This singer, rapper, producer, husband, father and now actor lets us into his secret to balance and how he keeps a good image in spite of his very public occupations. Lolade SOWOOLU caught up with Tha Don on set of ‘Jenifa 3’ in Lagos where he shares the father side of him.

It’d be nice to see you on set in action
(cuts in) I’m an actor o; a bad one (laughs)

Is this your first time on a movie set?

Yes my first movie, but I’ve done some form of acting in my University days. I did a bit of stage acting before I settled to music.I was suppose to be a part of drama group that had Denrele, Kayode Peters, Yaw, Biola Alogba, Princess and so many others .But I decided to focus more on music.

And how does it feel trying out a lane different from music?

It’s just me exploring another side of me. This might be a one off who knows. But then, I never say ‘never’

Why did you decide to be a part of this?

They called me up and explained the character. They said they needed some one who is wholesome, with a good image; a brand that can be associated with by both the young and old. Someone that’s scandal free and is a good model. We talked about the story -line too.

Is it a cameo appearance you’‘re making?

I don’t think I will call my role a cameo ‘cos I have over seven scenes to play.

Will you be speaking English or Yoruba in the movie?

Both. I’m speaking a bit of English then blend in Yoruba.

Do you think featuring in this movie will do any thing for your career as a musician?

It’s good publicity. It will help people see and appreciate me in a different perspective ’cos I feel like most people find it hard to connect with the Eldee behind the music even though they appreciate my music.

What’s your relationship with Funke Akindele?

I’ve only met Jenifa (Funke Akindele) once and very casually. It was at Wande coal’s launch . So getting this role isn’t based on an existing relationship. I’ve had a bunch of offers to act in time past but I took on this (movie) because it has a message. More so, it’s done by a production team I’m familiar with.

DJ Tee is Director of photography so I’m comfortable to a certain level that the quality of the final output will be good. If I’d gone on set and everything was looking shabby , I probably would have walked out from day one.

I imagine you’re getting paid for this appearance.

Well, let me just say they ‘re paying me well. But it’s never about the money. The value of the money you’re being paid versus the work is not always the same. I’m just excited to be a part of this. Whether or not I was getting paid, it’s something I’d still have loved to do .

How have you managed to stay scandal free in spite of being in the lime light?

It’s because I’m not a bad person.

Is it a lot of work keeping up the image?

I think the fact that I’m always working keeps me away from all the extra circular stuff that creates the random stories .Let me say it’s also the grace of God ’cos some one just might come up with a negative story about me tomorrow .

It would be untrue but then a lot of people may not know but then so many people will never believe it .So I guess I’m just lucky .There are some people who are being wrongly criticized right now that I know are generally good people but ‘cos they get into some kind of situation, negative stories emanate about them. I’m just my self .

I don’t try to act .I’m just a lucky man .I try to be friendly with everyone too because sometimes it starts with people not liking your attitude and things like that. I treat every one the same way ,from CEO to gate man. It’s the grace of God.

Your rap talent seems to be taking back seat these days. Is it deliberate that you sing more nowadays?
It’s not so .I was in a group with two guys who are rappers predominantly so people assumed I was one too.

But when the rap is silent and there’s singing on our songs in those days that was me. I was the singer in Trybesmen. That’s why I tell people ,don’t call me a rapper. I’m a musician. I’m not confined to just rapping .

I can sing ,write and produce. A lot of my songs are written technically as rap. I just put the melody into it and that’s what gives the different sound from others’ stuff .

I’ve figured out ways to be unique. I’m the same person that sang ,”Weda like am… ‘E get plenty plenty things way no suppose to happen for this life… ‘Today na today u no go escape… It’s just that the most popular songs from my recordings are usually the ones I’m not rapping at all.

Your production talent is becoming really prominent. We saw you flip around Goldie ‘s career with the hit ‘You know it’ and also Yemi Alade. How do you go about it ?

It’s just about understanding the technicalities of making popular music .Now I have a bunch of songs written for which I ‘m shopping artistes. For Goldie ‘s song. she came up with the ‘mo le gbo ko lowo e’ idea and I wrote the lyrics for it and created the beat. I showed it to her, she liked it, and she recorded it. Same with Yemi.

I’ve done some other songs for Yemi that are not out yet .I’m a song writer in the whole sense of it.
What are you observations of the music industry in your two years of returning to Nigeria?

One thing that happened in 2010 is recession. 2009 was much better for music artistes. The music kept coming but they weren’t earning as much as they did last year (2009). Some of the corporate companies were cutting their budget.

Did it force artistes to improve on quality?

Now it’s like a conference hall and every body is singing at the same time. There are better artistes now and only the really good ones get noticed. This is a good thing. That is how the industry gets cleaned up and that’s how quality grows. Those who don’t have the opportunities now will look at those having opportunities and emulate them.

When there’s no competition, people get complacent. Right now everyone has to sit up, else someone else takes your spot. That way you don’t play around in the studio. If you put out a weak single, you go back to the studio and work harder. I’m happy we’re at this point where nobody’s indispensable.

Let’s talk about eLDee as a father.

Well, I like to think of myself as a good daddy. My wife sent me a message this morning saying I’m a very good daddy even though I’ve not been home in 24 hours. I spend a lot of time with my daughter. The only word that she says fluently is ‘daddy’. Once I walk into the house, she doesn’t say anything else but, ‘daddy. daddy. daddy’

And how does that make you feel?

It feels good. It’s the most beautiful thing to watch a child grow. Especially because I haven’t really been around kids except for my sisters. But then I was really young. It’s amazing to watch a child grow from ta ta ta and crying to pointing at stuffs, figuring out how the mirror works and more technical stuffs including opening the complicated sterilizer. And she’s just one year old. You see the greatness of God in just that little being.

Same thing with her gate. She knows just where to press and pull to get it opened. Only that she’s not strong enough to press hard. I can’t have a dull child by the way. I secretly hope she’ll be like me (laughs)

How much time do you get to spend with her?

Plenty. My studio is in my house which is a good thing. As much as possible, I am at home except for when I’m on set shooting or performing.

Have you always been like that or is this part of the sacrifices you make for being a father?

I’ve always been a home buddy. I don’t like to be out there. Home is my natural habitat. Not even just being in the house. It’s staying in bed, watching Tv, with my wife somewhere around the house and my daughter climbing on my head- that’s heaven for me. I don’t feel any pressure to be home, I just want to be there.

If God shows up now and asks you for a wish, what would it be?

Waow! I wish for Nigeria to be a better country so my daughter can live here. I don’t want to have to resort to sending her away from her mother land because I’m trying to protect her. But I will if I have to. Already I’m thinking about when she begins schooling.

That among other things get me thinking about Nigeria’s plight and how we need to create sustainable development