Timaya on Hustling From Backup Singer to Afrobeats Royalty


Veteran Nigerian Dancehall artist Timaya reflected on his early career journey during an interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast with Joey Akan. He revealed that his debut album True Story was initially sold for just ₦500,000 to a marketer in Alaba International Market, a modest deal that became a turning point. The album’s success led the marketer to later gift Timaya ₦7 million for music videos and a car, recognizing him as “a good market.”

Timaya’s second album Gift and Grace brought even bigger success, with Abu Ventures eventually securing the deal for ₦24 million, a sum previously only offered to top stars like 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj. He credited this deal as the inspiration for his hit I Don Blow, marking his rise to mainstream fame. Nearly 20 years on, Timaya remains a major force in Nigerian music, known for his unique blend of Dancehall, Highlife, and Hip-Hop.

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