Singer Kingsley Okonkwo, popularly known as Kcee, has clarified his long-rumoured fallout with fellow highlife star Flavour, stating that he remains unsure about the root of the alleged dispute between them.
The tension between both artistes resurfaced in 2024 after Flavour appeared to accuse an unnamed musician of copying his musical style on social media. Although no name was mentioned, Kcee responded at the time, warning against “gatekeeping” Igbo cultural music and noting that he had been in the industry before Flavour.
In a trending interview with Yanga FM Lagos, Kcee recounted his first encounter with Flavour, revealing that talent manager Soso Soberekon once introduced Flavour to him in hopes of securing a record deal. According to him, he declined the offer because he did not see potential in Flavour at the time.
He said, “Till now, I don’t understand the reason for his beef with me, especially that incident where he alleged that someone was copying him. The truth is that when some people have written you off, hoping that you would be stagnant, and you work hard and get to a level they don’t expect, that was what happened.”
Kcee added that he was already making significant strides in the industry when Flavour arrived in Lagos. “Soso Soberekon brought him to me years ago to sign to my record label. I was already driving exotic cars and balling before he came to Lagos. I told Soso I couldn’t sign Flavour because I didn’t see potentials in him at that time,” he said.
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The singer, however, dismissed suggestions that the rejected record deal may be the reason for their strained relationship. “I don’t think that was why he is holding a grudge against me. But time shall tell,” he said.
Kcee also noted that many colleagues underestimate his talent because of his humility, stressing that his body of work has consistently proven critics wrong.
“A lot of my colleagues underrate my talent, and my humility contributes to that because I don’t brag. But as I always say, time will always prove them wrong. My work always proves every doubter wrong. Some of those who doubted me in the past have come to apologise and admitted that they were wrong about me,” he added.