I sold my infinite Jeep for my Master’s degree – Nigerian musician Don Saint says

Chigozie Nwafor a.k.a Don Saint is a Nigerian musician from Anambra state. The Hip Hop act has been singing since 2003. In 2004 ‘he released his first 3 singles with his ex group D. Angels and later that year dropped their first debut Album.
So Far Don Saint has 3 Album to his credit: Rock till mama calls in 2004, Exodus in 2009 and Last Commercial in 2011.
In 2006 he debuts another single Cinderella, which he believes brought him to Limelight and got him a record deal in 2007 with Snude Entertainment, a household name in the movies industry owned by Sunday Nnajiude, a renowned movie producer/director.
In this interview, Don Saint talks about his life and more.

By Delia Innoma (Live Online With Delia)

Please tell us briefly about yourself.

My name is Chigozie Nwafor a.k.a Don Saint a.k.a money in the bag a.k.a the Don of the south east. I’m from Anambra state.

When did you start singing professionally?

Since 2003, when I dropped my first 3 singles with my ex group D. Angels. Then in 2004, we dropped our debut album.

How many albums do you have to your credit?

Three albums: Rock till mama calls in 2004, Exodus in 2009 and Last commercial in 2011.

Which song brought you to limelight?

I think Cinderella, in 2006. I just did it as a single then and it got me a record deal in 2007 with Snude Entertainment , a household name in the movie industry, owned by Sunday Nnajiude, a renowned movie producer/director.

Tell us of your journey into Music?

I started with the movie industry. I used to write scripts and sell them. But back then, I was also a music addict. Then, they used to pay us 500 naira for each role. So at a point, I decided to switch over to music, but I still continued writing movie scripts until 2007.

In 2003, I hooked up with my homies and formed the group D. Angels and dropped our first 3 singles. In 2004, we dropped our debut album. We started organizing shows back in the university and we rocked from stage to stage. I can remember on February 2004, I and my S.U.G crew brought 2Face Idibia, Face and Black Face to town, which was one of the biggest concerts then in the south east.

In 2006, we decided to go solo, and then, I dropped Cinderella as a single in 2006. The song got me a record deal with Snude Entertainment. I dropped Exodus album in 2009 and moved on till this very moment. Now I’m rocking with my own entertainment company So-Plain Entertainment, but still ready to do business with anybody.

Why the name ‘Don Saint?

Don Saint is just a reflection of life. The world is made up of the good and the bad. I’m a Don and also a Saint, so it depends on which side of me you want to see.

Tell us a bit about your music label.

So-Plain Entertainment is just an entertainment company. When I left Silverbird, I decided to register my own entertainment company officially and I did that in 2010, and we are into concerts, events, promotions and Dj services.

Do you manage other artistes as well?

Not yet, but I promote artistes all over the world, both big and upcoming artistes.

Many musicians drop out of school for their music career. Why did you choose to do your Masters instead?

Well, like I always say to people, music is my hustle and education is my back up. I sold my infinite Jeep for my MA. Maybe I wanna be the first MC with MA, just like Naeto C.

After graduation, will you pick up a job or continue with music?

It’s music all the way for the next 5 or 6 years, before I go for my PhD. Right now, I need to hit the street after my masters. And if I will pick a job after rocking the street with my music, it will be a job of a special adviser to the president, make I chop my own national cake (laughs).

You used to work with Silverbird rhythm FM as their events manager. Why did you leave?

That was when I decided to go back to school for my masters, I needed to focus. Back in Silverbird I was into a lot of things, and also that was when I registered my own company. I decided to invest on myself, and in my company. No beef, believe me.

Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years?

In the next 3 years, I should be collecting awards, because I know I’ll be everywhere like GSM. I don’t just do music, I drop hits, and if you doubt you can Google any of my tracks and confirm. The problem I have is that I have not shot a good video. The last video I shot was a long time ago. So as soon as I’m free by next year, I will relocate back to Lagos and hit the game up.

Which is the best show you have ever done and where?

Most of my best shows were in Calabar. Back in 2008, where I served during my NYSC, as DJ in Pinnacle Nite club, Mirage hotel; back then I performed on the same stage with Neyo, Fat Joe, Joe and Dj Hoodkid of G.unit during their Christmas carnival.

Calabar is where I have a lot of fans, even the Governor is also my fan. That is why he sponsored a concert I did with my crew during their carnival, HIV/AID awareness concert, which featured Basket mouth and others.

Also I represented Cross River state with my crew in Abuja during NYSC drama and Music national competition in 2008. It took us four (4) months to learn Cross River dance and after that, we came back with the cup. And at the end of my service year, I won a state award and a job at their local government, but I left, because I know that I’ve got swagger, and I want something bigger than that, but Calabar still remains my second home.

Has the Nigerian music industry improved compared to 10 years ago?

The industry is growing every day. Ten years ago 80% of us are more interested in foreign music, but right now, we are taking over the world…believe me. Anywhere you turn, you will see us. Nigeria music is everywhere now.

What type of music do you do?

I’m an afro hip-hop rapper, but can still do any kind of music, as long as it’s good and pleasant to the ear.

Are you married?

No, I’m still single

Are you doing any other project apart from Music and schooling?

I’m an internet promoter. I promote Artistes all over the world through the internet and at the end of the month, you can get up to 10,000 downloads of your song. Depending on how good your song is. We don’t wait for people to come to our sites to download songs. We take the songs to them, wherever they are. That is what I call grass root internet promotion. And no other person in this country can run it the way we do. The database we have now, we started building it since 3 years. So, if you wanna start now, you have to wait till next 3 or 4 years for it to mature.

How do you cope with your female fans?

I handle them as friends and fans. I will soon have a MA in human relations. So I think it will be a big shame if I don’t know how to handle them. I play cool, but I don’t play fool (laughs).

Anything else you’ll like to say?

You’ve covered everything. Let me add that Nollywoodgossip is the bomb and I love you all.

Nollywoodgossip wishes you the best.

Thanks.