Nigerian rapper and singer Akinbi Bamidele Brett, popularly known as Superboy Cheque, has candidly shared details about a difficult period in his life, revealing how a battle with acne nearly pushed him away from music.
Speaking during an interview on Yanga FM, the 29-year-old artist reflected on the emotional toll the skin condition took on his confidence and public image, especially at a time when his career was beginning to gain momentum.
“I struggled with acne years back. It was terrible. My desperation to cure it led me to buy a makeup that almost disfigured my face. It was embarrassing. I almost quit music. I couldn’t even approach women then. After my breakthrough song ‘Zoom’ and I got signed by a record label, it dawned on me that I would be attending interviews and would be in front of cameras. I am a perfectionist. So, I went to get a makeup from a store to clear but instead it almost disfigured my face. I woke up one morning and realised that my whole face has been damaged,” he recalled.
According to Cheque, the experience left him extremely self-conscious, affecting not only his artistry but also his social interactions. As someone who describes himself as a perfectionist, the fear of being constantly in front of cameras made the situation even more overwhelming.
The rapper explained that the ordeal forced him into a period of deep self-awareness, where being in public spaces or facing the spotlight became uncomfortable. What should have been a celebratory moment following the success of his breakout single “Zoom” turned into a personal struggle behind the scenes.
Today, his story stands as a reminder that even rising stars face private battles and that resilience often plays a quiet but powerful role in shaping success.