To everybody is given a gift, it takes wisdom and time to discover one’s gift and utilize it for mankind. When Austin Ahmedu discovered his gifts of song writing and singing he decided to change his name to Black Face. A then member of the trio, Plantashun Boiz, he entered into the Nigerian musical scene when royalties were paid.
Now, Black Face talks of life before and after the Plantashun Boiz era.
How has life been after the Plantashun Boiz?
Life has been good. Passionately, music, life has been good. Music has been good. Everything is just been working perfectly well.
Are you still a single artiste or, with the Trybunal?
I am a Trybunal member. The Trybunal members are all individual singers and performers. So, that is just a crew that I just pushed up for people to be aware that such artistes are there. They are my ‘parseys’. They are my blood. They are my crew. It is not like a group, so you should not expect me to be with the Trybunal all the time.
How do you rate the Nigerian Music industry today compared to when you started years ago?
Years ago, before we came with our own type of music there were a lot of other artistes doing some songs and recording properly. You could have some foreign companies like Sony music, BMG, and the rest of them. They were all here, and they were doing some distributions, signing up some artistes and all that. But these days, you know, those things are not there anymore, all those times they used to record properly.
On proper recording, you can have some music combined. Right now, a lot of new artistes are just recording on some low standards of recording, and they spend a whole lot of money doing the video and they spend very little money doing the audio. They should be spending more money to do the audio than spending more money doing the video; because it is the audio people are really gonna play. So, when I compare the industry now and I check it before, I find out that before, they were real original creations.
And they were proper recordings, proper distributions, and proper managerial stuffs around the industry. Royalties were paid those days. No royalty is been paid now. Right now, if you want to go on TV, I heard there is a TV station that said, like if I want to come on TV, I need to pay them money to come on TV. I pay you to put me on TV and you get all the adverts, you make all the money and you don’t pay me anything. And I spend all my money to do the videos, you play the videos and you don’t pay me anything and I still have to pay you to come on TV. So, what is going on? So, that means the industry is nose-diving. You understand what I am saying?
When do we expect to hear another album from Black Face?
Yeah, you know, my last album ‘Me, Musiq and I‘, I like to thank all my fans for having my album. They have been very supportive. Right now, I have finished an album called ‘Dance Hall Business’. And I just finished a rap album called ‘Switch’. So, I am going to drop two albums. I am working round the clock.
So, when do we expect to hear from the Plantashun Boiz as a group again?
Plantashun Boiz as a group? I don’t really know. Right now, I am just about get my money, do my thing. You know, try to work on my record label, push some of my ‘niggers’ out, put their albums out. So, the Plantashun Boiz, they are all doing their individual thing. Faze has his record company. I think he should have some people he should be trying to push out. And Tuface should have some people he should be trying to push out. I got mine, I am trying to push them out. So, I don’t think I have time for Plantashun Boiz right now. I just want to do my music.
Alright. So, what advice do you have for people living with HIV/AIDS?
Yeah, people living with HIV/AIDS, I just got to say that it is the virus. There is no difference, very soon the cure, the vaccine and all the stuff will come. Anybody that has it will be free and get back on their feet, and be well again. And it is no difference; you can see the swine flu is everywhere. Let’s pray it does not come to Africa, because if it comes to Africa, it might be more deadly than AIDS. AIDS, some one takes some time to live, but with the swine flu you find it difficult to live up to ninety two (92) hours. So, I just think there is a bright future with people living with HIV/AIDS. There is nothing wrong with them, we are all living together. We are all in one accord. I reach out to them, they are my people. Just stay away from unprotected sex, and stay away from living your life radically, that could get you some virus.
You are a writer. I know you used to write songs for the Plantashun Boiz. Do you write for other artistes as well?
I used to write for some other artistes, but right now I have stopped doing freelance writing. I don’t do freelance writing anymore. I don’t just write for anybody, if I am going to write for you, I got to be involved in the production. I got to be involved in the distribution. I got to be involved in everything about what I write for anybody right now.
So, where do we see Black Face five (5) years from now?
Black Face, five years from now, that means I should be all over the world. A lot of money we will be making. Right now, I am signing to Mother Rhythm Records. Mother Rhythm Records is in the USA. I am good. I am very good.
Black Face, thank you for this time out.
You are welcome. Anytime.
