Why I declined record deals with Olamide, Akon's brother - Mr Eazi

Famous singer and entrepreneur Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade, aka Mr Eazi, has revealed why he declined recording deals offered to him by Nigerian rapper and CEO of YBNL Nation, Olamide, and ace American singer Akon's younger brother, Abou "Bu" Thiam, the executive vice president of Columbia Records.

He said the duo approached him separately to join their record labels when he began his music career but he declined because he hadn't figured out what he was doing and also wanted his "freedom".

Mr Eazi spoke in the latest episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast hosted by Joey Akan

He 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 in the interview that Jay-Z's record label, ROC Nation, wanted to sign his hit song 'Skin Tight' but Wizkid "told me to do the deal only if they offer life changing money".

"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," he added.