After Denge Pose, the jobs
started coming that today, such popular numbers like Cashman
Davies’ Joromi, Daddy Showkey’s Diana, Daddy Fresh’s
Eleru Gberu Black Reverendz’s Ayanga and China Ryne’s
Akpoche, Plantashun Boiz’s Sold Out and Sound Sultan’s
Mathematics are listed against my name.
Kind of music
I have produced hip-hop, reggae and R&B. I’m working
with Wale Thompson on his new album. That will be my first
ever juju music project and I am looking forward to working
with more juju artistes. Right now, I’m going to produce
a lot of gospel music and I am working on rock artiste. As
long as it is music, I can produce it. It all depends on your
ears and how you perceive the music.
Childhood
I grew up in the ghetto. The good thing about my childhood
was that I never mixed up with the delinquents in Ajegunle
where I stayed with my parents. Though, initially, I lived
with them, but my father drove me out when I started playing
music. He wanted me to go to school. He never believed that
music could fetch you anything. In those days, we never had
the opportunity; nobody encouraged or advised us. Generally,
I will say that I am a gentle person. I don’t like mixing
up with bad people. This attitude helped me because some my
friends later went into armed robbery and stuffs like that
but I was not moved because I started by playing music in
the church. Christianity taught me to be gentle and cool.
Nigeria music industry
Well, the industry is still growing unlike when it started.
The technology was not as it is now. We have many studios
right now. Now, anybody can go to the studio and do his music
without the help of a producer. This is good sometime, but
at times, it has its own disadvantages because you need an
experienced person in the industry to direct your music. The
industry is still growing. Initially, piracy was heavy, but
now the awareness is getting higher that people should stop
buying pirated albums. Artistes now know their rights unlike
when they used to huriedly put pens on paper in the name of
contracts. With the help of corporate bodies bringing international
artistes into the country, they have also helped and inspired
our young talents. Just like Wyclef is doing now, the guys
who did Danfo Drivers have just returned from South Africa.
So, the sky is the limit for Nigerian artists now.
Most Challenging project
My first work as an independent producer is challenging because
I had to prove to a point. Daddy Fresh’s first album,
Faka-fiki-faka that was my first independent production which
I consider most challenging.
The major problem I have now is how to run my label and at
the same time stand as a music producer. It is difficult.
The Plantashun Boiz are no longer with me, probably that might
be one of the problems. And you know, trying to manage myself
and the company has not been easy.
Plantashun Boiz split up
I never wanted them to split, because when we started, we
had plans. We had dreams, goals and mission to go places.
Hence, it was so unfortunate that they splitted and went their
separate ways. But I believe that they will definitely come
back one day. Why the Plantashun Boiz actually splitted up
was because Tuface felt that the group was dragging him behind.
There must be two persons out of the three before any decision
could be made. This is just one of the reasons because I personally
spoke to Tuface and he told me that the group was dragging
him behind. Secondly, they said they were not making money
as a group.
Those guys are single and they are three and how would three
people be sharing the money one artiste would earn outside.
If they go their separate ways they would make money for themselves
than staying together as a group. Also, they are complaining
that I did not promote their music very well and I am supposed
to have taken them to the international market. It was not
true that there was a misunderstanding when I refused to produce
Blackface’s respond to Eedris Abudukareem’s Wakawekee
MCs. Even as at that time, I don’t want to encourage
all those things on my label.
Kennis music’s involvement
Kennis attitude to the whole thing was not too professional,
though he allowed the contract to end before he did what he
did. But at least, he should have called me. I have no right
to tie Tuface down if he wants to go to Kennis music. But
you know, for the sake of relationship and friendship. But
that’s not a big deal, he went for what he wanted and
he got it.
Tuface track ‘No problem’
I don’t think he is directing the message to me because
I have never done anything bad to the Plantashun Boiz. I tried
my best. If I had not brought them out, I don’t think
Kenny Ogungbe would want to take Tuface. Kenny likes an already
made material. Basically all the artistes he has are all already
made artistes. It is not my style probably that may be his
own style. Every artistes I have produced, I worked with them
from the scratch and I made them star. It is not in me to
go and work on an already made artiste. I might probably have
done it to one or two people, 95 per cent of all I have produced
on my label are all discovered from the scratch by me. I don’t
think I did anything bad for Tuface to reply me directly or
indirectly.
Rap gangsterism
Well, it’s just to achieve fame. When you are gentle,
people don’t tend to know you but when you’re
stuborn, many people will get to notice you. There are lots
of artists who I have met who really want to attack Ruggedman
for instance. It’s not too bad, but we have not got
to that level here in Nigeria because it may lead to other
things.
Signing on new artistes
Well I have a lot of them now. I just want to take my time,
and I don’t want to rush into things. This was my mistake
initially when I signed on the Plantashun Boiz. I have a lot
of artists around me and I was putting my money on them. Eventually,
it dragged me down. Now, I want to take my time, pick those
ones I want to pick, promote them and bring them up. Presently,
I have close to fifteen artistes on my label.
Kennis music
He is doing very well. Kenny is my uncle. He has done a lot
in the business, he has produced young talents in this country,
I think what he is doing is not bad, he should keep on discovering
and producing a lot of talent. He is basically one of the
best recording company we have in this country.
Up-coming artistes
Well, they should believe in themselves, a lot of them come
and say, “I want my album to sell like Plantashun Boiz,
Baba Fryo because you produce them.” Its not so, they
are called artist because they are creative beings. An artist
must be able to create something. You have to create your
beats and write good songs. They shouldn’t think that
because Ajegunle’s music is reigning, I want to start
it or if it is hip pop I will do it. Though you have to move
along with the trend, yet, you have to believe in yourself
as well.
Leisure
I am a workaholic. I have been working for over a decade now.
Most of the time, I sit down at noon and watch wrestling.
I also love sports a lot. After music, the next thing that
appeals to me is sports. I do play around with my Friends
and relax on the beach.
Piracy
Its very bad, but thank God that the Alaba boys are beginning
to realise that what they are doing is bad. Chary Boy has
also helped to create the awareness and make the people in
Alaba to realise that what they are doing is bad. I think
that now they are beginning to drop from it. It has helped
us a lot because in a situation where African China and Danfo
drivers are selling close to a million copies of CDs and VCDs.
That shown that piracy is declining.
Embarrassing moment
I have many. I don’t know which one is the most embarrassing,
because I am a very gentle person, a lot of people weant to
take me for granted because of my gentility for a ride. I
have had terrible experiences with artists and people because
many of them can’t recognise my face. They just know
the name Nelson Brown. And sometimes, when you go to an occasion
and you don’t have an I.V, they may decide to refuse
you entry into the venue. And in your presence artistes that
you have produced and are allowed free entry. It’s very
disgraceful and embarrassing to be refused entry into an event.
Sometimes, when you produce an artist, he comes out and becomes
very popular. As a result, those who were answering ‘sir’
to you may begin to call you by name because he or she is
now popular.
Mentor
Mr. Odion Eroje who produced lots of big artistes like Fela
Anikulapo Kuti, Chris Okotie, Sunny Okosuns, and some artistes
in South Africa, Ghana, Congo and Zaire.
Awards
Well, I have won several awards and I have been nominated
several times. I have won about five awards as a music producer
in this country. They include two AMEN awards, one FAME Music
awards, YAFEM awards, ERA awards and a host of others. They
all came through my involvement in Daddy Showkey’s Diana,
The Plantashun Boiz, Alariwo, Sound Sultan, Black Reverendz
and Father U Turn. |
