Orezi set to raise roof with ‘Rihanna’ video, tours South Africa

The singer plans an act with Rihanna herself.

Hip hop sensation, Orezi, is currently on tour of major South African cities. While at it, the Isoko, Delta State born artiste is also shooting the video of his hit single, Rihanna, which has been rocking the airwaves in Nigeria and across Africa for close to two months now.

South Africans have been having a feel of the young artiste who has left no one in doubt as to his mission in the music industry. “I am into music to make my mark and leave my foot prints,” Orezi said while speaking with PREMIUM TIMES from South Africa.

“I am glad that South Africans and Nigerians resident here accepted my music and they have showed me so much love that I am overwhelmed. I never knew that Rihanna is an anthem here like it is in Nigeria, for that I give glory to God and my management companies, Sprisal Records and Synergy Entertainment.”

He said the best hands are currently working on the video and all are presently in South Africa to ensure success as planned. “This is planning and coordination at its best. The state-of-the-art equipment being used on the video, the precision, timing… is out of this world! Nigerians are going to see a video that will redefine music videos in Nigeria going forward,” the hip hop star said.

On the total budget for the video, Orezi decided to keep that off the card but investigations revealed the entire project is costing his management company a whopping N7.3 million. “I am not authorized to speak on the budget but the project is huge, the crew large and equipment, state-of-the-art, so this is a project that is running into several millions of naira. We want Nigerians to have the best and that is what my Management Company is trying to achieve here with the Rihanna video and like I said, this is a video that will set the pace in music videos in the country. I am completely awed here.”

Immediately after the South African tour, there are plans on the card for Orezi to tour some countries in Europe. “We are working on that, it is going to be a busy year for me with the schedule I saw released by my managers but first thing first, let us conquer South Africa and return to Nigeria to take stock and then head to Europe. By then, the Rihanna video would have been enjoying massive airplay across Africa and Europe.”

It is not sheer coincidence that Orezi titled his hit single Rihanna as the foreign star he would want to do a remix of the song with is no other person than the diva, Rihanna. And later, he would love to work with Daddy Showkey. “I really would want to do the remix of the Rihanna hit with Rihanna herself, that would happen by God’s grace and later I will do something big with Daddy Showkey. Why Daddy Showkey? When the song comes out, you will know the reason why. International collaborations are a good thing, most especially when it is the right song. It gives African music the international face it surely deserves.”

Orezi goes down memory lane to reveal how the Jimmy Jatt, Muna, Igho collaboration come about. “I was in the studio working on a song titled Komije and my pal Igho came to this studio… he said he loved the sound. At the same time, Jimmy Jatt was working on his project. So we took the song to him and he said “this is it”. We called up the other people Sinzu and Muna and the rest they say is history. The song was a hit if I must also add.”

The University of Lagos graduate speaks about his relationship with his new record label, Sprisal Records: “The fact that my boss is my very good friend and we can sit down and reason together on my career is a great thing and that makes Sprisal different for me.”

On challenges in the music industry, “The same challenges every young and aspiring musician faces in Nigeria. But I thank God for today. It is all worth it.”

And how did he overcome the early challenges? “God… God made everything beautiful. Challenges only come to make you stronger. That has made me what I am today.”

Orezi calls his music style ‘Ghen Ghen’ and just like the cartoon characters Pinky and Brain, he plans to rule the world, the world of music. “Everybody’s got his time, this is my time and I am going to use it.”