To the ladies, he’s a dream hubby, to the guys he’s an ideal model and to the fans he’s all-round entertainer. Gifted with other abilities such as acting, directing and more, Bankole Wellington alias Banky W has been able to redefine the phrase ‘Jack of all Trades master of none because he is indeed a master of all’.

Taking the Nigerian music industry by storm in 2008 with Ebute Metta – a sample of Rihanna’s 2007 hit single, Umbrella, the United States returnee headed straight to the upper echelon of the industry and never looked back.

Banky W is not just a talented entertainer, he also possesses an eye for raw talent and the ability to polish those talents to stars. He has been doing that since 2010 with his label Empire Mates Entertainment (EME) which he founded with his friends – Tunde and Segun Demuren brothers at the age of 21 back in the U.S.

Signing Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid and Raoul John Njeng-Njeng alias Skales to EME, Banky W provided two stellar acts who brought something fresh to the music game.

He went further to bolster the EME talent roaster when he signed singers, Eniola Akinbo alias Niyola and Shadrach Adeboye Folarin aka Shaydee alongside Rotimi Alakija aka DJ Xclusive after which the label released a critically acclaimed joint album in 2012.

However, not all has been rosy for EME, as it has had its own fair share of crisis and controversy which happened when its ‘golden boys’ Wizkid and Skales exited the label.

We had a chat with the EME label boss on this week’s #YNaijaTwitterInterview where he talked to us about the exit of Wizkid in particular, how the brand and label has been able to move from such a huge departure, the future of the label and more.

 

Here is what he had to say;

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: Hello @BankyW thanks for joining us today ☺

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

Happy to be here, thanks for the invite. Leggo! https://t.co/Xla5sRX7V9

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

It affects everything; in harsh times, it’s typical for companies to cut their marketing budgets to make up 4 loss https://t.co/WzlSpdWXmM

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

And that directly impacts the creative industry because a lot of what is paid to us comes directly from there.

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

But as always, we will survive and flourish by God’s grace 🙂

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW How would you personally define your role in the creative process of your artistes?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

I like artists to have a strong vision for themselves. I just try to add to it and help them shape & perfect it. https://t.co/SOKG8MedSo

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

it could be anything from helping with songwriting/lyrics, A&R-ing albums, shooting videos, creating/ executing marketing plans

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

Image, life advise, Guidance/Counselling.. really whatever is necessary to help them be better artists and better people

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW which of your artistes do you most enjoy working with? ?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterIntwrview: @BankyW ? speaking of, If you had a do over, would you have done more to keep @wizkidayo at EME?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

Lol. I’m very proud of the role I played in helping him get started, of what we accomplished together, and all he has done since.

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

If all my artistes had the exact same trajectory, Id be the happiest executive in the world. They’re not meant 2 be with me forever

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW How was yur experience at the #OneAfricaMusicFest; and how'd you describe the reception of African music?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

It was amazing. I believe African music is the next big thing on the world music scene, and it’s great to be a part https://t.co/Sd1lb6XjQq

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW Are there international collaborations in the works?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterIntwrview: @BankyW When should we expect the hip-hop collaboration between you and DJ Xclusive?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

After the "Songs about you" album drops ? https://t.co/yBH7xsoIDA

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW what convinced you to you to take the leading role in #TheWeddingParty?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

I plan to write & direct my own movie scripts one day – but I want to start by being a part of quality productions https://t.co/4xBUFe9hSb

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

 

Didn’t wanna be arrogant and assume I can do it all, immediately. So I wanted the chance to learn & play a role https://t.co/4xBUFe9hSb

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

So when they offered me the chance to audition, I jumped at it. Luckily I got the part! And I’m SO excited about it https://t.co/4xBUFe9hSb

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#TheWeddingPartyFilm is gonna be the movie of the year, and I’m SO honoured to be a part of it. Bigups to @kemiadetiba the director

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview @BankyW So what, if any, are the challenges working in this new terrain?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

In the film.. it was just one great learning experience for me. I was surrounded by some of the best actors so.. https://t.co/GxmoLkqigP

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

I just wanted to make sure I put my best foot forward, and learnt as much as I could from them. Didn't wanna disappoint them

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW whose acting, mostly did you use as a template to 'sculpt' yours?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

I didn't really use anyone's as a "template".. I just studied the way they went about their craft & learnt from it https://t.co/9ukt6zO7ZB

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: .@BankyW In an interview with Channels in March, you said you might be taking… 1/2

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

man proposes God disposes. The chips will fall where they will, and it will work out just fine ?

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW How does it feel being the most 'eligible bachelor' in the country at the moment ??

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

Lol. Feels great. https://t.co/43oeT5PI58

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW On the recent trend of apologies for the @MBuhari govt/administration what is your own stance on this?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

I feel like.. by and large, the intentions have been in the right place, but the execution has been lacking. https://t.co/8Br3VoVTPF

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

We don't like to use words like recession.. but that is the exact state that our country is in. https://t.co/8Br3VoVTPF

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

Between the oil prices crashing (our over dependence on it), & the depletion of reserves by the previous Govt.. https://t.co/8Br3VoVTPF

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

It was going to be a monumental task to right the ship, No matter who we put in. My hope is that they get it done https://t.co/8Br3VoVTPF

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW Today being #YouthDay, what do you feel young people can do to elicit more action from the government?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

The problem is decades of failed leadership AND citizen apathy. We're so used to things being bad that we don't care https://t.co/NcO3w9hTMa

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

@YNaija pic.twitter.com/UksXdeoliE

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW Do you see yourself ever running for a position? Is there a politician in the EME boss? ☺

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

I've always seen myself more as someone who will influence those who are in power, as opposed to BEING in power https://t.co/gazvAmZlFl

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

but Unever know. At some point the intelligent ones among us, that have integrity need to be directly involved or we wont get better

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

#YNaijaTwitterInterview: @BankyW and in closing, are you planning on signing new (more) artistes to @officialEme?

— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 12, 2016

My focus at the moment is all the albums we are about to drop.. Shaydee's, Mine, Niyola's & DJ XClusive's party https://t.co/4nEKJN7Trw

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016

But once I have those up and running, It's definitely possible. I just try not to bite off more than I can chew https://t.co/4nEKJN7Trw

— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) August 12, 2016