Ẹnitan Kẹhinde

Four gentlemen in thier own rights make up the crew called topnotch. A lot of drama has been surrounding them of late following the release of their last single (loose my mind) but meeting them in person,all the things you have heard about them will fly out the window. Olajide Oladapo Davids aka d.dot/tuburna ,the light skinned,handsome dude; Maye Daniels aka mayday,the buff pretty boy; Oluwatobiloba Omowole the tall, charismatic,fine boy And Kevwe Tony-Nomouja the pompous dude are the different charactered hues in the topnotch rainbow. JK had a chat with them a week ago,to introduce the vibrant crew to the public. Have a nice read

JK:.So,topnotch,where did the name come from? And why?

Dapo d.dot: Mayn you would ask triik that one oh!..the name came from the name sha!…TOP and NOTCH!..(Laughs)

Kevwe: Yeaah,Oh well the topnotch came from the spirit…as I was praying the spirit of jonzing fell on a niggah and boom the name topnotch just came…so we thank the lord of jonzing for that name..

Maye Daniels.: Hmmm…i can’t remember actually (covering face). But I remember “treek” came up wt d name (smiles)

TOBY Omowole: Umm…..we were just chilling looking for a name for our crew. At the end of the day we decided to call us topnotch.

JK:.Can we meet you guys? like in one sentence describe yourself.

Dapo d.dot: As for me o!….funny,generous and I think im razz a little bit though!….(Big smile)

Kevwe: I’m kevwe Tony-Nomuoja..u can call me TRICK..a professional musician..and a writer…fashionista(I’m writin a book on jonzing soon)…and an evangelist of jonzing too..spreading the gospel of jonzing to every nook and cranny of the world..(Big smile)

Maye Daniels.: Of course you can meet us In one sentence. I am insane…(Laughs)…probably the craziest niggah you will ever meet.

TOBY Omowole: I’m a down to earth person

JK:.Your educational background

Dapo d.dot: Yo!…my primary school–(FAAN)..federal airport authority of nigeria!…and I went to a military school!…nigerian navy secondary school(ogun state)…and i’m presently in the university…Redeemers university studying elect!…

Kevwe: Ehn oakdale primary school,dansol high school and presently in redeemers university…and also the school of hard knocks..

Maye Daniels.: f*** education;But I’m in my 2nd year,studying business administration.

TOBY Omowole: I went to many schools…lool. Ma parents fault. Bt I’ll js cut it short. I strtd out at early learning ikoyi. I finished my primary education in st bernedette and I finished my secondary education in st judes; that’s why I’m so holy; because all ma schools hv ST In them.

JK:.why did you choose music?

Dapo d.dot: Errm….I won’t really say I chose music!….music chose me!…it’s something that I could not just do without…and its something that i’m good at…

Kevwe: Oh..wow jamb question..it is not your business now..anyway uhm I chose music because that’s the talent God gave me..and God shall punish me if I dull…

Maye Daniels.: It has always been my dream and I believe God won’t be happy if I waste this talent.

TOBY Omowole: I chose music over everything because thats what I’m best at. In skul I did lots of things from actin to sports. But music was always it 4 me.

JK:.What were your parents’ reactions to your music instincts?

Dapo d.dot: Mayn!…for that fact that i’m from a christian background alone sef!….well my parents don’t know i’m into music…so no surpport from dat angle just ma siblings…..

Kevwe: (laughs) my father went H.A.M on me men..he was going to disown me if I continued believe me it was hard but apparently he has gone to parole in Heaven so its just my mum left and she’s cool with it…to be honest if they don’t let me do music I’ll be chilling at yabaleft…brief.

Maye Daniels.: They don’t really have a problem with it,they just want me to finish school

TOBY Omowole: They have always been supportive of me.They have known from the start that I have a passion 4 it. Even though they harrass me sometimes becauase of school. But they are very supportive.

JK:.When did you notice it was music you wanted to do?

When did you have your 1st approach with music??

Dapo d.dot: I noticed I was going to do music right from my chilhood mayn!…because i have been playing an active role right from my church and school by playing instruments and all……and for my first approach with music, would say it was when I recorded my frst song in 2006….it’s been long though!….

Kevwe: My first approach to music was in my mothers stomach when she was pregnant…she used to go to the club with my dad…and I heard a couple of songs while I was in her stomach like michael jacksons “black or white”..

Maye Daniels.: Well, When I was 9and i recorded my very 1st track wen I was 13.

TOBY Omowole: Like I sed before I always knew I could sing but it was when I got into senior secondary school I decided I wanted to pursue a career in music. (Laughs) Cause I used to sing in school nd all the ladies used to whine me.

JK:.Who are your idols?when it comes to music dat is?

Dapo d.dot: My Idols!..haha I’ve got sango,oduduwa,..(Jonz) (laughs)..for real i don’t really have any idol but I look up two people in the industry…FELA anikulapo kuti(RIP), 2face, and Donjazzymohits..

Kevwe: My idols..I don’t have idols…the third commandment preaches against having idols…so please I don’t have idols..eh but people I’m down with yeah..defs drake,j.cole,michael jackson,ludacris… And In Nigeria my mentors saucekid and zara doing their thang…iceprince too…

Maye Daniels.: Eminem.lil wayne,juelz santana and jayz

TOBY Omowole: I listen to all kinds of music to improve myself lyrically and attitude wise. Wande coal is someone I listen to all the time; Chris Brown,Banky W,MI,Bruno mars D list goes on and on

JK:.Hw did you guys meet?

Dapo d.dot: We met in skool!…though it was first triik,toby and mayday!……and later I tagged along side the crew!…..we worked together first and later I was officially in!…

Kevwe: I’ve known the fool “mayday”since high school we go way back….so then we went to the same uni “Redemeers uni”….and as for tobi and dapo.. Bansi 6:22 in the holy book of jonzing says that “when one or more jonzers are gathered in one vicinity the spirit of jonzing bring them together”.that is all.

Maye Daniels.: Treek and I have been friends for a long time,but we met toby and 2b in school; Uni.

TOBY Omowole: Umm I think they heard me sing once (triik nd may-day) And came to me to ask if I was interested in joining them I had never recorded before at that time So they gave me ma first studio session.

JK:.Hw do you guys come up with your songs?

Dapo d.dot: yh!…for the songs we all do it together,but tobi and kevwe do most of all!..and me and mayday do d backups…..

Kevwe: God actually helps us and all..God gave us the talents so he just continues to help us with our songs…we also get inspiration from anything that is happening in our lives.

Maye Daniels.: God.

TOBY Omowole: Inspiration comes in different ways. You could listen to a beat and make up the words from there, Or you could sing a written song to a producer and he would make the beats. Our songs have come in all sorts of ways.

JK:. I heard tobi freestyles,how true is that?

Dapo d.dot: Yeah!…He’s a monster when it comes to that!….he freestyled loose ma mind,gidi anthem…and most times wen we are  together he does it.

Kevwe:(laughs) for sure, for sure..tobi is a minister of jonzing…all ministers can freestyle..

Maye Daniels.: Very true,he’s never written a verse or chorus b4 he just steps in the booth and does his thing

TOBY Omowole: If you call yourself a musician nd you can’t freestyle its a problem! (Laughing). I freestyle alot.It helps you as a musician. If you knw how to freestyle and say stuff off the top of your head, then people would know that it’s talent.

JK:. Are you guys signed on to any label?

Dapo d.dot: No!…but we have a management crew…..

Kevwe: Nope we are on our indie grind…we recently signed a management deal with “milounge company”…their hooking us up well..so that’s wassup.

Maye Daniels.: Not yet,but we hve a few things goin on.

TOBY Omowole: we’re not signed on yet but the offers are definitely there

JK:.How do you guys control each other’s excesses?

Dapo d.dot: Yh..we’ve got a very close manager that does that he’s name- is detola3000

Kevwe: (laughs) we are all like brothers and all..we’ve been through a lot of situations together so it’s easy for us to talk to each other.. And if any of us is messing up…a nice hot slap settles everything..

Maye Daniels.: God helps us (big smile)

TOBY Omowole: Apart from being team mates, We are best friends so we just talk things over. That’s the way we do our thing.

JK:.How will you describe each other?

Dapo d.dot: A sentence?…that’s small, would try!….ok o!….for mayday….restless guy!…triiktreek…..mhen this niggah is cool though not with everybody…he is kind of shy!…and for tobi!….”Mr steal ur girl” and  very playfull mhen!…

Kevwe: Mayday…is a prodigy and a fool….. Tobi….is one of the best singers too…a fool as well…..dapo is also another talented individual…a retard too… We are all jonzers..

Maye Daniels.: Hmmmm….Treek is the cool guy Tobi is a mature guy Tu b is crazyy.: Me I’m the gentle man who loves the ladies.

TOBY Omowole: May-day is the dumb funny one, Triik is the womaniser,Tub is the crazy one (laughs).

JK:.Do you guys have girlfriends?

Dapo d.dot: No!…am for all!…the sexy ladies though!…#confam

Kevwe: Oh yesss…shouts to my girl ifeoma nwadike…(Laughs)..I love her very much..she’s my heart. She means everythng to trick

Maye Daniels.: I don’t know about them though….but me…I got something with this girl *name not mentioned* (lips sealed)

TOBY Omowole: Nope I dont (straight face),Girls don’t like me(sad face)

JK: Maye,why can’t you give us her name?

Maye Daniels.: because I love keeping my personal life personal

JK: A handsome guy lyk you tobi, should have a lot of groupies drooling over you…..

TOBY Omowole: (laughing) naah, they say I don’t have swag so they would rather be with triik,(laughing)

(General laughter)

JK:.People say you guys won’t last till the end,that you guys are another set of plantashun boyz……do you guys plan to stay together,or you’re just together for the main time??

Dapo d.dot: Even from what people say you know it’s a lie plantashun boiz were 3…nd we are 4…(Laughing)…thats nothing though!…yeah we are going to stay together till the end of time by Gods grace!

Kevwe: We are going to be together until the end yo…cuz tobi owes me money he won’t be able to pay until he dies..and I cannot let the money go…nahh men…

Maye Daniels.: (laughing)..We planning to stay together Probably start our own label…who knows?

TOBY Omowole: We plan to stay together all the way mahn. Our agenda is quite different from your normal crew. We are not a boy band (don’t get it twisted).

We are just a crew,like the mohits allstars except with a lot less money! (Laughs),We don’t plan for all of us t be in all topnotch songs,We just share a common interest nd thats why we are together, We are not westlife or backstreet boiz! (Laughs)

JK:.How do you respond to comments from people,haters generally? Because from what we’ve heard you guys have enough.

Dapo d.dot: Well my kind of person I don’t really listen to what people say!(Tobi taught me that)….so when I hear these I just pass on!……

Kevwe: Erm….really haters I tell them haters to suck my d*** and choke on it.And to be honest I just know a couple of haters because we have been having mad love and reviews so we can’t let the few haters disturb our grind..there’s too many people that love us. So well if you hate “topnotch” go to church and beg God to forgive you for your sins.

Maye Daniels.: (laughing)…the same way we have enough fans…Fans motivate us, haters motivate us the more.

TOBY Omowole: (laughing) haters haters haters, I love those people mayne they keep me going, they are the reason we keep moving.

JK:.So the girls want to know…..who is the most approachable?

B.the most friendly?

C.the most stuck up?

D.who has the player tendencies?

E.who gives a lot,the maga type?

F.who’s the pretty boy?

Dapo d.dot: Oboy!….me–B.d…tobi…C.d…mayday and trick gives a lot but they are not the maga type. And the pretty boy is trick tho!….

Kevwe: Most friendly is the fool maye,I’m probably the most stuck up I guess,Who has player tendencies??I’m sorry I can not snitch on my guys,Who gives a lot..the maga type……wetin concern you? You dey find maga?…google it.Who is the pretty boy…we are all pretty boys..axe ur mummy…

Maye Daniels.: (laughs)…the ladies should figure that out themselves.

TOBY Omowole: Without them I’m sure I wouldn’t work as hard,Well the most friendly is probably may-day,Stuck up,obviously triik,Not like he is stuck up bt he is just the one who’s the most stuck up,Player tendencies triik again,(laughs),Maga ,I’m afraid we are all sharp guys in topnotch,If you’re a lady and you’re looking for who to scam; you’re at the wrong place,Na we go scam u (tongue out).

JK:.How would you describe you’re style? Because most times when you guys are spotted,we notice the skinnies and all

Dapo d.dot: Yeah!..but I do the corporate dressing too! Thats my major style!….

Kevwe: (laughing)..errm we all have our different styles…I love fashion..so I be rocking anything that looks good on me…I think my style is flashy and cool…just for the sexy ladies

Maye Daniels.: (laughing) Most of the time you’ll see me in all black Or v neck shirts I have this rock/hip hop look And you’ll definitely notice the new piercing I got on ma eye brows (big smile)

TOBY Omowole: the pretty boy,I’d leave that for the ladies to judge because I’m not gay,Yeah I love my skinny jeans mayne anyday anytym,A nice shirt nd shoes to go with it,I’m not an elaborate dresser like triik,I just love to look nice and simple.

JK:.Where do you see yourself in the nearest future?

Dapo d.dot: In the nearest future I see my self where God has in plan for me!….but with hard work I say i will be at the top (big smile)

Kevwe: The sky is not my limit so I see myself in saturn or something..I’m trying build castles in the air..trying walk on water.

Maye Daniels.: An International musician by God’s grace

TOBY Omowole: I see myself being a major force to be reckoned with in the industry, I don’t only want to do music for nigeria or africa, I’m thinking of being right at the top with the best in the world It’s an up-hill task but with God on my side and hardwork It will all fall in place in Gods time.

JK:.What is your advice for upcoming artists,just starting in the game??

Dapo d.dot: (laughing)…Well i’m still upcoming to but the advise I have eis that if you feel you would do and stop don’t go into music because its not a come and go game!…you have to know when its time for work and fun!…..and above all have the fear of God!…that one na compulsory something.

Kevwe: Um prayer is the key..and you have to move with the right crowd really..you have to make decisions with your future in mind….I made a couple of mistakes in my life..although I have completely recovered but if I took the right decisions I won’t have made them.

Maye Daniels.: Keep your head up,when niggahs start hating then you have started going somewhere…..

TOBY Omowole: Just believe in yourself and believe in God. Have the right attitude towards your work and dont dull…

     

FOLLOW TOPNOTCH ON TWITTER @team_topnotch

Maye @mayday_daniels

Dapo @dapo_tuburna

Tobi @urboy_tobi

Kevwe @treektrik

INTERVIEW BY: ENITAN.O.KEHINDE





MAYE DANIELS AKA MAYDAY

OLUWATOBI OMOWOLE AKA TOBY



KEVWE TONY-NOMOUJA AKA TREEK

OLAJIDE OLADAPO DAVIDS AKA D.DOT/ TUBURNA