The popular hip-hop artiste, Oyindamola Johnson-Hunga popularly known
as Dammy Krane revealed his stand on his relationship with Yvonne Nelson.
In this interview, he made known
to his fans all about him. How he started, how he came across the name Dammy
Krane, his family background, what he love doing among others. Seatback and
read the questions and his best answers to them.
When did you discover your
talent in music?
I started singing when I was
six, joined the toddlers’ choir in church when I was only eight. I was
doing back up songs and dancing for other artistes at the age of 11.
Professionally, I started music when I got signed on to Tuface’s label, Hypertek.
How supportive were your
parents?
They were not supportive;
besides, I had not seen my mum for 10 years. She lives in the United States of
America where she is an event manager and manager to some Fuji artistes. I am
from a polygamous family, the only child of my mum but I was brought up
by my grandmother.
Did you lobby Tuface to
sign you on his label?
No, I did not. About two years
ago, there was a party at a hotel in Victoria Island where a number of artistes
were invited. One of my friends Iyad, a white guy was also invited so he took
me along. Iyad later invited me over to a corner where he sat with
Tuface. Tuface mentioned that he had listened to some of the
collabos I did with other artistes and also watched one of my performances. He then
asked if I was signed on to any label. Of course I was not and Tuface signed me
unto Hypertek.
You were doing your own
thing before Hypertek…
Of course I was. When I
was in Redeemers University, I was a local champion there. I used to do a lot
of free styling and collabos. I had a song ‘Uni Girls’ that was popular in a
lot of universities. It was a Fuji pop song. The buzz created by the music got
me a job as the face of Dynamix magazine.
With the kind of music you
do, are you not scared of incurring the wrath of the authorities of your
university?
They don’t support entertainment
and that was why I left. I had to leave so that I won’t be rusticated.
Everybody in school loved me and I was in my first year studying microbiology.
I even ran away from home, though I am back. I was living and working in
different studios and was what you would classify as a studio rat. Leaving
school was a risk I had to take and I hope to go back someday to study business
management this time around.
You must have been
influenced by bad friends…
I was 17 then and now I am 19. I
don’t think I have ever had bad friends and that is why I don’t have tattoos or
piercings. I don’t even think I will be getting any in the future because of
the kind of discipline I had growing up. If you remember the kind of home you
are from, you won’t want to engage in certain things. I don’t drink or smoke
either. I am naturally hyperactive .
Your genre of music is
quite different…
I call it 21st century music and
it’s a fusion of Fuji, hip hop and R&B. Some people call it concoction
music but I don’t mind.
Being a Hypertek artiste
must have given you some kind of leverage…
Yes, it has changed things
because Tuface is a legend and that is how people see him. For him to have
chosen me shows that there is something I have that others don’t. Some people
think that I am riding on his back to fame but it is not so and that is why you
don’t see me and Tuface together. He leaves me to do my own thing. He even
tells me that without Hypertek, I would still have made it. That statement
makes me want to do things more on my own. He once told me that he signed me on
because he saw himself in me. That is very encouraging.
How did you come about the
name Dammy Krane?
My real name is Oyindamola
Johnson-Hunga. My mum is from Lagos State while my dad is from Ado-Odo Ota in
Ogun state. I was with my brother one day and he asked me what I wanted to
achieve as an artiste and I said I want to uplift the industry. He just started
calling me Dammy the Caterpillar and later he changed it to Dammy Krane.
There is so much
competition. How are you coping?
I don’t believe in competition
so I don’t even think about it. I believe that once you are in the industry,
your focus should be how to make yourself relevant. My success in a short while
can only be attributed to God, my family and my fans.
Which song shot you
into the limelight?
That must be my first song, ‘My
dear.’ That song was inspired by the fact that I had been doing a lot of
collabos and people were asking for a single.
Should we be expecting an
album from you soon?
An album is dependent on the
demand I get. Right now, I am trying to create a buzz for my music so
hopefully, I am looking at towards the end of the year or sometimes thereafter.
Who are those you look up
to apart from Tuface?
I look up to the likes of Dbanj,
Psquare and KWAM1.
What don’t you like about
being in the limelight?
Being in the limelight is a
challenge in itself and as an artiste have to be careful about how you handle
thing you because there are so many uncertainties. Personally, I have resolved
that when life throws me a lemon, I catch it and make lemonade out of it.
Don’t you consider your
age a challenge?
I don’t think I am that young.
Judging by what obtains in western countries, I am even too old. In this
industry, the younger you are, the better. You also need to be intelligent to
make it in this industry.
How do you handle female
fans?
I grew up with women; my
managers are women, so, I am always with women.
You have a unique way of
dressing. Is that a marketing strategy?
That is just me. I don’t think
it’s a deliberate act. I dress to look good and make my fans happy.
If you were not doing
music, what do you think you would have been doing?
Maybe I would have been an
actor. I really can’t tell because I have never given life outside music a
thought.
Does that explain your
relationship with Yvonne Nelson?
That was just a rumour from
mischief makers. Yes, she is my friend but we have never been lovers. We met on
the set of a movie and we took a picture together. People saw the picture and
decided to draw their conclusions from that. I was surprised but not happy. I
was on tour when the story broke and I was slightly distracted.
Your single ‘Condom Sir’
generated some controversy…
A lot of people think the song
is lewd but it is a safe sex campaign. I am only preaching safe sex.
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