Popular Nigerian singer, Joseph Akinfenwa Donus, popularly known as Joeboy, has opened up on his early life struggles, recalling a time when he worked in a pure water factory during a university strike.
The Nigerian singer, who studied Human Resources and Personal Management, recounted his struggle to find a job during a three-month university strike led by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Faced with the unsettling chances of unemployment, he eventually landed a job as a marketer in a pure water factory in Lagos.
“I studied Human Resources and Personal Management. When I was in the university, there was a strike for like three months. So I decided to get a job and I was searching for a job for like three months in the whole of Lagos. I did not get one single job,” Joeboy said.
“There was even a time when I worked in a pure water factory as a marketer. At that point I was like, ‘I’m looking so hard for a job and I can’t find any. Is this how I’m going to end up when I finish school?’ So that was also a trigger. I told myself, ‘You have to make sure you make it [in the music industry],” he further recounted.
Describing his life as a “miracle,” Joeboy emphasized that even though some advised against signing him, Mr. Eazi, the head of his previous record label, took a chance on him, leading to his unexpected signing to Empawa, where his musical journey took flight.
Joeboy pointed out the unexpected nature of his success, stating that not even his parents anticipated his push into the music industry.
Despite initial uncertainty, Joeboy went on to achieve what he claimed to be “the best label deal in Afrobeats history in Nigeria.”
Revealing Unexpected Journey To Fame
Rising music star Joeboy opened up about his unexpected journey to fame and how he struggled to adjust to the sudden spotlight.
The singer admitted, reflecting on the overnight success that followed his hit songs.
He was taken aback when his first hit song, ‘Baby’, became an international sensation just three months after its release.
He also revealed that when he first rose to fame, he had no idea that anyone would ever recognize him.
Joeboy claimed that his rise to stardom was unexpected and that he had to leave his neighborhood to adjust to his new position.
“I wasn’t ready when ‘Baby’ blew. I had to adapt to get used to fame. It was so sudden. I dropped the song [‘Baby’] in March [2019], and by June I was already doing shows in countries I thought didn’t listen to Nigerian music. Countries like Tanzania, and Uganda. In three months!” the singer said.
A few days ago, Joeboy exited Empawa Music and launched his label, “Young Legend” record label.
The singer has now signed a dual deal with global music giant, Warner Music.
He also adjusted his profile names on social media to reflect the new label.
This move sees Joeboy exit Empawa after 5 successful years where he released 2 EPs (Love & Light and Body, Soul & Spirit), 2 albums (Somewhere Between Beauty & Magic and Body & Soul), and a mass of hit singles & features accumulating over 2 Billion streams across major Digital Service Providers (DSPs).
Under the new Young Legend label, Joeboy is acting as the CEO while Deola Jaiyesimi is serving as the Head of the label with the task of turning out the next set of Afrobeats superstars on a global stage.
Sharing a ritual-themed clip announcing the launch of his record label via X, “Dawn of a new era. Young Legend is alive,” Joeboy wrote.
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