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Joeboy, a Nigerian Afro Pop and R&B singer was discovered by fellow Nigerian singer Mr. Eazi in 2017. He has since released his debut album Somewhere between beauty and magic and dropped back-to-back hit singles. As he prepares to release his second album, we had the chance to chat with Joeboy about what fans can expect from the album, the title of his next single, his vocals used on Bad Bunny’s latest album Summer without youhis dreams of working with The Weeknd and Post Malone, what he looks for in a woman and more.
Umu Fofana: Are you currently in Nigeria?
Jobboy: No, I’m in Ghana. It’s 12:41 pm here.
breathing: You were discovered by Mr. Eazi a few years ago and are currently signed to his emPawa Africa record label. Can you tell us about that experience?
Jobboy: So, um, it was really beautiful. I remember 2017 when I was in university. I think I was in my second year at university. I was preparing for my exams and just having a nice, nice as normal day and the next thing I got a call from my friend that Mr. Eazi commented on my video. We are usually friends, we joke a lot. So I thought it was like a joke or something and I was like, “No, this can’t be real.” Then I kept checking social media and saw Mr. Eazi’s comment. While I’m thinking of what to say or what to say to him, in my DMs he sends me a message like “Yo I love your music” and he sends me his personal number to call him like “Yo call me Let’s work .” And I think from there on things worked out and he introduced me to them [E Kelly], one of my favorite Nigerian producers. I’ve grown since then and it’s been such a beautiful journey.
breathing: What was the video Mr. Eazi commented under?
Joboy: I covered Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You”. You know the song, it was very popular at the time. I shot the video with an iPhone 5. I posted the video on my Instagram and it kind of went viral. It was really like the first official music content I posted on my page and people really liked it. It was like really boom and I kept tagging people and Mr. Eazi came across it. Someone actually sent it to Mr. Eazi, like a friend of mine, but he wasn’t the only one she sent it to. She sent it to a bunch of other artists. Fortunately, Mr. Eazi saw the video, checked it, liked it, told me to contact him and we started working together.
breathing: Your second album Mon Dec has been announced. Do you have a release date?
Joboy: yes It was supposed to drop towards the end of this year, but for some reason we had to move it to the first quarter of next year. But I will release a new single by January.
breathing: You just released a new single called “Likkle Riddim” and it’s dancehall inspired. Can we expect that kind of vibe on your new album?
Joboy: Yes, I guess. But it won’t be too dominant. The way I’ve been making music lately, I just really wanted to try new things and see where my range could go and I really, really like the experience, so I decided to make a dancehall record. For the album I don’t think it will be dancehall dominant, but there will be some influences here and there.
breathing: What was the inspiration behind wanting to go down a different path with your music?
Joboy: The kind of music I listen to influences the kind of music I make. So at this point while creating I would listen to a lot of dancehall artists like Movado, Dexta Daps, Koffee, Buju Banton and Sean Paul. I’ve been a huge fan of Sean Paul since I was very, very young. So those are my influences for wanting to make a dancehall record. And luckily my other song “Sip (Alcohol)” is really big like the dancehall scene.
breathing: Have you finished recording the album?
Joboy: yes I think where we are right now is because I keep recording new songs. I just keep adding and removing things. I was going to record a lot of songs, so I’ll just sit back and rearrange the songs and everything, but it’s done. I’d say it’s 80% done. Yes
breathing: Can we expect anything? Any features?
Joboy: Yes, there are several international features and I just can’t wait. This is such a beautiful album. Everyone on the album gave 100 percent. It’s just beautiful. I’m very excited about it and can’t wait. I really can’t wait to release the album. But you know things have to be done right. It was up to me, I would have dropped it right away.
breathing: Afrobeats can be very cyclical. Artists would have moments where they are super hot and then slow down. Some people would call it a one-hit wonder, but you’re very consistent in putting up hits or getting into them. From your singles “Beginning,” “Baby,” “Don’t Call Me Back,” “Sip (Alcohol),” to your inclusion on Ckay’s remix of “Love Nwantiti.” You worked. How do you stay so consistent?
Joboy: I would say it’s because of where I’m from. I always try to remember where I’m from. Being an up-and-coming artist was really, really hard for me because people didn’t see me as a superstar. They didn’t think I would become a star and I managed to prove a lot of people wrong. So every time I make music, I’ll always have that voice in the back of my mind that says “Look where you’ve come from, you’ve just got to keep going”. I intend to be here for a very long time. I’m not here just because I want to be famous or super rich. I do this because it’s what I love. Making music is always fun for me. It’s just fun for me. It’s not like work. Like, I just drink water, like second nature. It really helped me stay consistent. I’ve been making music since 2014. Music has always been like a husband, so even if I didn’t break out, I would still be making music.
breathing: Do you believe you are one of the most underrated Afrobeat artists out there right now?
Joboy: Um, I’d say I’m way ahead of my time. Yes, I’m ahead of my time. If people don’t see it, they will catch up. They’re going to look back, maybe a year from now, and go, ‘Wow, that guy kills it every now and then.’
breathing: What inspires you? Where do you go for inspiration?
Joboy: I like nature very much. I love trees, animals and other things. I love natural things. I really like talking to strangers. I would just talk to people I don’t know and just talk to them. It really inspires me because there are so many people and you see things from different perspectives. So I talk to people, play video games, watch funny stuff and spend time with family. That’s how I get inspired.
breathing: You were featured on Bad Bunny’s last album. Your vocals from “Empty My Pockets” were sampled in his song “Enséñame a Bailar”. How did this happen? Did he ask for permission or did he seem to pay respect?
Joboy: He extended his hand. He reached out later. But we fixed it. My vocals are on the album.
breathing: How did you feel about the difficult one? Featured on a Latin album that became #1 worldwide.
Jobboy: Uh, I kind of felt at one point because, you know, he didn’t do it the right way, but now he’s doing it the right way. It just inspires me that my music is so widespread that big global artists like Bad Bunny can actually notice it and do something with it. A bright future awaits me.
breathing: So, apart from the new album, what do you have coming up? I know you said you quit, new single coming soon.
Joboy: Yeah, so I wanted to announce it on the new year, like the first day of January 2023. It’s a love song. I haven’t dropped a love song in a while. My last three singles weren’t love songs. The love songs that people recognize Joboy by, I bring them back. It’s beautiful music. I don’t want to give a title yet.
breathing: Come on! Give it to us. This will be exclusive.
Joboy: Okay, I’ll just do it. So the name of the song is “Body and Soul.” It is really beautiful. I can’t wait for everyone to embrace the sound. This omits the month of January. After I release the album, I will go on tour again. I’m going on a world tour in the UK, the US, everywhere. I even featured two or three up-and-coming artists on the album that I think deserve a chance to be noticed. That’s what I do, I just put a lot of young artists on because someone put me on, so it’s only right that I try to put other people on.
breathing: Who do you dream of working with?
Joboy: Definitely The Weeknd or Post Malone. These are two of my favorite artists, as always. I just love the trouble in their music. They talk about their stories. It might be a bad story, but the way they put it together makes you understand them more. They have been consistent. Their experience and catalog goes hard.
breathing: The next question is from your fans. Are you single or taken?
Joboy: Uh, I got it.
breathing: Awww, who is this mystery woman?
Joboy: I can not say It’s a relationship I really, really enjoy, so I don’t want to reveal it. You know social media is wild. I’m keeping it a secret, you know?
breathing: I understand. So what do you look for in a woman?
Joboy: Um, do I have a type? I think if you’re funny. I like funny people. I have a soft spot for people who dance. And if you can sing? Oh, you got me.
breathing: What is something about Joeboy that many people don’t know?
Joboy: I’m an adrenaline junkie. I like to do wild things. I went skydiving last year. I just love doing things that get my heart racing. I can go to the jungle in the middle of the night. I did this in South America. I love video games a lot. I’m a gamer, like a real gamer. When it comes to gaming, I’m undefeated.
Check out Joeboy’s latest single “Likkle Riddim” below:
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