Nigerian Dancehall legend Timaya shared insights into his early music career during an interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast with Joey Akan. He revealed that he sold his debut album, True Story, for ₦500,000 to a marketer in Alaba market. At the time, Timaya described the offer as a significant opportunity that helped him break into the Lagos music scene.
The album became a major success, featuring hit singles like “Timaya,” “True Story,” “Dem Mama,” and “Ogologoma.” The marketer was so impressed that he later gave Timaya an additional ₦7 million to produce music videos and even bought him a car. Timaya recalled, “He gave me 7 million naira for the music video, paid for the videos, and even bought me a car… He called me a good market.”
Following the success of his debut, Timaya recorded his sophomore album, Gift and Grace, which he sold to another marketer for ₦24 million. He explained, “I was priced at 10 million by the first marketer, then Abu Ventures came and offered to buy the album. He ended up paying 24 million for the album. At that point, only 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj were paid that kind of money.” This financial milestone inspired Timaya to record the song “I Don Blow.”
With nearly two decades in the Nigerian music industry, Timaya has become an iconic figure, admired by colleagues and loved by millions of fans. His unique blend of Dancehall, Highlife, and hip hop has produced several unforgettable street anthems.
His full interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast offers a deeper look into his journey and achievements.
