Veteran Nigerian Dancehall star Timaya has opened up about his early career struggles and breakthrough in a recent interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast hosted by Joey Akan.
The award-winning artist shared how his first studio album True Story was initially sold for just ₦500,000 to a marketer in Lagos’ famous Alaba International Market.
According to Timaya, the deal, which may seem modest today, was a breakthrough and major opportunity for him at the time, as he was an up-and-coming artist eager to break into the highly competitive Lagos music scene. The album would go on to become a massive success, powered by street anthems like Timaya, Dem Mama, True Story, and Ogologoma.
Recalling the aftermath of the album’s success, Timaya revealed that the marketer was so impressed with the project’s performance that he later gave him an additional ₦7 million to fund music videos and even gifted him a car. “He gave me ₦7 million for the music videos and bought me a car. He said I was a good market,” Timaya recounted.
Following the success of his debut, Timaya said his second album Gift and Grace fetched him a much bigger deal. He initially received a ₦10 million offer, but another marketer, Abu Ventures, stepped in and sealed the deal for a staggering ₦24 million. This figure, at the time, was only commanded by music heavyweights like 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj.
Timaya credited the lucrative deal as the inspiration behind his hit track I Don Blow, signaling his arrival as a mainstream star. With nearly two decades in the industry, Timaya remains one of Nigeria’s most influential musicians, known for blending Dancehall, Highlife, and Hip-Hop to deliver countless street classics and club bangers.
Watch full interview below:
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