Nigerian Dancehall icon Timaya has offered a rare glimpse into the formative years of his illustrious career, revealing the surprisingly modest beginnings and rapid escalation of his album deals. 

In a recent interview on the Afrobeats Intelligence Podcast with Joey Akan, the "Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa" detailed how his debut album, 'True Story', was initially sold for a mere N500,000, a figure that pales in comparison to the multi-million naira deals that followed.

Timaya recounted that a marketer in Lagos' bustling Alaba market presented the N500,000 offer for 'True Story'. At that nascent stage of his career, fresh out of the Niger Delta and eager to penetrate the Lagos music scene, this sum represented a significant opportunity. "I was just coming up and needed an opportunity to break into the Lagos market," he explained, highlighting the critical role this initial deal played in launching his career.

The investment proved to be a masterstroke for the marketer. 'True Story' became an undeniable success, propelled by a string of hit singles including 'Timaya', 'True Story', 'Dem Mama', and 'Ogologoma'. The album's commercial performance was so phenomenal that the marketer, recognizing the goldmine he had stumbled upon, went above and beyond.

"He gave me 7 million naira for the music video, paid for the videos, and even bought me a car," Timaya revealed, recalling the unexpected windfall. "He called me a good market," a testament to the unforeseen profitability of his debut.

This breakthrough success laid the groundwork for an even more lucrative follow-up. Timaya disclosed that his sophomore album, 'Gift and Grace', commanded a staggering N24 million from a marketer. He recounted being initially priced at N10 million by the first marketer, only for Abu Ventures to step in with the significantly higher offer. "At that point, only 2Baba, P-Square, and D’banj were paid that kind of money," Timaya noted, illustrating the elite company he found himself in regarding album advances. This substantial sum directly inspired his hit song, 'I Don Blow', an anthem celebrating his newfound prosperity.

With nearly two decades etched into the Nigerian music industry, Timaya has solidified his status as an iconic musician. His distinctive fusion of Dancehall and Highlife, infused with elements of hip-hop, has consistently produced unforgettable street anthems and earned him widespread admiration from both colleagues and millions of fans across the globe. 

His journey from a N500,000 album deal to commanding multi-million naira advances stands as a powerful narrative of talent, perseverance, and strategic market penetration within the dynamic Nigerian music landscape.