Frustration Led Me To Do Street Music - Terry G Popular hyper musician, Terry G has revealed how frustration made him to switch from so called ‘good music’ to lewd ones.

The singer who is known for his ecstatic
stage performance and energetic choice of
songs made some of his life challenges
and experiences known in a recent
interview with Leadership newspaper.
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No doubts, Terry G’s success story is one
that leaves many in awe. As some say, he
makes music out of ‘nonsense’. In the
interview, the talented instrumentalist and
producer admits,he was forced to sing
akpako music due to frustration.
Read excerpts from the interview below:
What has Terry G been up to?
I have been working. Recently, I opened a
factory where water is packaged for sale.
We started last month and it has been
good. We have some trucks now and we
are planning to add more before the year
ends. As for the music part, I’m dropping
a video soon as it is characteristic of
Terry G; I always drop 3 videos a year. We
also just shot a video for one of my
artistes.
Does the water-packaging business come
before your music?
Not really. But music won’t put food on
the table for me forever. Man must look
for means of making money and meeting
needs. As they say, Omi o loota (Water
has no enemy); so we are making clean
water available to the people of Lagos. I
have a good management doing all this
for me. We have a staff strength of more
than 20 and will get more people.
Again, on the music side, I’m currently
shooting the video of one of my songs,
Gbagbe Osi.
You travel a lot, so who manages the day
to day running of your company?
I have a good management team and my
baby mama and fiancée manages this
company for me. Her name is Mimi
Omoregbe. I’m at rest that no one will
steal my money because she is sound and
good in business. Mimi, the mother of my
son, is based in London and comes here
often.
Your music is now a success story, how
did you do it?
My brother if I tell you say I know how, na
lie I dey lie (laughs). I have been studying
the industry and I have learnt to give the
people what they want. I started with
Rhythm and Blues and went to shoot my
video in South Africa. The buzz I got from
the song was not satisfactory, so I became
frustrated and maybe that frustration led
me to do the street music I’m doing now-
the Apako song.
Apako has given you a name and identity
on the Nigerian music scene, what
inspired it?
Apako is a slang in Benin which means
‘scope’. The song, Make I Nak You Apako
is about a guy toasting a babe and
scoping her. It means “let me scope you”
or “let me yarn you that thing”. It is a
slang we use in Benin and in AJ. I had to
study the terrain and come out with such
a song. If dem no accept my R&B, dem go
accept my street music, which bonds with
the people.
Youths are now eager to go into music
because of the glamour…
(Cuts in) We are talking millions here.
Music is now paying off, unlike decades
ago.
…But most of the songs Nigerians gyrate
to have lewd lyrics, what’s your take?
You see, today’s music is evil. We call it
commercial music. This is the music that
brings the millions. People are still doing
good music here but there is no buzz. It is
the commercial music which some people
term ‘bad’ music that is getting us the
millions.
It is all about the business of music and
the glam that accompanies it. I said
before that I was doing good music before,
but the buzz was not there. So, I
researched what the need is and
experimented with songs like Make I Nack
You Apako and others. It is not easy doing
music; recording a song is a piece of
creativity and you just do it from your
heart and await the feedback from
listeners.
How did music come to you?
I learnt music in Church. I am the first
child and was very good at playing drums.
My parents are pastors at Redeemed
Christian Church of God, Peace Assembly
Parish. Music started from church for me
and now I have taken it to the street and
made a name for myself. I did back-up for
FAZE of Plantashun Boyz. I thank God;
I’m here and my gift brought me success.
How can a “Church boy” and the son of
pastors do your kind of music?
Music is business-don’t forget that. I was
in the choir; though I was stubborn
growing up. However, looking back, the
Church was not ready for me. I’m not sure
I would have lasted if I had ventured into
Gospel music. It is a matter of choice. I
still pray and I’m a Christian.
It seems a lot of successful secular
artistes got their start from Church, your
thoughts?
It is a thing of choice. The music from the
Church is mainstream and strictly Gospel;
and the Church maybe doesn’t understand
our language as young, creative people in
search of success. I honour my parents
because they gave me the foundation.
So what does the future hold for Terry G?
Only God knows that. Na Him know our
tomorrow. I could become a pastor
tomorrow. In fact, I want God to call me
like Daddy, so that I’ll stop this drinking
and smoking and also get money because
pastors are rich now. Make God call me, I
go leave all this (laughs).
What is your take on the music industry?
It is getting better. I have been here
professionally for just six years, but I have
been doing music all my life. I see
Nigerian musicians making more money,
with brands falling over themselves to get
them to sign with them.
Any plans for marriage?
I will get married when the time is ripe.
I’m enjoying my love life now and things
are taking shape.
Any recent embarrassing moment?
Hmmm, well this one na Baba D-One gig,
e take happen. I was on stage and was
already performing. Behold light went off
for about 5 minutes and I couldn’t
continue. But my creative self came out
and I started a drama; doing an aladura
kind of singing- clapping my hands and
singing… The crowd became ecstatic and
they sang along until power was restored.
It would be recalled that just recently, the
Benue state Ginger master, who is also a
father spilled the beans on rubbin’ minds
revealing he is not only into drugs but that
he was introduced to drugs by a popular
actress.