Life after P-Square: Mr. P goes solo

Popular, swinging, unique, pioneering: Peter Okoye is all of these. You probably know him best as Mr. P.

Together with his twin brother, he formed the P-Square, the first Afrobeat supergroup, which was a huge success. They set the standard and paved the way for the explosion of musical talent we’ve seen in the last decade.

Now, more than three years after the duo’s abrupt separation, Mr. P is finally set to release his first solo album, “The Prodigal” (“The Prodigal”).

Therefore, it is not surprising that such an influential personality could have been able to tap into his extensive contact book. Teni, Simi, Tiwa Savage, and Mohombi all make guest appearances. Wande Coal collaborated on the first single, “Follow My Lead”.

This does not mean that Mr. P is too concerned about the choice of promotional track. But the production of this record has not always been smooth due to the pandemic, political protests, and personal tragedies.

The recent death of Mr. P’s father-in-law follows a summer of upheaval in which his entire family caught the Covid-19. The experience leaves him little time for coronavirus deniers in Nigeria.

According to him, “it is really sad that here people still doubt that Covid is real”.

Who were P-Square?

The twins Peter and Paul Okoye, from Anambra, Nigeria, were born on 18 November 1981. They founded the famous Nigerian hip-hop group, P-Square.

During their studies at St. Murumba College, a Catholic school in Jos, they started singing in the school’s theatre group.

In 1997, inspired by American hip hop, they imitated their idols Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, and MC Hammer.

Despite their musical aspirations, they studied business and administrative management at the University of Abuja.

In 2001, the duo made their name by participating in a competition for young talent.

In 2003, they released their debut album “Last night”, which earned them a nomination at the Kora Awards for African Music in the category “Most Promising African Group”.

Two years later, in 2005, their album “Get Squared,” produced by their label Square Records, sold over 10 million copies. It was then crowned “Album of the Year in 2006” at the Nigerian Music Awards.

Their third album, “Game over”, released in 2007, earned them several nominations.

In 2010, they won the award for best video clip at the Kora Awards with a million-dollar prize.

In 2011, they signed with the Senegalese label Konvick Muzik from Akon, where they release “Invasion,” their fifth album.

Their latest album, Double Trouble, dates from 2014 with the title “Shekini”, which is a huge success in Africa and also in the Maghreb, particularly in Morocco.