Vocal Slender was added to the line up of acts for the CokoBar Music Festival with the publicity for the event built round his presence – He was featured on BBC 2 Welcome To Lagos documentary where it was shown that he makes his living primarily as a scavenger and the proceeds are used to further his dream to become an accomplished and successful music artiste. Vocal Slender born Eric Obuh from Ajegunle, was shown working on his “Owo Yapa” during the documentary. His style is similar to that of most artistes from Ajegunle like Showkey, Baba Fryo, Daddy Fresh, African Chine, Danfo Drivers etc. Rhythmic vocals infused with party and socially conscious lyrics laid on reggae beats served up with that nice Ajegunle flavour.
Before Vocal Slender, Coko Bar had announced Terry G and Da Grin as headliners for the Music Festival to take place on the 31st of May at O2 (indigO2) Arena with Bracket, DJ Zeez and JJC supporting. Weeks later, Terry G was replaced by Wande Coal and Da Grin was involved in a fatal accident and a following the buzz around the documentary, Vocal slender was added.
Vocal Slender did not make the show in UK as he wasn’t issued a visa. The host announced Vocal Slender only to have him screened in a mini documentary where he was holding the concert poster in his hand and explaining he was still in Lagos. The show host Basketmouth then came on to give an explanation. His explanation is best summarized as another show promoter – Starmix who had a show initially billed for June 6th to feature Naeto C, 9ice and Michael Word but with Terry G now billed for the event masterminding and hindering the success of the event.
In his words “some people” offered Terry G more money than Cokobar offered and then he pulled out and Vocal Slender was also approached by the same people but he turned them down. So when Vocal Slender put in his passport for a UK visa in Abuja, The same “people” got to the passport before it arrived from the UK where every artiste sent his passport to have the event organizer to sent it in for Visas.
At the event where Wande Coal was present and the high point, Basketmouth explained that Vocal Slender’s passport was taken by “some people” believed to be Starmix as Cokobar informed him stole Vocal slender’s passport and are to be blamed for Vocal Slender’s absence at the much talked about concert after building the publicity of the event on his post-welcome to Lagos documentary buzz.
