OLAMIDE BADDO, O3 MEDIA TO PROMOTE YORUBA LANGUAGE IN EUROPE AT " THE CULTURE TOUR 2018" - ALEX OZONE, CEO O3 MEDIA.

After a long time of trying to have this interview  with my oga, my real MVP, and my mentor on the street, we finally had this one and I enjoyed it.  I haven't seen Mr. Alex Ozone for years after working with him for more than five years, I had a nice time working with him and I will appreciate  working with him anytime.  In this interview, the CEO of O3 media, #TeamStreet originator, the biggest street music promoter and a great man tells us how he manage to survive without a formal education haven traveled from Abakaliki in Eboyin State to Lagos.  He tells us his relationship with top Nigerian artistes and how he is planning to travel to Europe with OLAMIDE for the "Culture Tour" come February - March 2018.

CAN WE MEET YOU?

You already know my names,  why do you still want me to tell u?

I KNOW YOU,  BUT WE ARE DOING THIS FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE WILL LIKE TO KNOW YOU.

OK,  my name is Mr. Ozone, I represent #TeamStreets of O3media.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDHOOD.

I try my best not to remember my past,  I rather concentrate on my present and a better future. I came from a well to do family,  I am from Eboyin State,  I grew up in the streets  of Lagos with no formal education. That's all.

PLENTY PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR STORY OF GROWING UP  ON THE STREET, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GROW UP FROM THE  STREET?

It's not a good story, it's only the strong that survives, it's not
something you encourage people to go through.  I don't pray for anybody to go through the experience of growing up in the streets. The dream of every child is to grow up to become a lawyer or doctor or pilot, but we did not have that privilege,  so it was tough. I don't encourage anybody to be on the streets.

SO WHAT DO YOU REALLY  DO AND WHY?

I do everything that brings the money,  I am a legit hustler.  But  I
specialize in entertainment.
And why?  I believe it's because entertainment gives anybody an
opportunity, be you graduate or dropout,  you have a stake in there.

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE BEFORE YOU GOT TO SPOTLIGHT?

The challenges I faced were neglect, rejection and discouragements. Nobody wanted to support my dreams but God kept me going through  those challenges, then I said to myself that I can become successful  without anybody's help,  all I had to do was to stay focused and determined, I had to prove  them  doubters wrong. I pushed myself and by the special grace of God,  see where I am today.

YOU SAID THIS IS NOT  WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP,  WHAT DID YOU  DREAM OF BECOMING WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?

I wanted to become a lecturer or a teacher,  because I love teaching,  but I don't have the opportunity.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE BIGGEST  STREET MUSIC PROMOTER IN NIGERIA?

It just feels normal, I don't see myself as the biggest street promoter, I'm not even nothing. I'm just doing my thing,  I love doing this so I don't feel special about it .

WHICH ARTISTES ARE ON YOUR LISTS PRESENTLY?

I work with all Nigerian artistes,  O3 Media is a general entertainment outfit  and we have created  a niche for ourselves. We work with lots of upcoming artistes and the major artistes.

TELL US YOUR  EXPERIENCE WITH THE FIRST ARTISTE YOU  PACKAGED FOR EUROPE?

The first artiste that was on my Europe tour was Terry G,  that was the first time I travelled abroad, the experience was awesome for me and Terry G,  we had successful shows,  I thank God.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNT  ABOUT LIFE THROUGH YOUR WORK?

You must stay true to yourself no matter what,  because this business allows you to to lie and package what you are not. You claim to have something that you don't really have,  but doing that you are killing yourself because you cannot be able to express your real self,  but if you are real to yourself,  you owe nobody.  So the lesson I have learned is to be true to myself.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE  TO HAVE SO MUCH LOVE FOR THE STREET?

Yeah,  because I am real,  real recognizes  real.  Anybody that comes  around  me, I try to live my normal life and say the truth,  I don't even care what they feel because truth is always life. 

HOW DO YOU GET THE ARTISTES YOU WORK WITH?

I'm not bragging about this but my work speaks for me. The more your work speaks  for you the more you attract clients,  I don't lobby for artistes , the artistes look out for who they want to work with,  they come around and we work with them.

HOW MUCH SPACE DO YOU HAVE FOR UPCOMING ARTISTES ON YOUR PLATFORM?

You have been here for about 30 minutes and I'm sure you have seen like two upcoming artistes.  Our door is open for upcoming artistes , we advice them and help them grow,  there is a guy that sang Tattoo, his name is Soft,  he was here and we worked, then later got signed to a label and he's doing well. Our  door is opened for upcoming artistes, it's not about the money,  we do what we can do.

 

WHICH UPCOMING ARTISTE ARE YOU WORKING WITH PRESENTLY?

They are many, Crown Prince, Nedro, Christizzy, Santos and T-Play just to name a few,  you all watch out for them,  they are the next to blow in this industry.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR AN ARTISTE TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

What it takes for an artiste to be successful is grace, it takes only
grace, that's all.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR AN ARTISTE TO REMAIN SUCCESSFUL?

It take humility and fear of God for an artiste to remain successful.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A SONG A HIT?

It takes the special grace of God.  Because most of the songs sounds the same way, so it takes God's grace for a sing to become a hit.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LAST EUROPE TOUR

My last Europe tour was with Kiss Daniel, it was successful and a great show.  Kiss Daniel enjoyed himself and the management too,  they made good money for themselves, and all the promoters and fans.  It was an eye opener for Kiss Daniel to experience Europe.  It was successful, we thank God.

HOW MANY ARTISTES HAVE YOU PACKAGED FOR EUROPE SO FAR?

You want me to count them?

YES,  THE PEOPLE WILL  LIKE TO KNOW

Ok, for Europe promotions I have taken nine artistes to Europe so far  and that includes:

Terry G,  Chudi K,  Oritse Femi, Jaywon, YQ,  Skales,  Tekno,  Patoranking and Kiss Daniel.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT EUROPE TOUR

The next Europe tour  is tagged 'Culture Tour', because it's about time we started promoting our culture,  so I discussed that with Olamide. As Africans,  they need to know where we come from. So we are going to showcase our language, which is Yoruba and Pidgin English, so the next Europe tour is tagged  the "Culture Tour"  with Olamide Baddo, from February to March 2018. Watch out,  media support by #QuadoowearTV (laughs).

SHOUT  OUT TO YOUR PARTNERS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

Shout out to all #TeamStreet Crew out there,  shout out to Urban Ent, G&B Ent, Fav Ent, Natural House, The Back Bones,  David, Richie, Kelvin and everybody who has been supporting  us both morally and financially, I appreciate  you all,  God bless you.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT QUADOOWEAR?

Quadoo is my boy and Quadoowear  is a dream we share together,  I supported Quadoowear,  it's a unique brand and how I wish the brand will come out because I really look forward  to the re-branding of Quadoowear and Quadoo Entertainment that we used to know.  May God guide us all.

ADVICE TO YOUNG ARTISTES  OUT THERE

I am not an artiste, I can advice young promoters,  not artistes. Let the artistes go and meet their fellow artistes for advice.

OK, PLEASE GIVE YOUNG PROMOTERS  ADVICE

This is my advice to every young or aspiring  promoters out there: you do not need to look at yourself as the artiste you are working with,  you should see yourself simply as the marketer. Never compare yourself to the artiste and whatever you promise an artiste,  make sure you deliver. Don't look at the money,  the money will surely come when you do a good job and the song is making waves. Also, don't just go for any job, look out for the quality of the job and that of the artiste. It's not easy but you can make it if you believe.

HOW DO YOU RELAX?

In this business,  we don't have time so relax,  the only time we release is when we are reading our bible.

MESSAGE TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS.

To my family, friends and well wishers you all know that #TipsyFada loves you all,  I promise I will never let you down, I will never do illegal hustle, I will always do legit hustle. Keep on praying and supporting me,  I know it's not easy,  but trust me we will get there real soon, no all of us go smile.

YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS.

@AlexOzone  on facebook, @ 03media_ on instagram and @03media1 on twitter.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NIGERIA?

Nigeria is a great country, Nigeria is well blessed,  we are endowed with so much natural resources.  As I keep saying Africa is the future, and Nigeria is the giant of Africa, I am happy to be Nigerian and I believe in One Nigeria.

WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENTLY IF YOU WERE  THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA?

If I become the president of Nigeria I will make sure that I make
unemployment a thing of the past,  I will keep people off the streets by giving them jobs and another thing I will do is electricity,  because power is the strength  of a country.