Rapper Odumodublvck, whose real name is Tochukwu Ojogwu, expressed his opinion that hip-hop and its artists are not adequately valued by Nigerians. In a recent interview with the CTRL Room, the artist behind “Declan Rice” recounted his early experiences in the industry, where he wasn’t provided with seats at award ceremonies. He also shared an instance when his team suggested collaborating with Afrobeats artist Davido for fame, but he chose to align himself with UK grime artists whose style resonated with his own.
Odumodublvck explained, “In 2019, someone [in my team] said we should go to Lagos and meet Davido. But I was like, ‘What will Davido do for me? Even if Davido takes me to America and puts me on stage and I’m rapping my stuff, his fans won’t understand because they are afrobeats fans.'”
Instead, Odumodublvck recognized a better alignment with artists like Teezee, BOJ, and Sholz, who have a connection to the UK market and share a musical style closer to his own. He made the conscious decision to follow this path, stating that he didn’t feel the immediate need for Davido’s involvement. He also highlighted the challenges faced by hip-hop artists in Nigeria, including being overlooked at award shows, indicating a lack of respect for the genre within the country.