Nigeria’s fast growing rap artiste, Raheem Adeyemi, popular known as Zayo, says his success story will be incomplete without the contribution of the Afro hip-hop artiste, Oritse Femi, who, he says made tremendous inputs into his work.
The rapper, who recently debuted in the Nigeria music industry with a heavy Yoruba rap song, says he is ready to take the industry by storm. Adeyemi, winner of the Konga Open House Music competition, says his father, an Islamic cleric, was, until recently, a big obstacle in his chosen field.
“I found it difficult to obtain the support of my parents when I started my music career, especially my father who is an Imam. On my mother side, she only supported me when she noticed my progress. But my father never did, not until recently. And I believe he was not willing to agree with me because he is a pious Islamic cleric, who believes that instead of going into music, I should take after him with a view to becoming an Imam too.”
Asked if he is intimidated by notable rappers like Olamide and others, Zayo maintains that “their presence in the industry is not a challenge to me because I have my loyal fans who believe in me. Apart from this, I also believe that my additional Afro style, which others don’t have, has distinguished me.”