Years ago, Phenom broke into the Nigerian entertainment scene with his unique rap style and everyone fell in love with him. Although he was signed on to the defunct Knight House record label, that did not stop other record label owners like Wizkid, Olamide and MI to try to sign the young lad.
Sadly, years down the line, nothing has been heard of the young man, who told Saturday Beats that he quit music after his contract expired. He admitted that he probably would have been one of the most sought-after rap artistes if he had accepted some of those offers, but added that he had no regrets for being loyal to his previous record label.
He said, “When Wizkid told me about signing me to his record label, Starboy, I was with a record label then, Knight House. I think loyalty is very key and I cannot leave where I am because of greener pastures. It does not work like that. It is just like a marriage; just because you see a finer lady tomorrow does not mean that you should abandon your wife.
“There is enough space in the sky for all birds to fly. That Wizkid is doing very well now does not mean that I would not succeed in my career. There is no competition between us. Being on Wizkid record label would have been a great platform for me but what is mine would get to me.
“I have no regrets not signing with Wizkid. I had a contract with Knight House; I made sure that I fulfilled my obligation despite how tough things were there. Mo’Cheddah was with them as well but she left at a point. It was really tough for me from the beginning of my contract till when it ended because I was on my own.
“There were no videos for our hit songs because there was no fund. I had several record labels that approached me and at a point, I had a deal worth over N100m, but I turned it down. While growing up, my mother always told me that loyalty was important in life. It was not only Wizkid that wanted me on his record label; Olamide’s record also. There were a lot of deals that I turned down; not because I did not want to seek greener pastures, but loyalty meant a lot to me. My decision affected my career adversely, but I am sure that in the long run, it would pay off and I would not regret it. I am not hungry; I am not moved by material things. I am very happy for Olamide and Wizkid, but at the end of the day, it only takes one song for someone to be big again. I just need to be more hard-working.”
Now signed on to Trick Billionaire MusiQ, the rap artiste said that he would give other rappers a run for their money.
“At a point, I quit music but the owner of this record label, Prince Usinefe, has always been a friend. I only told him about an investment and he approached me with a recording deal.
“He insisted that I join his record label and I eventually agreed. The record label used to be known as Kash Kamp Trick Billionaire MusiQ but it has rebranded and changed its name to Trick Billionaire MusiQ. This change and rebranding came weeks after we parted ways with Yung6ix,” he said.
Phenom, a young Nigerian hip-hop artist, who was born to a banker father and a policewoman, fell in love with rap music when he was 12 years old. He now joins other acts on the label that include Percy, LK Kuddy, She Officiall, B Raiz and Sean Dennis.
Culled from Punch
