At the crack of dawn every weekday, the Max Breakfast starts everyone's day with great conversations, humor, wits and of course great music. Hosted by Westsyde and Ella “Ellathefourth”, It is a highly interactive and fun show that gives you the right kickstart to take on the day! It’s fully packed with so much to listen to, enjoy and interact with
Nigerian music icon Timaya has opened up about how a modest ₦500,000 deal helped kickstart his journey to stardom.
That ₦500K meant the world to me. I just wanted people to hear my music,” Timaya said.
In a candid chat on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast hosted by Joey Akan, the dancehall legend recalled selling his debut album, True Story, to a marketer at Alaba International Market in Lagos for just ₦500,000.
Despite the low amount, the investment paid off. His 2007 debut album, True Story, became a massive success. Tracks like “Dem Mama,” “Ogologoma,” “True Story,” and “Timaya” turned into street anthems, instantly establishing him as a rising force in the Nigerian music scene.
As the album gained popularity, the marketer who initially bought it was impressed. He later gave Timaya ₦7 million to shoot music videos and even gifted him a car.
“He told me I was good market,” Timaya laughed.
Building on that success, Timaya went on to release his second album, Gift and Grace. When other marketers offered him ₦10 million, Abu Ventures stepped in with a game-changing offer—₦24 million, a figure that only major acts like 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj were commanding at the time.
That breakthrough moment inspired Timaya’s hit song “I Don Blow,” which celebrated his rise in the Afrobeats industry.
Today, with nearly two decades in the game, Timaya continues to drop chart-topping hits. He remains one of Nigeria’s most respected and consistent artists, known for seamlessly blending dancehall, Afrobeats, and highlife into his signature sound.
