Nigerian music star, Kingsley Okonkwo, popularly known as Kcee, has given fresh insight into his strained relationship with highlife sensation Flavour, years after their public clash set social media buzzing.
The tension between the pair peaked in 2024 when Flavour dropped a cryptic message on social media, accusing an unnamed musician of copying his sound.
Although he didn’t mention anyone, Kcee fired back and cautioned him against gatekeeping Igbo highlife .
He also reminded him that he had already made his mark in the industry long before Flavour’s rise.
In a new interview with Yanga FM Lagos on Sunday, Kcee reflected on the origins of their rocky relationship and recalled the first time they met.
According to him, popular talent manager Soso Soberekon had introduced a young Flavour to him years ago for a potential record deal.
Kcee said he turned down signing Flavour, not out of malice, but because he didn’t see enough potential in him at the time. However, he insisted that the rejection was not the root cause of their later feud.
The “Limpopo” hitmaker maintained that the fallout was more about artistic ego, industry pressures, and miscommunication than any personal grudge from the past.
“Till now, I don’t understand the reason for his beef with me, especially that incident where he alleged that someone was copying him. The truth is that when some people had written you off, hoping that you would be stagnant, and you worked hard and got to a level they didn’t expect you to reach, that was what happened.
“I came into the music industry before Flavour. Soso Soberekon brought him to me years ago to sign to my record label. I was already driving exotic cars and balling before he came to Lagos. I told Soso I can’t sign Flavour because I didn’t see potential in him at that time. It wasn’t because I have something against him.
“I don’t think that was why he is holding a grudge against me. But time shall tell. A lot of my colleagues underrate my talent, and my humility also contributed to that. Because I don’t brag. I don’t need it.
”But as I always say, time will always prove them wrong. My work always proves every doubter wrong. Some of those who doubted me in the past have come to apologise to me and admitted that they were wrong about me,” Kcee stated
