He grew up in the violent regions of Port Harcourt and it is those experiences that 2kay started writing music about from a very early age.
But trying to focus on the music was difficult when he had turmoil in his private life that reflected that going on in his surroundings. At the age of 12 he had to hawk kerosene on the streets to help his struggling mother maintain the family. It is perhaps here that 2kay was able to understand the power of his music as he proved a popular salesman with a selling and singing pitch.
He attended Community Secondary School, Bonny Island and then moved to Port Harcourt in the bid to make it into the university. This bid proved unsuccessful because of lack of funds, another hurdle he had to overcome.
2kay then made his way back to his native Bonny Island to take advantage of the oil and gas boom and get a job that would help him save the funds for his university education. In the meantime, with music on the backburner, he made ends meet by drawing portraits of people and marketing it to them for cash. Eventually he landed that employment during the constructing of the Nigerian Nlng project and that helped him raise the money he needed to continue his education.
Finally 2kay did gain admission to the University of Port Harcourt on a part-time course in Visual Arts. However he had to relinquish his place again because he ran out of funds.
When dropped out of school he made a brave decision to finally pursue his true love - music.
As usual he went after the music industry with a typical fervour. He began attending talent search upon talent search in the hope of catching the eye of a producer or a label. He approached Grafton Records on several occasions during the yearly Bonny Beach carnival. Finally, through sheer persistence and the will for his talent to be seen and heard, he caught the attention of Grafton Records CEO Tonye Ibiama when he performed in a competition that picked the local acts that were to perform at the 2009 Bonny Beach carnival.
Needless to say, 2kay came first in the contest, at the same time blowing away Tonye who immediately invited him for serious talks. Finally when the deal was sealed, a delighted Tonye knew that he had found a diamond fit for the new Grafton Streetz label.
"This man had paid his dues where it really mattered, on the street. There was no fake with 2kay, it was all real-life experience going into that sound. That intertwined with his undeniable talent and hunger is why I had to have this guy on our label. There is nobody going to work harder to make his music work for the audience than 2kay. And people are really going to appreciate and love the passion and commitment he brings. And believe me, this guy can bring it big style."
With the forthcoming release of his debut single 'Run this Town', 2kay realises a lifelong dream. And after working so hard to get to this point, don't think 2kay is about to stop there. He is soon to release his as yet untitled debut album from the material he has been honing in the studio since joining the Grafton stable.
No doubt, 2kay is the new hardest working man in show business.
Bad Belle
Mr. 2kay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eh eh eh
But oluwa bless us with bread and butter
Eh eh eh
See pako don turn aje butter
Dem no believe oh
Sey my money get weight
No be your mate
Say when you dye chill I dey work
Now you dey cold I dey hot
When you dey chop I dey fast
Now you dey slim I dey fat
I won make you know something
make you hear something
Sey me and you fit be age mate
We fit be room mate
We no be grace mate
My blessings and your own no be the same
No be the same
Bad belle won push fall for gutter
Eh eh eh
But oluwa bless us with bread and butter
Eh eh eh
See pako don turn aje butter
Dem no believe oh
Sey my money get weight
No be your mate
Right now dey call me big man with big God
With big God
For the 43k is for malisa
Sey na God wey dey bless me like this
Baby don go high no cannabis
Saying no cannabis
No men for mali wey go hold money
I get men for Canada wey like to dey jagbana
I get men for west strong men like Bolaji
Bad belle won push fall for gutter
Eh eh eh
But oluwa bless us with bread and butter
Eh eh eh
See pako don turn aje butter
Dem no believe oh
Sey my money get weight
No be your mate
I be street oh
I be street
I be street oh
I be street
I gat my mind on my money
My mind on my money all day
I gat my mind on my money
My mind on my money all day
Wonder wonder
Wonder wonder
Wonder wonder
The lyrics of Mr. 2kay's song "Bad Belle" convey a message of triumph over haters and the belief in one's own blessings and success. The first verse suggests that despite the jealousy and negativity thrown by others, the singer remains unfazed and continues to rise. "Bad belle won push fall for gutter" means that the intentions of those with ill will will ultimately backfire and they will end up in a state of defeat.
The lyrics also emphasize the blessings and abundance that the singer has received from God ("oluwa bless us with bread and butter"). This is further reinforced by the line "See pako don turn aje butter." The word "pako" is a Nigerian slang term for poverty, and "aje butter" describes a state of prosperity or a rise in financial status. The singer expresses the disbelief of others when they witness their wealth and success.
The next verse portrays a contrast between the singer and their haters. While the haters are idle and stagnant, the singer is constantly working hard and progressing. The lyrics convey the message that while the haters were enjoying their moment of leisure, the singer was building their success. However, now that the tables have turned, the haters are left behind and the singer is thriving.
The final verse celebrates the power and influence that the singer has gained. They are referred to as a "big man with big God" because their success is attributed to divine blessings. The mention of various locations such as Mali, Canada, and West Africa implies that the singer's success and connections extend beyond local boundaries. This further emphasizes their superiority over their haters.
Overall, the lyrics of "Bad Belle" tell a story of resilience and triumph over adversity. The singer remains focused on their goals, deflects negativity, and rises above the haters. Their success is attributed to divine blessings and their hard work, which sets them apart from those who doubted them.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad belle won push fall for gutter
People with negative intentions want to see me fail and end up in a bad situation
But oluwa bless us with bread and butter
But God has blessed us with abundance and prosperity
See pako don turn aje butter
Even the poor and insignificant can rise to greatness
Dem no believe oh
They don't believe it
Sey my money get weight
My wealth has substance and significance
No be your mate
You are not on the same level as me
Say when you dye chill I dey work
While you were relaxing, I was working hard
Now you dey cold I dey hot
Now you are struggling while I am thriving
When you dey chop I dey fast
While you were enjoying, I was hustling
Now you dey slim I dey fat
Now you are suffering while I am prospering
I won make you know something
I want to enlighten you about something
make you hear something
Listen to me
Sey me and you fit be age mate
We may be of the same age
We fit be room mate
We could be roommates
We no be grace mate
But we are not equal in terms of blessings
My blessings and your own no be the same
I have different blessings compared to yours
No be the same
They are not the same
Right now dey call me big man with big God
Currently, they refer to me as a successful person with a powerful God
For the 43k is for malisa
In this life, you have to strive for success
Sey na God wey dey bless me like this
It is God who blesses me in this way
Baby don go high no cannabis
My darling has achieved great heights without resorting to drugs
Saying no cannabis
I am emphasizing that there is no drug involvement in her success
No men for mali wey go hold money
There are no men in Mali who have wealth
I get men for Canada wey like to dey jagbana
I have connections with wealthy people in Canada who like to live luxuriously
I get men for west strong men like Bolaji
I have powerful allies in the western region, individuals like Bolaji
I be street oh
I am from the streets
I be street
I am from the streets
I be street oh
I am from the streets
I be street
I am from the streets
I gat my mind on my money
I constantly focus on my wealth
My mind on my money all day
My thoughts are consumed by my financial pursuits all day long
Wonder wonder
It's a wonder
Wonder wonder
It's a wonder
Wonder wonder
It's a wonder
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Abinye David Jumbo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind