By Rita Okoye
Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, better known as Kcee, has been a prominent figure in the Nigerian music industry for the past 25 years. As a singer and songwriter, his career took a significant leap in 2002 when he and his former partner, Presh, won the Nigerian Breweries music show–Star Quest.
Since then, the fondly named KCee Limpopo has made a substantial impact on the music scene. His latest hit, “Ojapiano,” released in June 2023, is a unique fusion of traditional Igbo Ọjà music and contemporary South African Amapiano beats.
Currently signed to Five Star Music, a record label he co-owns with his brother E-money (Emeka Okonkwo), Kcee is celebrating his 25th anniversary with the highly anticipated album, “Mr Versatile.”
In this exclusive interview with Allure, Kcee opens up about his career, challenges, and the invaluable lessons he’s learned throughout his illustrious career.
Congratulations on 25 years in the music industry! How does it feel to reach this milestone?
I feel very good and excited. I also want to thank God for allowing me to do this for the last 25 years.
Many of the people I started with have given up, but by the grace of God, through all the challenges, I’ve come out stronger and better. I’m still pushing forward to make sure that I never let my audience or my fans go without music.
What were some of the early days challenges and how did you overcome them?
Some of the early challenges were related to basic funding and the lack of someone to either guide, or support me (mentorship) in achieving my aims and dreams. I kept pushing forward and came out stronger.
Looking back, what performance was the most memorable and special for you?
It was the day we won the Star Quest. I had my partner Presh, with me. That was one of those moments I will never, forget. You know, coming from the little ghetto, entering a contest, and all of a sudden, winning a nationwide contest organised by Nigerian Breweries. That moment changed my story, my life, and my history. Anytime I remember that moment, it brings me joy, brings tears to my eyes, and makes me happy.
Your latest album, Mr Versatile, explores different musical styles; what inspired this diverse approach?
‘Mr. Versatile showcases the different aspects of KC that most people either don’t know, or have forgotten. In this project, celebrating my 25 years in the industry, I decided to remind people just how versatile I am. That’s something I know that sets me apart.
Also, my father, being a DJ, exposed me to a wide range of genres growing up. As a little boy, I was surrounded by R&B, rap, dancehall, reggae, highlife, gospel—you name it. All of these sounds were played a lot during my childhood, and they got stuck in my head. So, when I started doing music, I discovered that I could actually switch to any of these genres and deliver them well.
What better way to express myself in my 25-year celebration than with a body of work that explains my journey and experience as an artist?
Aside from music, what was the experience like growing up with a father who was a DJ?
Growing up with my father was a great experience. He was a God-fearing man who loved God deeply and was very involved in the Church. He made sure we were raised in that light.
He was very disciplined and always wanted us to be positive and to be the best we could be in the society, which we are today.
Every good father wishes for his children to be successful, and that was his wish for us.
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?
Growing up in Ajegunle, we did a lot of dancehall music, so I listened to artistes like Shaggy and Bob Marley. When Shaggy and Sean Paul became popular around the time I started my career, I vibed with them heavily.
Later, I moved on to listening to artistes like R. Kelly and Trey Songz, each bringing different energy and vibes. So, while I was influenced by these artistes, I realised that originality is key. So, I began focusing on creating my own original music and sound that others could connect with. I did this by blending different genres and infusing my style into them.
How would you best describe your relationship with your brother, E-Money?
Divine! A gift from God. The friendship and brotherhood we share is second to none. I don’t know how we did it, and I don’t know how we got here, but I know that the hand of God is upon it.
Our bond is rare. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to inspire and shape many families with our friendship.
I don’t think there’s anything that could ever make us drift apart, and we continue to pray that nothing like that will ever happen.
How have fatherhood and personal life influenced your kind of music?
Parenting and fatherhood are blessings, and I’m grateful to be part of it. I still believe I’m one of the best parents or fathers around. When I’m home, my kids have the best moments. They don’t play with me; they love me so much and appreciate my presence. I try my best to instil in them what I believe is positive and good.
Fatherhood has also influenced me in ways I didn’t expect. To be honest, my recent comeback in the music industry was partly motivated by my children.
When I see them vibing to the new generation of artistes, it makes me want them to experience my music as well. They were very young when I was topping the charts, and I wanted to come back for them—to make them happy, impress them, and see them enjoy my music.
What would you have done differently in the entertainment industry, if given another opportunity?
To be honest, at this point, I can’t ask for anything more unless I’m ungrateful. My experiences in the industry have sharpened me a lot; the failed records, failed albums, the successful ones, times when I made lots of money, and times when I made nothing. Every single experience has built the Kcee of today—the Kcee that is standing strong today.
So far, I have no regrets.
Afrobeat is the biggest genre in the world, and I’m happy to be a part of it at this time.
I still desire some of the greatest awards possible in this industry, but most of all, I seek the reward that comes from God, not just from men.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians, especially those looking to sustain a long-term career in the industry?
First of all, be true to yourself. Whatever you love is your passion, so pay attention to it, keep working on yourself and improving. Don’t get distracted. People will discourage you and try to distract you, but stay focused. To stay longer in the industry, you need to continuously reinvent yourself every few years—change your style, your music, your look, and your approach to life. Always keep evolving.
You are one of the few Nigerian celebrities whose marriage is still very much intact; how do you safeguard your home?
I thank God for giving me an amazing woman as a wife. She is truly a blessing. She understands me, recognises my flaws and accepts me as I am. She’s helped shape and groom me to be a good man and a good father.
We’ve been married for 14 years, and next year will be 15. We’ve never had any major fights where we felt the need to involve our parents or siblings to settle things. We’ve learned how to resolve our differences and keep moving forward.
One of the key things is my ability to involve her in my business. She controls most of the finances, because I want her to. This has shaped our marriage, and she’s a wonderful woman I would never take for granted. I don’t think I could ever desire another wife other than her. I thank God for blessing me with her.
How do you balance your music career with these other interests?
Most of my investments and other businesses are managed by my wife. I’m so grateful to have a wife who pays attention and encourages me to invest, but the love I have for music surpasses everything else. That’s why I give it 101% of my attention, while my wife takes care of all other investments, including our real estate business.
What inspires your fashion?
Summarily, what inspires my fashion is just how I feel every day. My mood dictates how I dress.I champion my fashion, dressing the way I want to be addressed, based on how I feel. No matter how good or funny it looks, that’s how I feel at that given time.
Facemask has become a part of your dressing in recent times, why facemask?
My face mask was part of the spirit of recreating and reinventing myself. I thought of bringing out a new sound called Ojapiano—a mix of the ‘Oja’ with the ‘Amapiano’ sound, an original by me.
I decided that during this period of my career, I needed to start wearing a face mask and let my old and new fans see me in a new light. And it worked for me.
That’s why I said earlier that we need to keep evolving and reinventing ourselves to stay fresh and relevant.
What’s your preferred holiday destination and why?
Well, for me, Kcee, there’s no such thing as a holiday lifestyle. I work a lot, and whenever I travel for events, there’s always a lot of celebration—red carpets, people celebrating you. So, while I’m working, I’m also resting and on holiday. So, the concept of a traditional holiday doesn’t exist for me.