Nigerian music icon, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, professionally known as D’Banj, has referred to himself as a “new cat” which is a local parlance for up-and-coming artiste.
The 43-year-old Koko Master said despite clocking 20 years in the music industry, he still feels like he is scratching the surface again.
D’Banj spoke during an interview with Hip TV, and bragged about being a pace setter in the industry who did the first international collaboration [with Snoop Dogg].
The superstar singer also acknowledged that the music industry has evolved over the years, and indicated interet in working with some new generation artistes like Ruger and Ayra Starr.
According to the ‘Fall In Love’ crooner, his new album, ‘Entertainer’ is a sequel to his critically acclaimed 2008 album, ‘The Entertainer’. He also spoke on the role he played in the global acceptance of Nigerian music.
D’Banj said; “I am not the first to have done an international collaboration. We were just the first to have done it the way we did it. Usually, when you want to do a collaboration with an international artiste, it seemed before ours, like they were doing you a favour.
But with the kind of grace that God gave us and the kind of team that we had, we were able to deliver one of the biggest [‘Mr Endowed’]. I think that actually gave hope and visibility to the kids [new artists] to know that they can do it.
So, I feel like a very proud father if I may say. That’s why I am a new cat again [up-and-coming artist]. Now, I want to feature not even international artistes but local artistes. I want to feature Ayra Starr, Rema, Ruger and Don Jazzy. Collaboration is the new competition.”
