“..But everybody knows
that people rise and fall… some rise up again just to stand up tall, and wiser
and stronger … no matter how long you live… you cannot learn it all...you only
do your best” – lyrics in the hit track, “YOU NO HOLY PASS” from the second album of Tuface Idibia titled “ FACE TO FACE”
-OREDOLA ADEOLA
The rise to stardom of Innocent Ujah Idibia,
fondly called Tuface is dated back to when he was with the defunct group, PLANTASHUN
BOYZ. That group he formed with the duo of Black Face and Face is credited as one
of the pioneers of Nigerian Hip Hop Music by industry pundits. The group went
ahead to dominate the entire music industry with some of its great hits between
2000 and 2003 from their two albums. They later parted ways in 2004. Back then, none,
except for the most prescient could know that a star, that would rule the
entire music industry was about to emerge christened -Innocent Ujah Idibia
aka Tuface.
Following the split of the band, Tuface under the management of Efe Omoregie, of Now Music, launched his successful solo career with the Kennis Music label. In 2006, he later emerged a household name following the release of his evergreen “African Queen” debut, which won him the most prestigious MTV music award.
Although, the PLANTASHUN BOYZ group made an effort to re-unite in 2007, with the compilation of songs for an album, but the Nigerian music fans had become more appreciative of his new found solo act than the collective effort of a group. The re-union album was not a commercial success due to poor market response.
Tuface Idibia, also
known as Tu-Baba, gradually emerged as a maestro of contemporaneous Afro
hip-hop music genre. He is recognized for projecting the Nigerian Music
Industry to a higher level and garnered acceptance from across the world. This
gesture signaled the emergence of other top musicians who today sees Tuface, as a
mentor and a force to reckon with, as far as African hip hop music is concerned.
Having instituted himself in the Africa music scene, he proceeded to setting up his own record label; Hypertek Entertainment, which he used to nurture burgeoning talents, after the expiration of his contract with Kennis Music. The entertainment outfit has produced top industry acts including and not limited to Dammy Krane.
Tuface has performed with international A-list artistes including Akon, Wyclef and Bennie Man, he was also part of Sony All African One8 Project which featured Prince Lee and R.Kelly, in a song titled “Hands Across the World”. He is the first non- liberian to have become a honourary member of Liberian music society in recognition of his contribution to the growth of Africa Music.
Having instituted himself in the Africa music scene, he proceeded to setting up his own record label; Hypertek Entertainment, which he used to nurture burgeoning talents, after the expiration of his contract with Kennis Music. The entertainment outfit has produced top industry acts including and not limited to Dammy Krane.
Tuface has performed with international A-list artistes including Akon, Wyclef and Bennie Man, he was also part of Sony All African One8 Project which featured Prince Lee and R.Kelly, in a song titled “Hands Across the World”. He is the first non- liberian to have become a honourary member of Liberian music society in recognition of his contribution to the growth of Africa Music.
He has not only become a household name, but has always been in the forefront of mending the once dented image of the country prompted by vices and internet scams, synonymous with Nigerian Youths across the world. Having garnered respect for himself and the country through music, Tuface raked in several world class awards and laurels for himself, prominent amongst which is his being made International Peace Ambassador.
Tu Baba, as he is fondly called, is a different personalty to different people, to many of his teeming followers, he is today rated as one of the richest African music artiste cum album producer, with several investment and brand endorsement both locally and internationally.
Apart from his musically career, he also owns massive investment in real estate and stocks exchange market. His benevolence is measured through charity services, which he founded in 2009, a NGO called TuFace Idibia Reach-Out Fundation. He was selected as an Ambassador of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
He released a song titled "Man Unkind" with the aim of raising awareness on the menace of fake and sub-standard food and drug products in Nigeria, in 2009. He was presented with the prestigious International Youth Ambassador for Peace Summit and the Nigeria Youth Merit Award by the National
Youth Council of Nigeria in recognition of his contributions to youth development in Nigeria.
Rated as African most influential celebrity, amidst the controversy of having had several lovers with many children, he later married his first love, Annie Macaulay, in faraway United Arab Emirate. A marriage, which event planners rated as the best ever from a celebrity , gulping over N50 million, going by the size of budget and net cost of gifts and accessories that was expended on the celebrity wedding.
Tuface’s assets are
projected to be worth around N550 million.The main sources of his wealth springs
from various endorsement deals, with brands like Guinness and Airtel, where he
earned N20 million and N22 million respectively. He also earned N30 million
from the movie “Phat Girls”, while
his fee for shows stands between N4 million and N5 million. His latest album,
released last year was signaled to have sold over 10 million copies coupled
with earnings from other albums released between 2004 and 2011.
Almost thirteen years on since he gained prominence, Tuface
Idibia, continues to hold sway as King of contemporary music, with one foot in
the pantheon of African musical greats, as his music will surely transcend
generations, thanks to its lyrical content and philosophical in-depth pulsating
rhythms.
“I am committed to recovering all the
stolen wealth taken from Africa” he once boasted.
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