Meet Jibola. A 20-year-old rapper from Lagos, Nigeria. His first ever body of work titled “Truss Me” recently just dropped. We caught up with him to talk about his musical background, inspirations and his experience working on the project.

A personal listen of the Truss Me tape gives a sonic insight into a mix of well-prepared, genre-diverse, lyrically mature and yet youthful and fresh songs. Jibola proves himself to be a very versatile and adept entertainer, we can’t wait to see more from him. The album features Loti and Ocho as guest appearances, production credits go to Tobi Baron and Ocho again, a star-studded collaborators list in a few years to come certainly. The 5-track rap tape is available on Apple Music and you should do get it. This is the interview, read about it.

1. Give an introduction about yourself.

My name is Jibola Oduwole. I’m an independent recording artist.

2. What is your musical background?

I think that’s based on watching a lot of Michael Jackson videos, also listening to Lagbaja as a kid really made me want to be on stage, but it wasn’t up until secondary school I started battle rapping, and I knew I had flow too so.

3. Who are your influences, in music and in life?

In music, of course the goat, Wizkid, Michael Jackson, Lagbaja, I listened to a lot of Drake also over the years. I feel like any artist I really fuck with now has at least a little impact on me, even with the beats I use and all that. Daniel Caesar, PND, Amine, Boj, Prettyboydo, the list is long.

In life, my family, friends and relating with people influence me. I’ve noticed that if you’re influenced by someone or something, it means you’ve learnt or you’re learning from them, so when I talk to people, I always look out for what I can pick up. I also watch a lot of stuff from all fields just to feed myself. 

4. What are your best 5 songs of the year? Of course, excluding your own music.

It’s tough but I’ll say;

Pan Fried – Kano Ft. Kojo Funds

Cyanide – Daniel Caesar (best song ever)

John Redcorn – SiR

Hell and Back – Bakar

Mafo – Naira Marley 

5. The Truss Me EP is your first musical project. What was the experience like working on it?

It was great. I found out that I really enjoy making music and there’s a lot to it, so hopefully I can grow in my craft. In general, it was a crazy good feeling.

6. How did you figure out producers and featured artists you collaborated with on the project?

I actually didn’t know I was gonna put out a body of work, I just wanted to do more than I was doing at that moment. So I called Ocho over and he played some beats for me and my guy Raj who also makes beats. He sent me a short pack and once I heard the Ali Bomaye beat, I fucked with it. I had like 3 songs and just felt like putting out an EP. I later hit up Baron and he sent me the Holy beat. Actually, I didn’t know he made the On My Flex beat so shout out Baron, got that beat from Kenny.

I wasn’t really keen on features, I only wanted to work with dope artists so shout out Loti also for that cold verse on Ali Bomaye.

7. Ocho clearly worked extensively with you on this project as he got featured and also produced a track. How did that come about and what was the experience like?

Ocho actually produced 2 tracks on the tape; June and Gualla which he’s featured on. I believe in energy; we had worked on a song before but I didn’t release it. So I was already familiar with his work ethic. He’s a beats when it comes to this music thing so yeah we exchange ideas and hopefully the world will see and hear.

8. The international and worldwide recognition of Nigerian music in the past few years have helped to popularise more artists especially young and upcoming, also with the help of social media and the internet. How do you feel being a new age artist?

I think it’s a good time for upcoming artists. Social media in the end is people and if you can get your work out to the people and they fuck with it, nobody can come in your way. That has really helped our African artists reach the far ends of the world and represent. Also with collaborating with other international artists, it’s incredible. One of my best songs this year is the Bas and Kiddominant joint.

9. What’s the future like for Jibola?

I just have to keep working on myself and the music and dropping to show progress till no one can deny it.

10. If you weren’t into music, what else?

Probably a DJ or an actor or something artsy.

11. Describe your ideal Lagos cruise?

I don’t know if I have an ideal one but I just want to say that unplanned rocks are always the best, like when you just go out to see someone and then they suggest a motive and it’s lit, yeah those kinds of nights are calm.

12. Drake – Scorpion // Playboi Carti – Die Lit. Choose one.