Nigerian dancehall legend Timaya has opened up about his early struggles and first major music deal in a recent interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast hosted by Joey Akan.
The "Dem Mama" crooner revealed that his debut album, True Story (2007), was initially sold for just ₦500,000 to a marketer in Lagos’ Alaba International Market. Though modest by today’s standards, the deal was a major breakthrough for the then-upcoming artist.
"That was big money for me at the time," Timaya said. The album, featuring hits like "Dem Mama" and "Ogologoma," became a street anthem, leading the marketer to reward him with an additional ₦7 million for music videos and a brand-new car.
His second album, Gift and Grace, fetched a staggering ₦24 million—a fee then reserved for A-list artists like 2Baba and P-Square. This inspired his hit "I Don Blow," cementing his stardom.
Nearly two decades later, Timaya remains a dominant force in Afrobeats, blending dancehall, highlife, and hip-hop into timeless hits.
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