Hypeman and radio personality, Oladotun Kayode, aka Do2dtun, tells BABATUNDE TUGBOBO about his career and other issues
How did your journey in broadcasting start?
Broadcasting for me was not by accident. I majored in Mass Communication while in school, and I have always loved radio and television, because my dad always made me watch popular shows back then such as Food Basket, and Cockcrow at Dawn, I knew a lot of broadcasters then such as Jimmy Abu, Razak Lawal, Yinka Craig and Frank Oliseh. But then, becoming a radio broadcaster was tough. I was an intern for a long time. I was used to label compact discs, and I would sleep on the floor at night. That was how I grew through the ranks. It took me a while though. I started on the night show and I grew all the way to daytime radio.
What informed your decision to start the dance group called ‘Xtreme’?
Dance was my first love. It was in a school that I figured out that entertainment was so limited. People were so much in love with their books, and I loved dancing right from when I was in secondary school. I said to myself that I wanted to have a dance group, whereby I would bring my stereo to school every day, put it an open space and just dance. That was how I formed the dance group and people started joining. The group had a guy called Don Flex, who is currently a choreographer with P-Square.
Did you envisage that the group would be as big as it eventually became?
Actually, it was just for fun. But, we started seeing that we had prospects. However, we never really moved past school. The only thing was that members of the group became individual stars. Everybody started to do music videos. I worked with DJ Zeez on the song, Same Ni; and D’banj on Why Me. I was in a couple of other videos as well. All of us had individual strength, but we never moved past school.
How will you compare the music industry of yesteryear and now?
It is a lot different now. Let me use dance as an example. When I used to dance, it was an engaging job. Nobody wanted pay but they wanted to have dancers. It was not a respected profession as it is now. Musicians are talented but dancers exert a lot of energy to get every move. That is why today, a music video is almost incomplete without a dance video. There are lots of songs that have gone far just because they added a dance routine to it. You can imagine what dance is now. People are now making a living from it.
You left the Xtreme dance group to join Ignite. What informed your decision to leave the group?
I left because I wanted to get into the mainstream. At that time, Ruggedman was someone who appreciated dance. We had the likes of P-Square, who embraced dance as well. As far as I’m concerned, they actually commercialised the profession, although Daddy Showkey and Baba Fryo had done a good job prior to that time. Ignite was a mainstream dance group that was growing at that time, and that was why I joined them.
It took you three years as an intern before the opportunity came for you to host a programme on radio. How were those three years of waiting like for you?
It was three years of darkness and unending hope. I never really thought I was going to get there. I went through a lot to get to where I am. But, I just wanted to get into the system and I persevered.
Your nickname is the ‘energy gad’. Where does your energy come from?
My energy is God given. I was a hyper active child. I can have a conversation with someone for three hours and not get tired.
How did you feel when the opportunity finally came?
I felt like I had waited for it for too long, so the excitement was when I was being considered to do daytime radio. Prior to that, I was on the night show doing a show called Straight Talk, where I talked to people on suicide. I used to talk to people who had bad marriages and relationships; as well as people who were depressed, and had insomnia. Imagine being on the radio for five hours through the night. It was fun! It was more like helping other people dream while achieving mine. But, at the end of the day, my goal was that I wanted to be on daytime radio.
You have anchored many shows and concerts. Which one was the most challenging for you?
The most challenging was one event I did and the person did not like it. I had to prostrate myself for the lady in front of her kids. Everybody at the show loved it, but she didn’t, and because she was the boss, she did not book me for the following year.
Which show/ concert has been the most memorable for you?
My most memorable concerts are all the Star Trek concerts I have done.
What does music mean to you?
For me, music is life. It is a wheel of change. It changes people’s dispensation and mindsets.
You recently became a voting member of the Grammys. What does that mean to you?
It is the absolute crown that I need as a person. I feel like having done to contribute to the growth of afrobeats in Nigeria, that was the crown I needed. It allows me to have a better relationship with other people in the same space. It opens up my mind to do as much as I can. I am happy it is happening now, after all my hard work over the years.
In what way will this Grammy membership affect your brand, and by extension the music industry?
It will grow. I am not just a member for one year but five years. That means Nigeria is also part of the global music conversation. It is going to give a lot of young guys and people in my business the opportunity to project beyond the way they are.
What distinguishes you from others in your line of work?
First, my energy. Second, my track record; and third, my resilience. I have been here for almost two decades, and I am still standing strong.
How do you unwind?
I spend time with my kids when I have the chance.
Do you cook?
I don’t cook but I like trying new things. I am not a bad cook; but I am also not a great cook.
What is your favourite colour?
My favourite colour is black.