Does Mr P have enough to launch a successful solo career after Psquare?

Let’s face it, Psquare are no more…for now. While the dust settles on what has been another messy beef which has achieved the aim of demystifying their brand and muddying their legacy, I think we all can move through to a world where there isn’t two Okoye brothers wowing audiences across the world, and settle on what the remnants of their breakup can create.

In all of this business, there’s just been one common antagonist: Peter Okoye, who has been the one suing for everything to fall down. His wishes have been grounded. Psquare has crashed and burned, if it were a city, it would be described with the desolate word: ruins.

But you know what ruins are good for. They represent a chance for something beautiful to rise. Like a silver lining of a dark cloud, there has to be something good to come out from this entire mess.

Peter Okoye believes that he is that good spot. He thinks he is the best thing to come down from crashing a toxic structure, and he has gone about pushing his narrative to the media.

“During the whole Psquare, I was the one doing the whole structure, and trying to get things done properly,” he told HipTV. “I’ve been a creative person, and I haven’t stopped till today. I am very creative, but people still look at me like a dancer. It hurts, but I still remain a creative person.”

Peter Okoye is pushing for a solo career like a man on a mission. He has successfully cut out his brothers Paul and Jude from his business, and he is working hard at disproving the image that Nigeria has of him. He dances like a pro, but is that all he can do?

Does Mr P has enough to be a solo artist?

The case for Peter requires context. The group’s popularity and their stardom effect on the public, is Peter's responsibility. Growing up, one of the greatest allure of Psquare’s artistry is their ability to create various outlets of expression. Singing was their first love, which they have held down. But the other most important facet is the dancing component.

Whether they are channelling Michael Jackson, Usher, Chris Brown or Omarion, Psquare’s most vital part of their branding and performance has been their ability to dance. This dancing has been the crucial part of their visual representation, and Peter has it. He has the gift of body coordination, and the passion to push himself, beyond limits. Peter have driven the brand and their interaction with fans via his dancing.

From their earlier days, while Paul indulged in the art from a young age, it has always been Peter who had the natural flair for it. And over decades, he has given the team balance, and driven their growth on screen and onstage.

Psquare’s biggest music videos created an impact on pop culture because of the dancing. It’s on equal footing with the music. On ‘Senorita’, Peter’s dancing skills sealed the deal with making it one of their trademark videos. And as the years flew by and the projects dropped, he grew into the role with a consistency that is worthy of emulation. Songs such as ‘Shekini’, ‘Roll it’, and ‘Alingo’ became legendary hits because of Peter’s involvement in creating a visual experience for the world.

Psquare’s biggest video of their musical career is ‘Personally’. The project which dropped in June 2013, was a tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Peter grabbed the visual by the neck and ran with it. That was his dance magnum opus. The video currently has almost 75 million views.

Away from his moves, Peter gives the brand stylistic appreciation. He is a peacock and exhibitionist, who works hard at creating the sleek bad-boy image that everyone associates with Psquare. This image has been the sole reason why they appeal to a younger demographic. Which young boy does not want to have his good looks? Show me a young girl who doesn’t hold a fantasy about Peter, and all the naughty things they would do to him.

In music, Peter is light years behind Paul, but he contributes in the A&R process. Peter has an uncanny ability to spot hits. And when he feels excitement about a record, it almost always translates to excitement for fans. His recording process with Paul has over time diminished to hooks, bridges and adlibs. And although there have been campaigns to lower his contributions, he is still as relevant to the group and to the culture as when they started.

But as a solo artist, Peter would need to take responsibility for his music. He no longer has Paul Okoye to carry his vocals. He needs to get in bed back with celebrated voice trainer Rachel Kerr, and find a songwriter to pen him the hits. Vtek is a great producer, he can handle that part.

At 36 years of age, Peter Okoye is a relatively old man in the music industry. But hopefully, old horses can still learn new tricks and run races to completion. Peter Okoye has the branding, he simply needs to fix the music, and everything might just fall in place for him.