The Artist, Oladapo Oyebanjo popularly known as D’banj. Source: Jaguda.com
I was flipping through some channels yesterday, wondering what to watch. I happened upon the E! VIP interview for popular Nigerian artist D’banj. It premiered 3rd July, 2016. For those who do not know who he is; Oladapo Oyebanjo popurlarly known as D’banj is a household name in Africa. The artist shot to stardom in 2005 with his album titled ‘No long thing’. The song titled ‘Oliver Twist’ put him on the global map. He has won several music awards and is Nigeria’s first United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace.
D’banj did not disappoint as usual, during the interview. He brought his humour and charisma to the show. I enjoyed it thoroughly and took home five lessons in success that could be applied to anyone.
- Grab Opportunities and Take Action:
D’banj had the opportunity to travel to the U.K for studies and he took it. It was while in the U.K. that the music gig started to take off. According to the artist, while he was working, he met someone who knew someone, who knew another person who introduced him to his ex-partner Don Jazzy. Jazzy was initially working with JJC crew at the time. He had the opportunity to work with musicians in the studio and he took it.
He heard that the music scene in Nigeria was hot at the time, and people were getting paid really well for gigs, about 2000£ per show at the time. He put together an album with Don Jazzy in the space of two weeks and shipped the music out. After a short time, they got their first gig. It’s quite funny and humbling to know that they could only afford one flight ticket from London to Nigeria for D’banj. Don Jazzy had to wait in the U.K.
Another time, while at the Dubai international airport, he was mistaken for Kanye West. That was how they knew that Kanye West was going to be around somewhere and they sought him out. Right there at the airport, they auditioned for Kanye and then got an appointment to see him at New York. A week after the appointment, he got signed to the label.
How many opportunities do we let go by on a daily basis? You were introduced to someone who would help make a difference in your work, but you are too shy to approach the individual. Opportunities are everywhere just waiting to be found and acted upon. Have you recently found an opportunity to chase your dreams? Are you taking action? What are you doing every day to take you closer to your dream life? Take action, act swiftly, and do not let the day go without following through on your most recent opportunity.
- Privacy
His personal life is well … personal. He maintains a certain level of privacy. During the interview he declined to comment about his past romantic relationships. This is really admirable in the world where reality TV shows has taken over day time television. Instagramming, facebooking, tweeting and/or snapchatting your entire life to the world is the norm.
You have a fight with your boyfriend. It gets posted. You make dinner plans with friends. It is up on Facebook. You plan to vacation in Jamaica on the 14th of July. Yeah…all your twitter followers are aware.
Effects of posting your private life on social media. Source: Robindickinson.com
Nobody has to know your entire business. That is why it is your business. Most times the attention received is unnecessary and you invite bad energy. It is okay to post a few things that you are really excited about and would love to share. Just make sure you know the limits. Too much information ‘TMI’ is a real thing.
Keep your personal life- PERSONAL.
- Show Up!:
D’banj started working with Donjazzy and JJC squad in the studio, and he says that he was not taken very seriously. He was considered as the clown. He was fine with that, the artist said and he continued by saying that as long as he was around the music, he was okay. He did not mind making them laugh. What mattered was that he was working in the studio, he was learning, he was polishing his music skills. He was at the center of activity. He was closer to his dream than ever before.
Go where you can find people who are doing the stuff that you are doing. If you want to be a writer, hang around writers. If you want to do music, go where the musicians are and Learn! Learn! Learn! Find their clubs or associations. Ask around, maybe someone knows someone. Scour the internet until you find them. Don’t just be a taker, give something valuable to them and it will be a mutual relationship.
- Stay Alert, Stay Learning:
Stay ahead of the game. Keep your ears on the ground. Always be on the lookout for the next big thing that will promote you and grab onto that opportunity. Be willing to take risks sometimes. Don’t be scared of looking foolish. Be scared of having regrets and not following up on some paths that you could have taken. Continue learning and improving yourself. Reach higher and higher. Seek out people better than you to collaborate with. Seek to be the best at what you do. Do not settle for less.
5. Persistence:
Every successful person will tell you that persistence is what kept them ahead of their peers that they began working with. Some people started but gave up along the way. But they kept on going on. Be persistent! Believe in yourself. Start and follow through until the end. You may feel like you have lost your way, but you can get up and continue to push on. Finish your project and then move onto the next one, and then the next one. Keep working to improve your skill sets. If you believe in yourself you can do it. Just believe and then work towards it. Put the right things in place. Encourage yourself. Surround yourself with positive and hardworking people. Don’t start tomorrow. Start Today!
Perserverance is key to success. Source: lifetidude.com
D’banj remains our superstar. We love him and his nuggets of wisdom. We wish all the best in the future, as he continues to conquer new ground.
“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.”
―Newt Gingrich
HMJJames Blog 