Drugs pushed me into trying to go to UK without visa –Singer Solidstar Speaks on His Struggles with Drugs
Joshua Iniyezo, the singer popularly known as Solidstar has recounted how hard drugs once made him believe he could travel to the United Kingdom without any visa.
Solidstar appeared as a guest on an episode of The Honest Bunch podcast with Nedu, and he spoke about his battle with drug addiction and the challenges he had to face.
Solidstar disclosed that some young boys introduced him to Crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as Ice, and he suffered terribly owing to his constant usage.
“A lot of things happen to me, young boys introduced me to this substance called ice. This was three years back. This thing really do bad, affect me a lot.
“Sometimes this substance go tell me say ‘You’e a King’, e go tell me say I be king I no suppose pay for stuff. Can you believe I waka from Awoyaya to Orient@l Hotel”, he said.
According to the Nwa Baby crooner, it affected him so badly that he there was a time he woke up one morning and attempted to travel to do the UK without any document.
The songwriter said his brother, who had cried out for help on his behalf few months ago followed him on the impossible journey.
Solidstar explained that it also led to an altercation between him and a taxi driver, where he hit the driver’s glass because the driver refused to take him to the airport because of his lack of funds.
Watch him speak here.
Meanwhile, Solidstar who has been off the limelight for some time due to his battle with drug addiction, said when he hit stardom, many thought he was Ghanaian because of his unique style.
He claimed that he was a source of inspiration to many artistes in the industry, stating that the remix of his 2009 hit song ‘One In A Million’ featuring Tubaba inspired PSquare’s hit song ‘Possibility’ which featured the same artist.
He said; “It was ‘One In A Million’ that paved the way for me in the music industry. I won the Best New Artist at the Nigerian Music Video Awards with the song. Many even thought I was Ghanaian, they didn’t know I’m Nigerian because my style then was different.
“It was my song [‘One In A Million’] that changed the sound of the Nigerian music industry. It was also the inspiration behind P-Square’s ‘Possibility’ featuring 2Baba.
“The song changed the Nigerian music industry. It came with its unique style. I slowed the tempo down and everyone started copying that pattern.”
By Ezinne Okorie.
