Illbliss Reveals Lagos Radio Host Told Him Rapping in Igbo Would Kill His Music Career
Renowned rapper Tobechukwu Ejiofor, famously known as Illbliss, recently shared a memorable encounter from his early days as an underground artist in Lagos.
The ‘Aiye Po Gan’ star recalled how a Lagos radio presenter bluntly told him he wouldn’t succeed in the city’s music scene because he primarily rapped in Igbo.
During a recent episode of the Real Shareholders podcast, Illbliss recounted, “When I first arrived in Lagos, I dropped a track called ‘Igbo Boy.’ Shortly after, a radio presenter called me and said, ‘What are you trying to do? You can’t make it here. You’ve come with an agenda. Omo-Igbo.’ Then he switched to fluent Yoruba. I was already picking up the language. He went on, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them. The music is good, but it won’t go far.’”
He added, “The song wasn’t even offensive. It was about how Igbo people enjoy their time. But just looking at that guy made me feel awful. It showed me that no matter how much we talk about being one nation, tribal divisions are still a tough reality to face.”
Illbliss’s story highlights the challenges of cultural diversity in Nigeria’s music industry and the resilience required to break through.