Tag: MI abaga

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It Took Me One Year To Find And Sign Brymo To Chocolate City – Veteran Rapper, MI Abaga Reveals

Nigerian rapper Jude Abaga, popularly known as MI Abaga, has recounted the year-long search that eventually led him to discover and sign the enigmatic singer Brymo to Chocolate City.

Speaking on the Vbyz TV Cartel, Abaga explained that, after the commercial and critical triumph of his own projects, along with those of labelmates Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince, the natural next step was to broaden the label’s scope.

The 44-year-old record producer said his next move was to bring a singer into the fold to “fill out the group”.

Abaga said he randomly heard Brymo’s voice, adding that “it took me a year to find” him and sign him to Chocolate City.

“We were ready, and the rest, they say, is history. My album did really well, Jesse Jagz dropped an album after that, and it did really well, Ice Prince dropped after that, and it did really well,” he said.

“I started looking for how we could expand because I’ve always had this mindset of expansion, so I was like, we need a singer to fill out the group.

“I actually tried to get Yung6ix on board, the deal didn’t work out, and he ended up going to Storm Records. I tried to get Shaydee on board, and it didn’t work out; he ended up going to EME.

“In the middle of this, too, I met Wizkid; he was really young, and I put him on my first album.


“And all these were happening at the time, and then one day I heard a voice, and I was like, who is this kid?.

“It took me like a year to find him. His name was Brymo; he joined our label, and we became the Choc Boys that became the foundation of Chocolate City.”

Born Olawale Ibrahim Ashimi, Brymo signed with Chocolate City in 2010 and rose to prominence, notably after featuring on Ice Prince’s hit single ‘Oleku’.
He left the label in 2013.

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How I Was Chased Off Headies Red Carpet In 2008 For Omotola To Take Pictures – MI Abaga Recounts (Video)

Ace Nigerian rapper Jude ‘MI’ Abaga has recalled being chased off the red carpet at the 2008 Headies Awards to make way for veteran actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde to take photos.

MI Abaga, in a recent interview on the Vbyz TV Cartel, described the period leading up to the awards as one of unrecognised hard work.

Abaga said that despite being nominated in the ‘Best Rap Single’ category, people on the red carpet did not know him, as they said, ‘common, get out of here’ to accommodate Omotola‘s photo session.

The 44-year-old rapper added that everyone at the ceremony looked at him differently after taking his award.

He said, “I have been grinding and no one cares about who I am and in February 2008, I was announced as the winner for ‘Best Rap Single’ and literally my life changed that day. I remember I was walking into the crowd with my manager and as we were walking in Omotola came in with her security.

“The people on the red carpet did not even know I was nominated, so they were just like ‘common get out of here’. So we went to stand at one other corner and because Omotola was moving from side to side to take her picture, they kept chasing us from place to place.

“I was just looking at stardom and two hours later, I had an award in my hand, a gold plaque from Ayo Animashaun and after that plaque, everybody was like ‘MI is in the game’. After that it was ‘Safe’, ‘Talk About It’ and ‘Incredible Music’.”

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Why Some People Go Broke In Nigeria – Famous Rapper, M.I Speaks (Video)

Jude Abaga, the renowned Nigerian rapper, widely known as M.I, has opened up about how he manages the heavy expectations placed on him as a public figure.

The ‘One Naira’ hitmaker disclosed that he trained himself mentally to accept being “broke shamed” so as not to pressure himself into constantly proving that he has a flamboyant life.

Speaking in a recent interview with Chude, M.I explained that many people including celebrities became broke while living beyond their means just to adjust to people’s expectations.

“When I understood that people in Nigeria tend to broke shame people, I had to make a decision if I want to let that have power over me. Because if you don’t deal with that, it will have exceeding power over you.

“If you are not comfortable with the fact that some fans can broke shame you if they see you driving a car they consider below your level, then you are going to continue adjusting to their expectations. And that is how you go broke. You go broke trying to adjust to people’s expectations.

“One of the things that Nigerians are concerned about is their perceptions. And statistically, we are a country where most people don’t have money. It took me time to mentally prepare myself to accept being broke shamed. All our celebrities who were flying private jets 20 years ago are no longer affluent,” he expressed.

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Why I Prefer to Raise Kids in Nigeria – M.I Abaga

Nigerian rapper and music executive, M.I Abaga has opened up that he prefers to raise his kids in Nigeria.

According to him, the reason is the country’s strong sense of family and community.

Abaga further stated that Nigeria offers a more supportive environment for raising children compared to some Western countries.
The rapper added that the communal lifestyle in Nigeria makes parenting easier, as relatives are often available to help.
He said, “There are a lot of things appealing about home, especially because we’re already ingrained in that system. There’s a lot of support as well. I feel it’s very difficult for parents here.
 
“But if you have family, now you have enough people that can stay at home and support you. But it’s not easy, man.”
M.I contrasted this with life abroad, particularly in the United States, where many people work long hours and family members may not be available to offer help.
He added that while he understands the appeal of raising kids overseas, Nigeria provides a stronger foundation for children to understand their roots and culture before gaining exposure abroad.
Although M.I noted that he is not yet making concrete family plans, he emphasized that Nigeria’s close-knit culture remains one of its greatest advantages when it comes to raising children.
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MI Abaga claims internet fraudsters fund many Nigerian artistes

Jude ‘MI’ Abaga, the Nigerian rapper, has lamented the prevalence of “internet fraud funding in the country’s music industry”.

In a recent interview on the So Nigerian podcast, MI claimed some artistes rely on proceeds from cybercrime, popularly known as Yahoo Yahoo.

The rapper argued that internet fraud has become a major source of investment for up-and-coming artistes.

MI said this shows the lack of proper funding structures for the creative sector.

“There’s a lot of controversy when people talk about Yahoo Yahoo because a lot of artistes, that is the funding that they have,” he said.

“What I’m trying to say is that it’s an indictment on our country that we have such talented musicians and that the major funding for the industry comes from the West and this other industry.

“It’s an indictment. It shows that something is wrong. Hopefully, we can do better. Think about it, let’s even say I’m a Yahoo boy, I’m not, but let’s say I was and I just made N100 million. Okay, I’m now a criminal who made N100 million but still don’t have to give it to an artiste, I can blow it however I want, or I can put it in real estate.

“What I’m trying to say is that, the fact that it goes to artistes and that is one of the major ways that artistes can get investments into them. Like there’s no place else, it happens to be other young people who just happen to have money.

“Society will criticize the method of legal money, but what is relevant is that there are other young people who have money and are just trying to help because they’re seeing their talented friends, and that is a statement about Nigeria.”

Video Here

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Wizkid Rejected Huge Money To Vote For A Party During 2023 Elections – MI Reveals

Nigerian rapper, MI Abaga, has disclosed how Afrobeats star, Wizkid was offered a huge amount of money by a certain political party during the 2023 presidential elections.

According to MI, the party recognized Wizkid’s significant social influence and attempted to buy his support.

However, Wizkid declined the offer, choosing to remain neutral in the political landscape.

MI disclosed that he was also offered 20 times more than Wizkid’s proposed amount by the opposing party, PDP.

This revelation highlights Wizkid’s commitment to staying apolitical, unlike some of his colleagues who have publicly endorsed political candidates.

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