Before the 2015 Felabration festival,
Big Sheff, son of music titans, Salawa Abeni and Ayinla Kollington, was
relatively unknown. However, his performance with his mother at the
event is one that has been etched in the memory of many who watched him
play.
Dubbed the Nigerian Rick Ross, the young
man said he is used to such comments. He told Saturday Beats that being
the son of two music legends is both a blessing and a curse to him.
“It goes both ways; sometimes, being the
son of Salawa Abeni and Ayinla Kollington is both a blessing and a
curse. There are some places I go to and if they see me, they are very
warm towards me and everything goes smoothly. But there are some other
places I would go to and they would be hostile towards me because of my
parents. I have experienced both. Only time would tell if I can fit in
my parents’ shoes. It would have been an easy thing if it was just one
shoe I want to fit in but now, I have two big shoes I want to fit in. I
think I am up for it anyway” he said.
The chubby musician made the crowd at
Felabration to go into a frenzy state when he took off his shirt on
stage revealing his chubby body. He told Saturday Beats that he is very
comfortable with his stature.
He said, “People have been calling me
Nigerian Rick Ross ever since I started doing music professionally some
years back and I am used to it by now. I am very comfortable in my skin
and I often tell people that if you are a slim person, you should not
expect to see someone with six packs when you look into the mirror. If
you are a big person, don’t go to the front of the mirror expecting to
see a slim person. If you see that I am a big person when I have my
clothes on, then you should expect to see a big person when I take my
clothes off. There is nothing to be shy and embarrassed about. If you
are comfortable with your looks, then nobody can use it against you. But
if you are not comfortable in your skin; that is when there would be an
issue.”
Talking about why he removes his clothes
on stage, he said, “It is not like I go on stage with plans to take off
my clothes but I am moved by the crowd’s response to my music. When the
crowd goes crazy, then the music takes me away.”
Big Sheff who added that he has always
wanted to be a musician, said his parents’ reputation had nothing to do
with his decision to become a musician.
“I actually wanted to drop out of school
to do music but my mother put her foot down against my decision. She
said that no school, no music. I am sure if I wanted to be a doctor or a
lawyer, she would have equally supported me. There is no pressure on me
to be better than my parents. I chose music on my own but my mother’s
only condition was that I complete my studies. She said that I could do
music after my tertiary education and that is what I did. I ventured
into music after I graduated from Lead City University, Ibadan,” Big
Sheff said.
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