Hiplife artiste Kokovelli has rejected the notion that he is a pompous character.

The Zaaza singer, born Nathaniel Totimeh, said people who make such remarks about him obviously do not know him well.

He said these in an interview on Entertainment Capital on Accra FM on Saturday April 1.

Asked by show host Bismark Boachie (DJ Premier) if there was any truth in the perception that he was a rude character in showbiz circles, Kokovelli responded: “…Anyone who knows me knows I am not arrogant.”

He said such perception lingered but showbiz personalities who later worked with him realised he was a different character to what was said about him.

One of such persons, Kokovelli said, was sound engineer JQ who, after a stint with the artiste, was won over by his demeanour and realising all the negative press about him was false. Kokovelli recalled Dada Hafco, formerly of Mframa fame, who famously remarked, after becoming close friend of his, that all that was said about Koko, as he is also known, was “mere talk”, coming away with the idea that it was necessary to be close to people before forming opinions about them.

“That’s why we say, ‘Thou shall not judge,’ because if you judge someone based on how they appear you would have judged wrongly, which would be a sin…” said Kokovelli, who is back with a new track, Kill Me Again, featuring Shatta Wale.

But the Alele Kenkele composer said he had been battling stereotypes right from the late ’90s when he emerged on the music scene. Sporting dreadlocks and baggy jeans then, he had to live with the misconception that he was a drug addict and a delinquent. However, Kokovelli, born Nathaniel Totimeh, said it was in keeping with the style of musicians abroad at the time, and partly due to naivety.

“At the time, we were young and we felt we should do something different, like keeping your hair in locks or braids… We imitated the mannerisms and dress codes of Western artistes, wearing baggy jeans and all…” he explained, adding that 20 years or so since he broke unto the scene, he would be “embarrassed” to wear oversized jeans on stage.

Other compositions of Kokovelli include Odo Posie, Agye Amirika Tu, Otete Mpoma Mu.