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Nigerian rapper MI Abaga has revealed that his experience in the United States played a key role in shaping his approach to music, influencing both his creativity and his work ethic.
Speaking on the Japa Diaries podcast, MI shared that while music started as a hobby during his school years, returning to his hometown of Jos, Plateau State, helped him focus on it professionally.
“When I went back home, I got a job, and right behind the place I was working, there was a studio called Skynet. P-Square had just released their first project then. These were guys from Jos, and when they were still in Jos, they used to dance and mime Michael Jackson songs with a crew of about ten people. They eventually won a competition and got a record deal. Honestly, a lot of us used to envy them. But seeing their success made us believe we could also do it,” MI recalled.
He described Jos as a city filled with creative energy, which inspired him to take music more seriously. With guidance from his friend and producer, E-Kelly, MI began recording his own songs.
“I think there was a lot of energy. People were going into the studio often, and the studio was right behind where I worked. E-Kelly helped me out, and I thought to myself, maybe I can do this,” he said.
MI also noted that living in the U.S. instilled a sense of discipline that proved vital for his career.
“It’s not like artists were making so much money back then. I had a job at an internet café and recorded in the studio at night. That’s the good thing about being in Yankee—it taught me how to grind. When I got back home, I was locked in. One day, I just told myself, I can actually do this. Then I started traveling to Lagos more often—and here we are,” he added.
Watch him speak below…
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