Veteran Nigerian rapper and entrepreneur, Tobechukwu Ejiofor, popularly known as Illbliss, has opened up about a disheartening experience he faced during his early days in Lagos while trying to break into the mainstream music industry.
The respected lyricist, known for his hard-hitting bars and cultural pride, recounted how a prominent Lagos radio presenter once discouraged him from pursuing rap in his native Igbo language, suggesting that his cultural expression would be a barrier to success in the city.
Speaking during a recent appearance on the Real Shareholders podcast, Illbliss revealed: “When I came to Lagos, I made a record titled ‘Igbo Boy.’ Then, a radio presenter called me and said, ‘What are you trying to do? You can’t make it here. You’ve come here with an agenda. Omo-Igbo.’ Then he broke off into fluid Yoruba. At that point, I was already hearing Yoruba. He was like, ‘When you can’t beat them, you join them. The music is good, but it won’t go far.’”
The rapper explained that the song in question, Igbo Boy, wasn’t a diss track or provocative in any way, but rather a celebratory ode to Igbo culture. “The song wasn’t even offensive. It was about how Igbo people like to have a good time,” he said.
However, the interaction left a bitter taste in his mouth and raised questions about the unity often preached in Nigeria’s diverse society. “Just looking at that guy, it made me feel terrible. And it made me feel that we can disguise all we want about being one nation, but the tribal divisions are incredible to handle,” Illbliss concluded.
The revelation has sparked fresh conversations online about tribalism in the Nigerian entertainment industry and the barriers faced by artists who choose to express themselves in indigenous languages outside the dominant Yoruba and Pidgin.
Despite the early resistance, Illbliss went on to build a successful career, earning a place as one of the most respected voices in Nigerian hip-hop, and proudly representing the East in his sound and storytelling.
