OBIDI: ‘I Want To Be Among Best In The Industry’

When he released his first single, ‘Love Bonanza,’ in 2020 during the global lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it took the music industry by storm. Other songs that followed included ‘Ova You’, ‘Do not Hesitate‘, ‘Finish Me’, and ‘Hold You Down’. That was when Otubelu Obidi Stanley, also known as Obidi, announced his arrival on the scene.

His most recent cover of the hit song ‘Ogechi’ by Boypee, Brown Joel, and Hyce has confirmed his artistic abilities. “I decided to do a cover of ‘Ogechi’ because it is one of the most popular songs right now, and I was surprised by the amount of attention it has received on social media since I posted it,” Obidi said in a recent interview at an event in Lagos. The young artist elevated ‘Ogechi’ to new heights in the less than a minute cover, similar to what Davido did with the same song in the ‘Ogechi’ remix.

He has since piqued the interest of a major artiste and record label owner, who has taken the initiative to bring him into his music family, which currently includes several top young stars. “Because talks are still ongoing, it would be unwise to reveal his (record label owner’s) name at this time, but just to confirm, we are currently in the middle of negotiations. He enjoyed my ‘Love Bonanza’ and other works, so if we ever get around to working together, some new touches would be added to some of my works, and we would be good to go. Am I excited? Yes, I am, because if this works out, it will be the best break I have ever had.”

He has a special fondness for ‘Love Bonanza,’ which was played back-to-back on an episode of the reality television show Big Brother Naija. “Well, I was excited and thrilled because the housemates were thoroughly enjoying the song. I thank the show’s organisers and the DJ for that because that is the type of visibility that any artist, particularly an upcoming one, requires.”

His ambition is to become one of Nigeria’s biggest music stars. “That is every artist’s dream: to be among the best, to be in the top league of stars. That is the dream of everyone in any endeavour, whether it is in business, sports, or music, so, yes, that is the end game, the goal; to be the best or among the best in your field.”

Obidi stated that if the ongoing negotiations yield positive results, a formal announcement would be made. “If anything comes from what is currently going on, the media will be the first to know. My manager is on top of things, and I trust his judgement. One can only hope for the best in every situation, and I am hoping for the best in this one.”