Dear 8-year-old Skales,
As I sit here and look back at the incredible journey we’ve taken in our music career, I can’t help but feel a sense of awe and inspiration. We’ve come a long way from those days in Kaduna, transforming from a young boy who used to dream of owning the things our friends had to a global music sensation who has shared the stage with the likes of Akon and Beyoncé.
I’m writing this so you know that you will experience pivotal moments in your life that will shape your music career. You’ll go on to release Shake Body and watch as it is not just a hit in Nigeria alone but one of the biggest Afrobeat songs globally. It is this moment that ignites the fire within you, reconnects you with your fans, and propels you to become an unstoppable force in the music industry and surpass a decade.
But before I get into the stardom ahead of you, let’s begin with our childhood.
We will grow up in a lower-class area in Kaduna, where having a TV at home made us the star of the neighbourhood; sharing a single bathroom and doing the number 2 in the bushes. You will experience the stark contrast between your modest family’s means and your friends’ wealth.
The apartment we will live in with Mum is a shop during the day and a room at night. The bed is a mat and we will live off Mum’s N13,000 salary. We’d fall in love with football; you will be one of the best on the field, playing for the Nigerian Football Academy. We play the same position as Real Madrid’s legend and namesake Raul, with so much zeal. Remember your childhood friend and mate, Collins Jamiu? He ends up playing for the national team and Cardiff City.
I know how badly you want to be a superstar so you can take yourself and mom out of poverty. Mom is your hero, you will follow her everywhere she goes, as she teaches you everything she knows. She is the reason you will never give up, she indirectly pushed you to the music path.
Mum will sell CDs and cassettes at the back of the International Praise Cathedrah Church Kaduna, that will be our introduction to music. Our first fan base will come from the church, the cheers from the church members will make you believe you are made for this. As I write this, I can see your face light up when you discover new music. Your curiosity will make you wonder how the records were made. You’d begin writing rhymes—soon songs, and perform them to your friends.
Music will shelter us from the challenges to be faced. And whenever we hear music, we shall be filled with joy and happiness. Music gives the hope that a better day will come and the world will know our name.
You will gain admission to the University of Jos. There you will meet and work with Jesse Jagz, Jeremiah Gyang, and others; they help sharpen your skills.
In 2008, you will compete in the Zain (Now known as Airtel) Tru Search Competition, and you will emerge victorious for the North Central region. You follow up the victory with another feat, you release your first single Must Shine produced by Jesse Jagz. The radio station loves the song, they play your song in Lagos and Abuja. Mum loved the record, and it became her ringtone, you don’t know how she found it but she did and it remained her ringtone till she passed away.
EME, A music label from Lagos would reach out to you, they want you on their team, they are home to Banky W, one of the biggest artists in the country. The dream of being a superstar has drawn closer. To achieve it, you’d have to make a difficult decision, you will have to leave mum behind in Kaduna and travel to Lagos, you are barely 17 years old.
You will release Heading for a Grammy as a self-belief record, reminding yourself that you deserve to be here. You will switch from the University of Jos to Lead City University, where you graduate with a degree in office management and technology.
You will release several singles, and a compilation album, and be a part of the EME US Tour.
By the end of your contract, EME won’t renew and you will part ways.
Your passion for music will light your path. You will learn from the challenges, adapt, and come out better. You will learn that the journey to stardom is a team effort. Friends, mentors, and family are your pillars of strength.
They believe in you, even when the path seems daunting. Some will lend a hand, and others will offer more than just words – financial support, a roof over your head, talking about you in places that matter, and going as far as getting you gigs.
Your post-EME single Shake Body will rule the airways and you will no longer be under pressure, you will make the music you want to make, and you will do it your way. You will learn throughout your journey to trust your instinctive decisions in the studio, they are the cornerstone of your success. The magic happens when you let your inspiration guide you and the creativity flows freely. When you do that, you create some of your best and most successful records.
You will make a song called Booty Language, you have a vision for it being a twerk song but someone from your team will criticize it, don’t fold, your vision for the song will turn it into a twerk anthem that still gets everyone on the dance floor, especially the ladies.
You are going to make strides in the music industry, not to spoil it for you but you are going to get booked to perform at a private event in India, alongside Akon and Beyoncé. While you try to process that, there’s a track with Major Lazer and Nicki Minaj, Unbelievable, right?
The work you put in made it happen. The unexpected outcomes will leave you in awe.
You are going to collaborate with more artists, it won’t be about creating music but a journey of growth, with different minds and ideas coming together to birth something extraordinary. Think of it as a fan base exchange program. Their fans become your fans, and it’s a one-way ticket to achieving your artistic dreams.
You will share your story with the fanbase, the tale of a guy who never gave up. But more than that, you will draw inspiration from an incredible woman—Mom. She went through the worst, yet she found reasons to be happy and emerged as a survivor.
As you get older, your definition of success will take shape. Success means achieving your goals and dreams while making a positive impact on people’s lives. You will come to realize that change is inevitable. It’s crucial to remain open to learning new things, adapting, and evolving to stay relevant in the industry.
What you’ll be proud of, is being part of a generation that took our music to a global stage. Witnessing the fervent international fan base for our music is a blessing beyond words.
What a time to be alive.
As you look to the future, the goal is to build a platform that provides struggling artists with the resources they need to reach greater heights.
To my younger self, a lot will happen in our life, good and bad. But everything that happens, you will owe to music. When people question your music style, or in those moments of doubt about your career, I’d say, “Keep working, keep learning, and sharpen your skills. Believe in what you do and always strive for excellence.”
The motivation to continue pushing for success comes from reminding yourself that if someone else can do it, so can you.
From the future with love,
SKALES.