How 'Limpopo Master' KCEE's Life Changed
Pop singer, KCEE 'Mr Limpopo' is finally enjoying super stardom and wealth all off one monster hit song titled ‘Limpopo’.
Kingsley
Okonkwo started like every other upcoming act in Nigeria – the hard
way. In the early 2000s, he met with former partner Presh (Precious
John) in a church choir.
They
met up with a third member, named the group KC Presh and released their
first single ‘Ose baba’, shot a video for it, receiving mild success.
Partying
ways with the third member in 2002, the duo entered the first ever
edition of Nigerian Breweries STAR QUEST talent show and won, beating
the likes of Asa, Psquare, Klint da Drunk, Mr Raw (formerly known as
Nigga Raw). As part of the spoils, KC Presh signed a deal with Kennis
Music (the biggest record label in Nigeria at the time) and made a big
debut.
During
their time at Kennis, KC Presh never attained super status, it always
seemed like they were one hit away. They soon parted ways with the label
and set up shop on their own with KP Records.
Their
first installment was the OJB assisted ‘Segemenge’ off the album ‘Sio
Nkpo’ which bagged them a Channel O nomination and more fame. But while
the likes of D’banj and the Mo’Hits were flying high with chart topping
singles and back-to-back hits, KC Presh struggled with their careers.
They
tried once again with KCEE’s wealthy brother intervening – they
restructured, re-launched the label as ‘Blingz Record’, affiliated with
Grafton Records in the South and released a new album ‘No Time’ with the
lead single ‘Shokori bobo’. All this however did not result in mega
success, in fact the duo’s careers’ imploded.
How KCEE got his groove back
After
several attempts to stage a comeback, the duo eventually split on good
terms but they continued to stay in the same house for months. That
separation seemed to be the break for KCEE who immediately put in work
releasing his debut single ‘Now I know’.
He
took it from there with bigger hits ‘Okpekete’ (with Davido), ‘Give it
to me’ (feat Flavour) all under his new label Five Star Music. The signs
were there but it was the huge hit ‘Limpopo’ that shattered all
barriers and planted him as a bona fide hit-maker and music star.
Written
by R&B singer Harrysong and produced by Del B, the song has turned a
once undesired KCEE into a fans’ favourite, darling of promoters. That
single hit has ushered him into the A list, with an MTN endorsement deal
as icing.
The
story here is not KCEE’s new cars (thanks to his bigger brother, he’s
always lived a very posh lifestyle) but his struggle and eventual
breakthrough.
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