How Koga Entertainment Changed Our Lives — Dris, E2M, Skinnie Twid

DRIS, EM2 and Skinnie Twid are three young and gifted artistes from the stable of Koga Entertainment, who have since been unveiled to the Nigerian music community and beyond. In a chat with the artistes, they bared their minds on their musical dreams, how much Koga has changed their lives and other critical issues within and beyond the music industry.

Dris
As the son of a soldier, it would be easy to believe Dris was drilled and groom under the fierce gaze of his military father, but the reverse proved to be the case. “My father made us feel like stars. It was strange because he was a soldier but he never touched us and ensured we were protected from overbearing and violent people and things,” he said.

For the fast rising star, piracy remains a very big problem of Nigerian music industry, but it can get better, adding that endorsements have also come to expand the business side of music and that is beautiful.

On his romance with Koga Entertainment, the rapper traced his first steps back to the audition known as ‘Koga Open House’ where he was one of the three winners. “To me, Koga Entertainment is the right platform for me to show the world what I’ve got. The moment I arrived at the venue of the audition, I know I was at the right place to fulfill my dreams.

“Koga has put me on top sites and I have recorded songs with A-list artistes. I have recorded songs with Puffy T, DJ Klem and plans are on course to work with Don Jazzy,” he added.

Born Idris Muhammad from Niger state, the self-acclaimed ‘first Fulani rapper’ is also a graduate of mass communication from the University of Jos. The rapper is scheduled to release his singles which his fans have long awaited.

Four months after emerging first runner up of Koga’s Open House competition, he released his first body of works titled Come Back To Me and Correct.

E2M
Although he is not the outspoken type, but don’t get it twisted because E2M holds a tune to engrave his musical imprint in the hearts of millions of Nigerian music buffs.

Born Osesa Emmanuel Oluwafemi, the Edo born act is a product of the last Koga Entertainment sign on. Reminiscing about his days of hustling, E2M said, “I was that guy on the street hustling… I used to work in a bar; a club kind of bar. I worked there as a bar man. I was paid N18,000 and that was three years ago.”

A multi-talented act, the singer also beat the drums of controversy when he noted that some Nigeria artistes have failed to evolve and have ended up being relegated to the background.

“Things have really changed and a lot of those artistes whose rankings have dropped just couldn’t cope. Things have changed. This is the jet age. People like Daddy Showkey could not evolve. You just have to upgrade. You know there is always a difference between a J.S.S 3 student and an S.S.S 3 student,” he said.

He noted that his entry into Koga Entertainment was ordained in a way as he did not participate in the reality show. It was someone who knew someone who knew someone who linked me with Koga.

“I was always going there and would have participated in the reality show but I was very busy at work and was eventually signed as an artiste in 2013. Koga to me is like a family and it is the future. It is my dream. Koga has done a lot for young artistes. It is an open platform for young talents and I know this because I have been a beneficiary,” he added.

Skinnie Twid
Born Oluwatobiloba Onabanjo, but known by the moniker, Skinnie Twid; he is a fusion of weird personality and creative complexities. Gifted with the ability to overcome healthy rivalry, he believes his emergence from hundreds of contestants at the Koga Open House contest, was not accidental.

Widely whispered to be gay, he has since denounced and debunked the misconception, adding that he doesn’t swing that way. “I’m a guy and you can see the guy in me… My role models are Wiz Khalifa, Lil Wayne, Tyga and Young Buck.”

On his romance with Koga Entertainment, he said, “I was informed about the audition and I attended. It was tough but eventually, I emerged one of the top three who picked. Koga has made a lot of things happen and there’s so much more planned that’s still in the pipeline. Koga is a platform that makes dreams come true.”

Skinnie Twid believes the industry is very competitive and everybody wants to get to the top. “Envy glides around like a kite and sometimes, it goes to the extreme. However, the music side of business is very interesting and I think it is really important not to mix business with pleasure,” he added.

He looks forward to working with Wizkid, Shina Peters, Pasuma and Davido.