Obasanjo’s ‘insult’ made me a superstar" –Eedris Abdulkareem Reveals

Controversies and scandals aside, Afro Hip Hop artiste, Eedris Abdulkareem, is happy that he chose the path of music. Anytime his name is mentioned in a gathering, many incidents readily come to mind. For some people it is his scuffle with American rapper, 50 Cents, during his visit to Nigeria, in 2004. Others m­ay choose to remember his numerous swipes at colleagues in his songs.

 

When asked to comment on the high point of his career, his face lights up in a smile:

 

“The best to ever happen to me was former President Olusegun Obasanjo talking back at me, calling me a mere street boy whose father is not known. The president took me to the next level, I became a super star, and now people know me, because Obasanjo put me in his level.”

 

As if these achievements are not enough, the rapper, who has been running an independent label, La Kreem Records, since 2004, is happy because he has succeeded in keeping the home front intact in spite of controversies.

 

“I love my family and wife so much that I don’t joke with them. I have been married for 13 years, though they thought it would last three months. I proved to them that it is possible to be a family man and artiste at the same time. I am an inspiration to other married celebrities,” he boasts.

 

Things can only get better, as far as Eedris is concerned. With a sixth album due in November, the Osun State native, who says he has a few friends in the industry, tries to clear a few issues off his chest.

 

“I don’t need endorsements, but I am cool with the shows that Mike Adenuga has been giving me. Shows are enough for me. I will endorse my own product which I am putting together. I need more shows because they pay my bills. If I tell you I want endorsements you may think that most of the things I sing about are for endorsement. I don’t want it, but I do it for other Nigerian artistes so they can live big. But if you must endorse, choose people that will add value to your life.

 

Endorsement is the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria. My only grouse is that abroad, endorsed artistes add value to other people’s lives. Here in Nigeria, it is the opposite,” he says.