Patoranking Success Story

On August 7, 2016, Patoranking brought the media to a Lagos Hotel.

There was a flurry of activity as the 'Girlie oh' singer walked into the room with intent. The time was some minutes after 2pm, as a contingent of handlers, photographers, and pressmen trailed him into the hall. Decked in a scarlet 2 piece suit, and a pink shirt.

He was assumed his position in front of the crowd, comprised of over 20 pressmen, technicians and radio hosts.

“I am very sorry for taking your time”, he began.

His apology was apt. this press conference was meant to have started four hours ago. Participants, which were drawn from various leading media houses, had trickled in, many observing the curse of the African Time. But noon had seen everyone gathered, having muted conversations, exchanging hugs, and catching up on popular events leading up to that day. Four days ago, the singer had released his debut album, “God Over Everything”. The LP contains 16 songs, with collaborations drawn from a number two continents. Wizkid, Patoranking, KWAM1, Elephant Man, Konshens, Olamide and Phyno all had guest spots on the project.

““I brought Phyno because he is from the east, so we need to give them something from the East.” Patoranking offered. Responding to my question about the direction of the album. I brought KWAM1 because I was born here in the West, we need to give the Yorubas something. I brought in Sarkodie because of my Ghana fan base, and Ghanaians in the diaspora. I brought in Elephant Man and Konshens because ‘My woman my everything’ is really doing very well in Jamaica, so I needed somebody to bridge the gap.

I had expressed my concern about the content of the album. Listening to the project had thrown up some level of confusion in my mind, concerning the direction. This was a singer who had made pop music, and stolen the hearts of the nation. From his 2013 hit song, ‘Alubarika’, which had an engaging reggae vibe, to the 2015 Highlife instrumentals supplied by the Ebonyi State Band on ‘Make am’, he had made music designed to play at the mainstream level, and appeal to the general populace. This has had its benefits. A deal with VP Records was in the bag, he spent 2015 modelling for alcoholic beverage, Skyy Vodka. Last year Headies also saw his songs ‘My woman my everything’, and ‘Daniella Whine’ nominated.

But the album arrived with a different feel. He digs into his influences from the ghetto and recreates Ajegunle, Konto, and dancehall music, polishing and modernizing these sounds to create an album that is in keeping with his original sound. There’s a contrasting feeling that lingers due to the popular perception of Patoranking as a Pop act, who achieves his brilliance via dancehall roots. That feeling has been propagated by the success of his singles.

“I started as a reggae dancehall artiste, and the truth is, the country is not rich when it comes to that culture. They love the sound because it’s different, and it’s new to them. And you know Nigerians. If you want to be here for a very long time, they don’t need to see you coming. I want to make music for everybody.” He reveals.

Over the course of the press conference a part of Patoranking was evident: his humble beginnings. The man was born in 1990. He grew up in Ijegun Egba Satellite Town, Lagos, and later relocated to Ebute Metta, two places without any aspiration to luxury. He once admitted in an interview that odd jobs had made him survive during his days of lack, selling rat poison and laying bricks to make ends meet. All of that is reflected in the new album. Patoranking embraces God, who he credits as being the driving force of his good fortunes. He also shares influences from his past, and on many songs, preaches the message of love.

"I named the album 'God Over Everything. looking at how rough this journey started and where I am today - starting from the streets of Ghana where at a point in time I had to drop out of the Cape Coast University due to financial difficulties, then moved back to Nigeria where I served under Timaya's 'Dem Mama Records' for years before finally getting the green light,” says Patoranking.

Patoranking continues: “I’m somebody that my music depicts my lifestyle, everything that has to be about my upbringing and how I rose to fame. Patoranking generally, the life and times of Patoranking. I got to figure out that a lot of people want to be famous, a lot of people of people want to to be known for different things, for wearing the best designers. Others for having a lot of properties. But you know not everybody knows that despite everything you have, it’s still vanity, it’s still God over everything.

Flavour was in Chicago over the weekend as he continues his US Tour. During one of his stage performance, the highlife music act stepped on stage in black suit and pants, he didn’t wear anything beneath the suit, leaving his cheat bare.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/921256-for-exposing-his-see-what-fans-did-to-top-singer-in-public.html

On August 7, 2016, Patoranking brought the media to a Lagos Hotel.

There was a flurry of activity as the 'Girlie oh' singer walked into the room with intent. The time was some minutes after 2pm, as a contingent of handlers, photographers, and pressmen trailed him into the hall. Decked in a scarlet 2 piece suit, and a pink shirt.

He was assumed his position in front of the crowd, comprised of over 20 pressmen, technicians and radio hosts.

“I am very sorry for taking your time”, he began.

Nigerian singer, Flavour has come under heavy chastisement from his fans after he rocked a shirt which exposed his chest.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/921256-for-exposing-his-see-what-fans-did-to-top-singer-in-public.html

Nigerian singer, Flavour has come under heavy chastisement from his fans after he rocked a shirt which exposed his chest.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/921256-for-exposing-his-see-what-fans-did-to-top-singer-in-public.html