He wanted to be a soccer star, but now, he’s a ‘Solidstar’

Ever imagined seeing dance hall, R&B, hip hop star, Solidstar, on stage with an Oghene group to play the Oghene drum? Well, you didn’t think that would happen. There are a lot more you do not of know about the Oluchi crooner.

 Solidstar was born as Joshua Iniyezo. A native of the town Isoko in Delta State, he is the last of four siblings who were raised by their grandmother after the separation of their parents. His birth and upbringing in the ghetto area of Lagos, Ajegunle, has helped him become the man he is today.

After his primary and secondary school education, Solidstar could not continue his education due to lack of funds. This meant he turned to music, featuring in performances all over his neighbourhood.

He hit the limelight after he was scouted by Achievas Entertainment at Ajegunle, during a performance at a bar. He got signed on to Festac-based Achievas Entertainment in 2009 for a period of three years to produce two albums.

Two weeks into the deal, he met his star role model, Tuface, and they collaborated on the song, One in a Million, which was a hit. His second album, Grace and Glory, released in late 2013, had hits such as Skibo, Omotena and Oluchi — his collaboration with highlife king, Flavour.

The very down-to-the-earth Solidstar, who now owns a record label, Badass Entertainment, spoke with TheCable on a few more things about himself and Badass.

Relocating from Ajegunle to Festac

Yes, true, I was born and brought up in Aj City. When Achievas Entertainment came, they had to move me from Aj to Festac. Right now, I’m based in Festac, but I still go to Aj to visit them there, occasionally.

Growing up with late grandmother

It was a very good experience because my grandma taught me a lot about life. Growing up with her made me calm, because Aj city is a very rough place, but it is not a bad place. We have the bad and the good guys, but the bad ones are so many that if you are not careful, you will join them. My grandmother made me stay calm.

Plans for education

I’m not really planning for that now because the industry I’m in now, once you are off for one year, just forget about it. Right now, I just want to stay focused and pursue my career.

Activity in church choir, where he started doing music

I won’t lie, I am no longer active in the choir. I have not, since my grandmother died. She was the owner of the church, and I moved to Festac. Things have not been the way they were. There was Church politics and the people were fighting over the land. I do go to Church, but I don’t partake in choir.

Instruments

I play the keyboard, but not very well. I am still learning.

Owning Badass while being signed on to Achievas

No, no damage to the relationship at all. Starting my own record label was just something I thought about, like why can’t I just open my own record label and sign up-and-coming artistes? I discussed with my bosses at Achievas Entertainment and they gave me their support, because they know I won’t be under them forever. It is cool. I’m cool with them, and they are cool with me, too.

Artistes signed on to Badass

It’s just one for now. I just want to focus on one now before thinking of bringing in more. His name is Jojo and he just dropped his single, Release me, featuring me.

Collaborations in the past, and plans for next album

I’m not planning for a next album. I don’t really know when I’m going to drop another album. I just plan to be dropping singles, shooting the videos, because albums are not where we look at making money. Albums are just a way to tell the fans that we have songs.  If people want the songs, they can go to I-Tunes and get all of them.

What made me feature a lot of artistes on my last album was that we could not just do it alone. I had Timaya, Flavour, Olamide, Eva and a whole lot of them. I just featured them in the kind of songs they like. I did Oluchi and felt it would be best to feature the king of highlife, Flavour. I did Position, which is Timaya‘s type of music and so I featured him and a whole of others.

Upcoming collaborations 

Right now, I’m thinking of doing a song with an international artiste, Future. So, we are really working on it now.

The inspiration behind Super Eagles, already endorsed as the official Super Eagles Supporters’ Club anthem for the World cup.

When the World Cup was fast coming, my CEO urged me to do a song, that it may just get endorsed. But I was not really interested at first. We went to the studio and did it. Later, the song got the endorsement of the Supporters’ Club. The CEO of the Supporters’ Club called me and said it would be made the official theme song.

Interests other than music

If I wasn’t doing music, it would have been football. I was playing football before I chose music as a career. It was a bit difficult getting a coach and a football contract, so I just jumped into music.

Letting the hair down

If I’m not on stage, if am not recording or performing, I am either in my room playing video games or playing football with friends — or maybe chilling with my friends, drinking and having fun with them.

Other skills aside music. Cooking, maybe?

No, I don’t know how to cook at all. The only thing I know how to cook is noodles. I do know how to play drums very well, because I was the leader of an Oghene group in Aj city. They used to hire us to perform at ceremonies. One day, I will just surprise my fans on stage. I will arrange like five different drums and play while on stage.

The one special woman

For now, there is no special woman in my life.