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The rapper opens up about Declan Rice in new interview with Dotty on Apple Music
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I would like to have Drake & J Hus on ‘Declan Rice’ remix – Odumodublvck
Buzzing Nigerian rapper Tochukwu Ojogwu, popularly known as Odumodublvck, has discussed his rise to mainstream success and his plans on Apple Music’s The Dotty Show.
One of the musicians who is bringing much-needed complexity and excitement to the Nigerian Hip Hop industry is Odumodublvck. He combines Hip Hop and Highlife to create a distinctive sound that is gaining popularity.
Odumodublvck recently discussed his journey to popular stardom and his plans to bring hip-hop back to its heyday in an interview on The Dotty Show on Apple Music.
Odumodublvck had a terrific year in 2023 thanks to the release of his popular song, “Declan Rice,” which was quite successful. The rapper claims that as soon as he released the excerpt, everyone, including the football player Declan Rice, after whom he titled the song, responded positively.
“I was playing it for my exec, Tizzy, and Tizzy was like, “This is a serious record.” I said, “Yes. I know it’s a serious record.” God does give me that record. And I knew from the get-go when I put out the snippets. It was mad. Declan Rice commented everybody was going wild every day; comments, DMs, “Bro, when are you dropping this tune?” And when it came out, it did more than intended.”
Following the success of “Declan Rice,” Odumodublvck has established himself as one of the rapidly growing Afrobeats musicians whose music is giving the Hip Hop scene much-needed depth. The rapper admits to The Dotty Show that he is working on a remix with two major international rap acts.
“Imagine having Drake and J Hus on Declan Rice remix, It’s going to spin the world on its head,” Odumodublvck says about his desire to have the UK and Canadian superstars on his record.
Before the release of his eagerly anticipated EP in 2023, Odumodu Blvck has another single lined up, ensuring that his stellar run will continue.
Odumodublvck tells Apple Music why he chose to focus the track on Declan Rice….
Now God … I say, “Now God,” because it was … You know, sometimes as an artist you know what you want to do before you enter the studio, even when you’re writing. But I had gone like a minute into the song before I even started talking about that it feel like Declan Rice, you know? So after I recorded it I realized that it was God that pushed me through this trajectory. And look at Declan. He plays for West Ham. Normally people who play for the England national team are from Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea City, but this guy is a West Ham player and his spot on the English team is undisputed. That’s underdog mentality. He represents everything I represent now. You get what I’m saying?
Odumodu talks ‘Declan Rice’ going to Number 1 in Nigeria and linking up with Declan…
West Ham is like hiphop in Nigeria, but I’m still there. Right now my song is still top 10 Nigeria with the Afrobeat guys. You know, with Manchester United players, with Man City players, but why not a West Ham player. You know? So it’s just the underdog mentality kind of kicking in. And I’m so grateful to God for giving me that kind of intuition or the spirit of descendants to translate this into the music. And big shout out to Declan. Because I’ve seen a lot of footballers, they sing about them, but they never really show love. But Declan is like … Yesterday he messaged me like, “Bro, I’m coming to see you” Man. Big shout out that guy.
Odumodu talks about his new found love for West Ham United football club…
I am (a fan) now. That’s the best club in the world. Come On You Irons. I’ve been a Barcelona fan all my life and I’ve been an Arsenal fan all my life. None of them have helped my career. I knew West Ham like barely three months ago. They’re following me, posting my stuff. That’s new family. That’s the best club in the world.
Dotty: So you’ve done that unthinkable and you’ve done a pivot from Arsenal to West Ham.
Yeah. I got to do what I got to do. That person that show you love, you got to show love now. Arsenal, they’ve never showed me love and I always support them.
Odumodu discusses the challenges of being a rapper in a country dominated by Afrobeats…
I’m a hiphop artist. I told my guys in Nigeria, I said, “What an Afrobeat artist is going to do, a hiphop artist cannot do it if he try it.” Because if an Afrobeat artist, let’s say Fireboy, drops ‘Peru’, January, that song can last him the whole year, because that sound is more acceptable to the society. But as a hiphop artist, I should be dropping like five songs to match up to that Peru start.
So when they call all of us for Glastonbury Fest, all of us will perform there. But I have to do more than them. Like an artist who’s 30 years old and an artist that is 24 years old, his 24 hours is my 12 hours. Whatever he achieves in one year, I should be doing it in six months. You know? So yeah, that’s it.
Odumodu discusses watching Burna Boy perform at The London Stadium….
It’s so inspiring. Because the first time I saw him perform in Abuja, my city, it was a place called Harrow Park. And when he was performing, I was front of the stage. I had to leave. I went to one hill to watch him, to soak in the performance. When Burna is performing, I enjoy it, but I’m not in the crowd. I’m learning. You get me? And as God will have it, this was five years ago, last month I headlined that same venue that he headlined back then and it was the same reaction. So looking at the stadium, I feel like if I could do the little Harrow Park, one day I can do the stadium just like Burna has done it, you know? That day I enjoyed the show so much because I learned a lot. So big shout out, Burna.
Odumodu discusses the experience meeting Burna Boy for the first time…
A Blessing. Because I’ve looked up to that guy for the longest time. He’s my best artist in Africa as a whole. Right now he’s out of my league. But as a whole, it’s Burna. I look up to that guy. His tenacity, his spirit, doggedness to always go forward regardless of naysayers or whatever, people talk about, you know? so meeting him in the flesh, and even from the musical perspective of it, the guy’s an icon. The guy’s an idol. The guy is heavy. I was so happy to meet him. And surprisingly, he even knows me more than I thought he would know me. Like, “Ah, Odumodu.” Like, “Wow, this is nice. Thank God.” You know?
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE: