Praiz, aka Mr Rich & Famous is indeed living up to the assertions in his popular hit single (Rich & Famous), as he has not only become rich and famous, but has grown tremendously with his music since after Project Fame West Africa. The X3M label RnB act recently changed his looks by adding gold dye to his beards. In this Q&A session, he did not only tell us why he changed his looks, but he also talked about his journey thus far in music, happiest day(s), personality, relationship, celebrity crush, etc.
* So tell us, how has the journey been for you since after Project Fame?
My music journey has been good, it's been amazing. It has been an inspiring journey for a lot of people out there. Years have rolled by and I keep doing what I have to do. I have been making music in spite of times when I got discouraged, I kept pushing. I mean right now, I'm an amazing artiste with multiple awards. I'm now a judge on the same show where I started from. It's just been an amazing journey for me so far.
* I'd want to think that no matter how amazing it is, you must be facing some challenges, what are they?
You mean now or when I started?
* Now...
Oh well.... to be honest, I don't think I really go through challenges as such. The challenges right now are different or I'd say they've lessened a whole lot. I'd rather just talk about how I started and the challenges I faced.
* Okay! Let's hear it
Starting up as an artiste, it was harder to get shows even though you're good at what you do. Not everyone wants to believe in your abilities. So basically, it was tough. The resources to push my materials out there wasn't available. The finances to produce and promote songs were not there. When you're starting up its never easy.
* Would you describe your story as that of 'grass to grace'?
Of course. I'll say my story is definitely a perfect example of a 'grass to grace' story. Considering where I'm coming from, it's amazing to know I'm the only African musician who has a day named after him in the United States. So I mean, that's a major moving from nothing to something.
* What's your take on marriage and family?
For me, family is everything! Family will never leave you when people leave you. Family is all you actually have. Marriage is not something people should rush into. These days, everyone wants to get married. They just want to belong to the clique of 'I have a rock on my finger' and they forget the main reason for marriage and its core values. Marriage is not for kids I must say. You could get married at a young age if you're emotionally mature and otherwise ready. That's my opinion about marriage.
* Does that mean that you're not going to be getting married anytime soon?
I never know you know! The truth is, you can't say you're going to get married in two years time. Two years will come and go, and you've not seen the person you want to get married to. I'm not the type of person to say in getting married in four years time. It's good to have goals and plans, that's good, but when it will happen, it will happen. I'm not desperate for marriage, but when it happens, it will happen.
* So is there a special someone?
(Laughs hard) Well I think I'm seeing someone!
* You think?
No no no!!! I am seeing someone!
* Tell us about your upcoming projects
I'm working on three projects. One of the projects is called... well I haven't really decided what to call it yet, but it has the hashtag Praiz for the love of RnB (#PraizForTheLoveOfRnB). This project is basically me recording seven track EP in it with upcoming artistes who want to do the kind of music I do but do not have the platform to do such music or don't believe in themselves that much. I said to myself, if I can it make via this genre of music that a lot of people never believed would make me famous, then I think there're a lot of people out there who can do even better. The thing is, I just had that one chance; that one opportunity, so I took it by the horns. So I think it's just right for me to give people the opportunity as well. I've gotten a couple of people who I found on Instagram after I put up a video asking my fans if they know someone that's good enough and deserves to be heard, to do a cover. I got over two hundred and eighty entries. My team and I went through and we selected couple of them. So that's one of my project. Another one is called the BMM project. The third one will be
out of Africa.
* What's the BMM project about?
BMM which means Baby Making Music is a song I'm hopefully going to be dropping in February. Out of Africa is my other album which I'm recording. I'll definitely be featuring African acts.
* So you're saying your fans should expect a sophomore album soonest?
Yeah, sure!
* What are your musical projections?
Well, someday, I hope to win a Grammy, you know! At the least, I want to be on the nominee list for the Grammy. That's my ultimate music goal.
As a person, my goal is to impact lives positively overtime. I want to be remembered for good even when I'm out of this world. I do not want to be forgotten. I want to live forever. I don't mean forever but I should be remembered when I'm no more.
* If it wasn't music, what would we have known Praiz for?
If it wasn't music, Praiz would be playing soccer. I used to play soccer and I'm very good at it. But you know, destiny just has its course and you'll be who you ought to be. I don't regret doing music because it's done a lot for me and my family.
* Would you pursue a career in soccer if given the opportunity?
Of course! Do you know football money? Football money is long...
* Oh! You'd be doing it for the money sake or for the passion?
Both! It goes hand in hand.
* Abuja seem to be seeing a lot of you, what's up with that?
Abuja has always been my home. From Kaduna I moved to Abuja even before Project Fame, just in case a lot of people have forgotten. I've paid my dues around here, years ago even before Project Fame. So, it's really not out of place to have me here as much.
* What do you think about the entertainment sector in Abuja?
The entertainment sector in Abuja is actually picking up compared to years back. There's been a major improvement in the entertainment life of Abuja. You now find people in their numbers coming out for parties, raves, events and the likes. It's really quite encouraging to be honest.
* This your new look (dyed beards) what inspired it?
One thing about me is I don't like to live my life according to people's opinions. I think overtime, I've done that to please people and I'm done pleasing people and now I'm being myself. I could wake up tomorrow and decide to just take off all the hair on my head and that's nobody's business. So my new look is just me choosing to look different. I'm very spontaneous.
* How would you describe your personality, asides the fame and razzmatazz?
Asides the fame, I think I'm a very simple and playful person.
* Are you shy?
Errrrm... not really. I have my moments though, but I wouldn't say I'm a shy guy. If I don't know you, I'm not quick to have a conversation with you or act very familiar with you. I try to understand your personality to know who you are before I now decide to open up to you.
* If we're to ask who your celebrity crush is, who would that be?
Hmmm......! Well, Amber Rose has always been my celebrity crush you know.
* If you were married, how many kids would you want?
I want three kids. I want to be able to give them the very best life has to offer by God's grace. If God permits two boys and a girl, I'm fine with that.
* What's your belief system and principles that have guided you in life so far?
Well, be good and good will come to you. I've always believed it always gets better regardless of things not going fine. If you look back and where you are now, you'd probably realise that it always gets better.
What do you do to unwind? To unwind, I sleep. Sometimes I go to play soccer. Other times I go to the beach on a week day, when it's less crowded. It helps me thing and relax.
* How do you handle attention from fans, especially the female ones?
I just give them the respect that they deserve and I don't abuse it.
* Do you have any moments of regrets?
No I don't have any moment of regrets to be honest. Every moment that was short of my expectation is a lesson for the future and if I don't go through that part, I'm not sure I would find a better way for the future.
Errrr... I've got a lot of happy days. But to name a few, 2008 when I brought my mum up onto the Project Fame Stage, that was an amazing day for me. My birthdays are always my happy days. The day I got recognized in the United States for the Praise Adejo Day is one of my most happiest days because it's forever. When a government that's not even where you're from recognizes you, it's major. It made me really really happy.
* What would be your word of encouragement/advice to those that wish to follow in your path?
My word of advice to anyone who wants to follow in my foot steps or even greater than my footsteps, I'd say patience is key. My journey in this industry and things that have taken me far are patience, humility and hardwork. Above all these three things, is God. With that, the sky would just
be your take off point.
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