Stephen Nana, popularly known as Stevenator, has opened up about why he stepped down from managing Afrobeats sensation Asake, revealing that the singer’s meteoric rise was simply too overwhelming to keep up with.
In a recent interview, Stevenator, who managed Asake between 2022 and 2024, shared that while the experience was incredibly rewarding, it demanded more than he could balance with his personal life.
“Managing Asake was fast-paced. I had to make decisions on the spot, sometimes without any prior experience. It was both easy and hard. But ultimately, it was his growth that made it too much for me to handle,” he said.
Stevenator credited Olamide, the boss of YBNL, for giving him the opportunity despite having no management background. Under his watch, Asake became one of the biggest artists in Africa, releasing back-to-back hits and dominating charts with his albums Mr. Money With The Vibe and Work of Art.
But with the superstar’s rapid ascent came sacrifices. Stevenator shared a particularly emotional moment that made him rethink his priorities, his younger son, not recognizing him during a family trip to London.
“I was working so hard to give my family a good life, but I was barely present. When I saw my younger son didn’t even know me, that hit hard,” he revealed.
While the demands of managing Asake grew too intense, Stevenator didn’t leave the industry. He now runs a music marketing agency, helping bridge the Nigerian and international music markets. He’s also working with a new artist, this time with a healthier balance between career and family life.
Asake, on the other hand, continues to break boundaries. In 2024, he was named No. 1 Artist of the Year for the third year running, an unprecedented feat. His latest album, Lungu Boy, debuted at No. 1 and spent a record 15 weeks at the top of the charts.
Despite parting ways professionally, the legacy of their collaboration is clear, a manager who helped guide a superstar to greatness, and a star whose rise continues to inspire the next generation.
