Nigerian rapper, Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, popularly known as Phyno, has opened up a can of worms in the aftermath of the demise of young Afropop singer, MohBad, with the claim that some of his friends advised him to join a cult to fast-track his career as an artiste.
In an interview with a Nigerian media platform on Monday, the indigenous rapper revealed that while struggling to break into the music industry and gain acceptance, he was tempted by the idea of joining a cult or resorting to rituals to attain rapid fame and success in his career.
“Some people look at us today and think we got it easy, not at all. I’ve never loved easy things. Before many people heard of Phyno, I’d had songs that no one knew existed,” he said.
“A couple of friends told me to blow, I must join a cult or sacrifice something or someone, I told them the price is too much. I’ll never do such.
“I believed in myself and the power of hard work, I started little and today I thank God.”
The artiste also had words of advice for upcoming acts:
“Young talents need to relax, do not be desperate about record deals or being in the spotlight. Keep working, when it’s time you’ll shine. Imagine begging a label to sign you, what kind of terms will they give you? They already know you are desperate and they will use you.
“At the beginning, you might not see it but give it time, you’ll regret it. Nothing pays more than hard work and consistency”.
Phyno said he decided to come out with the revelation so as to to counsel emerging artistes on the pitfalls of seeking shortcuts to success.
He emphasized that, for him, the “fundamental elements of hard work, unwavering determination, and resilience” were the key factors in achieving success.