Timaya Reflects on His First Big Album Deal and Rise to Fame

Timaya Reflects on Humble Beginnings and Rise to Stardom in Candid Interview

In a recent episode of the *Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast* hosted by Joey Akan, veteran Nigerian dancehall star Timaya opened up about his early career struggles and the pivotal moments that shaped his success. 

The award-winning artist revealed that his debut album, *True Story*, was initially sold for just ₦500,000 to a marketer in Lagos’ Alaba International Market—a deal that, while modest by today’s standards, marked a major breakthrough for the then-upcoming artist. The album became a massive hit, fueled by street anthems like *Timaya*, *Dem Mama*, *True Story*, and *Ogologoma*. 

Timaya shared that the marketer, impressed by the album’s success, later rewarded him with an additional ₦7 million to fund music videos and even gifted him a car. *”He gave me ₦7 million for the music videos and bought me a car. He said I was a good market,”* Timaya recalled. 

The success of his debut paved the way for an even bigger deal for his sophomore album, *Gift and Grace*. Initially offered ₦10 million, Timaya secured a staggering ₦24 million deal after Abu Ventures stepped in—a figure then reserved for industry giants like 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj. 

This landmark deal inspired his hit track *I Don Blow*, cementing his status as a mainstream star. Nearly two decades later, Timaya remains one of Nigeria’s most influential artists, celebrated for his fusion of dancehall, highlife, and hip-hop into timeless street anthems and club bangers.