‘I use to sell BRT tickets and sleep at Ojuelegba bridge’ – Oxlade

Nigerian singer, Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, popularly known as Oxlade, has shared a remarkable story from his journey to success in the music industry. He revealed that he once slept under a bridge for a period of time after leaving home to pursue his music career against his lecturer father’s wishes. Oxlade had to take on various menial jobs to make ends meet, including selling BRT bus tickets.

In a candid discussion on the Afrobeats podcast hosted by Adesope Olajide, Oxlade expressed his passion for creating classical music rather than just chasing hit songs. He emphasized the importance of taking one’s time to craft music, highlighting that rushing in could lead to rushing out. His story serves as a testament to the determination and resilience required to achieve one’s dreams in the music industry.

“I am not looking for hits, I am looking for classics. I mean, ‘Away’ is four or three years old, but it’s still banging. ‘Ku Lo Sa’ is a year old, it still bangs. ‘O2’ from nowhere, it just blew up last year. These songs are old, but they still have value right now.

“I don’t want to mention names but I know of a lot of artists that dropped songs last year that blew up but they are gone now. I’m not trying to impress, I’m trying to leave a long lasting image in your head.”