"I didn’t pay them, except few. The payment was minimal, not much, just to help the collaboration. Let me quickly react to the rift between Wizkid and Miss Saeon. I think, personally, Wizkid did nothing wrong because it’s business. You approached him for business and he delivered. Business is business. In my own opinion, the way Miss Saeon went about it is wrong. You don’t talk about business deals in public. That’s how I feel. Personally, I don’t chargefor collabo. Wizkid didn’t charge me; even when he came to record with one of my artistes here, he didn’t even drink water, not to talk of charging. However, if you meet my management and approach us with a business deal, we won’t turn it down." Why did it took him five to six years to release an album... "It’s not up to six years. It was four years. I still remember, November 2010 and I released my new album, Chairman, November 2014. "Different things that came together but unconnected. I got the post of VP of Chocolate City. The next day, Brother Jesse quit. While we were yet to solve that problem, about a month later, Brymo also left. Chocolate City crisis affected a lot of people, and as the VP of the label, my attention went to other things. Other things like? "Building the team. It affected a lot of people. We have to figure out what was going on, solve things and move on, because it wasn’t easy, two artistes left us. It was difficult for us as a label, but we were able to manage it. That affected my music. "Also, that same year, one of my many blessings
came up. I got endorsements for different products. I was travellings for shows, touring different cities. All these were the reasons MI’s album was delayed till now. Asked if sacrificed his music for label in the face of crises? "I don’t want to see it like that because everybody sacrificed. When I was coming up, Jesse and Ice-Prince also sacrificed before Jesse left. It was a period of sacrifice for me to sit back. Although I didn’t expect it to be so long as it was eventually. On Jesse Jagz and Brymo exit from Chocolate City. "These are two different scenarios, but it’s like a biblical saying, “Hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesse had a vision for something called Jagz Nation, which is the opposite of Chocolate City brand. Chocolate City brand is a pop brand but Jagz Nation is spiritual brand (reggae). He couldn’t do both, even when he tried to. So, it’s a calling and he needed to leave at that time, nobody could prevent that. Today, I tell you, we’re cool. He gets support from Chocolate City. He was at my album listening party, and the next day, I read that MI and Jesse Jagz re-united. It was very funny because how would brothers re-unite? We’ve been brothers; friends. Asked about their relationship business wise? "Even business wise, we’re cool. We still work together. There is no enemity whatsoever. He just wanted to do his own thing. As for Brymo, however, there was a rift, because when he left, he was unhappy with Chocolate City. Unfortunately, it happened. We wish him well in his career. Reacting to criticisms he featured 26 artistes on his new album - 'Chairman' to revamp his career... "I think, the criticism started before people started listening to the album. When I read their comments, it made me laugh. Obviously not everybody will like it, that’s why I sang in one of the tracks, Middle .Not everybody will like what you’re doing. Even Jesus Christ was dissed by the Pharisees. I’m not worried about that. My worry now is, did they have problems with many features? When you listen to my album, every collabo was strategic. The kind of reaction I want to hear now is, “Too many feature is good or bad for the album.” Obviously, when you listen to it, everything was properly put. Every collabo was strategic. Shekpe is with MI and Reminisce; Bullion Van, na so e suppose be with Phyno, Runtown and StormRex; Human Being with 2Face and Sound Sultan, and others. I didn’t make the album selfishly for me or for anybody else. There are other songs I could have put on the album, but I just wanted the best. I wanted to tell a story, I am happy that I said it in the best way. I can play you the original version of Enemy by MI without Patoranking, and you would love it. But Patoranking would give the listeners the feel I want. That’s why I called him. I could have been selfish and do it on my own, but it was the collaborative spirit that brings out the best. I don’t see collaboration as something we should criticise as an industry. I didn’t leave the album for other people. Asked why MI isn't married? "MI doesn’t have a love life, not to talk of getting married. Most time people interview MI and MI has no relationship. However, Jude is very private, he’s not a public figure, and I am sure you’re not interested whether he gets married or not, because he’s not MI. When told that the question was meant for Jude... "Unfortunately, Jude is not here (smiles). You’re interviewing MI and MI is not going to get married. But I am sure Jude will soon get married, people should just watch out for the time. On how he deals female attention... "Let me first say this, Nigerian girls are more decent. I tell you why? Fans in other countries go out of their ways for celebrities to sleep with them. But our girls are very decent. However, what I try to do in most cases is to stay in my hotel room anytime I go to event. That means, if you don’t want to, nobody would force you. I show my female fans a lot of respect. The love I have for them is not sexual. It is an appreciative love. The contact can now become sexual the more you communicate. The best thing is when they show you love, show them love; when they bless you, you bless them; when they greet you, you greet them; and you partways. I think that’s the best way."
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