By Rita Okoye
Nigerian music icon Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo, better known as Kcee, has been captivating audiences for a quarter of a century. Currently signed to Five Star Music, a label he co-owns with his brother E-money, Kcee recently marked this significant milestone with the release of his album, ‘Mr Versatile.’
In this interview with The Entertainer, the award-winning music star reflected on his journey, the challenges faced, and other career-related issues.
How do you feel about celebrating your 25th year in the music industry?
I feel very excited. I feel good. I also want to thank God for allowing me to do this for the last 25 years. It hasn’t been easy, and it’s certainly not something that happened overnight.
Many of the people I started with have given up, but by the grace of God, I kept pushing through all the challenges, the fire, and the cold. I’ve come out stronger and better than when I started, and I believe I’m in a much better place now.
So, I thank God, and I feel excited. I’m not relaxed at all—I’m still pushing forward, making sure that I never let my audience or my fans go without music.
I just want to appreciate God and also thank myself for not giving up or backing down. Big shout out to myself—I think I’m super excited.
What were some of the early days challenges you conquered?
Some of the early challenges were related to basic funding and the lack of someone to either guide or support me in achieving my aims and dreams. I went through all that but kept pushing forward. There was also a lack of serious mentorship when we started. But at the end of the day, we pushed through the hustle and came out stronger.
For me, my journey has been my teacher and my lesson. It has also been my success. I’ve learned a lot along the way, corrected myself, and experienced both failures and successes. I think I’ve grown through the process, and by the grace of God, I’ve been able to overcome those challenges.
As I speak right now, I can say that I’ve overcome all of them.
Looking back, what is your most memorable stage performance; What made it special?
I’ve had so many memorable performances, I can’t even lie. I’ve had great ones—a lot of them are playing in my head right now—but there is one that is very precious and special to me. 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, ever forget. You know, coming from the little ghetto, entering a contest, and all of a sudden winning a nationwide contest organized by Nigerian Breweries’ Star Quest—it was nothing to take lightly.
It was a turning point for me. 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.
What’s your present relationship with your partner in Star Quest; Any possibility of doing something together?
I think we’re just cool. Once in a while, we talk and chat, but musically, I don’t know what to say about him. As for me, I’m still very active and not giving up anytime soon.
I can’t speak for my partner. Everyone knows what works for them and what they want at each point. I don’t know what he’s up to—if he still wants to record or if he’s done with the studio.
What legacy would you love to leave in the music industry?
Well, I believe my music has already done a lot for me, laying down its legacy. The messages I convey in my music and the fact that I’ve made the world dance over and over again are significant parts of that legacy.
When I eventually leave this earth, I know that those footprints will never be forgotten by the people of this world because that’s an everlasting legacy.
I also believe that the world will remember me for my generosity, being stain-free/drama-free, and being that nice guy who just loves doing what he knows best. To sum it up in a sentence, I believe my music will speak for me forever.
How would you best describe your relationship with your brother, E-Money?
My relationship with my brother, E-money, for lack of a better word, is divine—a blessing and a gift from God for us to cherish and handle with care.
I’m incredibly grateful to God that we’ve been able to carry and manage it.
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 something rare, not something you can find just anywhere, and I’m excited and grateful because we’ve been able to inspire and shape many families with our friendship.
You are one of the few Nigerian celebrities whose marriage is still very much intact; how do you safeguard your home?
Marriage is a blessing. It’s like a gift, but it depends on who you marry and who you share your life with.
I’m blessed, and I thank God for giving me an amazing woman as a wife. She is truly a blessing. She understands me, accepts me as I am, and recognizes my flaws. She’s helped shape and groom me to stay positive, be a good man and be 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. Not that we haven’t had disagreements, but 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. Did you know that most of my events, including my American tours, are managed by her? They pay her directly, and she controls the finances. She’s not extravagant; she’s not someone who spends money unnecessarily.
So, instead of being afraid, I keep involving her in investments and giving her responsibilities. She understands how I work, how much I make, and how we spend it together.
She controls most of the finances, not because she’s in control but because I want her to be. 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 have a hotel, a water factory, and an Uber business with a fleet of cars in Europe, all of which are handled by her.
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.
Why the sudden 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 believe we need to keep evolving and reinventing ourselves to stay fresh and relevant.
Looking ahead, what can fans expect from you in the coming years?
More music, actually great music, and nothing less. That’s what I love to do—dishing out good music. So, more music, less drama, and better performances. If you’re a Kcee fan, I promise you’ll love me more every time you catch me at an event.
