For some Nigerian music artists, it wasn’t all glitz and glam; only a select few were born into fame and fortune, while others had to work one or two menial jobs to make ends meet.
We would be taking a look into some of your favourite Nigerian music artists and what they were doing to make ends meet.
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Banky W
Award-Winning Artist and Former Record Label Boss, Banky W used to work three jobs while in university.
He used to work in a fast-food outlet, clothing store and as a Knife Salesman n order to raise money for studio sessions as a college student in the US.
He eventually opened his label, EME records in 2002.
Don Jazzy
Years before the music Producer and Boss of Marvins Record, Don Jazzy attained fame and also became a celebrity, he used to be a security guard.
His uncle got him a job as a security guard at the popular eatery shop McDonald’s when he moved to London.
D’banj
While he was in the UK for schooling, D’banj took up a job as a security guard at a construction site. He would later be introduced to JJC Skillz and his 419 squad before meeting Don Jazzy who he came back with to Nigeria in 2004 to start a music career.
Small Doctor
Small Doctor didn’t start out as a musician, Before he got into the music scene, he was a bus conductor for almost ten years.
Even after releasing his first single, he still had to juggle between being a conductor and an Okada Rider to make ends meet.
Zlatan
Popular Rapper, Zlatan on his journey to fame and stardom once did menial jobs like bricklaying, working in a cold room and cutting of grass so that he could survive.
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Patoranking
Patoranking while accepting his award for the Next Rated artist at the 2014 Headies Award revealed how he went from nothing to something.
He said that he once sold rat poison and did bricklaying while he was staying at a one-room apartment in Ebutte Metta.
In 2020, he also shared how he once worked at the popular fast food Chicken Republic in GRA Ikeja.
2007 I was working at Chicken Republic Ikeja GRA branch…The job was a life saver for my Family and I…Na Only me and God understand ✌🏾
— PATORANKING (@patorankingfire) June 10, 2020