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‘I don’t do drugs, my songs get me high on stage’ – Cynthia Morgan

Nigeria’s dance hall queen, Cynthia Morgan has been in sensational form of recent. The uber talented singer has kept the hits flowing from Don’t break my heart, Lead me on, I’m Taken, to her latest release, German Juice.

ENCOMIUM Weekly had an interview with the Benin, Edo born artiste on her music, controversies and more.

 

You signed onto Northside Inc in 2013, how would you describe your working experience with the Okoye brothers?

I’d say it has been fantastic. It’s been a process of learning from the biggest of the biggest. It’s been a great experience for me. It’s a family setting so it’s with whole love and homely environment.

Have you ever felt intimidated by Psquare’s pedigree?

Not at all. They are actually very humble people. They carry me along, respect my talent and my craft. So, there has never been a time I’ve been intimidated.

Most female artistes like calling themselves ‘first lady’ of their labels but you don’t seem to fancy the tag. Why is that?

I just feel you don’t have to flaunt it. If you have it, chill, let people do the talking for you. If you are really a first lady, let your works speak for you. I don’t believe so much in the first lady hype.

You said in a recent interview that you cannot get romantically involved with any of the Okoyes, who then are you dating?

I am not dating anyone at this moment. I do not want to talk about my personal life.

So, I can say you’re single and searching?

Yes you can, that’s fine.

Do you prefer to be called a rapper or a dancehall artiste since you do both quite well?

I am a dancehall artiste and I rap too. So, people call me both but I do everything. I am mainly a dancehall artiste though.

What is the highest point of your career thus far?

I would say the highest point of my career is right now, this period, but I am just starting. I’m yet to get to that very height because I’m not yet the crossover artiste I dream of becoming. My dream is to become the biggest exporting African artiste and I’m not yet there. So, I have not got to the highest point of my career but I’m on the path.

What are your plans for 2015?

There are a whole lot. Back to back singles, I will drop my album this year, back to back collaborations and all.

Can you let us in on some of the artistes you’re collaborating with?

I’m going to be working…(Cuts) I don’t want to say anything right now but definitely I will surprise you guys.

Your stage performances are usually highly energetic. Do you take any stimulant before going on stage?

No way. I get high on my songs and that’s the only thing that keeps me going. I do not need to take anything to be energetic on stage. I’m an artiste, so whatever I put into my work when I’m recording I put even more when I’m on stage so there is no drug involved. I’m naturally an energetic person.

Did you really copy Queen Ure’s song, Popori?

She said she owns the word Popori and before that incident I had never heard about anybody called Queen Ure. I didn’t know who she was and I didn’t know she had a song called Popori. I don’t know how possible it is for anybody to own a word.

I’m from Benin City, Edo state and I’ve known that slang even when I was growing up. I decided to use it in my music and somebody came up saying she owns the word. She said she copyrighted it, she sent a case order, we actually read through it and it was all joke because she said her song was big internationally so I took the title of the song (laughs).

We didn’t even know the song, nobody knows her. It was until she had the whole controversy with me that people knew that somebody like this actually exists. It was funny and I didn’t go to court with her. My song was never banned and the two spellings are actually different.

They are two words with different spellings even if they are same pronunciation. I don’t even know what her own Popori means. What I know is the slang I took from the streets. Imagine someone saying she owns the word ‘love’.

What does your own Popori mean?

For me, Popori means Shakara.

So, what is your favourite car?

That would be a G-Wagon.

Do you own one now?

Not yet, we’re working towards it.

What’s your holiday destination?

Dubai and Paris.

– DANIEL FAYEMI

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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