Nigerian singer and tech entrepreneur, Mr Eazi has revealed that he declined recording deals from Columbia Records, and the CEO of YBNL Nation, Olamide.
He said American singer Akon’s younger brother, Abou “Bu” Thiam, the executive vice president of Columbia Records and Olamide approached him separately, but he turned them down.
According to the artiste whose real name is Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, the deals came when he began his music career but he took a different path because he hadn’t figured out what he was doing and also wanted his “freedom”.
The ‘Hol Up’ crooner made the revelation in a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast hosted by music journalist, Joey Akan.
Mr Eazi said; “I remember going for ‘Ghana Meets Naija in Ghana. And that was where I met Olamide. He tried to sign me to his record label. He offered me a deal. Somebody else had also tried to sign me. Bu [Abou Thiam], Akon’s brother was the first person who tried to sign me.
“I declined because then I haven’t even figured out what I was doing. It was too early to sign. So, I didn’t sign to Bu.
“When Olamide gave me a deal, I knew that I hadn’t totally understood the business or what I was even doing so I declined. Everything was just happening so fast. One thing I knew was that I wanted my freedom.”
Mr Eazi also revealed that Jay-Z’s record label, ROC Nation, wanted to sign his hit song ‘Skin Tight’ but he got an advice from Wizkid to do the deal only if they offer him “life changing” money.
He added; “In reality to where I was in my life, the money they offered would have been interpreted as life changing money. But to me because of where I thought I was going, I didn’t think it was life changing money. So, I didn’t accept the deal”.
