DJ Cuppy is not just her father's daughter

DJ Cuppy is a peculiar personality in this game of Nigerian Entertainment throne. If she were a character in the award-winning TV show, she’ll be good money to end up in House Lannister.

Bursting onto the scene fully in 2014 after the completion of her Business and Economics degree at King’s College London, the pretty disc jockey had to struggle for two things; creating a personality that is not reliant on her father’s image, and also, getting the needed acceptance as a music entity.

Her strides since then have been in these directions, with mixed but considerable success.

First, Cuppy will never escape the pristine image of Daddy’s girl. She’s too much of her father’s daughter to create a perception-distance from the Otedola name. Florence Ifeoluwa Cuppy Otedola became famous, first, for being Femi Otedola’s daughter.

She has worked hard at it, but never will it go away. One begins to think she will embrace that image as a great strenghth, and utilise it to further her act. Already it’s working for her. Many Nigerians on social media are of the opinion that her performance at the inauguration ceremony of President Buhari came via daddy. That is unconfirmed…neither has their been proof to think otherwise.

But irrespective of this, Cuppy has worn her hardwork as a badge. Any fool can be the custodian of immeasurable wealth, but not many can put the money to strategic use.

‘House of Cuppy 1’ was a game-changer for Cuppy in 2014. An 8-track remix of great songs including Kcee’s ‘Limpopo’, it was the first official body of work from the House genre which Cuppy Champions. It signalled her intent for uniqueness, as she somewhat arrogantly shuns the Afro pop culture, instead, sanitising it for personal artistic gain.

2015 has brought ‘House of Cuppy 2’, another rinse and repeat of the first mix, albeit with comedy skits, and improved sound engineering giving it a fresh feel. Cuppy’s growth in this regard is tangible. Juxtaposing her two compilations will confirm that.

Right now she is on another mission on the continent, with a view to expanding and promoting her brand. DJ Cuppy has kicked off an African tour. Titled ‘Cuppy Takes  Africa’, the ambitious tour which kicked off in Lagos, on August 1, will run through eight countries with a final stop in South Africa. Up next for Cuppy and her colourful train is Senegal, then Ghana, on to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and finally, South Africa.

At the end of her tour, Cuppy is expected to have grown in stature and talent that would traverse country lines. That’s what the point is.

With all these strides in the game, DJ Cuppy is entering her own right. Her acceptance profile has grown. What remains for her now is to prove to the guys on the street who would listen to her mixes and indirectly influence her invites to gigs, that she can sustain the party, not only with House, but also drawing from a variety of genre’s.