Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
From the gritty streets of Ajegunle in Lagos, where he once dreamed of a football career, to winning the Star Quest talent show with his duo KC Presh in 2002, Kcee has spent over two decades shaping the sound of Nigerian music. He exploded globally with the infectious 2013 hit “Limpopo,” which became a dancefloor movement, then continued to reinvent himself with club anthems like “Pullover,” “Okoso,” and later experiments in Ojapiano and highlife.
He dives deep into his evolution: the shift from hip-hop and Afropop while embracing his Igbo roots through the groundbreaking Cultural Praise series, sonically diverse albums like Mr. Versatile (2024) and the fresh 2025 highlife-Afrobeats fusion Okonkwo and Sons Unlimited (featuring Teni, Zoro, and more). Kcee opens up about longevity in an industry that often discards veterans, the business of reinvention, family ties with his brother E-Money, and why he’s still dropping hits and packing international stages well into his 40s. This is a masterclass in staying relevant while remaining rooted.
This episode of Afrobeats Intelligence is powered by OkayAfrica, the pulse of African culture, and sponsored by Martell.
0:00 - Intro
5:03 - Pivoting & extending artistry
8:58 - Deciding not to play the “game”
14:42 - Success in different eras
18:58 - Making money in music
21:16 - The idea of the celebrity being watered down
24:49 - Not getting the recognition
27:14 - The importance of Performing
32:38 - Identifying a hit record
36:00 - Working with writers
41:26 - African/Cultural sound vs. Pop sound
45:21 - Cultural fans & Pop fans
49:36 - Okonkwo and Sons Unlimited Album
52:10 - Family impact
1:00:29 - What do you take home?
1:05:04 - Kcee gives Joey his flowers
Discover more about Martell’s journey with Afrobeats: martell.com/en/martell-afrobeats
Follow Joey Akan for the latest coverage on African music culture and news.
Substack: afrobeatsintelligence.substack.com
instagram.com/joeyakan
instagram.com/afrobeatsintel
Follow KCee
Instagram: instagram.com/iam_kcee
🌍 For more music, news, and culture from the continent, check out OkayAfrica here: okayafrica.com
Follow us on socials:
Instagram: instagram.com/okayafrica
Facebook: facebook.com/okayafrica/#
X: twitter.com/OkayAfrica
TikTok: tiktok.com/@okayafrica
Join the OkayAfrica Whatsapp channel! : whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEhs9oIN9isCqSED809
Shop OkayAfrica merch here: shop.okayplayer.com/collections/okayafrica-shop
From the gritty streets of Ajegunle in Lagos, where he once dreamed of a football career, to winning the Star Quest talent show with his duo KC Presh in 2002, Kcee has spent over two decades shaping the sound of Nigerian music. He exploded globally with the infectious 2013 hit “Limpopo,” which became a dancefloor movement, then continued to reinvent himself with club anthems like “Pullover,” “Okoso,” and later experiments in Ojapiano and highlife.
He dives deep into his evolution: the shift from hip-hop and Afropop while embracing his Igbo roots through the groundbreaking Cultural Praise series, sonically diverse albums like Mr. Versatile (2024) and the fresh 2025 highlife-Afrobeats fusion Okonkwo and Sons Unlimited (featuring Teni, Zoro, and more). Kcee opens up about longevity in an industry that often discards veterans, the business of reinvention, family ties with his brother E-Money, and why he’s still dropping hits and packing international stages well into his 40s. This is a masterclass in staying relevant while remaining rooted.
This episode of Afrobeats Intelligence is powered by OkayAfrica, the pulse of African culture, and sponsored by Martell.
0:00 - Intro
5:03 - Pivoting & extending artistry
8:58 - Deciding not to play the “game”
14:42 - Success in different eras
18:58 - Making money in music
21:16 - The idea of the celebrity being watered down
24:49 - Not getting the recognition
27:14 - The importance of Performing
32:38 - Identifying a hit record
36:00 - Working with writers
41:26 - African/Cultural sound vs. Pop sound
45:21 - Cultural fans & Pop fans
49:36 - Okonkwo and Sons Unlimited Album
52:10 - Family impact
1:00:29 - What do you take home?
1:05:04 - Kcee gives Joey his flowers
Discover more about Martell’s journey with Afrobeats: martell.com/en/martell-afrobeats
Follow Joey Akan for the latest coverage on African music culture and news.
Substack: afrobeatsintelligence.substack.com
instagram.com/joeyakan
instagram.com/afrobeatsintel
Follow KCee
Instagram: instagram.com/iam_kcee
🌍 For more music, news, and culture from the continent, check out OkayAfrica here: okayafrica.com
Follow us on socials:
Instagram: instagram.com/okayafrica
Facebook: facebook.com/okayafrica/#
X: twitter.com/OkayAfrica
TikTok: tiktok.com/@okayafrica
Join the OkayAfrica Whatsapp channel! : whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaEhs9oIN9isCqSED809
Shop OkayAfrica merch here: shop.okayplayer.com/collections/okayafrica-shop
