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Chike talks about his new album, culture, and life lessons
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I wanted to celebrate my culture – Chike says on his new album
Nigerian R&B sensation Chike has released his highly anticipated third studio album, “Son of Chike,” revealing that the project is a showcase of his Igbo culture and heritage.
In an exclusive interview with Apple Music Africa Now Radio, Chike shared the inspiration behind his new album, collaborations, and life lessons learned from the passing of fellow artist Mohbad.
Chike explained that ‘Son of Chike’ is an album that proudly represents his cultural roots. “I feel like it’s an album where I was putting out my culture, even down to the way I expressed myself,” Chike said. “I know that with this album, you can tell who Chike is and where he is from.”
The album features notable collaborations with Olamide, Ladipoe, and Qing Madi, among others. Chike emphasized that his approach to collaborations prioritizes the music over numbers.
He stated, “With everything I do, I just try to remind myself that the music comes first. It’s not the numbers, because that temptation is there…Numbers look good and everybody wants to have them, but for me, in the end, no matter the decision I made—even if it’s for numbers, perception, or whatever it is for—I still ask myself, ‘Is it about the music? Does the music come first?”
“Son of Chike” is preceded by the hit single “Egwu,” which features the late Mohbad. Reflecting on Mohbad’s passing, Chike shared that it taught him the importance of making the most of his time. “When things happen in your life and you realize we are not here forever, it reminds you that this can happen to anybody and you should make the best use of your time,” he said. “I went ahead and did something I’d wanted to do. I spent all my savings; I did things for some people, where [before] I was thinking it wasn’t the right time to do it. I was just like, ‘You know what, I’m gonna do this now, right time or not—because the right time might never come.'”
“Son of Chike” marks a new chapter in Chike’s career, solidifying his position as a prominent voice in Nigerian R&B. The album was released today, Friday, July 19, 2024, and is available on all music streaming platforms.