Exclusive Interview With The Most Prestigious And Controversial Show Biz Promoter And A Record Label Owner – Kentallest Music

August 21, 2017

Hiptopjamz.com went for an exclusive interview with Kenneth Odumegwu Kenneth the Ceo Kentallest Music / Show Biz Promoter.

HIPTOPJAMZ – HOW WAS YOUR GROWING UP LIKE?

Kentallest – I was born and breed in Awka,Anambra State, Nigeria. and I grew up in Delta State.

Hiptopjamz – TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?

Kentallest – I went to government college Uweli in Delta State.

Hiptopjamz – TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR INTO THE SHOW BIZ BUSINESS?

kentallest – It has been good, but it has never been easy. It is a milage thing that I have been building for years from when I was in Africa. I have been in the game for decades, it is a long time thing. I love music, because it’s a great way to communicate to people across the globe.

Hiptopjamz – CAN YOU MENTION SOME OF THE NOTABLE EVENTS You’ve STAGED BOTH HOME AND ABROAD ?

Kentallest – I was in charge of Guinnes concert in Lagos back in those days where Daddy Showkey, 2Face Ibidia, Baba Fryo, Tony Tetula, Idris Abudukarim, Sound Sultan all played there, as well as many other upcoming artists of the time. There were more than 5000 people presents for the concert. After the Lagos concert, we toured across Nigeria and played in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Enugu. That was nearly 20 years ago now. I was one of the key coordinator of the first Julius Agwu concert in Lagos, a show called “Crack Your Ribs – part 1”. From then till now I have coordinated various events, for example Timaya’s Europe Tour in 2016 and Kcee Love Boat Weekend in 2016, and many others too.

Hiptopjamz – WHO ARE THE NOTABLE ARTISTES YOU‘VE WORKED WITH?

Kentallest – Kcee, Timaya, Daddy Showkey, African China, Pockwonzie, Maleke,

Hiptopjamz – SOME PEOPLE SEE YOU AS A CONTROVERSIAL SHOW BIZ PROMOTER, WHAT IS YOUR SAY ABOUT THIS ?

Kentallest – I see things in different perspective. I am not seeing things just like an African, I also have an European view. For example, if I promote someone, I expect to make something from that because Promotion is like a business where you promote someone who will promote you, and you do it for a reason. You should be professional about it, and expect to make something from it. You can’t just do it for the sake of promoting your own name or for fun. And I am not afraid to air that view out loudly.

Hiptopjamz – WHY DOES MOST SHOW PROMOTERS ATTAIN SUCCESS BUT FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN IT?

kentallest – Because they don’t know how the game looks like. They don’t take advise. They jump in and they jump out. It has steps, and it is wise to take advise from someone who has done it before. It is more than what you see on Facebook. That might not be reality. It is about details, and how you get there.

Hiptopjamz – HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN INTO THE SHOW BUSINESS?

Kentallest – More than 20 years now

Hiptopjamz – WHAT WAS THE HAPPIEST THING YOU COULD RECOLLECT THAT GOD HAD DONE FOR YOU IN THE LAST 5 YEARS IN THE GAME ?

Kentallest – Keeping me alive and healthy

Hiptopjamz – WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES ON THE JOB ?

Kentallest – People who try to capitalize on your kindness. People who are trying to take advantage of you, and not sticking to what has been agreed.

Hiptopjamz – WHAT ARE THE KEY THINGS ABOUT YOUR FIELD THAT OUTSIDERS DON‘T UNDERSTAND?

Kentallest – It takes more money, energy and experience than what a lot of people thinks. All that glitters are not gold. You need to have a budget beforehand, and some capital, not just a big grammar.

Hiptopjamz – HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY AWARD TO YOUR CREDIT, IF YES NAME THEM ?

Kentallest – Nigerian EU Based Promoter Award 2012

Hiptopjamz – IN WHAT WAY HAS THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT‘S YOUR ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT ?

Kentallest – If I may have any advice to the government it is to find a ways to give the youths more happiness. Find a way to bring them together to promote peace, unity and educating them based on their cultural heritage and value.

Hiptopjamz – WITH THE FLAIR AND LOVE FOR YOUR CULTURE/ TRADITION, WHY DID YOU GET MARRIED TO A FOREIGNER?

Kentallest – Interesting question. Finding love does not have any geographical or cultural limits. When you can find someone who understands you and takes you for who you are, then you don’t care about the origin of that person. I am born to know that love is blind. It is what you both had together that matters. It does not have to be east and west to get your happiness.

Hiptopjamz – YOU ARE CONSTANTLY TOO BUSY, HOW DO YOU CREATE TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY?

Kentallest – MY family my priority, they came first before anything.

Hiptopjamz – HOW DO YOU RELAX?

Kentallest – I relax with music, working out in the gym and chilling out at home. I try to stay away from stress and in engaging myself in any competition with other people. And I make sure to always think positively.

Hiptopjamz – WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE?

Kentallest – Think positively about other people. Take care of other people. Be tolerant, and don’t try to change things you cannot change, just let it be. Take for an instance, Gays and Lesbians, people shouldn’t criticize them, they are meant to be, we can just embrace them, they are one of us. It is not their choice, it is something they are born with, and they deserve to be accepted, embraced and respected.

Hiptopjamz – HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE SHOW BIZ IN EUROPE?

Kentallest – Some of us are not here to make money. A lot of competition and people who do not understand how the game works. The artiste capitalizes on this, making a lot of money, and the promoters often lost. It should not be like that. The promoters are very important for the artiste, so they should make money too. But a lot of people are just doing it for their name. That is why some people think I am controversial. Because they thought this is a cake we should all have a piece of. It makes me sad when the artiste come and grab the whole cake on their own, some of them even without saying thank you and goodbye. In Europe, the audience is never above 400 capacity, while in Africa it can be thousands of people. We’re doing this to promote our own culture in Europe, and the artists should also start appreciating that more. After each Europe tour their YouTube account of the relevant artiste in quote increases in large number of fans.

Hiptopjamz – WHO‘S NEXT ON YOUR LIST TO TOUR WITH?

Kentallest – Iyaya right now, and then two others. But those names will be announced later. Big ones though.

Hiptopjamz – TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FIVE STAR MUSIC, YOU ARE OFTEN SEEN TOGETHER AND YOU GUYS MAKES QUITE A GOOD TEAM. ARE YOU SIGNED TO THEIR LABEL?

Kentallest – I am not signed to their label. It is more of a family thing. They have given me the role of 5 Star Ambassador to Europe because we know each other really well. E-Money and I made a video together around 2002, those were the days E-Money went by the name Emeka Okonkwo, and he was Kcee’s manager. We never dreamt that he would become the person he is today, back then. So that goes back to what I said about my life philosophy: be positively minded, also about other people’s progress. That gives you a happier life, and may open other doors.

Kentallest at E-Money’s Home during his visit to Naija

Hiptopjamz – WE DISCOVERED THAT YOU ARE EQUALLY A RECORD LABEL OWNER, GIVE US A QUICK RUNDOWN OF THE HISTORY OF THE LABEL?

Kentallest – Sometimes the student becomes the lecturer. I love music, and I love people who are creative and who have talent. I love helping people expand their talent. I made a talent competition sometime last year. A lot of people sent their contributions, I was quite surprised and very happy about by how much attention the competition got. The goal of my record label is to find very talented, young artists, and then help promote their musical careers. Actually, I have also released my own fashion brand, Ken Tallest, where I have clothes and accessories for sale.

Hiptopjamz – HOW MANY ARTISTES ARE SIGNED TO KENTALLEST MUSIC?

Kentallest – Four artists are signed now: Sky G, Da Black , Sossy and Yong Swag

Hiptopjamz – WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO SIGN THEM INTO YOUR MUSIC LABEL?

Kentallest – The first guy I signed was Sky G. He sent me a song that was so amazing, I never believed he was the one singing it. I asked him for a video proof. Then he sent me a video of himself singing and playing the song in a studio he had created in his house. I was so impressed by that, because it showed both a great talent and also the hard work and dedication it takes if you want to have great progress. his name back then was Dedication but He changed to Sky G after signing with me, because the sky will be his limit.

Then I found Da Black. He had a real raw style that I loved immediately. He raps about appreciating yourself and where you came from. His music motivates others to appreciate what they have as well. I sign people who have a message to others. It is not all about what you have and how much you can show off, life is all about been unique in what you know you can do best. And that also goes to “Sossy”, Somebody sent me a song he had made I listened to It and it was wow, and when I asked for a proof, it was him that sang the song. “Yong Swag” is from my home town, and he raps and sings about not criticizing others but believing in yourself.

Hiptopjamz – IS THERE ANY REMARKABLE HITS SO FAR FROM KENTALLEST MUSIC ARTISTES?

Kentallest – Absolutely yes. Alert and Sherita, by Sky G, Good Life, and Dance for me by Sossy, My Hood by Da Black, Thunder by Yong Swag featuring Da Black, Wachizia, Je Wun Soke and A Town “Tam” by Yong Swag. In fact, Sherita is even available as a ring tune in two Nigerian networks, and we are working for others to be available too. You can Google search to download their songs online.

Hiptopjamz – DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE LEGACY OF THE LABEL DETERMINES IT‘S FUTURE ?

Kentallest – I think the world will be a better place if more people help young kids off the streets to pursue their respective talent and skills acquisition into becoming ambassador to all for the future of tomorrow. At Ken Tallest Music our motto is “Lifting Young Talent from Good to Great”. Investing in humans is the best one can do, because if you invest in one person, the whole family will benefit from that.

Hiptopjamz – WHAT‘S YOUR FAVORITE SUMMER JAM OF 2017?

Kentallest – My favourite right now is Good Life by Sossy. Its gives me joy whenever I listened to it.

Hiptopjamz – WE OFTEN SEE YOU SHARING A WELL BRANDED CLOTHES, SHADES, JEWELRIES AND ACCESSORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THOSE IT MEAN THAT KENTALLEST MUSIC IS ALSO ON CLOTHING LINE?

Kentallest – Yes that is correct. I have recently launched my own clothing line. I am very excited about it. Music is fashion, and fashion is music.

Hiptopjamz – WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU LISTEN TO THE MOST MUSIC ?

kentallest – I listen to music all the time. Obviously all the time. At home. In the car. At the gym etc..

Hiptopjamz – WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB ?

Kentallest – That I can motivate others to change their lives in a positive direction

Hiptopjamz – WHERE CAN WE FOLLOW YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Kentallest – I am active on Instagram as Iam_Kentallest and I have a Facebook account which I used a lot Kenneth Odumegwu Odumegwu , and I have recently opened a Facebook page called Kentallest Music. And I have a YouTube page, Ken Tallest, where many of the songs are posted. Currently we are working with making videos for their songs. It is a lot of work, and it is not easy, but we are moving in the right direction.

Hiptopjamz – WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ANY ASPIRING SHOW BIZ PROMOTER AND ASPIRING RECORD LABEL OWNER ?

Kentallest – Surround yourself with dedicated, trustworthy people who can help you along. For example, Ken Tallest secretary Marian O is of real great help to me. And we are also very happy about hiptopjamz.com, very good and trustworthy people who are in charge of our links and our media strategy in the East, while we are still working with O3 Media, who are in charge of our media strategy in Lagos. I take people along who know what they are doing. And Lucky Fit in Luxembourg (www.luckyfit.lu) , really helping out with our marketing in Europe. And I also want to mention Henry Emehel Events, Afrodance Sweden, Afrobeat Cult and Meno Black, and many DJs in Europe like DJ 2Mile, DJ Key, DJ LV and of course DJ Budetee that owns Afro Hour and he plays our songs on the radio, and Emanuel Okeke, with the entertainment name of E–Cash Events, and many others. And also, make sure to work with people who appreciate the work you do for them. A good example there is DM Records. Timaya was so happy with his European Tour that he showed some real good appreciation, and even up to date.