Exclusive Interview: "Music is Extremely Personal to me " - Kid Konnect

US returnee, Kid konnect is ready to take over! After spending about 10 years in the states studying and perfecting his craft, the prolific music producer is back in grand style to make a positive impact. In this Exclusive interview conducted at his recently launched Ultra modern “Rade Gold” Studio, he ushers us into his outlandish, witty and inane world; revealing how he intends to stay relevant. Enjoy….

1.      Who Is KidKonnect?
KidKonnect is a Yoruba boy. Real name is Kunle Oluwadiya, proud Ekiti man, born and raised in Lagos. And I just happen to be a music  producer.

2.      Why the name KidKonnect?
I had a bunch of horrible names before but they didn’t sound good. Kidkonnect just popped out of nowhere. That’s really it.

3.      Family Background?
I’m the only boy in the midst of three sisters. Then of course, I’ve got my dad and mum.

4.      Educational Background?
I have a Bachelors degree in Management and Information Technology obtained from Capitol College US in 2008. Then I have a Masters degree in Entertainment Business obtained from Full Sail University in 2010.

5.      You have a first degree in Management and Information Technology and a Masters in Entertainment Business? So how did you convince your parents you wanted to be a full time Music Producer?
There wasn’t so much convincing; it was showing them that I could do it. So when I started making a small living out of it, they were convinced.

6.      Before you became a producer, what was your childhood Ambition?
While growing up, I really didn’t want to be anything else; I wanted to be a rapper.

7.      So what led you to Music production?
When I was in school in the US, my roommate was making beats. So at the time I couldn’t find anyone who
would make beats for me, then he taught me the basics .Later, I started doing it myself and recording on the beats but I wasn’t so good at rapping. Everyone else liked the beats so I started focusing more on production and that’s why I’m here now.

8.      What motivated your decision to move back home?
Coming back home has always been the plan for me because I thought I was going to make a bigger impact in my own country than I would in the states, but as time went on I realised more people were making more of a profile in Nigeria and getting international recognition. So that was the motivation, but I really wanted to come home.

9.      I know you’ve barely spent 6 months since you moved back, but what
significant thing have you learnt thus far?
Business is still as usual in Lagos as it was when I left, so that’s the easiest I think I’ve learnt. Things are pretty much the same. Also you make promises and you have to keep those promises to let people know you’re serious about what you do.

10.     Biggest Client(s) till date?
That depends on if it’s paying clients or clients I’ve done work for free abroad. Right now it might have to be Chiddy from the group Chiddy Bang. I made a beat for him to freestyle over in 2009 and that opened some doors for me.

11.     Kemi Adetiba once shot a video for you tagged “Ah fu Lah Gah Fu
Leh Geh” but you didn’t feature, what inspired that?
I was in the states and she was in Nigeria when it was done. Kemi Adetiba is a very good friend of mine; she just loved the beat and wanted to do something with it, so she experimented with some different energies, shot it and came up pretty well.

12.     How do you tackle boring studio sessions without offending the
recording artiste?
I’ve always worked with interesting people most of the time. I’ve tried my best to work with more creative people, so I’ve not really had too many boring sessions. If the session is boring then it means I’m not doing my job as a producer, so I just have to make the song sound better.

13.     How much influence do you have on an artiste’s Song writing?
Well…..that depends on the artiste. Some artistes are extremely strong-willed which they should be if they’re creative. For most part, I just try to make my mark known on the song besides just producing the beat.

14.     With the advent of technology, are there equipments you use when
you’re not in the studio?
Ever since I’ve been doing this I’ve never really been inside a studio up until this moment. I’ve been doing everything on my computer and that’s how I was introduced to music production. If I’m not in the studio, I always have my computer or laptop with me. The difference now is that I have a studio and pretty much all I need, but before I relied more on my other laptops. Once I have my laptop, I’m good.

15.     Of every artiste you’ve ever worked with, which are you proud of the most?
To be completely honest, I don’t really have one per se because music is extremely personal to me. It’s more like your children; you’d have one or two doing some great things and others who aren’t but you’ll still love them equally. So I don’t have one I’m super proud of, but everything I’ve touched I’m extremely proud of.

16.     And of course there’ll definitely be a particular Song you produced that has been put out, but you’re not entirely proud of.
Which would that be? Not really. My thing is this when it comes to music, if I’m working with someone who I know isn’t exactly the best rapper, I put out the beat to be sold to avoid the risk of putting out a bad song.

17.     How do you handle Criticism from fans, clients and Colleagues?
I only listen to positive criticism and feedback to help me build myself up, but if it’s negative I’m very good at ignoring such; I pay it no mind. If it’s a positive feedback from any of these three people that could enhance my work, I’ll definitely take it and use it. A lot of times if they give you something negative, it’s just because they don’t like you and has nothing to do with the music. So if you allow them get into your head and mess with you, you might never get anything done.

18.     Let’s say, 5 years from now you don’t get the desired result you
foresaw, would you quit? And why?Not really because aside just the business, music is extremely personal to me. And I know from transcript a long time ago that when it comes to business you don’t mix it with pleasure; it’s all about the passion. That’s why I’ve decided to have other ventures. I don’t really foresee myself failing in music because as far as I’m concerned, I’ve had some achievements to my name and expecting some super hits. I have some other things to keep me busy but failing in music is really not possible.

19.     So what would make you quit Music Production?
Absolutely nothing.

20.     To an extent I consider you a Hip-Hop head, so what’s your perception about the Nigerian Hip-hop Community? It needs serious work, rejuvenation, new blood and a new direction. Personally from what I’ve heard with the exception of one or two cats who are different and interesting, everybody still raps like its early 2000 or late 90’s. I don’t mind taking ideas from different countries,but I’ve also learnt that everyone tries to take these ideas and push on themselves without really redefining or adjusting it to connect with the people. It just seems like a waste of time. So I think hip-hop here needs a make-over to find a better way of connecting with the public.

21.     What’s your take on Don Jazzy sentiments about “Nigerian Rap”?
I have a problem with the first statement he made about parents not being proud of their children. I think that was a little bit messed up and cruel, but when he put out a statement, I can understand where he’s coming from. At the end of the day, what he was saying was that many rappers don’t connect with the people just like what I said earlier. You just have to make a song for people to sing along to. Rap is not for everybody; if some parents can grab rap that’s cool but  can understand his point just that it came out the wrong way.

22.     Do you in any way feel that the Nigerian Market in a way deters creativity and stereotypes artistes and music producers in general? Nigerian music doesn’t put people in the same box, its Nigerian people that put themselves in that box. For example when 2face came out, a million other 2face’s came out. Same goes for the likes of D’banj,Wande coal and Wizkid. Most people see something working and try to copy. Personally, I don’t think Nigerian music has been super defined yet because there are still so many different ideas.

23.     All time favourite producers / Influences?
J.Dilla, Dr. Dre, The Alchemist, The Neptunes and Kate Bush

24.     Favourite Nigerian Producers?
eLDee, Don Jazzy and Dj Klem.

25.     Favourite Nigerian Artistes?
I don’t really have too many but I’ll go with M.I, Beazy, Naeto C, the rock group Threadstone and a whole lot.
26.     Favourite Nigerian Album?
That will be Illegal Music 1 by M.I, even though I feel Illegal Music 2 is crazier. To me this project and Talk about it changed Hip-hop in Nigeria. We need more game changers like that. I’m not telling anyone to go copy M.I’s album format, but take ideas and make it work for you.

27.     Favourite Nigerian Song?
Nah…I can’t pick one.
28.     Artistes you intend to work with?
Funny enough since I got back, I’ve been fortunate. There are some I really want to work with but haven’t had the chance to, like Sound Sultan but I’m getting to the point of working with everyone I intend to work with. And I just realised that I’ve worked with everyone on the Nigerian BET cypher (Male) except Saucekid.

29.     What’s your greatest fear?
Waking up and going to work in a place I don’t want to be.

30.     Strengths?
I’m an a**hole

31.     Weaknesses?
My temper

32.     Any Life’s Philosophy?
“Success is the domino effect of hard work”

33.     Favourite quotes?
“Don’t take life too seriously; you’ll never get out of it alive”

34.     What inspires your great sense of humour?
Mehn….  it’s  just life. To be very honest, I take my work seriously but I don’t take myself seriously.

35.     Marital Status?
I’m Super Single

36.     Describe your Ideal Woman?
First she must have a vagina (laughs), but the answer to this question has been changing since I was a freshman in school. If she understands my work schedule as when I wake up to when I fall asleep and not a nine-to-five, then we could have a pretty conversation. That’s really all I need at this point in my life.

37.     What / who can you die for?
My family

38.     What won’t you be caught doing?
Err….drugs! Stuff like that doesn’t add value to one’s life.

39.     Right now what won’t you do for $1 million?
Probably suck a d**k. I like money, I don’t love it. People who love money are never satisfied. I won’t lie to you I’m not broke neither am I super rich, but I’m comfortable where I am. I just want to continue improving my financial status, but money would never be my main drive to the extent of doing something bad. At the end of the day, I’m the only boy in my family and a lot of attention is on me. I can’t afford to do anything that would bring my family name to disrepute.

40.     If you’re not working, how do you relax?
I have sex…

41.     Favourite Gadget?
Ah…I’m not a gadget person. Funny enough, the blackberry is like the most advanced thing I have and I like my music in my studio. I really don’t follow other stuff.

42.     Favourites Accessory?
My Phi beta sigma chain given to me by my sister

43.     Most Prized Possession?
My reproductive organ…

44.     Aside Music Production, any other aspirations?
I have a bunch of stuff I’m working on, but it’s pretty much Entertainment related. Let’s just say Entertainment Business.