Born Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon, the artist had been with Don Jazzy’s label for five years before choosing not to renew his contract. At the time, he believed he was ready to chart a path as an independent act, confident in his ability to replicate the success he enjoyed under the Mavin banner.
Speaking on the Echoroom podcast, Reekado explained that there was no conflict surrounding his exit but admitted he underestimated the realities of life outside a major label structure.
“It was not a conflict situation. I was pretty young and pretty fixated on what I wanted to do. I wanted to leave. Anyways, my contract had ended two years prior,” he recalled.
He revealed that his original contract was for three years, but he extended his stay by another two before finally parting ways. Looking back, he admitted the leap into independence was not as smooth as he expected.
“So, when it was time, I thought I wanted to do this now. I thought I could do it now. I just embarked on the journey. As many people would view it — as premature. As soon as I jumped into the sea I realised how premature it is,” he said.
Since leaving Mavin, Reekado Banks’ career has experienced fluctuations, with periods of lower musical activity as he pursued other personal and creative interests. While he has continued to release music and maintain a loyal fan base, the consistency that defined his Mavin years has sometimes been lacking.
His candid reflection underscores the challenges many young artists face when transitioning from label-backed stardom to self-managed independence — a shift that often requires more than just talent, but also structure, resources, and industry strategy.