Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, has been a household name in the Nigerian music industry for two decades. Despite his legendary status, the 43-year-old singer surprisingly refers to himself as an “up-and-coming artist.”
“I’m now an up-and-coming artist,” he said in a recent interview with Hip TV.
D’banj shared his thoughts on the evolution of the music industry and his exciting new projects. “I feel like I’m scratching the surface again. The music industry has evolved over the years.”
His upcoming album, ‘Entertainer’, is a sequel to his critically acclaimed 2008 album, ‘The Entertainer’. This new project features collaborations with talented new generation artists like Ayra Starr, Rema, Ruger, and Don Jazzy.
“I want to feature not even international artists but local artists. I want to feature Ayra Starr, Rema, Ruger, and Don Jazzy. Collaboration is the new competition,” he said.
D’banj played a significant role in putting Nigerian music on the global map. His collaboration with international artists, such as the hit single ‘Mr Endowed’, paved the way for future generations.
“I am not the first to have done an international collaboration. We were just the first to have done it the way we did it. Usually, when you want to do a collaboration with an international artist, it seemed before ours, like they were doing you a favor. But with the kind of grace that God gave us and the kind of team that we had, we were able to deliver one of the biggest.”
He believes that his success has inspired young artists to pursue their dreams, and he is proud to have been a part of their journey.
“I think that actually gave hope and visibility to the kids to know that they can do it. So, I feel like a very proud father if I may say. That’s why I am a cat again. Now, I want to feature not even international artists but local artists.”
