He grew amidst a lot of negativities and bad social influence. From being a bus conductor to becoming a major musical icon; discovering the greatness in him against all odds. Here is Gbedutainment’s One on One with the African renowned entertainer, Tha Suspect.

Gbedutainment: We know you as Tha Suspect, but we are sure it’s not your birth name, so could you disclose it to a lot of us who don’t know it?

Tha Suspect: My names are David Udoh Peter.

Gbedutainment: Ok, So when did David discover that he had an hidden talent and decided to pursue it in the persona of Tha Suspect?

Tha Suspect: I associated with a lot of violence growing up, considering the fact that I grew up among thieves, robbers and every negatively driven association that a regular ghetto kid is faced with. Music was just something I toyed with along football. I was a conductor at some point so I sang bus stops instead of calling them.

Gbedutainment: Lol… interesting. So at what point did you see the positivity in yourself amidst all these negative things?… When did you decide to leave that life for music?

Tha Suspect: At some point, I noticed that I was doing stuff… either soccer, jokes and most especially mimicking people’s songs and it made people happy. It gave me some sense of belonging and it felt good making somebody smile so that was it for me.

Gbedutainment: Hmmnn… I see you are also a producer and you have worked with big names including Wyclef Jean. How do you match both characters, being a recording artiste and at the same time production?

Tha Suspect: Well, like I always tell people who ask this same question, these are sides to me that I can’t run away from because “they compliment themselves”.

Gbedutainment: What was it like working with Wyclef jean?

Tha Suspect: I wasn’t expecting it because it fell on a day that I was home, relaxing with my family. That was when I got a call to show up in the Lab and I had just left some hours before then. I thought my partner Clarence was trying to pull a prank on me but he assured to show up. He said he wasn’t too sure about it himself but it was a risk I was willing to take. Now I’m glad I did because Clef has been one of my major influences. I felt humbled by his attitude towards work. Even as a multi-platinum selling artiste that he is, he was willing to do whatever I told him to. He listened to every note I told him to hit and he did exactly the same thing. I am humbled.

Gbedutainment: Cool! So tell us, are you currently working on an album or any tour?… What are you up to right now?

Tha Suspect: I’m working on a Producer’s album titled “I am Music”. It is situation whereby a producer puts out a compilation of his own original stuff not mix tape and then I get to write and do a lot of vocal directions, no matter how the artiste is. On some of the tracks, my voice gets heard, either on the hooks, on a verse or some other case, the whole song.

Gbedutainment: Ok, I see.So when should your fans be expecting the release of “I am music” ?

Tha Suspect: Well, it should drop in November this year, but on a worst case scenario, then 1st quarter next year. It depends on the promotion though.

Gbedutainment: Ok. So lets take a little drift now because of your female fans, is Tha Suspect married?

Tha Suspect: Tha suspect is engaged…. or rather David Peter is engaged to some chic while Tha Suspect is married to his music.

Gbedutainment: Lool.. I feel you Suspect. What is your greatest fear in life?

Tha Suspect: My greatest fear is not being able to achieve what I was put here to do.

Gbedutainment: Hmm, that is deep! You briefly mentioned your partner, Clarence. What is your relationship with him?

Tha Suspect: Clarence Peters is my brother from another mother o… we grew up together in Orishe, Ikeja. We were in the same Capella group (The Praise Brothers) and we started Capital together.

Gbedutainment: So you are not just signed to capital hill, you are a partner, right?

Tha Suspect: Yeah, with Clarence as CEO.

Gbedutainment: Oh, now I understand.

Tha Suspect: He is my boss.

Gbedutainment: A lot of your fans in the US would love to know, are you planning a US tour?

Tha Suspect: Not yet… it would be proper for me to come and do a one-off performance first, check the acceptance and know what the people there feel most before planning an elaborate tour.

Gbedutainment: Hmm, that’s smart. I must confess, you are a very humble celebrity, how do you feel when you walk on the streets and your fans hail you or sometimes do ridiculous things just to say hi to you. How do you feel?

Tha Suspect: I am first and foremost not a celebrity, I’m human with feelings and emotions and I try my best to respect other people’s own too.

Gbedutainment: Good.

Tha Suspect: What you call “humility” is Diplomacy in this sector.

Gbedutainment: Lol… Alot of youngsters aspire to be like you someday, what is your advice to them?

Tha Suspect: Let them be themselves… I’m still trying to discover myself too. Focus and determination is the watchword.

Gbedutainment: Well, thanks for your time.

Tha Suspect: Thanks for the interest in Naija music and enetertainment,  and big ups to Gbedutainment.

Sometime ago, we posted the original Tuaile video. Here is the remix from Tha Suspect featuring the versatile fuji artiste, pasuma wonder.

Tuaile ft Pasuma (Fuji version)

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