by Adeola Balogun (The Punch, Nigeria)

He hails from a royal family in Omu Ijebu, a town his father once ruled in Ogun State. But he is not one that would subscribe to the idea that royal families are not to entertain but are to be entertained.

Lineo, a budding hip-hop artiste, whose real name is Prince Adekoya Adegboyega, says rather than being entertained, it has always been his dream to entertain people.

While a lot of musicians find it very difficult to enlist the support of their parents while cutting their teeth, Lineo, whose single, I Dey Ring, was recorded in 2004, enjoys the support of his mother, having lost his father a couple of years ago.

“My mother is my pillar of support in all areas. I had signified my intention to take to music while I was still very young. While everybody in my class at Mayflower (secondary school), Ikenne, gleefully talked about their dreams to become lawyers, doctors, or engineers, I was the only who insisted I would become an artiste. That was as early as JSS 1.

“Even though my dream seemed out of place in relation to what others wanted, it made me to be somehow popular in the school. Anytime there was going to be a musical presentation, I was asked to perform. I started miming songs in secondary school, and before I finished, I entered the studio to record my song. I must say that I got exposed to music very early in life,” he said.

Lineo, who attended the University of Abuja for a diploma in Mass Communication, said he had allayed any fears his parents might nurse concerning his early exposure to show business by promising to pursue his education to a logical end.

“My mother did not give me any condition when I told the family that I wanted to choose music. On my own, I promised them that my education would be given priority. Right now, I am looking to stepping up my education in England, Ghana or here in Nigeria. I can assure you that nothing is going to stop me from doing just that. It may seem impossible, but as an artiste, one should have a way of building a schedule which apportions time and space to other activities. It is not going to be easy, but that is what I am working at.”

Lineo, who became a fan of the African Queen crooner, 2face, as a teenager, said he intended to build his own brand.

“I admire 2face a lot. In fact, I walked up to him to declare my admiration for him and my desire to make him my role model. People often say we look alike. He is a great guy, but I want to always be myself. I have recorded a song with him. It is called Feel It, and will come out in my album.”

Lineo, who won the Icon Award in Port Harcourt as Naija Most Promising Artiste 2008, uses English and pidgin as media of expression in his music.

On stage, Lineo says he is a lion, because of his energetic performance which he says is borne out of youthfulness. He says he doesn’t have to take any performance-enhancing drug for his energetic stagecraft. He was reacting to the suggestion that drugs had become a tool of trade in the hip-hop profession.

Lineo, who admitted that there is nothing unusual about male artistes getting the attention of the opposite sex, said he knew how to handle the daughters of Eve so as not to distract him.

He said, “I have my eyes and mind focused on realising my dreams. I still have a long way to go as far as education is concerned. My art too is just about to take a lift. So, there is no way any girl will distract me. I am a young man; that I know. But when it comes to keeping focus, I am a strong character. Girls are part of entertainment. I know how to handle that. I don’t have any serious relationship, but I have female friends and admirers, and they are not going to derail me.”

Lineo, who has performed at shows with some other artistes apart from 2face, said modelling was another art he had embraced as a handsome young man. “I have done a few jobs, modelling for some organisations, including Globacom. I see music and modeling as one. I don’t make the mistake of separating the two, because as an artiste, you are open to modelling and endorsement.”