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‘I never believed I will be where I am today’ – JACOB KINGSLEY EKPE

Jacob Kingsley Ekpe, popularly known as Fair Prince, is the award winning gospel artiste who sang Call His Name. In an exclusive interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, the artiste, who just bought a new jeep into this fleet of cars and moved into a new apartment near the former MoHit crew house at Maryland, Lagos, explained the secret of his rise and rise.

Jacob Kingsley Ekpe
Jacob Kingsley Ekpe

Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m Fair Prince by name. I’m a gospel minister. I was brought up in a mix of spoilt ones. Ministry has always been part of me. I was born into a family with dad and mom always telling me you need to wake up as early as the world itself.
I joined the choir. I’m an Anglican by birth but as I grew older, I decided to change. But the Christ in me, made me the person and man that I am today.
How did the journey start and what informed your decision to go into gospel music?
It has always been by His grace. While growing, I knew that if I was to sing for the Lord I will never do secular music, it will always be the church thing and I have been growing from strength to strength.
It gave me an edge over so many things. I said to myself I really need to follow this trend. I need to do gospel so that is why I am here.
When precisely did you start and which song brought you to limelight?
In 2011, I dropped my first album entitled, Call His name. It’s actually the song that has been pulling me through. I have three hit tracks that a whole lot of people are always jumping into. I shot the video and ever since then, it has been from glory to glory.
In 2009, I made a mistake, but officially, my first album was in 2011. We are planning a new one this year. I am working on a new album, I am Jacob.
Let us talk about Call his name, the album that shot you into limelight? What inspired the song and what made it different?
Seriously, Call his name I didn’t just come out from nowhere. When I was in Lagos, there was a time I did not have a roof over my head. I lived under the bridge in Maryland for two and a half years. That was when I recorded Call his name.
I was doing a whole lot of odd jobs like helping in building houses but I was always saving money, I was going to the studio every day. I once said to myself, I needed to call his name, that was how I wrote the song. To God be the glory, that song shot me into limelight.

With his car
With his car
With his car

When you shot that song did you ever think it will catapult you into your destiny?
I must say, no. It is just a song I wrote. I never believed I will be where I am today.
Can you tell us some of the doors Call his name has opened for you?
It has opened a whole lot of doors, it shot me into limelight. For example, I am having a show in Uganda by the end of this month all because of Call his name.
What are some of the challenges you have encountered and how were you able to overcome them?
My brother, it wasn’t easy, I must tell you. There were whole lot of challenges. There was a time I had a group of friends who were actually notorious. They were like why don’t we steal money so that we can put this album together. Someone even told me we go to babalawo to make it. That that is what most artistes do. But I kept holding on to fate, believing that someday there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. I kept on pursuing and believing in God and today it is a different story.
At that point when your friends were trying to influence you wrongly, was there a time you gave in?
Definitely, I’m human. It came when I almost drew away from my God because of the challenges but there was a show Buchi did called G-Music, gospel music reloaded. I was part of the competition, I met a whole lot of people. That is Tunde Bakare’s cousin, he was the one managing me then.
He owns a recording label I was signed up to, so I was a part of that team. We worked for two and a half years. During that period, he taught me to stay focused and Buchi too was like a very big brother to me. A big friend who always said Fair, don’t worry, everything is going to be handsome. Now, it has come to pass.

The car and the new House
The car and the new House

Who are mentors and role models in your journey?
First, God. I look up to Him a lot. Second, my dad. He has been a source of inspiration. He has a very strong character.
Among the musicians, who are those you have worked with or you like to work with?
(Pause) My forthcoming album, I am Jacob, I just finished recording a song with Righteousman. We hope to shoot the video very soon but that will be when I come back from the tour in Uganda. We look forward to working with the likes of Frank Edward, who is a very good friend and whole lot of others.
What about international stars you will like to work with?
Internationally, I would like to work with Kirk Franklin, Don Moen and a lot of others.
Tell us about your new album?
My album, I am Jacob is all about me. I want to tell the world who truly Jacob is. My real names are Jacob Kingsley Ekpe. The J-Jacob may not mean the one in the Bible but me as a person. So, I want to tell the world what I am, what I really stand for, the person I represent.
That is what this album is all about. I have a new single really enjoying massive air play. The video would be short in Uganda next month.
When is the official release of the album?
Hopefully, myself and my team are working towards October. I have a record label called OHO Entertainment.
What is the secret of your success?
The secret of my success outside God is still God. God has been holding me in areas where I am weak. He has always been strengthening me.
What is your unique selling point? What makes you different?
My kind of songs are for the matured mind. One can wake up in the morning and listen to it, you can be driving and keep going with the flow.
Tell us about your background?
My names are Jacob Kingsley Ekpe. I am from Eket, Akwa-Ibom State. We are five children. I happen, to be the second son and the last born.
It’s interesting to know that God has been so good to you, we understand that you just bought a new car?
Yes (laughs), the Lord has really been faithful this year. I just bought a LR3 2008 model Land Rover to add to my fleet. God has really been faithful. I also just moved into a new apartment (three bedroom) Maryland Estate. God has been faithful.
Will you say gospel music has been a blessing to you?
Not just gospel music but the Word itself is a blessing. It’s also food to my soul.

– FEMI OYEWALE

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