The widely acclaimed King of Fuji Music, King Wasiu Ayinde, a.k.a, KWAM 1, is not your regular Fuji artiste. Over the years, he has proved to both fans and critics that he understands perfectly well game of music. No doubt, he has remained the undisputed king of this genre for many years.
Few days back, precisely on Tuesday June 2, he was in the studio with 9ice and ID Cabasa recording. I had thought about so many things before I got to the studio wondering what he was trying to achieve with the new collaboration but when I couldn’t come up with one, I quickly concluded that he has joined the train of Fuji artistes planning to release a hip-hop album but he disagreed with me. “No matter the genre, music is music once it’s good. I won’t agree with you that am going hip-hop. What we are doing here right now is a digital production and this is not the first time I will be doing it”, he said.
The venue of the recording was Foster Zeeno’s Studio in Ikeja. Percy Ademokun, K1’s long time manager had earlier informed me about the commencement of the session but I was stuck in the bottle neck traffic from Adeniyi Jones to Oregun - Opebi Link Road where the studio is located. When I eventually got to there, ID Cabasa had already finished producing the beat. I met them discussing the number of bars that should be on the third verse. After exchanging pleasantries, 9ice was ready to go into the vocal boot to drop the first verse. He was hearing some distortion in the head can but Cabasa told him not worry, and assured him that it would not affect the recordings. After laying the first verse, he did the back-up but the harmonising period took longer than expected. He was actually doing it right but Cabasa kept drilling him till he got what he wanted. At this point, K1 turned to me and said,” you see how we operate in our kitchen? We have to add the right amount of ingredients to make it sweet. It is the food of the soul. It is spiritual”, he concluded as I nodded in affirmation having been a recording artiste once myself even though I couldn’t make a success of it. Any way, I dumped it for music reporting on the long run. While K1 was talking to me, I was fathoming the great chemistry between 9ice and Cabasa in the studio. Neither complained till his part was eventually finished.
Despite the fact that it is the first time K1 will be working with ID Cabasa , they got along perfectly. He easily adjusted to his production style and he was out of the vocal boot in no time. It was an-official break thereafter as everybody found time to attend to their aching stomachs.
Is it true you are eyeing the House of Representatives in the next dispensation? I asked K1 few minutes after his lunch and he answered like a typical politician. Politicians never go straight to the point when ever they are answering such technical questions. “I have heard about it too but I have never discussed something of such with anybody. I even heard it in some quarters that I have intentions to contest for the Senatorial seat. I don’t actually know where the whole thing is emanating from but have not made any comment about it. It is rather better to be in politics to serve than exploit the nation. I love politics of service like the one currently going on in Lagos State”.
He also gave an insight into the secrets that have kept him on top of his game. “To whom much is given, much is expected. The people expect so much from me and I have been delivering. Nothing sells like good music. I put my whole mind in whatever I do and the result is here for everyone to see”. On why he reconciled with Saheed Osupa, another Fuji artiste that seriously contested the throne with him at a time, he said he is a bridge builder. “One of the characteristics of a godly person is the ability to forgive. When somebody feels he has offended you and he apologises, you just have to forgive. What legacies will I leave behind if I started singing abusive music at this point in my career? I can do that as a corrective measure if the people in authority are not doing what they are supposed to. Whatever I do from now on counts because am getting old”.
Why has he chosen to work with; 9ice, Sasha, 2-Shotz, Muma Gee, Ara and others? Why is he partnering with the Lagos State Government? What is the Maternal Project even all about? K1 saw all the curiosity in my eyes and was delighted in taking his time to answer all my adrenalin pumping questions. “The maternal project is an initiative between the Lagos State Government and me. It is very important at this time because of the alarming increase in the mortality rate of pregnant women. There is also the issue of unwanted pregnancies and some ladies also getting into a wrong marriage due to bad counsel. The aim of the project is to enlighten them on the appropriate measures to take when confronted with these situations. It is not good for people to take drugs without the Doctor’s prescription. Collaborating with some few artistes on the project is strategic. 2-Sortz is from the east, Muma Gee represents the South South, Sasha is a rapper, Ara is a talking drummer and I represent a certain genre of music. We believe we will be able to cut across to lots of people across the country and serve the original purpose for which the project was initiated. Lagos State Government is a staunch supporter of good health and that is why we are partnering together. I believe very soon too, that the Federal Government will take a cue from this”.
K1 is also into real estate, importation of musical equipments and car designs for top rated auto companies. Three of his children have also toed his path.
