By David Kabiyesi
Known for midas touch when it comes to doing what he loves best, Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, otherwise known as Kcee is currently hitting the right notes following the release of new single, Ojapiano.
The Sweet Mary J crooner released a new hit single, “Ojapiano” in June 2023 where he seamlessly blends the traditional sounds of Ọjà music, originating from the Igbos of South East Nigeria, with the popular South African beats of Amapiano.
Fielding questions from reporters in Lagos recently, Kcee said he had prophesied the success of Ojapiano right before it was released.
” Obviously because for everybody that is around me, for sometimes, they know I kind of prophesied and said most of the things that happened. It’s like me prophesying and calling them to reality. That was exactly what happened, which means for me it was just believing in myself and believing in where I am going to, which has been my strategy.
“So, whatever I want, I always have to work towards it. So, for me, it took a lot of work. It took a lot of commitment. It took a lot of don’t do this anymore, don’t do that anymore, focus on this and that, to get this result. So, I knew it was coming.
“To my wife, to my kids, to everybody, I always shout I must have one hit sing this year. If not, even if it’s one or three, I must have one. I kept on saying it since December last year, till it happened. So, early this year, I got to lock myself in the studio. Like I said, no going out, no partying, no hanging out. It had to be in the studio. And changed my video people. Got a new video director, got a new management, everything was strategic.,” he said
Kcee however admitted that Ojaoiano would not have been a success story today without proper planning, adding that success requires lots of hard work.
“Everything was planned. Everything was being focused on. And we started the journey, we started recording and all that and it worked from that. The mix of the cultural sound and pop sound, the amapiano sound, has also been something over my head since 2018.
“I Had to strategize which also give birth to cultural praise. You know, it was me trying to look for that cultural sound, that African sound, that Igbo sound, to a global stage.
“So, for me everything have been strategic and I am not even stopping now because I am still looking forward to some level before I will be satisfied. So, for me, if you ask me that question anytime again, I will be like yeah, it was strategic, it was deliberate. But I will just say thank God for His grace and mercy to make it happen so fast,” he said.
