- “I feel different things when I make music, and I try to squeeze them into the number of tracks I can put into an album at the time” – Chike
By Hope Ibiale
The first Chike song I ever heard was “Out of Love”, off his 2020 debut album, Boo of the Booless. A few months after the lockdown, my brother had recently had his heart broken, and the song played on repeat throughout that night. Like the girl in the song, my brother’s now ex-lover had fallen out of love with him, and the song was the only way he could understand why.
At that moment, Chike’s music was an explainer, a brief description of the emotions my brother was experiencing. It also indicated that my brother wasn’t the first to go through such pain; the singer had perhaps gone through it, too, channelling those emotions into his music for listeners to feel.
Chike’s ability to capture and convey deep emotions through his music makes his work resonate powerfully with listeners. Each song on his debut album, for instance, told a story, often reflecting universal experiences of love, loss, and self-discovery. For many — like my brother — the artiste provided solace and understanding in times of emotional turmoil. His heartfelt lyrics and soothing melodies are comforting, allowing listeners to process their feelings and find a sense of connection.
This emotional depth is what transforms his music into more than just songs; they become a therapeutic journey for listeners. Whether he is telling you to let go, such as in “Forgive” from Boo of the Booless, or when he reminisces on the memories of a lost loved one, like “Nothing Less, Nothing More” from his sophomore, The Brother’s Keeper, or when he sings about the unlimited power of God in “Man Not God”, from his recently released studio album, Son of Chike, there is a high possibility that one would relate to the emotions expressed in his music — a peculiarity which has placed his debut album as one of the classics in Nigerian music.
His sophomore project, released two years after his debut, proved that Chike still had more to offer in terms of relatable stories, lyrical brilliance, and evocative delivery. And now, he returns with his third album, — a 12-track project which according to him symbolises and celebrates his heritage and identity. In Son of Chike, R&B, Afro-Pop, and Highlife come together to create a rich soundscape, weaving his cultural heritage with stories of love, loss, and resilience, and presenting a wholesome project that further reiterates Chike’s ability to make beautiful music and tell relatable stories.
“For me, if a listener gets a sense of celebration, then I am happy because it means that at some point in that album they are feeling something I felt. I feel different things when I make music and I try to squeeze them into the number of tracks I can put into an album at the time. If you listen to the album and get a celebratory feeling, then my job is done”, he shares with Afrocritik in a virtual interview in July, a day after his album listening party.
On Making “Son of Chike”
Chike’s album titles serve as indicators of what side of the artiste you’d meet in each album. These titles are neither random nor coincidences. There is a deliberate thought process behind each of them. In Boo of the Booless, listeners might envision Chike as a companion — someone who understands heartache, has experienced perhaps it himself, and can perfectly craft songs that become the soundtrack to memorable moments. With The Brother’s Keeper, listeners might draw from its literal meaning and see Chike as one who looks out for them.
Son of Chike marks a significant point in the artiste’s career, reflecting both personal growth and a deeper exploration of his cultural roots. The title suggests an in-depth examination of the artiste’s identity and heritage. He and his team carefully considered the album’s themes and message before deciding on the title. He admits that choosing a title is not always straightforward, saying, “Choosing a project title can sometimes be effortless. Occasionally, life itself suggests the title as you go along, while at other times, you must decide to name it for life. You are like ‘Life, this is what I want you to sound like now’”.
There is a deliberateness in the 12 tracks, from the fusion of his indigenous language to the cover art, and the exploration of Highlife, making the project not just a collection of songs, but an ode to his lineage and heritage. This distinctive addition makes the album stand out, providing a fresh perspective that distinguishes it from his earlier works. The artiste’s soulful approach and emotive storytelling have set him apart in an industry often dominated by upbeat, party-centric tunes.
Through his thoughtful lyrics and melodic compositions, Chike has carved out a niche that appeals to music enthusiasts seeking deeper, more reflective musical experiences. As such, his music enriches the Nigerian music scene, offering a refreshing experience for listeners and proving that there is a place for introspective and emotive music in the industry—an element he recreates in his latest project.
But the journey to creating Son of Chike was not so linear. His relentless pursuit of perfection became a major hurdle. On one hand, it drove him to push the boundaries of his creativity, and on the other, it led to extended recording sessions, frequent revisions, and a constant feeling that the music wasn’t good enough.
First, there was a need to always be in motion. “Motion is also a huge inspiration for me. I like to be on the move, so even when I don’t want to travel but have a trip to embark on, I am always excited because there is going to be a lot of motion”, he says. Being in motion, whether travelling or experiencing a new environment can expose an artiste to new cultures, languages, and new experiences, which can, in turn, inspire the exploration of new lyrics, musical instruments, and diverse themes in their music.
Also, the excitement of travelling and experiencing nature can evoke different emotions that can be channelled into the music being created. For instance, when he sings about staying away from his ex-lover in “Your Loss”, you can sense the influence of motion because he uses it as an escape from a former love interest. In another record, “Ego Oyinbo”, he relies on his experience of travelling to meet his lover to express his emotions.
While motion is an integral part of Chike’s music creation process, musical instruments like the piano and guitar are also some of his biggest inspirations when making music. He shares “I try to have a piano and a guitar with me when recording a song because they are my biggest inspirations as instruments”.
His disposition when discussing this was reflective and passionate, revealing how deeply he connects with these instruments. These instruments aren’t mere instruments but also extensions of his artistic expression. The reflective mood of “Man Not God” is elevated by the expressive piano keys and guitar strings, while the guitar’s warmth in “Ego Oyinbo” highlights the singer’s affection for his love interest.
Across his works, too, Chike’s native language plays a major role. Whether he is singing about the difficulty of finding true love in “Hard to Find”, or praising his lover’s beauty in “Mma”, he uses his language to convey any emotion he feels at the moment. As he shares, “I think my language, my people, and my culture are beautiful. I also think that I am blessed to know the language and be able to make music with it. That’s not an opportunity I want to pass on moving forward”.
If there’s one thing Chike is known for, it is the care he uses to handpick the guest features on his projects. From teaming up with Simi on the 2020 single, “Running (To You)”, Ric Hassani on “Nakupenda” off Boo of the Booless, and Flavour on “Hard to Find” off The Brother’s Keeper, these features have elevated the various themes explored therein.
The purpose of collaboration for Chike isn’t based on numbers, fan base, or popularity. For him, the music comes first. This principle underpins every collaboration on his albums. The “Ego Oyinbo” crooner listens to a song and reaches out to the artiste he believes would bring more life to the record and do something he cannot. Describing his collaboration selection process, he states, “Within my own limits as an artiste or skills as an artiste, I reach out to another artiste with hopes that they will also see me as a brand they are willing to associate with”.
One standout collaboration on Son of Chike that continues to resonate deeply is the Mohbad-assisted “Egwu,” released in the wake of Mohbad’s tragic passing last year. His death sent shockwaves through the Nigerian music scene and beyond, as he was seen as a rising star whose journey was cruelly cut short. “Egwu” served as a reminder on Mohbad’s unique talent as a Street-Hop artiste, and somewhat honours his legacy, reflecting the profound impact he made in such a short time. The song has since amassed over 40 million streams on Spotify, making it Chike’s most-streamed track on the platform.
During the album’s creation, Chike and Mohbad were simply two artistes, immersed in the magic of the studio, crafting something beautiful and authentic. In the wake of Mohbad’s untimely departure, Chike often contemplates what might have unfolded differently with “Egwu” and whether the song would have carried the same emotional weight if the circumstances had changed. “I try to separate the tragedy from the person. I remember that he was a good guy and cherish the moment we shared together without knowing what the future held”.
Making Sacrifices for the Greater Good
Before he became Chike the artiste, he was Chike Ezekpeazu Osebuka, a Computer Engineering graduate from Covenant University, Nigeria. For many graduands in Nigeria, the question “What’s next?” often arises after the completion of their first degree. When Chike pondered this, his answer was music.
Although he chose to pursue music professionally, the singer didn’t envision music as a profession during his childhood. While growing up in Abuja, he wanted to get a white collar job or become a soldier after school, but decided to take music seriously after graduating from the university.
A friend also encouraged him to start auditioning at music competitions. Plus, he was also inspired to be confident about expressing himself through music by watching his brother, Syemca pursue music relentlessly. Inspired by his brother alongside his other musical influences like Passenger, Dolly Parton, Tracy Chapman, Styl Plus, Flavour, and many others that influenced how he saw music and what he thinks it is, and determined to pursue a music career, the artiste started working towards building a career in music.
First, he turned to music competitions. In 2015, he competed on MTN Project Fame West Africa and was eliminated after reaching the top 10 stage. During the competition, he performed songs such as D’banj’s “Suddenly” and Iyanya’s “Mr. Oreo”. A year later, he appeared as a contestant on the premiere edition of The Voice Nigeria. Under the tutelage of Patoranking, Chike clinched the first runner-up position. Afterwards, he signed a recording deal with Universal Republic and released his debut song, “Fancy You” in 2017. He followed up his debut song in 2018 with the Doron Clinton-produced song “Beautiful People”, the opening track of his debut album, Boo of the Booless.
For him, both competitions gave him a few skills he applied when he emerged as a professional artiste. As he puts it, “The shows prepared me for people management and performing in front of an audience. The reality show gathers an audience for contestants, and you perform and try to impress. But when you go into the world, it is no longer a show—you have to do these things on the go. These competitions served as a type of academy and played a really good role for me”.
By watching his captivating live performances repeatedly it is evident the music competitions truly prepared him for the big stage. Each performance showcases his deep emotional connection to his music through the way he delivers each song. In a recent performance at the 2024 Nigerian Idols finale, he gave a heartfelt performance of “Man Not God”.
The song, which already is an emotional record because of its subject who marvels at the power of God, makes Chike’s sombre rendition an impactful one. His ability to engage his audience is another commendable trait I have noticed in his performances. For instance, during his Trace Live performance, he spoke to the audience after each song rendition and anytime he wanted to start a new song, he talked about the stories behind each record, thereby leaving a lasting impression on his music.
After the competition ended, what happened next? Some might assume that being in a popular music competition would propel the competitors to automatic stardom. However, that wasn’t the case, at least not for him. In an interview with Arise TV, the artiste talked about his struggles to find his footing in the music industry after the end of The Voice competition. Perhaps, these struggles pushed him to make a few sacrifices. While these sacrifices might not have been as dramatic as Kanayo O. Kanayo’s blood offerings in Nollywood flicks, the motivations behind them were similar: they both wanted money.
In Kanayo’s case, he wanted immense wealth to fund his glamorous lifestyle, but Chike only wanted to fund his music. To achieve this, the artiste turned to acting. In 2017, he made his acting debut in the Africa Magic telenovela series, Battleground, playing the character Mayowa Badmus, the spoiled and entitled son of the Badmus family. For the artiste, acting to support his music career is something he would do again. At the end of the day, it was the work he had to put in for himself. “Yes, I would do it again. I love music enough to make sacrifices. It was a trade-off for a while and if I had the chance, I would do it again”.
His acting debut undoubtedly portrayed him as a creative who is capable of stretching his tentacles to different artistic ventures. Since debuting on Battleground, he has also starred in films like 2023’s Known For and Gangs of Lagos, 2019’s Life As It Is, and 2022’s Knee Down, all which have also exposed film enthusiasts to his music and has further propelled his music career. Notably, in his role in Jade Osiberu’s Gangs of Lagos, he plays Ify, a struggling musician who has been thrown into the violent life in Isale Eko.
Through the film, viewers might be captivated by his ability to portray a character that struggles with accepting a life of violence, but his other creative prowess, music also takes a spotlight in the film as he worked on one of the soundtracks of the film, ”On Fire” and also performed the song in the film. His performance in the film demonstrates that he can fuse acting and music when necessary, a truly commendable talent.
I can tell that there is an eagerness to return to the screen, to make more sacrifices for the music, and it makes me wonder if alternating between two careers wouldn’t leave one side creatively starved. One side would inevitably be neglected, as both careers are demanding, making it difficult to fully commit to any single project.
Do It Afraid
When you listen closely to Chike’s music, you may hear different things. One standout feature is the confidence in his voice. Whether he’s singing about heartbreak, love, loss, pain, or the power of God, his self-assuredness is evident as he explores these themes. For aspiring artistes who are curious about Chike’s confidence, his advice to those embarking on a professional music career might offer some insight: “You have to believe in what you are selling even more than those you are selling it to. That belief is what will sustain you through the struggles”, he explains. “When people see that you are enjoying it, even if they don’t initially, they’ll become curious and want to listen. The fear of missing out will drive their interest”.
While Boo of the Booless made Chike one of the breakout stars of 2020, the year was a moment of fear for him because he didn’t know if he would succeed, something that often comes with releasing a debut.
Despite his fear, his unwavering determination and craving for success motivated him to release the project, despite the different opinions on how he should enter the music industry—whether through exploring mainstream sounds like Afrobeats, or sticking to his unique blend of introspective and emotive music, he stayed true to himself. “I just wanted to succeed. I was scared because I didn’t know if I would succeed. I was determined while being scared. Determination came in the form of trying to make the right choice as many times as I could. The fear and the courage had their roles, and both of them lived together to bring out the album”, he shares.
The album propelled the artiste to stardom, earning him four nominations at the 14th Headies Award and an ‘Album of the Year’ win at the City People Music Awards in 2020. If Chike had to pick a movie or book title for this part of his life, then the “Do It Afraid” quote might be a strong contender.
In the Nigerian Hall of Fame for exquisite debut projects, Chike’s Boo of the Booless would undoubtedly earn a plaque for its uniqueness. His debut set a high standard for future works, sparking whispers of a potential sophomore slump. The pressure to deliver on a second project after a stellar debut was immense.
To Chike, these high expectations can either push an artiste to surprise their audience or lead to repetitive work, which may seem like a lack of progress. “What I always tried to do was forget the expectations because I needed my sophomore project to have clarity of mind. Every time I was conscious of pricking myself, I said to myself, ‘Forget the expectations and do what you love’”.
A few things I learned about Chike from this interview are that his music is not a mere coincidence; he is intentional about it. He also doesn’t waste time worrying about trivial matters. “Something I always try to pay attention to is if it is not going to matter in five years, don’t think about it for more than five minutes”.
One thing is clear; his dedication to preserving the purity of music is undeniable, choosing to pursue long-term successes over momentary wins. This has been his driving mantra in the way he approaches his music and life. As he rightly puts it, just as the interview comes to an end, “If it’s not going to matter in five years, then don’t think about it for more than five minutes”.
Hope Ibiale is a writer and journalist. She has a keen interest in music, film, and literature. You can connect with Hope on X @hopeibiale and via email: hopeibiale@afrocritik.com.