In recent times, when it comes to music comedy in Nigeria, Otolorin Kehinde aka Kenny Black, ranks among the best.
Yet, his best years are still underway. But for sudden death, one other comedian that could have achieved greater things with music comedy is the late CD John.
However, according to Kenny Black, the death of CD John in 2011 has nothing to do with his emergence in the comedy industry.
He explained, “Olamide has said it. He is still relevant and Lil Kesh is relevant too. It does not really matter to me. It is not about what people think; it is about when God says it is your time.
The sky is just too wide, so everybody can fly at the same time. I believe God’s time is the best. If God says this is my time, then it is my time. God can never confuse me for another person.”
Kenny Black could not, however, hide his admiration for the creative genius of CD John, insisting that he always saw himself in him whenever he watched him.
worked together sometime; I think we met at an event. He was my good friend, we understood one another.
In fact, we planned to do things together. When people compare us, I do not take it personal. I am sure he would be proud of me. I did not see him as my competitor when he was alive. If he were to be alive today, we would be changing the game together,” he said.
While admitting that music was his first love, he noted that he would have been an ordinary singer like any other musician if he had pursued a career in music. But when he saw that he could use comedy to sell the music part of him, he could not resist it.
“The music part of me is still there. It is growing gradually and we are trying to give it a new approach. Comedy will stay just as music too. Once we achieve a balance with my comedy brand, music will come up.
“I have a lot of friends, instrumentalists who are working with me in the studio. We come together to see how we could create stories and songs. It has to go to the studio before it goes to the stage.
We have to listen to it many times to make sure it could be put out. It requires a lot of work before we use the material on stage,” Kenny Black further explained.
