D’banj: “I’m an Upcoming Artist Again
Renowned Nigerian musician Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, known as D’banj, has recently proclaimed himself to be “a new cat,” a local term for an emerging artist. Despite his 20-year tenure in the music industry, the 43-year-old artist feels like he’s starting afresh due to the evolving nature of the industry.
In an interview with Hip TV, D’banj shared plans to collaborate with the new generation of artists for his upcoming album, “Entertainer,” which serves as a follow-up to his acclaimed 2008 album, “The Entertainer.” He also discussed his contributions to the global recognition of Nigerian music.
D’banj remarked, “I wasn’t the first Nigerian artist to collaborate internationally, but we were the first to do it in a unique way. Previously, it felt like international collaborations were a favor to us. However, with the grace we had and our dedicated team, we delivered one of the biggest hits, ‘Mr Endowed.’ This success gave new artists hope and visibility, proving they could achieve the same. I feel like a proud father, which is why I consider myself an upcoming artist again. Now, I want to collaborate with local talents like Ayra Starr, Rema, Ruger, and Don Jazzy. Collaboration is the new competition.”
