MY FATHER IS A PASTOR, MY MUM A CHORISTER, IT WAS HARD TO CONVINCE THEM ABOUT MY MUSIC - BOBZEE

Can we meet you?

Yeah, i go by the name Bobzee, real names, Olabode Williams Pipi from the streets of Lagos, Lawanson.

How did you get the name Bobzee?

It started from my family and friends, when i was young i was called Bobo because of my name which is Bode, and also in those days, everyone is having a guy name so i had to have one, so i chose Bobzee and decided to use it for my music, and people  like to call me Bobzee than my real name.

Tell us about your background and childhood

My background wasn't easy but we thank God, coming from the streets, the ghetto where its really hard to survive, but we thank God.

Educational background

I attended a public school, you know when your parents dont have but they still try to give you the best of education from primary to secondary level, I'm still willing to further my schooling but for now, its music hustle.

Tell us the names of your primary and secondary schools

Yeah, I attended Graded Nursery and Primary School, at Olushola Keku, Surulere, but my parents were not able to continue with private school so I went to Obele Community Junior and Senior High School, Randle, Surulere.
Actually I was attending Akanji Primary School before I moved to Graded which is a private school, because I couldn't spell my name at around primary six.

So how did you start doing music?

Music, well there is this saying that very Nigerian  music artistes started from the church, I started by singing special numbers in the church, every sunday I would sing a song, I compose by myself, but I later switched to hiphop, all thanks to one of my big bros Mariostyle who put me through some fundamentals, and told me a lot about music and advised me one day to start listening to Dagrin and make my own style out of his tune, I thought that really makes sense so I bought Dagrin's CEO album and started listening to it, that was how I started doing the Yoruba rap thing.

So why did you choose music?

Music over everything mahn, music is life, music keeps me going, you know, when I'm down. I want to tell my story to people through music.

How does it feel doing music from the ghetto?

Well, if you are doing music and its not from the ghetto, I dont think you are doing the right  music, music is like passing message to the people and if you dont go through the pain, how can you do music, how do you inspire people with your music. Its hard but its fresh doing music from the ghetto, you can never lack inspiration in the ghetto, there is always something to sing about around you.

What else can you do aside music

Aside music I learnt how to make shoes and palm from my dad, he is a cobbler, I can also do tiles, I learnt it from a neighbour in my compound. I also have passion for fish and poultry farming.

What is your best and worse performances?

I dont think I have had a worse performance, just that I wasn't given the opportunity to perform when I was starting, they didn't believe in me. So its not a worse performance issue, its just the pain behind the hustle. but I later got an opportunity for once in my hood to show what I really had and since then its been favour everywhere, people started supporting me.

Can you remember your first breakthrough performance that made people start believing in you?

Yeah, I cant forget that, it was the year Dagrin died, it was a carnival at Cole street, I performed with my dads cloths and a bathroom slippers because I actually had to rush up from sleep to the venue after hearing the name of the artiste who was to perform before me, I went home after I put down my name on the artistes lists, so I had no time to change or dress up, so I went to perform with what I had on me which was my dads cloths. 

Since then, other streets start to call me for their carnival, I thank God for that.


"Do not expect love from people when you are not doing good" - Bobzee

Tell us the lesson you have learnt about life through your music hustle

I have learnt a lot though, but I will say this; do not expect love from people when you are not doing good. What I tell my self is; give people the reason to love you, always keep improving yourself, you are the only one that can let people believe in you, just keep on hustling, dont give up and try to love others even if you dont get love in return, that's whats up.

Who is your mentor in the Nigerian music scene?

My mentor is Dagrin forever men, RIP Dagrin.

Who is your mentor in the foriegn scene?

Its Young Jeezy, I took the whole crack voice from Young Jeezy and added the Dagrin style to make up the dope Bobzee tune.

How did you convince your parents about doing music?

It wasn't easy though, my dad is a pastor and my mom is a chorister, its not easy doing secular music, a lot of talks, a lot of beating, slaps, you know, when you go out and you dont come back on time, a lot of discipline. but I didn't stop, I just got this love for music. But when people started seeing me perform at events, they will go home and tell my parents that omo yin yen, omo orin ko o (your son is a good entertainer) we saw him perform and they sprayed him money, so my parents started to get convinced gradually. Especially when they started seeing me on TV, Stv, Mtv Base, Soundcity etc doing some rap competitions and wining the competitions, so they started believing in the dream. 
Now I can go to any length as far as music is concerned they have no problem with me, they just still tell me that I have to put God first, that its God over everything, that even if I play secular and all that, just remember that there is God and I shouldn't live a wayward life.

How do you get your inspiration?

My everyday life inspire me, when I look at what people go through, especially when I see people suffer on the streets, its inspires me and give me the ginger to write songs.

Whats your biggest song so far?

My biggest song so far I think is Oju Eje, the sing has never disappointed me before even in the church. You know, I have performed Oju Eje in a wedding despite its a street hiphop song and people still love it, that song has helped me so far. The recording was hard, you know, begging producer for beat, buying fuel to record, I couldn't pay the producer so I had to beg him, I mean Blaq Jerzy. It wasn't easy but at last he made the beat for me and I voiced and it came out fine, big ups  Blaq Jerzy, and thanks to God.

Name the collabo you have done and which is your favourite and why?

I have done lots of collabos, I have worked with Samklef, Small Doctor etc, but my favourite I think its my latest recording with Tarmac, a friend of mine who featured me on his song titled Asiko, Im loving my delievery on that song.

Which artiste would you like to work with?

Its Starboy for sure, I will like to work with Wizkid, Surulere things mehn, Surulere to the world, I'm the number one fan of his talent, shout out to Wizzy, yaaaaaga!

Which producer is your favourite?

Mehn, I still choose Blaq Jerzy, I wonder where he gets his sound from, its sound from the other side like Wizzy.

What Project are you working on presently?

Still doing more songs since I dont have a deal yet, so i'm just recording more songs and looking for sponsors.

When are you dropping an album?

Not anytime soon, its good to drop an album when you have a popular song out there, so for now i'm still recording.

You have a video, tell us about it.

I have a video for my song Oju Eje, it was shot by Paul Gambit, it enjoyed lots of airplay on major television stations but I couldn't follow up because of lack of funds.

So What do you know about Quadoowear?

Quadoo is like a brother to me and Quadoowear is a fresh quality stuffs, when you see Quadoowear you see quality, that's how it is.

"When you are on Quadoowear you feel comfortable"  -Bobzee

Tell us your experience using Quadoowear products

Like I said before, its a quality product, if its not fresh, its not Quadoowear. When you are on Quadoowear you feel comfortable, everything fresh and nice.

So which of the Quadoowear products do you have?

I have the boxers and the tshirts, I even gave out some to people who liked it, I still have some boxers with me mehn and I keep rocking them all day.

So how do you feel being an ambassador for Quadoowear?

It feels great, I believe in growth and i love what Quadoowear is doing and I am very happy to be part of Quadoowear, I see the brand going big, shout out to Quadoowear mehn.

Whats your benefits as a brand ambassador?

I get free products monthly, I get promotions through the stickers, facebook etc, some people tell me they see my picture everywhere even in Cotonou and I get my share from the sales of the products.

Whats is your work as a Quadoowear ambassador?

I tell people about the brand and the products, I try my best to preach to people that its a great product and if you are not rocking Quadoowear, you are dulling.

Tell us about your love life

My love life? lols, I dont discuss that, its private.

Whats your social media contacts?

You can follow me on Instagram @bobzeejbm, Twitter @bobzeejbm, Facebook @bobzeepipi, Snapchat @bobzeepipi, like my fan page @bobzeepipi. Keep following up mehn, Bobzee in the building.

Message to your fans and your loved ones

To my fans and loved ones, I need your prayers and your support, just keep supporting the brand Bobzee, I believe one day we're going global mehn, Surulere to the world. Alankwa.

What do you think about Nigeria?

Nigeria is a great nation, all we need is peace and unity.

Advice to younger artistes out there

We all are young artistes growing up so my little advice is that you should keep focused and be humble, stay loyal, keep giving love even when you dont get love in return.



Watch Bobzee Oju Eje video
Download Bobzee Oju Eje Audio
Download Bobzee - Eni Sun (ft Small Doctor )